In the last 12 months, I have decluttered 60 (13 gallon) trash bags of belongings and 7 pieces of furniture and couldn't be happier. I feel like I can actually breathe,
i started with konmari but ended up just going room by room, its been over 2 years since i started and i still find myself every few months letting go of things that ive previously kept for some reason or another i absolutely love the feeling of being surrounded with things i love and not having to think about all the extra
Instead of 1 thing a day I use my own "20 things out" method. Whenever the mood or need takes me I find 20 things to discard. Maybe once or twice a month.
for myself: "declutter as you go" -as i run into "useless" or "why do i have this" items or cluttered areas i nip those it in the bud. this may be 0-20 items a week, depending. however, its a thoughtful process that prevents re-cluttering
Thanks Gabe for this lovely video. I love all of these ideas. I’m an aspiring minimalist. And I love Konmari. When I was pregnant with my 2nd child, we lived in a large house in a cookie cutter neighborhood. I was losing it mentally, having so much junk. So as a very pregnant woman, I did the full Konmari method before I gave birth. It changed my life. We moved from our large house to a tiny 1 bedroom 600 sq ft apartment in downtown. The 4 of us. We let the kids share the room and the adults slept on a couch bed in the main area, creating a “studio” of sorts. We lived there happily for a couple years then bought a camper and renovated it. We lived in that for 14 months while we saved and renovated a small historical home with a half acre lot. Our new home was a hoarder house. It was gross and falling apart. We took 8 months living next to it in our camper to make this 900 sq foot house our home. So much blood, sweat and tears. But worth it. The goal: urban homestead. Garden, animals, hospitality. Kid sanctuary. Rest. A haven where all are welcome. And It all started with reading the KonMari books.
Since last year after watching The Minimalist documentary on Netflix I got rid of 20 bags full of items. I now have a box at the front of my apartment door and whenever I want to get rid of something I place it in there and once it’s full I place everything into a bag and bring it to a donation center. I still need to go through stuff but I already feel lighter since last year. 🤗
1. One 365 (Get rid of one thing every day) 2. Have a packing party (Only take out it if you're gonna use it) 3. Room by room 4. The minimalist game (Day 1: one thing. Day 2..., Day 30.) 5. 4 box method (Trash, Relocate, Donate, Sell) (Undecided, 90 days) 6. Konmari (Marie Kondo)
I’ve been going at this for about 2 years and I’ve done a mishmash of methods. Sometimes I’ve focused on categories other times I’ve focused on spaces. I’ve tried mostly focusing on whichever thing I felt mist strongly to do that day. Konmari worked well for my clothes, it helped me significantly reduce the amount due to the whole shock to the system of seeing it all in a pile. Did a similar thing with the kitchen, eliminating all the surplus and gadgets I just don’t use. With more entertainment type stuff, like movies, games, etc. I’ve done more of a habitual slow trickle. Every couple of months I look through each item and pick out those I feel done with. That has worked best for me and my collection is under half as big as it once was. With more decorative items, whenever I clean, if I find I’d rather not have to clean or move it to clean the space, then I clearly don’t value it enough to keep. Works wonders, actually, lol Once you get all the big stuff done, I higly recommend keeping a box or bag (I use a blue Ikea bag) to put things you realize in your day to day you no longer wish to keep. I still find myself dropping items regularly into the bag even after 2 years.
yes! i was recently cleaning a shelf and decided to get rid of 2 of the pieces on it because i just didnt care as much for them ive konmaried my clothes twice, at first i had 250 items and now its down to 67 for all year round (i was too curious not to count)
These are great ideas! I think I like the box method the most. I have the same problem with keeping the boxes though. I'm good at putting things into boxes or bags but then I feel bad just throwing it all away. I end up with boxes of books and clothes that I want to donate but don't know where to take them and they end up just staying in my house 😅
Find charities that will take them. I don't know about the US or other parts of the world, but, i live in the UK and give all my stuff to the British heart Foundation. They take furniture, clothes and books as long as they are in a good condition.
I've moved around quite a bit so every time that I packed I would get rid of stuff so I had less to move. I watched Marie Kondo on Netflix and went through my clothes again and got rid of more. I have a family so it is sometimes hard to find the time to declutter and organize. What I've been doing is keeping a box for donations and another box to sell and when I see stuff that I don't need I'll just put it in one of those boxes. I'll add toys when I notice that the kids don't play with them anymore. If I have a little time I try to go through something like a drawer or a cupboard. We plan on having a garage sale this summer.
To declutter a home, a place or a life is like peeling an onion, layer by layer. For best result, peel when the onion is ready to be harvested... I have tried and used alot of different "methods" over the last10-ish years. Before that I didn´t think about methods I just got rid of stuff from time to time. I have done... "10 items a week" - often more, never less, the "more" number cant be saved for next week. "10 items a day" - for shorter periods. "Mins game" - I never save numbers for another day andI see the date/number as a minimum not a fixed number. "Mins game, mixed dates" - Draw a number from 1-30 and declutter at least tham many items. "Empty every cabinet, drawer, room one by one" Clean and put back what shud be there, purge alot. "Rage purge" : ) Just throw alot of things out. good for somedays... "Declutter 5000 items over a year" I did this more then one year... "Declutter 3000 items in a year" What I have done the last two years. My favourite book on the subject is Clean your clutter with Feng Shui. That is the only one in the genre that I really liked and that did something for me. I purge to "hands on" for things like the "soft" Kon Mari. The Swedish Death cleaning... well... it´s so much more in irl then that book. It´s someting loads of ppl here have done like always and nothing that an author invented. It´s about cleansing and perhaps downsizeing... I don´t remember when but one day I just found the thing that worked for me. I turned the way of thinking about decluttering upside down. I pick my favourites, things I like, love and use. Things that doesn´t make these criterias has a strong risk of being decluttered. If someone want to try that method the easiest is to start with something with small amount of attachment and where it is most practical to do. I would say the sock drawer. Take all the socks out and look at them. Pick your absolut favourites. Think practical, how many "good pair" of socks do I have and need". If you have that amount, pick them, if you have more, choose from them and less, pick as many Good socks as you have, just good ones (perhaps invest in some more of the good ones if needed). Now you only have socks that you and your feet likes and all the socks will be used. All the other socks...socks that itch, the ones that has to tight or to loose elastics, the ones that you don´t like the color on, the ones with big holes ... just get rid of them. Coz you don´t want to use them anyway so why keep them. Do Not save any of the socks for "just in case". If some of these decluttered socks is of value for someone else like a shelter take them there, if not recycle them the best way you can do in your area/country. It always feels the best to do good the whole circle. When you´re done with the socks try next thing or area , pick the one who are the second easiest for you. It might be underwear (who want to keep/use uncomfortable ones), shoes (bin the ones that hurt your feet, you are worth better), shawls (you will never use an itchy one so why keep it?), books (that only collect dust and wasn´t that good that you want to read them again, someone else might love them), mugs (we all reach for our favs the others are just taking up space...) or something else... We are all different. Now I am on inherited things... like my grandmothers jewels, her mothers and my grandmothers sisters jewels aso. Antique stuff that I have been gifted or given as memorabilia... This kind of familystuff I don´t just throw out, I relocate it to relatives who wants it... A long one : ) but I could talk for hours about decluttering : ) it´s one of my favorite subjects : ) I live in Sweden and we have excellent oppertunitys to recycle and let things go to the right place when decluttering here. I give things to different places like a free store, a shelter, a cat shelter, the Red Cross second hand store, I sell in a commission store, I sell online, I give to friends, I regift, I sell on fleemarkets, I donate material aso.
That's my issue too. I don't want to be wasteful. Our planet resources are limited and if we don't care, who will? So maybe put all those school type supplies in a box and take them to the school for kids that might need them for school or at home.
I believe the purpose of the 1 item per day for the month/year is not to see results quickly but to build a habit. Since it is a lifestyle solution, a binge of decluttering will not sustain or reset your mind to make decluttering as natural as drinking your morning cup of coffee. For some baby steps are the best starting point if you feel overwhelmed. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experiences in these videos!
I like the method of decluttering by category, but the "sparking joy" idea is too vague for me. Instead, I gather everything and set a concrete limit by quantity or space. Like limiting to ten shirts, or however many books will fit on a certain shelf. You're forced to pare down to your favorites, and it puts you in control of exactly how much of each thing you really want around.
Okay so what do you think about this: The 30 days method in reverse! You start with decluttering 30 items, then 29, 28... day 30 just 1 thing. Tadaa! I think my personality type might be the same as yours and this seems more appealing to me xD
I had the same thought. I think this method idea works along a similar idea to Kaizen, building a habit that eventually you upscale. But I like the idea of "all out" followed by keeping the habit going.
This is a wonderful idea! Thank you for posting. It actually works well with the idea that you usually have a ton of motivation at the start but eventually run out of steam. I’m gonna share this with friends. Again thanks
I've tried to help some pack rat friends (and failed) but I think the room by room + 4 boxes methods are pretty good systems. If you don't know where to start, then at least start with getting ride of stuff that is visibly broken and that progress can build momentum. Gabe I think a video on Swedish Death Cleaning would be interesting. Perhaps not now, cause it could be seen as insincere as COVID does it's thing. But I think there is value in being prepared for sudden loss. My extended family had to deal with a (non COVID) tragedy a few weeks ago and it made me think about making sure things are in order.
I did Marie Kondo’s method and although it’s extreme, I’ve never experienced lasting cleanliness and order like I have with this. Annually I do a declutter review but there’s no need for me to re-do her method each time. Although I’m moving away from extreme methods, I’d do this again and again.
My system is sub room. I sort a dresser, or a closet. In an hour it's effective and less disruptive. I set up a folding table to sort between keep and toss. Only two choices faster more effective.
Gabe, I used a simplified KonMari method, type of thing at a time. Then now more fly lady. But I started 7 years ago and I'm still at it. I have about a third of what I had. Talk about having breathing room! I'm still rather disorganized with paperwork, financials, etc. etc.
My sisters and I went thru my mother's boxes a month ago. Some had been in my laundry room since she moved to Arizona 4 years ago and some since she moved back in 2018. She passed away April 2019. We used the keep donate sell system. Still have her Christmas stuff because we haven't figured how to sell it yet with quarantine. I have custody of photos for the family history research.
Instead of 'does it spark joy?' You can also ask yourself: Is it a treasure, tool or trash? Shoeless Joe (look him up on yt!) came up with these categories and if it's a treasure you keep it, if it's a tool (and if you don't use it, it's not really a tool in the strict sense) you keep it and if it's neither: it's trash, you get rid of it. For some people these categories might be better than 'does it spark joy?'
😁 No worries Gabe...zero judgment on your decluttering mishaps. Honestly, I think sometimes we just don’t consciously realize how much clutter affects our mental wellbeing until it’s literally right in our way. 😄Visual clutter can be quite unsettling-for many different reasons. Love that you mentioned Marie Kondo, I find her methods quite simple & foundational for building a functional yet beautiful space. Great video Gabe! 😊👍
I lost interest after he threw that perfectly fine pencil into the bin. I mean why? Decluttering does not mean throwing away things. You can use up things you have and not buy new ones, you can donate or pass on to someone in need. Why throw?
At 1:37 I saw what I think is "The Haunting of Hill House". I also saw "The Yearling". You have good taste in books. I'm glad to see a home with books in it.
Dana K White’s decluttering method has worked for me, too. You make progress without pulling everything out and creating a bigger mess. You can stop any time and do as much or as little as you have time for. Start with visible spaces, throw away trash, ask where you’d look for items first and “take it there now”, keep only what fits in the container, sort like items to see what can be eliminated. It really works. The best method for my brain and the long-term habits developed using this method have stuck.
There's some easy things to get rid of. I started one year ago with big and obvious unecessary things that I had no choice but to throw away or donate (clothes). I knew I was going to move the next year and I'm sure it helped a lot. The process gets harder and harder as the things remaining are just small things like pens. I have too many, I just wait until they're finished and I intend to buy durable and refillable ones. It's frustrating to think they will still last me months or years but I refuse to throw away things that work just for the sake of decluttering. Decluttering is very satisfying but I hope most people don't just buy more and declutter tons of things every year just for the sake of decluttering. That wasteful and pointless.
My favourite is definitely the Konmari Method. I've done it twice: once before moving and the second time while unpacking and it is truly life-changing. I've read Marie Kondo's first two books and I love everything she says. I do think that when moving you can get a more agressive effect, so maybe what I did was a mix of the Packing Party and the Konmari Method. Anyway, it worked. It's been a year and a half since I ended this method and even though my house is far from perfect, it is a million times better ❤️
I think if you’re doing the 4/5 box method it’s best to combine that with room by room. That way you put stuff in the relocate box that doesn’t belong in, say, the bedroom but does in the living room. I’d also say that if you put stuff in a ‘don’t know’ box if you haven’t gone back to that box in 3 months, donate it without opening it. You haven’t needed it in 3 months and you’re not likely to need it in the next 3.
I started with Feng Shui decluttering years ago, then went to KonMari, definitely good method to be faced with actual reall amount of things you own, cause its so easy to think you have less than you actually do. Did a bit of packing party type, as after moving, while renovating house we lived out of few boxes so it made it easier to downsize. Also did a bit of combo with methods from book titled 'the joy of less' by F. Jay. Modular sorting etc. But overall I combine KonMari with zero waste approach and minimalism, so does it bring value? Is it made of sustainable materials, did I pay the Earth Cost on this? Does it fit: 'Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or be beautiful'.
Wouldn’t it be better to ask the question about sustainable materials BEFORE purchasing rather than as a decluttering question? If you ask once it’s in your possession, it seems like getting rid of a functional item would be wasteful at the same time that you’re trying to give the appearance of being a good steward of earth’s resources.
Done the mins game, was fun for a month but not really sustainable. Also done a couple of thorough wardrobe de-clutters and the whole "turning hangers the other way to see if you're using stuff" thing. We're moving twice in the next 12 months so might give the packing party thing more of a go. Definitely need to further declutter. And that's before I even get started on the music gear...
Liked your info, didn't like the volume of background music very distracting and over rode your words, had to watch 2 different times as it agitated me
Thanks for summaries Gabe. I’m fond the 1 room at a time for the quick win. I know a few of us that also need to work on our book collections which is why I’m reading more Kindle versions
Books can often be tied to who we believe ourselves to be and therefore difficult to get rid of. The Clutterbug RUclipsr actually had a great thought on this. If you feel your identity is tied to books, that you are a book lover, and yet you don’t share your love of books with others by passing on or selling books you’ve already read (and are not likely to read again) then are you really a book lover or are you a book hoarder. What are your actions saying?
Getting rid of just one object per day seems absurd, unless you've already been a minimalist for years and you've got some idea about how many objects you want to have. The average home has 300,000 items, so one per day won't make any dent at all. You won't even notice it (which might be the point - for someone who clings to everything, this might be what they need to get over the hurdle and apply one of the other techniques!). What I went for instead is getting rid of 1 cubic foot of stuff (at least) per week. At that rate, I'd have a much less cluttered space in a year. After doing that for a few months, I was able to pick up the pace. I usually get rid of 4-5 cubic feet per week now.
I am a stoic and a new modern minimalist not hardcore with wearing the same color cloths and cloths, and having an empty place. So far I have been on a 30 day home purging challenged and purged my entire car and 5 rooms and the garbage got so bad and trips to thrift that my family said "okay you are doing too much now, take a break" yesterday I was so exhausted from decluttering I basically laid down and passed right out. I still have kitchen to purge and a few drawer which I am doing on Monday. Tomorrow is my second clothing purge and it's going to be down to even less and going to get very real.
Gabe the babe!!!!! Always enjoy your videos!!!! Got a question for you. I noticed your coffee thing of my gig...lol where can I get one at a good price? I love making coffee this way. Right now I make mine with a filter and a strainer. Thank you and look forward to another video! !
mine is kind of an onion peel method. have accumulated things for over forty years. so getting rid of every nonessential at once is a daunting task. over last two years i have gotten rid of 60% of my stuff. but gradually, like peeling onions. in first round we get rid of some things then when we revisit the same area we find that we can get rid of some more n so on... it is less overwhelming😇
Fly Lady does a 24 dash or something like that. Run around a room or two and collect 24 items for donations. She's more of a learn to tame your house type of guru but she's great. She does timed dashes too. It makes it so that your first instinct to donate something is what you should stick to.
Your first instinct to declutter is the way to go!!! So true! I have discovered it through 4 years af decluttering. If I had been brave enough to follow my instinct the first time it would have saved me a lot of time. But it is super hard
I always see 'things' in all the Minimalist videos that are not essential... being a Minimalist is about not having what is extraneous... it is a complete examination of 'stuff', very specialized... to the general public, odd & difficult - 35 yr Minimalist
If your family is not on board, declutter just your stuff. Set an example. It may take even a couple of years, but trust me, you WILL make an impact. They might not become as mininalist as you but they eventually will start reducing. Also, agreeing on designated places for their "mess" is a great idea to help you accept their different perspective Good luck :)
I used the KonMari method on all my clothes and then my child's clothes. Then I switched to doing one room at a time. I did really well on the child's room and he was so happy it was done. But once I declutter the living room too then I ended up with extra items piling up in my bedroom. My bedroom is now overwhelming so I just keep watching decluttering videos. Sadly the videos haven't helped me get motivation to finish. Help me with my motivation! 🤪
Hi Lisa K.. I know this feeling... Just shifting stuff from one room to another when decluttering and finding homes for everything in a room. I have been on this journey since January 2017 (when my ex finally moved out). Just separating 18yrs of joint stuff was the first ordeal. I have packed almost 70 boxes of his stuff.. Which he needs to get.... But life gets in the way,.. Work, kids,..I have changed my kids rooms 1-2x since Jan 2017 due to their changing needs...a kid to teenager room, toddler to kindergarten kid room and now again to junior school kid room. Also mental health issues which can help or hinder the process play a big roll.. I have burnout and exhaustive depression.. So I have stuff in piles for months (which annoys me) ..but when I am well enough to have a another declutter and sort... I go for it.... I am now starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.. By the end of this year I want things at a level that I feel comfortable and not stressed by my belongings. But it is always an ongoing process.. Especially with kids!... .... so don't worry you will get there!.. And each time you go back to it, it gets easier and you can be more ruthless :)... Try and see the "forced breaks" as needed mental (and physical) resets to start the next level of your decluttering journey .. These breaks do have their advantages because (as you wrote) "Then next time you go back to it you declutter more you didn't the first time around" . :) Also.. To get re-motivated to start again... First deal with general rubbish (empty all your bins) and then go through your house to see if there is anything you definitely know you want to get rid of and add that to the rubbish/recycle pile .. That will give you the motivation to start again! (I find that helps me.. Especially when rubbish/recycle pick-ups are due). Next year I want to start on digital clutter... Not looking forward to that chaos! All my Photos are priority... . My poor kids are 8 and 15..and I have no albums for them.. So I really need to get some made.. I have their memory boxes done.. I use the system from the "do it on a dime" you tuber.. A file box with a hang file for each school year to put eg arts and crafts they made.. Then one box for "lumpy" memory stuff eg.. Baby clothes from hospital, christening candle etc... It so great to have it done, and easy to manage their stuff now when it comes in the house. . And it will be easy for them to take when they leave home!.. Just 2 memory boxes per kid. Hope some of these tips help!... Good luck!
@@rebeccarendle3706 Thank you so much for the words of encouragement and advice! I'm going to start doing the hanging folders for the years of school, that's a great tip.
@@intherockies you are welcome :) The Do it on a dime you tuber did it per calendar year.. But said that school year would be better... And I agree totally and it even works from birth!.. Good luck!.. I am just working on paper clutter now while watching a movie... Makes it more enjoyable ;)
My ten year old daughter and I recently decluttered and it feels amazing. She was completely on board with getting rid of things and rearranging furniture. She even helps pick up every evening to keep things in check. We have so much more space now and cleaning is so much easier!
The declutter method that works best for me is: Take a photo of the area that I cleaned and tidied. How is it looking? I’ve noticed after taking a photo in my home for IG or creating a video that my background was still busy. So then I cleared the shelf and refused to put the books 📚 back so that was it, donated the next day. Or even that moment when guests visit and I rush to clear the dresser - it should be cleared all the time. Also, watching Extreme Minimalist on RUclips and listening to podcasts while tidying and cleaning. People that question every single item they own. Because really it’s a mindset shift that needs to occur and tiny habits that must be formed daily to adopt a new lifestyle.
I started van life and moved to a minivan. That was a huge declutter. I could only take stuff that fitted in the minivan. Few things. That made me happy
Boxing up items by category works. I then created 2 boxes of items I wished to resell online and trade the physical item profit for a digital dividend stock. I sold a 20 year old VHS remote. You never know what people need.
I like the idea of the Room by Room method. I think I’ll start with the smallest room and go from there. The office is the one that concerns me the most. I’m never sure what to keep and what I can get rid of. I’m going to start Jan. 1st 2021. ♿️
I've been practicing minimalism for a year now, I heard of and used different methods but some of these are new. Great job! My husband and I are moving soon so I will definitely use the packing party method :) I like the 1 in and 1 out rule and also the one where you turn wardrobe hangers after wearing certain clothes. After a while you see which you haven't worn and declutter them. Greetings from Zagreb, Croatia!
I think the month long challenge would work great reversed. Usually you have motivation to do this the first day, so you’d do the 30/31 things no problem. I think doing one less every day would be more rewarding than doing one more every day and in the end the effect is the same. Just a thought.
We have a basement full of who knows what from nine years of living here. Seriously, it looks like something from “Hoarders”. We’re having a local junk removal service come by in nine days. So I’m taking a page from Joshua Becker. I’m ONLY pulling out stuff I want/need. The rest stays in the giant pile. I told my stepson (19) that whatever he leaves, is getting thrown out. I even left empty bins for the “keep” stuff, and told him I’d bag up the rest. I thought that would motivate him. Apparently not. Oh well. He knows the deadline. I think the “only take what you want to keep” method would work in a garage, or a teenager’s room.
What about reversing The Minimalist Game - Day 1 get rid of 30 things, Day 2 get rid of 29 things etc. etc. there's a rationale, but I'll let you figure it out. 🙂
I use the weather method. Lol. When I'm snowed in, it's too cold out or rainy outside... I pick a zone in my home and attack it. I'm more of a farm gal so March-October I'm outside all day. Winter weather blues gives me a reason to motivate myself. So, I am a weather purger. 😁
Something that has assisted me over the years is the answer to 'what if I need it later?' I do ask that question and like Marie Kondo, if it wells up that Yes (similar to Spark Joy) ... then I keep it. If not, I let it go . AND I know, if I suddenly need it again 6 months later, instead of getting upset, I remember I made a thought out decision and if I buy it again, it benefits the world, for someone makes those items, stores sell them on and on and on. It so easy to just move on.
A lifetime of trying to be frugal and save the planet by not wasting has left me with a lot of stuff even 2 years after starting KonMari for me several mindsets need to change and I find each method tackles a particular one, I am going to try the Swedish Death method mentioned below for my sentimental items. I have devised my own plan of one ring binder with items from my life with each item having a story attached, written on a post-it to go in one of my abundant overstock of plastic wallets after decluttering my study notes. No story, doesn't get kept. I am essentially writing a memoir for myself and my son. Physical items can be photographed and added. The odd items I have space to display/use for will be kept. This is what I would have liked from my Grandma when she died. It also makes an ongoing process for what to do with new sentimental items. I plan to start one for my son too 🙂
It doesn't work fo everything. my knife for peeling potatoes for example doesn't spark joy or make me happe, because i hate peeling potatoes. But i still need it, so i can't throw it out. A lot off things you just need to keep even if it doesn't make you happy
Being bipolar, decluttering is hard for me because when I get manic I tend to shop. Needless to say, having too much stuff is a big one for me. I have a hard time letting go of things knowing how much I paid for it. The best decluttering method that has worked for me is one simple thing. I go from room to room and ask myself have I used this item in the last year. Thats it. If I haven't, then about 90% of the time I just toss it or sell it. The stuff that I can't let go of i put in a visible place and if I haven't used it in 3 months then it goes too.
I have started with Komari years ago. I have not been through each of my possesions but definitely most of them. Every now and then I look at some of my belongings and get rid of stuff that does not bring me joy. I believe that at some point in my life I will only have the stuff that I really want to have. I am also inspired by "the Swedish death cleaning" theory. My dad passed away 7 years ago and although he did not have that many things at the time he died (he has lost a lot due to some life situations) it has still been really draining and time-consuming to go through his stuff. I know people who are completely paralized by the stuff their parents left behind. I do not want this for my son...
My problem with pick a room is the things travel back and forth... One method I like when I walk in a room the threw up... I gather everything out of place into a pile... cleaner it is the smaller it is... I'm down to a shoebox pile to put away. By using this method I'm able to look at 'clean' space to put things away and I can sort and put away like items once. I use my catch pile for the random lego or car then put them all away at once at clean up time
Great ideas! I love the "boxing" idea to put everything in boxes and see if you really need them. I did that specifically with clothes last year and it's amazing how few items I really want to wear! I think we all have a lot of clothes in our closet that we rarely wear, but for some reason just hang onto them.
Just pick up after yourself. You drank your coffee and smoked clean your ash tray and wash your mug and ash tray. When you see something that is not needed deal with it. In other words deal with it once you've used them.
Nothing wrong with blank walls. Who says art has to be framed! A chair is a work of art. A lamp is a work of art. I prefer to live in a home not a museum or a dept. Store.
I am in the process of moving and 2 car rides are nesessary. I’m kind of annoyed we couldn‘t get it done in one mainly because I need to escape the place I am currently in, but I do like the amount of furniture I own.
When you get older you can’t keep replacing all those things you need that you threw out. You buy less when you have everything you need. Throw out when it wears out.
If you put advertising in your video, please say it in the beginning, so we know that a video about minimalism and decluttering ist actually trying to make us buy even more stuff! Thanks!
In my experience, Konmari works great if you do it AFTER having done some of the other methods. Konmari would overload me if I had to sift through all of the stuff I had at first, not being able to tell if something really makes me happy or not because each category would have so much stuff to get through. By reducing the bulk of stuff that definitely didn't make me happy through the room by room, 4-5 box method etc I had a manageable amount of clothes, books, computer equipment etc to really consider if a an item makes me happy or not.
I also re-declutter about every year. So far each time I found that not only had I accrued more unneeded stuff (I'm learning! :) ), things that seemed important or undecided a year ago, became obsolete after not using it enough or at all.
That's how I feel! I did the bulk of my decluttering by finding out what I don't want and need, then when I had a lot less stuff I focused on what I really wanted and needed.
I started the items for each day of the month, last month, on the 15th, so I doubled up on days, to fill the calendar. I literally have a marker hanging on my calendar, and put a big star in the boxes when complete! This makes my competitive side happy, and I'm excitedly searching for what to ditch next😎 Today is January 2, and I've already (in no particular order) filled up 5 days!😁 Thank you for encouragement, and inspiration!
I'm going to move soon, and No.2, the packing party is exactly what I plan to do. (With a bit of obvious decluttering before, while packing in the first place..)
In the last 12 months, I have decluttered 60 (13 gallon) trash bags of belongings and 7 pieces of furniture and couldn't be happier. I feel like I can actually breathe,
Well done you x
@@Ben-jq3ov thank you,
Way to go!!! Good job!!!
@@bettewall235 thank you!
Billy Boulton I agree. I never understood it. Also, Fahrenheit...
and I’m American.
i started with konmari but ended up just going room by room, its been over 2 years since i started and i still find myself every few months letting go of things that ive previously kept for some reason or another
i absolutely love the feeling of being surrounded with things i love and not having to think about all the extra
I wish more people realised how magical decluttering is!! I need to push myself even more to declutter I think!
👍💯
Gabe Bult the box one sounds like the best to me personally :)
It definitely works!
Instead of 1 thing a day I use my own "20 things out" method. Whenever the mood or need takes me I find 20 things to discard. Maybe once or twice a month.
for myself: "declutter as you go" -as i run into "useless" or "why do i have this" items or cluttered areas i nip those it in the bud. this may be 0-20 items a week, depending. however, its a thoughtful process that prevents re-cluttering
So much joy in less! Thank You! I am 61 and a crazy nomad I love my backpack, hiking boots, and freedom. ☘️☘️☘️ Love from Ireland
Thanks Gabe for this lovely video. I love all
of these ideas. I’m an aspiring minimalist. And I love Konmari.
When I was pregnant with my 2nd child, we lived in a large house in a cookie cutter neighborhood. I was losing it mentally, having so much junk. So as a very pregnant woman, I did the full Konmari method before I gave birth. It changed my life. We moved from our large house to a tiny 1 bedroom 600 sq ft apartment in downtown. The 4 of us. We let the kids share the room and the adults slept on a couch bed in the main area, creating a “studio” of sorts. We lived there happily for a couple years then bought a camper and renovated it. We lived in that for 14 months while we saved and renovated a small historical home with a half acre lot. Our new home was a hoarder house. It was gross and falling apart. We took 8 months living next to it in our camper to make this 900 sq foot house our home. So much blood, sweat and tears. But worth it.
The goal: urban homestead. Garden, animals, hospitality. Kid sanctuary. Rest. A haven where all are welcome.
And It all started with reading the KonMari books.
Your journey sounds amazing 😉
@@Havanah2006 Thank you Sani. ♥️
What a great story!!
Since last year after watching The Minimalist documentary on Netflix I got rid of 20 bags full of items. I now have a box at the front of my apartment door and whenever I want to get rid of something I place it in there and once it’s full I place everything into a bag and bring it to a donation center. I still need to go through stuff but I already feel lighter since last year. 🤗
👏
1. One 365 (Get rid of one thing every day)
2. Have a packing party (Only take out it if you're gonna use it)
3. Room by room
4. The minimalist game (Day 1: one thing. Day 2..., Day 30.)
5. 4 box method (Trash, Relocate, Donate, Sell) (Undecided, 90 days)
6. Konmari (Marie Kondo)
I'm decluttering even more so I don't have to clean as much.
It's amazing the smallest things we keep.
It’s insane!
I’ve been going at this for about 2 years and I’ve done a mishmash of methods. Sometimes I’ve focused on categories other times I’ve focused on spaces. I’ve tried mostly focusing on whichever thing I felt mist strongly to do that day. Konmari worked well for my clothes, it helped me significantly reduce the amount due to the whole shock to the system of seeing it all in a pile. Did a similar thing with the kitchen, eliminating all the surplus and gadgets I just don’t use. With more entertainment type stuff, like movies, games, etc. I’ve done more of a habitual slow trickle. Every couple of months I look through each item and pick out those I feel done with. That has worked best for me and my collection is under half as big as it once was. With more decorative items, whenever I clean, if I find I’d rather not have to clean or move it to clean the space, then I clearly don’t value it enough to keep. Works wonders, actually, lol
Once you get all the big stuff done, I higly recommend keeping a box or bag (I use a blue Ikea bag) to put things you realize in your day to day you no longer wish to keep. I still find myself dropping items regularly into the bag even after 2 years.
yes! i was recently cleaning a shelf and decided to get rid of 2 of the pieces on it because i just didnt care as much for them
ive konmaried my clothes twice, at first i had 250 items and now its down to 67 for all year round (i was too curious not to count)
These are great ideas! I think I like the box method the most. I have the same problem with keeping the boxes though. I'm good at putting things into boxes or bags but then I feel bad just throwing it all away. I end up with boxes of books and clothes that I want to donate but don't know where to take them and they end up just staying in my house 😅
Find charities that will take them. I don't know about the US or other parts of the world, but, i live in the UK and give all my stuff to the British heart Foundation. They take furniture, clothes and books as long as they are in a good condition.
I’m in the UK too! I’ll try that, thanks!
You could always try the 30 day method backwards! If you’re really ambitious and want to have results faster!
yes like an advent calendar
this is a better way i think. thanks for the tip.
I've moved around quite a bit so every time that I packed I would get rid of stuff so I had less to move. I watched Marie Kondo on Netflix and went through my clothes again and got rid of more. I have a family so it is sometimes hard to find the time to declutter and organize. What I've been doing is keeping a box for donations and another box to sell and when I see stuff that I don't need I'll just put it in one of those boxes. I'll add toys when I notice that the kids don't play with them anymore. If I have a little time I try to go through something like a drawer or a cupboard. We plan on having a garage sale this summer.
To declutter a home, a place or a life is like peeling an onion, layer by layer. For best result, peel when the onion is ready to be harvested...
I have tried and used alot of different "methods" over the last10-ish years. Before that I didn´t think about methods I just got rid of stuff from time to time.
I have done...
"10 items a week" - often more, never less, the "more" number cant be saved for next week.
"10 items a day" - for shorter periods.
"Mins game" - I never save numbers for another day andI see the date/number as a minimum not a fixed number.
"Mins game, mixed dates" - Draw a number from 1-30 and declutter at least tham many items.
"Empty every cabinet, drawer, room one by one" Clean and put back what shud be there, purge alot.
"Rage purge" : ) Just throw alot of things out. good for somedays...
"Declutter 5000 items over a year" I did this more then one year...
"Declutter 3000 items in a year" What I have done the last two years.
My favourite book on the subject is Clean your clutter with Feng Shui. That is the only one in the genre that I really liked and that did something for me. I purge to "hands on" for things like the "soft" Kon Mari. The Swedish Death cleaning... well... it´s so much more in irl then that book. It´s someting loads of ppl here have done like always and nothing that an author invented. It´s about cleansing and perhaps downsizeing...
I don´t remember when but one day I just found the thing that worked for me. I turned the way of thinking about decluttering upside down. I pick my favourites, things I like, love and use. Things that doesn´t make these criterias has a strong risk of being decluttered.
If someone want to try that method the easiest is to start with something with small amount of attachment and where it is most practical to do. I would say the sock drawer.
Take all the socks out and look at them. Pick your absolut favourites. Think practical, how many "good pair" of socks do I have and need". If you have that amount, pick them, if you have more, choose from them and less, pick as many Good socks as you have, just good ones (perhaps invest in some more of the good ones if needed).
Now you only have socks that you and your feet likes and all the socks will be used.
All the other socks...socks that itch, the ones that has to tight or to loose elastics, the ones that you don´t like the color on, the ones with big holes ... just get rid of them. Coz you don´t want to use them anyway so why keep them. Do Not save any of the socks for "just in case".
If some of these decluttered socks is of value for someone else like a shelter take them there, if not recycle them the best way you can do in your area/country. It always feels the best to do good the whole circle.
When you´re done with the socks try next thing or area , pick the one who are the second easiest for you. It might be underwear (who want to keep/use uncomfortable ones), shoes (bin the ones that hurt your feet, you are worth better), shawls (you will never use an itchy one so why keep it?), books (that only collect dust and wasn´t that good that you want to read them again, someone else might love them), mugs (we all reach for our favs the others are just taking up space...) or something else... We are all different.
Now I am on inherited things... like my grandmothers jewels, her mothers and my grandmothers sisters jewels aso. Antique stuff that I have been gifted or given as memorabilia... This kind of familystuff I don´t just throw out, I relocate it to relatives who wants it...
A long one : ) but I could talk for hours about decluttering : ) it´s one of my favorite subjects : )
I live in Sweden and we have excellent oppertunitys to recycle and let things go to the right place when decluttering here. I give things to different places like a free store, a shelter, a cat shelter, the Red Cross second hand store, I sell in a commission store, I sell online, I give to friends, I regift, I sell on fleemarkets, I donate material aso.
Why would you ever throw away a brand new pencil!?! There are schools, there are poor students...just give it away!!
That's my issue too. I don't want to be wasteful. Our planet resources are limited and if we don't care, who will? So maybe put all those school type supplies in a box and take them to the school for kids that might need them for school or at home.
I can tell you from working in schools that it is much appreciated when people donate art and office supplies
I believe the purpose of the 1 item per day for the month/year is not to see results quickly but to build a habit. Since it is a lifestyle solution, a binge of decluttering will not sustain or reset your mind to make decluttering as natural as drinking your morning cup of coffee. For some baby steps are the best starting point if you feel overwhelmed. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experiences in these videos!
I like the method of decluttering by category, but the "sparking joy" idea is too vague for me. Instead, I gather everything and set a concrete limit by quantity or space. Like limiting to ten shirts, or however many books will fit on a certain shelf. You're forced to pare down to your favorites, and it puts you in control of exactly how much of each thing you really want around.
Okay so what do you think about this: The 30 days method in reverse! You start with decluttering 30 items, then 29, 28... day 30 just 1 thing. Tadaa!
I think my personality type might be the same as yours and this seems more appealing to me xD
I had the same thought. I think this method idea works along a similar idea to Kaizen, building a habit that eventually you upscale. But I like the idea of "all out" followed by keeping the habit going.
This is a wonderful idea! Thank you for posting. It actually works well with the idea that you usually have a ton of motivation at the start but eventually run out of steam. I’m gonna share this with friends. Again thanks
@@cookfamily6141 I'm happy you liked the idea! Us backwards people have to stick together, right xD
How about one week instead of a month.
I've tried to help some pack rat friends (and failed) but I think the room by room + 4 boxes methods are pretty good systems. If you don't know where to start, then at least start with getting ride of stuff that is visibly broken and that progress can build momentum.
Gabe I think a video on Swedish Death Cleaning would be interesting. Perhaps not now, cause it could be seen as insincere as COVID does it's thing. But I think there is value in being prepared for sudden loss. My extended family had to deal with a (non COVID) tragedy a few weeks ago and it made me think about making sure things are in order.
I did Marie Kondo’s method and although it’s extreme, I’ve never experienced lasting cleanliness and order like I have with this. Annually I do a declutter review but there’s no need for me to re-do her method each time. Although I’m moving away from extreme methods, I’d do this again and again.
My system is sub room. I sort a dresser, or a closet. In an hour it's effective and less disruptive. I set up a folding table to sort between keep and toss. Only two choices faster more effective.
Gabe, I used a simplified KonMari method, type of thing at a time. Then now more fly lady. But I started 7 years ago and I'm still at it. I have about a third of what I had. Talk about having breathing room! I'm still rather disorganized with paperwork, financials, etc. etc.
I just love to sell or throw away things, it gives me the biggest joy in my life
My sisters and I went thru my mother's boxes a month ago. Some had been in my laundry room since she moved to Arizona 4 years ago and some since she moved back in 2018. She passed away April 2019. We used the keep donate sell system. Still have her Christmas stuff because we haven't figured how to sell it yet with quarantine. I have custody of photos for the family history research.
Facebook marketplace is still a pretty good place to sell stuff in quarantine
Instead of 'does it spark joy?' You can also ask yourself: Is it a treasure, tool or trash? Shoeless Joe (look him up on yt!) came up with these categories and if it's a treasure you keep it, if it's a tool (and if you don't use it, it's not really a tool in the strict sense) you keep it and if it's neither: it's trash, you get rid of it. For some people these categories might be better than 'does it spark joy?'
😁 No worries Gabe...zero judgment on your decluttering mishaps. Honestly, I think sometimes we just don’t consciously realize how much clutter affects our mental wellbeing until it’s literally right in our way. 😄Visual clutter can be quite unsettling-for many different reasons. Love that you mentioned Marie Kondo, I find her methods quite simple & foundational for building a functional yet beautiful space. Great video Gabe! 😊👍
Thanks Lisa 👍💯
Having found this channel is really making a difference in my own journey. So thank you for your videos. Keep it up!!
I went hardcore n got rid of everything all at once😀
👏
Cool!
Super time saver probably less regrets.
@@bigpumpsea Ya n was worth it..didn't have to worry about it for weeks n months..felt like I was moving suddenly lol
When you have time. Found today was a clump of candle wax, old pizza boxes in case we could use the cardboard, and a oatmeal box just in case.😂
I lost interest after he threw that perfectly fine pencil into the bin. I mean why? Decluttering does not mean throwing away things. You can use up things you have and not buy new ones, you can donate or pass on to someone in need. Why throw?
It was a joke man I didn't really throw it out
Okay. I believe you. :)
At 1:37 I saw what I think is "The Haunting of Hill House". I also saw "The Yearling". You have good taste in books. I'm glad to see a home with books in it.
Most of those are my wife's lol
Decluttering at the speed of life by Dana K White. With her method you declutter without making a mess
Dana K White’s decluttering method has worked for me, too. You make progress without pulling everything out and creating a bigger mess. You can stop any time and do as much or as little as you have time for. Start with visible spaces, throw away trash, ask where you’d look for items first and “take it there now”, keep only what fits in the container, sort like items to see what can be eliminated. It really works. The best method for my brain and the long-term habits developed using this method have stuck.
Maybe the minimalist game backwards . . . or starting with 10, or 10 per day for a month.
There's some easy things to get rid of. I started one year ago with big and obvious unecessary things that I had no choice but to throw away or donate (clothes). I knew I was going to move the next year and I'm sure it helped a lot. The process gets harder and harder as the things remaining are just small things like pens. I have too many, I just wait until they're finished and I intend to buy durable and refillable ones. It's frustrating to think they will still last me months or years but I refuse to throw away things that work just for the sake of decluttering.
Decluttering is very satisfying but I hope most people don't just buy more and declutter tons of things every year just for the sake of decluttering. That wasteful and pointless.
This guy should have like 1M subs , ngl but these videos are really good , I can say these are nearly equal to mat d vella's videos
My favourite is definitely the Konmari Method. I've done it twice: once before moving and the second time while unpacking and it is truly life-changing. I've read Marie Kondo's first two books and I love everything she says. I do think that when moving you can get a more agressive effect, so maybe what I did was a mix of the Packing Party and the Konmari Method. Anyway, it worked. It's been a year and a half since I ended this method and even though my house is far from perfect, it is a million times better ❤️
I loved that savage move where you swished all that stuff off the counter. Priceless 💕
I think if you’re doing the 4/5 box method it’s best to combine that with room by room. That way you put stuff in the relocate box that doesn’t belong in, say, the bedroom but does in the living room. I’d also say that if you put stuff in a ‘don’t know’ box if you haven’t gone back to that box in 3 months, donate it without opening it. You haven’t needed it in 3 months and you’re not likely to need it in the next 3.
You are such a very wise young man! Thank you so much for sharing these videos!
I started with Feng Shui decluttering years ago, then went to KonMari, definitely good method to be faced with actual reall amount of things you own, cause its so easy to think you have less than you actually do. Did a bit of packing party type, as after moving, while renovating house we lived out of few boxes so it made it easier to downsize. Also did a bit of combo with methods from book titled 'the joy of less' by F. Jay. Modular sorting etc. But overall I combine KonMari with zero waste approach and minimalism, so does it bring value? Is it made of sustainable materials, did I pay the Earth Cost on this? Does it fit: 'Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or be beautiful'.
Wouldn’t it be better to ask the question about sustainable materials BEFORE purchasing rather than as a decluttering question? If you ask once it’s in your possession, it seems like getting rid of a functional item would be wasteful at the same time that you’re trying to give the appearance of being a good steward of earth’s resources.
This is an interesting concept. I think you could do this if it becomes a daily habit.
Done the mins game, was fun for a month but not really sustainable. Also done a couple of thorough wardrobe de-clutters and the whole "turning hangers the other way to see if you're using stuff" thing. We're moving twice in the next 12 months so might give the packing party thing more of a go. Definitely need to further declutter. And that's before I even get started on the music gear...
Liked your info, didn't like the volume of background music very distracting and over rode your words, had to watch 2 different times as it agitated me
Thanks for summaries Gabe. I’m fond the 1 room at a time for the quick win. I know a few of us that also need to work on our book collections which is why I’m reading more Kindle versions
Books can often be tied to who we believe ourselves to be and therefore difficult to get rid of. The Clutterbug RUclipsr actually had a great thought on this. If you feel your identity is tied to books, that you are a book lover, and yet you don’t share your love of books with others by passing on or selling books you’ve already read (and are not likely to read again) then are you really a book lover or are you a book hoarder. What are your actions saying?
Getting rid of just one object per day seems absurd, unless you've already been a minimalist for years and you've got some idea about how many objects you want to have. The average home has 300,000 items, so one per day won't make any dent at all. You won't even notice it (which might be the point - for someone who clings to everything, this might be what they need to get over the hurdle and apply one of the other techniques!). What I went for instead is getting rid of 1 cubic foot of stuff (at least) per week. At that rate, I'd have a much less cluttered space in a year. After doing that for a few months, I was able to pick up the pace. I usually get rid of 4-5 cubic feet per week now.
Momentum is what gives the best reward so agreed 👍
I am a stoic and a new modern minimalist not hardcore with wearing the same color cloths and cloths, and having an empty place. So far I have been on a 30 day home purging challenged and purged my entire car and 5 rooms and the garbage got so bad and trips to thrift that my family said "okay you are doing too much now, take a break" yesterday I was so exhausted from decluttering I basically laid down and passed right out. I still have kitchen to purge and a few drawer which I am doing on Monday. Tomorrow is my second clothing purge and it's going to be down to even less and going to get very real.
Gabe the babe!!!!! Always enjoy your videos!!!! Got a question for you. I noticed your coffee thing of my gig...lol where can I get one at a good price? I love making coffee this way. Right now I make mine with a filter and a strainer. Thank you and look forward to another video! !
I think I just got my stuff on Amazon
The coffee itself I get from a local roaster called flight coffee
mine is kind of an onion peel method. have accumulated things for over forty years. so getting rid of every nonessential at once is a daunting task. over last two years i have gotten rid of 60% of my stuff. but gradually, like peeling onions. in first round we get rid of some things then when we revisit the same area we find that we can get rid of some more n so on... it is less overwhelming😇
Sounds good !
Gabe: 4 box method
Me: Already decluttered all the boxes
Love your channel ❤😷👍
Thanks 👍
Did you really throw away a perfectly good pencil? 🤦♀️
I'm currently doing this weekly decluttering. Nothing so stressful but a good start for me.
Keep it up
Fly Lady does a 24 dash or something like that. Run around a room or two and collect 24 items for donations. She's more of a learn to tame your house type of guru but she's great. She does timed dashes too. It makes it so that your first instinct to donate something is what you should stick to.
Your first instinct to declutter is the way to go!!!
So true!
I have discovered it through 4 years af decluttering. If I had been brave enough to follow my instinct the first time it would have saved me a lot of time.
But it is super hard
I always see 'things' in all the Minimalist videos that are not essential... being a Minimalist is about not having what is extraneous... it is a complete examination of 'stuff', very specialized... to the general public, odd & difficult - 35 yr Minimalist
I love that you still have the label on your trash bin. Decluttering is great IF your family are in board( I am shoveling in a blizzard!)
If your family is not on board, declutter just your stuff. Set an example. It may take even a couple of years, but trust me, you WILL make an impact. They might not become as mininalist as you but they eventually will start reducing.
Also, agreeing on designated places for their "mess" is a great idea to help you accept their different perspective
Good luck :)
I used the KonMari method on all my clothes and then my child's clothes. Then I switched to doing one room at a time. I did really well on the child's room and he was so happy it was done. But once I declutter the living room too then I ended up with extra items piling up in my bedroom. My bedroom is now overwhelming so I just keep watching decluttering videos. Sadly the videos haven't helped me get motivation to finish. Help me with my motivation! 🤪
Hi Lisa K..
I know this feeling... Just shifting stuff from one room to another when decluttering and finding homes for everything in a room.
I have been on this journey since January 2017 (when my ex finally moved out). Just separating 18yrs of joint stuff was the first ordeal. I have packed almost 70 boxes of his stuff.. Which he needs to get.... But life gets in the way,.. Work, kids,..I have changed my kids rooms 1-2x since Jan 2017 due to their changing needs...a kid to teenager room, toddler to kindergarten kid room and now again to junior school kid room.
Also mental health issues which can help or hinder the process play a big roll.. I have burnout and exhaustive depression.. So I have stuff in piles for months (which annoys me) ..but when I am well enough to have a another declutter and sort... I go for it.... I am now starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.. By the end of this year I want things at a level that I feel comfortable and not stressed by my belongings. But it is always an ongoing process.. Especially with kids!...
.... so don't worry you will get there!.. And each time you go back to it, it gets easier and you can be more ruthless :)... Try and see the "forced breaks" as needed mental (and physical) resets to start the next level of your decluttering journey .. These breaks do have their advantages because (as you wrote) "Then next time you go back to it you declutter more you didn't the first time around" . :)
Also.. To get re-motivated to start again... First deal with general rubbish (empty all your bins) and then go through your house to see if there is anything you definitely know you want to get rid of and add that to the rubbish/recycle pile .. That will give you the motivation to start again! (I find that helps me.. Especially when rubbish/recycle pick-ups are due).
Next year I want to start on digital clutter... Not looking forward to that chaos! All my Photos are priority... . My poor kids are 8 and 15..and I have no albums for them.. So I really need to get some made.. I have their memory boxes done.. I use the system from the "do it on a dime" you tuber.. A file box with a hang file for each school year to put eg arts and crafts they made.. Then one box for "lumpy" memory stuff eg.. Baby clothes from hospital, christening candle etc... It so great to have it done, and easy to manage their stuff now when it comes in the house. . And it will be easy for them to take when they leave home!.. Just 2 memory boxes per kid.
Hope some of these tips help!... Good luck!
@@rebeccarendle3706
Thank you so much for the words of encouragement and advice! I'm going to start doing the hanging folders for the years of school, that's a great tip.
@@intherockies you are welcome :)
The Do it on a dime you tuber did it per calendar year.. But said that school year would be better... And I agree totally and it even works from birth!.. Good luck!..
I am just working on paper clutter now while watching a movie... Makes it more enjoyable ;)
My ten year old daughter and I recently decluttered and it feels amazing. She was completely on board with getting rid of things and rearranging furniture. She even helps pick up every evening to keep things in check. We have so much more space now and cleaning is so much easier!
The declutter method that works best for me is: Take a photo of the area that I cleaned and tidied. How is it looking? I’ve noticed after taking a photo in my home for IG or creating a video that my background was still busy. So then I cleared the shelf and refused to put the books 📚 back so that was it, donated the next day. Or even that moment when guests visit and I rush to clear the dresser - it should be cleared all the time.
Also, watching Extreme Minimalist on RUclips and listening to podcasts while tidying and cleaning. People that question every single item they own. Because really it’s a mindset shift that needs to occur and tiny habits that must be formed daily to adopt a new lifestyle.
I started van life and moved to a minivan. That was a huge declutter. I could only take stuff that fitted in the minivan. Few things. That made me happy
Boxing up items by category works. I then created 2 boxes of items I wished to resell online and trade the physical item profit for a digital dividend stock. I sold a 20 year old VHS remote. You never know what people need.
My grandmother passed in 2009. We hung her clothes in the basement, they have been there ever since.
I like the idea of the Room by Room method. I think I’ll start with the smallest room and go from there. The office is the one that concerns me the most. I’m never sure what to keep and what I can get rid of. I’m going to start Jan. 1st 2021. ♿️
I've been practicing minimalism for a year now, I heard of and used different methods but some of these are new. Great job! My husband and I are moving soon so I will definitely use the packing party method :) I like the 1 in and 1 out rule and also the one where you turn wardrobe hangers after wearing certain clothes. After a while you see which you haven't worn and declutter them. Greetings from Zagreb, Croatia!
I used the wardrobe hanger method before and it’s really helpful. 👍🏼
I think the month long challenge would work great reversed. Usually you have motivation to do this the first day, so you’d do the 30/31 things no problem. I think doing one less every day would be more rewarding than doing one more every day and in the end the effect is the same. Just a thought.
Heh I am slowly doing they same thing start throwing stuff in my apartment 🙏 Filipino new subscriber living in Sydney!
We have a basement full of who knows what from nine years of living here. Seriously, it looks like something from “Hoarders”. We’re having a local junk removal service come by in nine days. So I’m taking a page from Joshua Becker. I’m ONLY pulling out stuff I want/need. The rest stays in the giant pile. I told my stepson (19) that whatever he leaves, is getting thrown out. I even left empty bins for the “keep” stuff, and told him I’d bag up the rest. I thought that would motivate him. Apparently not. Oh well. He knows the deadline.
I think the “only take what you want to keep” method would work in a garage, or a teenager’s room.
What about reversing The Minimalist Game - Day 1 get rid of 30 things, Day 2 get rid of 29 things etc. etc. there's a rationale, but I'll let you figure it out. 🙂
I use the weather method. Lol. When I'm snowed in, it's too cold out or rainy outside... I pick a zone in my home and attack it. I'm more of a farm gal so March-October I'm outside all day. Winter weather blues gives me a reason to motivate myself. So, I am a weather purger. 😁
Even if I just do one thing a week, I'd make fantastic progress compared to what I've been doing...which is amassing way too much crap.
Something that has assisted me over the years is the answer to 'what if I need it later?' I do ask that question and like Marie Kondo, if it wells up that Yes (similar to Spark Joy) ... then I keep it. If not, I let it go .
AND I know, if I suddenly need it again 6 months later, instead of getting upset, I remember I made a thought out decision and if I buy it again, it benefits the world, for someone makes those items, stores sell them on and on and on. It so easy to just move on.
A lifetime of trying to be frugal and save the planet by not wasting has left me with a lot of stuff even 2 years after starting KonMari for me several mindsets need to change and I find each method tackles a particular one, I am going to try the Swedish Death method mentioned below for my sentimental items. I have devised my own plan of one ring binder with items from my life with each item having a story attached, written on a post-it to go in one of my abundant overstock of plastic wallets after decluttering my study notes. No story, doesn't get kept. I am essentially writing a memoir for myself and my son. Physical items can be photographed and added. The odd items I have space to display/use for will be kept. This is what I would have liked from my Grandma when she died. It also makes an ongoing process for what to do with new sentimental items. I plan to start one for my son too 🙂
It doesn't work fo everything. my knife for peeling potatoes for example doesn't spark joy or make me happe, because i hate peeling potatoes. But i still need it, so i can't throw it out.
A lot off things you just need to keep even if it doesn't make you happy
Being bipolar, decluttering is hard for me because when I get manic I tend to shop. Needless to say, having too much stuff is a big one for me. I have a hard time letting go of things knowing how much I paid for it. The best decluttering method that has worked for me is one simple thing. I go from room to room and ask myself have I used this item in the last year. Thats it. If I haven't, then about 90% of the time I just toss it or sell it. The stuff that I can't let go of i put in a visible place and if I haven't used it in 3 months then it goes too.
I have started with Komari years ago. I have not been through each of my possesions but definitely most of them. Every now and then I look at some of my belongings and get rid of stuff that does not bring me joy. I believe that at some point in my life I will only have the stuff that I really want to have. I am also inspired by "the Swedish death cleaning" theory. My dad passed away 7 years ago and although he did not have that many things at the time he died (he has lost a lot due to some life situations) it has still been really draining and time-consuming to go through his stuff. I know people who are completely paralized by the stuff their parents left behind. I do not want this for my son...
My problem with pick a room is the things travel back and forth...
One method I like when I walk in a room the threw up... I gather everything out of place into a pile... cleaner it is the smaller it is... I'm down to a shoebox pile to put away. By using this method I'm able to look at 'clean' space to put things away and I can sort and put away like items once. I use my catch pile for the random lego or car then put them all away at once at clean up time
Great ideas! I love the "boxing" idea to put everything in boxes and see if you really need them. I did that specifically with clothes last year and it's amazing how few items I really want to wear! I think we all have a lot of clothes in our closet that we rarely wear, but for some reason just hang onto them.
Absolutely it definitely works!
Just pick up after yourself. You drank your coffee and smoked clean your ash tray and wash your mug and ash tray. When you see something that is not needed deal with it. In other words deal with it once you've used them.
Check out Dana K. White. Also Nourishing Minimalism. I like their sugguestion.
Nothing wrong with blank walls. Who says art has to be framed! A chair is a work of art. A lamp is a work of art. I prefer to live in a home not a museum or a dept. Store.
I am in the process of moving and 2 car rides are nesessary.
I’m kind of annoyed we couldn‘t get it done in one mainly because I need to escape the place I am currently in, but I do like the amount of furniture I own.
When you get older you can’t keep replacing all those things you need that you threw out. You buy less when you have everything you need. Throw out when it wears out.
OMG you are sooooo cute!!!
Hi, Gabe. I just wanted to share that I recognize the places in your videos. I live about 20 minutes north of you!
2:24 ‘New Construction-y’ is my preferred esthetic, homie. 😁
I would start with 30 items then 29 etc for the minimalist game- more motivational.
Marie Kondo changed my life. Seriously.
That's awesome 👍
Billy Boulton 😂 how many times have you had her in?
Folding my clothes to fit the drawer was inspired. My clothes are huge but folding to fit has improved my minimilist system 30% to 50%
Best thing about your videos is smaller span! love your content.
If you put advertising in your video, please say it in the beginning, so we know that a video about minimalism and decluttering ist actually trying to make us buy even more stuff! Thanks!
I’m minimalising my comments because they seem to be taken completely the opposite of what I mean
Amazing☆☆☆☆☆
👍
Marie Kondo's method is a bit time consuming but so worth it in the long run.
Many people follow the 40 bags in 40 days method.
In my experience, Konmari works great if you do it AFTER having done some of the other methods. Konmari would overload me if I had to sift through all of the stuff I had at first, not being able to tell if something really makes me happy or not because each category would have so much stuff to get through. By reducing the bulk of stuff that definitely didn't make me happy through the room by room, 4-5 box method etc I had a manageable amount of clothes, books, computer equipment etc to really consider if a an item makes me happy or not.
I also re-declutter about every year. So far each time I found that not only had I accrued more unneeded stuff (I'm learning! :) ), things that seemed important or undecided a year ago, became obsolete after not using it enough or at all.
That's how I feel! I did the bulk of my decluttering by finding out what I don't want and need, then when I had a lot less stuff I focused on what I really wanted and needed.
In stillness there is fullness, in fullness there is nothing-ness, in nothingness, there are all things.
One in two out method. When I buy one new item of clothing I get rid of two.
I want to do Packing Party because no decisions needed.
I started the items for each day of the month, last month, on the 15th, so I doubled up on days, to fill the calendar. I literally have a marker hanging on my calendar, and put a big star in the boxes when complete! This makes my competitive side happy, and I'm excitedly searching for what to ditch next😎 Today is January 2, and I've already (in no particular order) filled up 5 days!😁 Thank you for encouragement, and inspiration!
I ask myself does this bring me joy?
I'm going to move soon, and No.2, the packing party is exactly what I plan to do.
(With a bit of obvious decluttering before, while packing in the first place..)