Thank YOU for watching and thanks Helix for sponsoring! Go to helixsleep.com/minimalmom to get up to $200 off your mattress, plus two free pillows! Also, here is a link for the Canvas Storage Bags: amzn.to/3DAR5x9 5 Tips to Declutter Faster Video: ruclips.net/video/RDwZ64IglXQ/видео.html
Dawn, this video very much resonated with me and makes perfect sense! You're so great at explaining the psychology behind all of this, I wonder if you could please do a video (or if you already have one, please direct me to it) about WHY some people, like me, feel like we have to have something in a space... like WHY does it feel uncomfortable to me to have empty spaces... a cleared off counter, an empty area of floor along a wall in the living room, a shelf with nothing on it, that sort of thing. It's like I feel compelled to put something in an empty space! If I could understand WHY it bothers me, that would be SO helpful. Am I some kind of weirdo?! I'm worried I'm wasting my time decluttering and that I will feel the need to go buy more to fill the space, or even take something from a different room to fill a space I've decluttered. WHAT is the psychology behind that??? Thank you for being SO inspiring!!! P.S. your husband's comment, " I don't know what to do with my hands!" cracked me up!! 😆🤣
So, Husband has cancer, and recently, we spent three weeks in a hospital-appointed apartment so he could undergo treatment. We took JUST THE BASICS to the 300 sqft space, and it was amazing to see how well we did with one kitchen knife, or two towels, and three shirts, or whatever. There was a bit of a light-bulb moment, when I realized I could easily get rid of 99% of our stuff and still function (read: cook healthy meals, wear clean, well-fitting clothes, etc.) more than adequately with way less. It made me excited to come home and declutter. Your "packing for vacation" method is similar to my "packing for stem cell transplant" method, but WAY HAPPIER. ;)
Your comment really struck a chord in me. A few years ago a close family member passed from cancer and I took my family to our beach house for some breathing room and some time to come to grips. The simplicity of the house and the minimalism I encountered there changed my life. I've been on the journey every since. Sending you both hugs and prayers for supernatural healing and full recovery🤗.
Same experience.my daughter was in hospital for over 4 months at the age of 12..I lived there with her and realized very quickly how little I needed to live with...
I literally just had this conversation with my husband 3 days ago. I folded all his laundry, left it on top of his dresser, and informed him I hate putting his clothes away because his drawers are too full. He said there's room for it all to fit. Just because one can close the drawer while pushing everything down with one hand does not mean I'm going to do it.
Totally get it! I had decluttered a lot of my clothing, but hubby still had a huge pile on the floor in front of the dresser (which was also full of his clothes!)… I didn’t know what was clean and what was dirty… not sure if he knew either! I’d almost given up on doing his laundry! Luckily, he (eventually) followed my lead and we worked together to sort it all out. Now we have equal space in the dresser! And no piles! 🎉 Can fit all of his clothes in the drawers, but I wish he would let go of a few more t-shirts, just so it fits more comfortably to put away. But he’s let go of so much already, so I’m biting my tongue. 😄
Was literally just thinking about this problem, I don't want to nag him but🤪what really is frustrating for me is he's always asking if I can do the laundry cause he wants 2 of his favorite shirts, meanwhile his shirt drawer is a waterfall overflowing, he's working and his health has not been good, so I'm not going to ask him to do it himself🙈
I just spent 15 minutes going through our son's dresser drawers and got rid of a bag of clothes that no longer fit him, decluttering is never ending. It's a work in progress. 😁
I’ve never considered myself to be a clothes hoarder, pairing down clothes has always been challenging for me regardless of whichever method of decluttering I’m using. However, when you held up the salmon coloured shirt and said (I’m paraphrasing here), ‘oh, this doesn’t quite fit me anymore’, you wouldn’t take it on a trip, so why keep it in your drawer? resonated so strongly with me. I’m going to go back through my closet with this mindset, asking questions that feel relevant. I love you Dawn. Thank you for being you. 🙏🏻
I love the 20/80 theory. You only wear 20% of your clothes 80% of the time. I put all of my planner items in quarantine. Today I am finally getting rid of what I didn’t go back for. It was heartbreaking at first but I just had to remind myself that I am not that person at the moment. You help so much.
I loved the concept of keeping what I would take on vacation! That was a real “Aha” moment. It is so true that an overstuffed drawer causes trouble. Thank you for this!
This video is a serious wake up call for me and no doubt answers a question that I've asked of myself so many times in the last 18+ years... "Why is it so hard for me to keep things neat and put away!?" The amount of frustration and overwhelming anxiety that I've been through because of clutter is unbelievable. I was raised in my family with consumerism and hoarding... As a child I hated cleaning‚ I was always overwhelmed and unmotivated and this point in this video makes me realize what one of the major problems has been all along. "Stuffed drawer theory" is the reality for me and my home right now. I'm newly married (still in our first year) and we just found out we're pregnant. We have a long journey ahead of us but I am craving (at least) SOME structure in our home before our first little one comes. I want to break the cycle of hoarding and begin a healing process from all this frustration. Thank you Minimal Mom for this video and inspiring those of us who struggle! 💪🏻💙
I hope you have had the baby safely by now? How are you getting along on your minimalist journey. That first year with your first baby is crazy!!!!!! ❤
I tried the ‘packing for a trip’ technique with my jewelry this morning. It’s amazing how easy it is to pick my favorite, and most worn, pieces. I will be donating the remaining. I don’t need the huge jewelry box any more, so it’s being donated, as well.
I have gotten rid of the dresser all together. By using unconventional storage it has forced me to keep the wardrobe paired down and I can see the spots available very easily. Because of the current work environment I do still have a work wardrobe kept separately but I realized over the past year of working from home that I wear the same few outfits repeatedly by choice so that helped me to let go of many things that had been just taking up room in the closet.
I don’t care for conventional bedroom furniture and it doesn’t fit well in my small bedroom anyway. Instead, I have a stack of medium elfa drawers in my closet and that seems to be enough. This video makes me want to see if I can whittle down the contents of those drawers.
Yes, we get stuck in wearing the same things. One summer I let my husband pick out my outfit for the day. He grabbed things I hadn't worn in a while and did a great job. He picked out dresses which I don't usually wear often. He had fun and I enjoyed not having to pick out the clothes. I had to trust him. Try it out..
This theory makes so much sense! Each new season, I try to buy fewer new clothes for the kids...it’s so easy to get too much for them, and then their drawers are stuffed, and they never even wear what’s at the bottom! The cost of storing things...so very true. Thank you for sharing! 😊
I like how simple this is. I've always had 'full' drawers. I'm a Bee so the drawers were totally organized (I fold like Mari Kondo and they stay up). But I don't wear all the items in the drawer. I know I need to shop for nicer clothes, because what I wear is basically crap that I don't mind getting dirty. With all the decluttering, yard work and cleaning out of the garage I do, that's what I wear right now. But I realized if I finally get to go somewhere with other people in some kind of gathering, I don't have anything. If I was going to a wedding, I have really nice clothes, but dinner or lunch out with friends and family, I have nothing. I told myself at the beginning of this journey, I'd just shop my closet and not buy anything new until I have to. I've succeeded and my closets are getting more and more thinned out. (12 feet of closet space down to 5 feet in a spacious closet) Now it's almost Fall and soon Winter weather, I think I can continue to shop my closet for a while longer. Thanks for all of what you provide. (oh and I really miss the Sunday videos, but I'm glad you created a better life balance for yourself)
This was a great strategy! It's hard for me to go through clothes. I'm not sentimental with them, but I think I don't love most of what I have, so it's hard to get rid of things when what's left isn't satisfying either. 🙈 Can anyone else relate?
You need to find your style, just like your Clutterbug style. I don't know mine yet, and I have a lot of random dresses. If it requires more than jeans and tee, then I'm lost. We need a fashion bug quiz!
i was like this, but when its been discussed that selling items are a pain in the hiney, ive chosen to give on free site to someone in need. even if i'm down to 2 items.
I have a "fantasy dressed-up person" living in my brain. This gal thinks she wears dresses, including evening gowns! But the truth is, I'm only comfortable in casual clothes and I have ZERO occasions lately to wear a dress. So all my dresses are going into a one-year quarantine to see whether I'll decide to wear them when Covid is over, perhaps to church or some event. I need to buy a long garment bag so I can safely store away long dresses, long term, without worrying they will get musty or something.
It's amazing how intentional you need to be to avoid "junk drawers." It seems every kitchen I visit has one! When it comes to clothing drawers, it's amazing how many things can stay at the bottom that never get touched. Love focusing on pairing down to shift importance to the things that really bring you joy! 😊
I don’t have any junk draws. I do on occasion have a small pile. As I believe if I just find a home for stuff it will stay. If I make a pile in the week and sort at the weekend it works best for me
Sorry, no. I love my kitchen junk drawer. It has miscellaneous items that I like not having to fetch from office, garage. eg. tape measure, mini flash lights a few new batteries, twist ties, pen, note pad. does it collect other stuff? Sure but I sort it once a month or so. Meanwhile no piles on the countertops. I think this is the cricket style? put it out of sight in "macro sorted" way. ie miscellaneous. Love you, Minimal Mom.
@@normabaker5837 Me, too, Norma. I intentionally have a junk drawer (or a "utility drawer" if that sounds nicer 😄) and it is great. We know what's in it and it's a good home for those small things.
You made an excellent point! I used to hate putting laundry away. It would sit there for a week or more! Then I had a friend come and help me purge my closet. She is a super-minimalist and was ruthless. Now, most of the time, the laundry gets put away the same day it is done, and it feels AMAZING!! Your videos inspire me when I am feeling overwhelmed. Keep on posting, PLEASE!!
ohmigosh so helpful!! We seriously only pack our best stuff when we go on trips and I've often mentioned to my husband that I could easily live out of whatever suitcase I pack because I'm thorough when packing. So today, it's closet cleanout time, thank you, Dawn!!
I love how you explain things! It has totally transformed how I look at all.this.stuff!! I just started watching you last week and I've been dragging stuff to the curb and our donation center for days now. My "quarantine boxes" went to a storage unit until the end of the year. If I don't need it by January its going to be donated. Thank you so.much for what you do!!
@@Grammapama I agree in principle about storage units, but everyone's situation is unique.❤It takes TIME to go through stuff (our own, or emotionally charged inherited items), and for those without a garage or basement, having a peaceful living space free from piles of things can be a form of self-care.🙂
I just used this concept last night with my pants! I noticed I had a few pairs on the floor and realized they were there solely because they didn't fit on my pants shelf. I de-cluttered a few from the bottom of the pile and viola! all my pants fit nicely again.
Both of our children were in high school band and I was holding on to ALL of the band t-shirts. With your encouraging videos I’ve kept two of them and let go of the rest. I felt very guilty until they were actually out of the house and then felt joy when I could close my drawers. 😂 Thank you for the encouragement.
The light bulb went on-yay! I put the video on pause, and went directly to my closet for 5 minutes-so much better-and then finished the video. Made my day-thx!
I feel the two things that have really resonated with me from this video and others of yours is; getting rid of clothes that I get a bad feeling from (for various reasons) and the second is the “quarantine” bin where after a season I go back and go through clothes that I was originally unsure of. Going into my closet and knowing that my clothes fit me, are comfortable, and I feel good in, really gives me a sense of calm when I look at what I own. 😌
It's so true about the sense of calm! I was shocked at how good it felt to look in my closet and see only things I like and that fit me! Dawn rocks! : - )
Thank you your motivational help Dawn ! I was washing dishes while watching and looked at 2 kids plates and 2 kids bowls that I don't like and after dishes I set them aside and then dove into my white cabinet (games, art supplies, records - misc. Cabinet basically) 20 minutes later I had a trash pile, a relocate pile, a thrift pile and a quarantine pile ! Thank you! Going through the 30 day minimalism game for the second time and you help with motivation my friend ! God Bless you!
I stopped the video & got my box of "smaller jeans" out of storage & tried them & current ones on. I have been losing weight and what I was wearing was really too big. This box was from thrifting months ago with hopeful smaller sizes. Well all but 3 fit now, several fit but weren't quite right. When I ended up with too many, I tried a few again and edited out the pairs that I had to admit I would only choose if everything else was dirty!! So I ended up with 5 great pairs, and 3 waiting in the wings for a few more pounds, and the box full of jeans to go back to the thrift store! Thanks, Dawn!!
Partly based on Buzzfeed and partly because I trust you guys & your recommendation for the Helix mattress, I got one! I had gotten rid of my mattress and went back to a much older pillow top mattress because that mattress didn’t even last 5 years. (It was an expensive mattress too!) Mu pillow top was still going strong but after nightly use, and given that it was 20 years old, I HAD to get a new mattress. I was really hesitant though because that other mattress didn’t last and I sure didn’t want to deal with that again (buying again well before it’s “expiration” date). I bought within 24 hours of your first ad. I didn’t use your code because they were offering just as good. But I wanted to tell you this because, you deserve credit for my purchase! I also go the pillows and mattress protector! Thank you! Plus you guys are so cute. As much as Tom is such a man, I love to see him cuddling with you, Dawn!
You have helped me get my house in order over the past 2-3 years. I finally started labeling after listening to you and wow is that effective at putting stuff away. I shied away from labels bc they seemed so extreme but it is amazing and it is like the ‘address’ for the item and it makes putting stuff away automatic for my whole family. My house and clothing serve me so well now because of all you great ideas. The video about the silent to do list is everything to me, I can walk around my home and if I hear anything negative coming from an item, it goes in my donation box in the basement. I keep a box at all times and plan to visit my favorite thrift store monthly which is actually such a treat and the highlight of my calendar. Also the concept of inventory and managing it is life changing. And I love your idea of making your home feel simple like a vacation rental. Brilliant concepts spoken so well with love and compassion. Keep up the good work. Be well, my friend.
I find that for simple storage, cube drawers work really well for me. I have 1 cube each for: - daily t-shirts and tank tops - shorts and skirts and sarongs - pants - long sleeve shirts and sweatshirts - pajamas and sweatpants - socks - underwear - cold weather hats and gloves (on entry rack) - scarves (on entry rack) - dressy clothes are on hangers - baseball caps are on the entry coat rack or in the car where we would use them I move the cubes based on the season (summer wear gets put at torso level in summer, then gets switched to the bottom row in the winter) This helps reduce sorting and discerning that my brain would otherwise have to do in the morning, and makes getting dressed much easier and faster. It also makes it easier to grab the things we may need right where we would think to grab or use them before we go out. I Marie Kondo fold my clothes so that I can see what my options are and how many days I have left before needing to do laundry (yes, underwear and socks too. Huge time saver!) The keeping the drawers clean and going on vacation are good tips 👍
I cleaned out all my drawers and made immediate "Yes or No" decisions (I rarely use the TWT or quarantine bins - something either stays or goes) and what a difference! I do use a Marie Kondo-style folding technique (I made up my own) and created drawer dividers from foam board and I not only love how it looks but how it functions! I know when it's time to do laundry (no more "Oh no, I'm out of undies yesterday" moments!) and I am SO much more likely to fold and put away clean laundry as soon as it reaches the bedroom! Same thing for my hanging garments - some stayed, most went and now I can actually hang clean laundry without having to struggle for space on the hanging rods! AND, as an aside, I also got rid of every extra hanger except 6 of two kinds (one kind for shirts/dresses/one kind for pants/skirts.) No more fighting my way through endless hangers that never want to be separated from one another!! I'm by no means a minimalist but I am living a newly liberated life style! Thank you Dawn!
You are so motivating. As so many others have said, it is truly a never ending process. Everytime you upload a new video, it prompts me to go through another drawer or donate what I already needed to. Thanks for all that you do!
I was traveling for work for over two years and living very comfortable out of a small suitcase, that was my lightbulb moment that I didn’t need an over-filled closet of clothes. During pandemic being home with ALL my possessions 24/7 I purged another 50%. I am loving having less inventory in my home and a closet of cloths that fit.
I took my girl guide motto of Be Prepared to heart and pack literally every possible thing for a trip. My brother once made me a little clay kitchen sink so I could pack that too😅. I used to have a survival bag that I carried wherever I went, even shopping. So now, I'm trying to envision that I am packing to leave my house during an apocalyptic event (seems appropriate for the world at the moment) and what I would actually take with me if the world was ending. 😅😂
Im binging all your video's while i have been stuck at home while my son has a tummy bug. I have honestly never binged a YT channel like this before!!!!!! Its really helped me clear a mental block over my space and storage, im in a really tiny flat in England and i just need to accept that i need to pare down my belongings to fit the flat. Ive binned loads of out of date paperwork and filled bags for the charity shop already ❤ Edit: oh and i pray that one day God blesses me with a husband who looks at me with as much love in his eyes as your husband does with you. So lovely!
My recent experience suggests that, yes indeed, having less in the storage space means it’s easier to put things away and the place stays tidier. 🎉🎉🎉 I recently cleared out our bathroom cabinet, which is quite small, and I put back only the things we use daily. I used containers to group items and make use of vertical space. Every item has a specific home. Other items to keep went in a container in the hall linen closet, where they are still easily accessible when needed. It’s been a few weeks, we’re not missing any items, and the sink counter (also tiny) is staying completely clear! And hubby has started putting his own things away, without me ever asking! 😄👍
Definitely agree with the stuffed drawer "issue". It pertains to all drawers, cabinets, really everything you use for storage. I've been watching as many videos of yours that I can find. You're so easy to watch, listen to, and understand. You make it very easy to get up and go declutter. You are super motivating....thank you for doing what you do 😊
Stuffed drawer theory.. I immediately thought of books!! If there isn't space on the shelf no one will put the books away! I have really adopted letting the container be the boundary and the bad guy. Thanks for all the helpful tips, Dawn!
Great timing with this video for me. I was thinking recently that I should declutter by dresser drawers some more and my bathroom drawers some more because they are a little too full. Now I'm motivated to get that done. Thanks. Good tips as usual.
Oh wow! This video posted at the PERFECT time! I’m on vacation this week and told my husband just last night(after I cleaned out his dresser 🤷🏻♀️😂) that today I’m going to clean out a couple of drawers in my dresser 🙌🏻👏🏻🙌🏻. Thank you so much! ❤️
I absolutely love your videos. I retired the end of July. I am a 37 year special education teacher. Trust me when I say.....I have stuff. Living simply at this time of my life is what I want. As of today, I have decluttered my upstairs....every closet, drawer, bin, nook and cranny! My main level has also been completely decluttered except for 2 bins of papers. 2 other bins have been recycled or shredded so these will be done soon. I'm now ready to tackle our basement which consists of the laundry/storage room, a family room and a large craft room with attached bathroom,/storage room. I have gotten rid of so much stuff. None of our drawers or shelves are stuffed. Thank you so, so much for helping me realize I do not need the stuff.
Wonderful explanation! I’ve had a difficult time justifying empty space. This is what I need to keep in mind! I’m so thankful for the way that you, Cas, and Dana have learned from each other and combined your ideas!
Right before summer I had an aha moment. My kids' drawers were always a mess and no one wanted to put their laundry away. I did a quick declutter of their drawers and poof problem solved. They started school last week and seriously we have not had a problem all summer long. My elementary age kids actually thanked me for making their chores easier.
You simplify things so well. Watching you sort through your clothes is encouraging. It shows how little you attach emotion to your clothes, like it doesn't have to be a big deal.
Love the 'pretend you are packing' method! That will really help me make fast decisions. I was at a thrift store recently and was continually saying to myself, "if it's not a definite yes, it's a definite no." Thank you Dawn!
Love, love, love this video! Soooo helpful! The vacation method is a FANTASTIC idea! Woo hoo! You are such an inspiration. I had so many t-shirts. When I went to pair them down, I also got rid of any t-shirts that didn't feel soft and comfy. I am at a place in my life where I think I deserve to have soft fabrics against my skin. 😁 Especially for casual clothes.
Oh my gosh..were you at my house today? I stuffed one more sweater into the same dresser you have.. the drawer was stuffed and I thought "I really should take care of that!" Now I'll go through them to see what I really would wear during a normal week. I liked the visuals in this video as well of showing the games full on the shelf with no room to put a game back vs. a pared down shelf with room to easily put away a game. Thanks for sharing!
I have been trying to figure out how I want to decide on clothes to keep for the upcoming season change. I love the idea of asking "would I pack this to take on a trip?". I think it will make my decision process so much easier.
I love this way of looking at it! You’re totally right about the types of things you pick when packing for vacation, soooo why am I even holding onto these other clothes?? Looking at it this way makes it seem so simple and freeing. I can think of 3 shirts already that I constantly push out of the way to get to others I like more… they need to go! I love all your tips but this one has really resonated with me!
This is 100% true! I just recently decluttered my clothes after watching one of your videos. I feel so much better! All my clothes get put away right from the laundry now. Everything in there fits and I like it! Easy decisions 😊
Yes! This is something I deal with so much! I've always been adept at packing and making room for things, but the day came when there was no extra room to put things away out of sight. Drawers are stuffed. I take stuff out, but I am not good and getting rid of stuff. What a great idea to pack a suitcase to pick out the things you really like and like to wear! I have only made baby steps, and truthfully, after my last camping trip, I can't even reach my closet, but I will get there!
My Takeaway from this video is twofold: 1. Heading to WalMart? or whatever store has those storage bag/box units, and 2. Going online to Helix and praying I still love you after I invest in their bed 😜😁🤪. I think I have been watching long enough to have already internalized the rest of your tips. They are how I have been thinking, but I have procrastinated spending the bucks on “another container” for a while. Thanks, again, for the time and research you do in preparing and producing these videos.
You are so amazing! I am peeling the layers again and this was perfectly timed. It feels so good to open a drawer and say, "wow, that one looks great! ....moving along to the next one!" I love you so much! Thank you for motivating me and helping me reclaim my house!❤️🙏 Jane from SC
Omg!!!!! 😂😂😂😂😂….. I am going through your older videos and came upon this gem and Tom is hilarious!!!!!! I believe you were mentioning the sponsor of this video when you were talking about the mattress, and you asked Tom.. “What would you call it?”…. and he goes… “ What?… you put me on the spot…. I don’t know what to do with my hands..” LMBO!!! Sooooo funny !!!! The “ Just in Case” video I shared with all of my friends and it’s one of our favorites and the idea behind it has really stuck in our heads and has helped. Dawn, I love you. You are awesome!!!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
Great video and concept! You make it so accessible and easy to do! If your folded clothes aren't standing up, you need to fold them at least one more time, like from hotdog to hamburger fold or from 1/2 to 1/3. Mine always stand up. Hmm, the one exception can be very slick clothes, but even then just fold them smaller and they stand up. I like having all my clothes be visible from just a glance from the top or side and I think it's fun, but I can understand if people don't want to take the time.
You know, Dawn, I like that trip thinking idea. Also, I could really see when watching you do it - this could be me-, how beautiful and graceful it is when we do the Konmari method of joy "Yes!" and "Thank you" to the things we put aside in that moment. It is so especially remarkable the change in your energy and gestures and voice, cos you´re such a bright and bubbly person usually! Sincerely.
The idea of thinking what I would take on a trip is genius! Though having some home/old clothes for messy jobs is good to have at home so as not to ruin nice stuff. Helps my addled brain so much with the decision process. It’s always hardest to decide what to get rid of. Or emotionally let go of
The concept that keeping things also has a "cost" has been the number one most helpful thing in inspiring me to want to declutter. The serenity of living in an environment that supports me instead of stressing me out or shaming me is invaluable! 😀❤
I just went through this last night! I went through my pj and they have tops that match that I don’t wear, so out they go! A home for everything you own!❤️
It’s funny you mention that as I’ve just been looking at a couple of fuzzy ( and bulky) tops that go with my winter pjs and thought I’m not sure I wear these any more.
@@sheilaenglish3293 ha ha! I have been getting rid of a lot of things and I just bit the bullet and went through my pj last night and then I seen Dawn talking about going through dresser drawers! That’s funny you thought of that too!
Dawn, I was under the impression that you only had a few black T-shirts left. Glad to see that this is not the case 😂 As a flight attendant I’m not able to “quarantine” any clothes. It’s Summer here and winter somewhere else. I wish I could, it would give me much more space in my closet.
I laughed out loud when you talked about clothes you are not wearing that fit you better when you loose 5 lbs. - lol cause that is half my wardrobe. Thanks for the fun and inspiring philosophy on order. Love it.
Would you please link your storage container? My kids totally understand the vacation packing theory. Even my 14-year-old daughter said if I wouldn't take it on a trip why should I keep it in my closet. Thank you so much for all you do.
wow, Dawn, I would not have guessed you had a stuffed drawer. Thanks for taking us through your process with your shirts .... real life stuff. I just did my overstuffed jar cabinet and gained a whole shelf in the kitchen. "Dawn would be proud" I thought ;-)
Hey Dawn, You are SO sensible and your tips are changing my life. You're so easy to listen to. Here are some thoughts. It DOES cost money to store extra stuff. You are paying to heat and cool that item. Time is money, too, so we should include the time it takes to manage it. Also, I find the temptation to make emotional purchases is much greater when I feel dissatisfied by the clutter in my home. That can be VERY expensive. Your tip about it needing to be just as easy to put something away as to leave it out has been a game changer for me and has allowed me to get rid of so many things I don't use. Thank you for all the wisdom you are sharing and also for your encouragement. God Bless.
I totally agree with the stuffed drawer theory. I learned this when we did a kitchen remodel. When it was done I only put things back in the cabinets that I used at least once a week. Everything else stayed " in quarantine ". My cabinets looked empty but I immediately found emptying the dishwasher was SO much faster and easier. This meant having an empty dishwasher to put all the dirty dishes in all day. This kept the counters and sink clutter free. I began to feel the sense of calm this creates. Since then I have applied this theory to every storage area in our home. It definitely makes it just as easy to put thing as away as leave them out. It was a total game changer for me.
WOW - this hits it for me. If my walk-in closet is too full or too hard to access- I hang clean laundry on the doors which have over-the-door hooks. I just bought six more over-the-door hooks when what I need to do is purge and donate. My closet is full of stuff I don't wear because I work at home now or it doesn't fit.
I like these videos, where you mix the visual with theory. I’ve been using my large suitcase for my quarantine bin, since I’m not going anywhere for more than a few days. Even once I start taking longer trips, I don’t think I’ll use it anymore. I will book placed with laundry facilities, so I can take less stuff.
This is perfect "light bulb" moment. 1. What would I take on a short trip 2. Quarantine other items to see if I will use/get into/miss! Thanks so much!
Great video! Marie Kondo's new series premiered on Netflix today. Wish there were more than 3 shows. For me, minimalism & organization is life changing for the better. Having stuffed drawers give me stress, so I just don't do it.
@@TheMinimalMom It's called Sparking Joy. It premiered today & I watched all 3 shows already, lol. She's a true inspiration, as u r! 😁(She's preg w 3rd child).
I didn't really relate quarantining my clothing when you suggested to quarantine items - yes, my drawers are TOO FULL and I love the idea of packing for a trip. In fact, I just took a 10-day road trip and knowing that I was not going to do laundry, I pulled 10 shirts; the ones that fit, are comfortable and that I usually grab. I'm going to get a bin and quarantine today! THANK YOU.
Great inspiration. Need to do with my tshirts in fact. I bought those canvas bags too and once I moved out seasonal clothing, all sorts of room popped. Thanks for sharing
Good reminders. Thank you. The one good thing about the Marie Kondo method of folding is that clothes seem to have less wrinkles/fold lines. Also you also don't have to disturb folded clothes to get to the one you want.
When I think about how I get dressed for work from my designated work clothes (usually polo shirt with tank top underneath, and pants, one of two different pairs of shoes, sometimes a cardigan) and how simple it is to just grab each piece and go it is making me want to do the same thing with my non-work clothes. I am starting with anything that is worn out, or that I do not like or can not wear to begin with. I love the "packing for a trip" idea. I am going to try it right away!
Packing for vacation had the same “lightbulb” moment for me like your managing inventory did when I first found your channel. Thank you so much for sharing your life on this platform. You have impacted my life more than you will ever know💜.
Her dresser has been sitting empty for weeks.... My sweet 11yr old could not keep her clothes organized. Her closet and dresser were always in disorder, she could not get ready for anything quickly and it was clearly not working for her. Before school started, I tossed out some ideas for alternative storage. We landed on some totes/bins under her bed that could be pulled out like drawers, but weren't actually drawers. She admitted she hated drawers, didn't know why, (LOL) but she did. It's been life changing. One bin for tops, one for bottoms, one for socks, underwear, and tanks/bike shorts (more underwear). She loves it, I love it, she surprises with how FAST she can be ready now. Laundry is easier to put away, we put clean clothes in the front, if it doesn't all fit, we pick something to let go of. The bin is the boundary. It's easier to see what she has and what she's not using... If it's always in the back, it's not getting used. Her closet isn't deep enough for a standard hanger anyway, so only a few things hang: dresses, jackets/coats and snow pants. Two dollar store buckets hold swim and soccer gear, her shoes are on a shelf or lined up on the floor. Her dresser has been sitting empty for weeks, and I'm okay with that. It's so simple, yet I can't believe it took us this long to try something new. All along I thought the problem was my daughter, but it wasn't her, it was the system we were using that didn't work for her. I have been loving big broad category bins - thank you Cass from @Clutterbug for teaching us about our organizing styles. I love Dawn @theMinimalMom for (so many reasons, but also for) telling us to try it out and see if it works. She gives us permission and encouragement to try something new, and keep trying until we figured out what works for us (or our loved ones.)💛 From a place of chaos to calm, my heart is sending all of your hearts (everyone on this journey) hugs and smiles and gratitude. Thank you for being open and willing to let your wisdom and experiences pour out for the good of each and all of us. 💗💗💖
I just did similar to this this last week, and I still have a lot of things in my drawers but it is A LOT more manageable and no clothes get piled on my “clothes pile chair” in my room.
@The Minimal Mom, thank you for all your videos. I truly love watching you and getting inspired to declutter. Since I am the type of person who needs to see things, otherwise I forget, how do I remember I have things in quarantine? Out of sight out of mind. Lol.. you are such a blessing.
You have inspire me sooooo much. My closet is so clean and simple now, everything I have I love. I have simplified 90% of my house. My husband said I’m leaving our house in bare bones 😂😂😂😂 and my 9 year old said it looks like we just moved to our house 😅😅 and I love that. I sent my 3 year old to put away craft stuff and she knows where to put it because everything has its place now ♥️♥️♥️ thanks for your videos 😘😘😘😘 God bless you… also tell your sister we miss her 😘😘
This makes so much sense to me! I have a very cluttered home, definitely a work-in-progress, but when I’m trying to declutter I always go for cupboards and drawers first. My logic is that if the cupboards and drawers are full to overflowing, how on earth am I going to put anything away? But this is the FIRST TIME I’ve ever heard someone else recommend this method. Every single person / video / tutorial etc I’ve come across, starting with my own mother, has been “clear the surfaces first, because then you’ll immediately see a difference”. And I understand that, but my brain is shouting “where do I put the stuff that was on the surfaces????” So thank you, thank you, thank you - for the first time ever (and I’m 64yo) I feel vindicated!
I just love your channel. I watch but I don’t even know where to start with all your tips you give. I just can’t part with anything no matter what!! I grew up in the Foster Care System and even though I have everything I need and want, and I am truly blessed. I am stuck in this mentality what if I need it. What if I loose everything!! I know this comes from years of being moved from one home to the next. When I first got married I didn’t even unpack all my things for a year. My husband couldn’t understand why I just couldn’t relax. I knew I was not leaving ever, but my brain was stuck in the mode of never been settled because I would get settled and then have to pack up again!! I was a teenager when my parents died. I had no other family, and nobody wanted an almost grown adult!!
After considering buying a new mattress for many months today I used your code and am now waiting on my new Helix mattress. Thank you for trying stuff like this out for us and letting us know how it goes. It's a big purchase and knowing both you and Tom like it feels super helpful!
Thank YOU for watching and thanks Helix for sponsoring! Go to helixsleep.com/minimalmom to get up to $200 off your mattress, plus two free pillows!
Also, here is a link for the Canvas Storage Bags: amzn.to/3DAR5x9
5 Tips to Declutter Faster Video: ruclips.net/video/RDwZ64IglXQ/видео.html
Where did u get your cute bathroom towels...in behind u in the wire basket? So cute
@@AndreaSooHill429 Walmart a few years ago :)
Dawn, this video very much resonated with me and makes perfect sense! You're so great at explaining the psychology behind all of this, I wonder if you could please do a video (or if you already have one, please direct me to it) about WHY some people, like me, feel like we have to have something in a space... like WHY does it feel uncomfortable to me to have empty spaces... a cleared off counter, an empty area of floor along a wall in the living room, a shelf with nothing on it, that sort of thing. It's like I feel compelled to put something in an empty space! If I could understand WHY it bothers me, that would be SO helpful. Am I some kind of weirdo?! I'm worried I'm wasting my time decluttering and that I will feel the need to go buy more to fill the space, or even take something from a different room to fill a space I've decluttered. WHAT is the psychology behind that???
Thank you for being SO inspiring!!!
P.S. your husband's comment, " I don't know what to do with my hands!" cracked me up!! 😆🤣
@@SweetStuffOnMonarchLaneDawn, can you link the swimsuit you mentioned in the video?
Dawn, can you link the swimsuit you mentioned you got on Amazon?
So, Husband has cancer, and recently, we spent three weeks in a hospital-appointed apartment so he could undergo treatment. We took JUST THE BASICS to the 300 sqft space, and it was amazing to see how well we did with one kitchen knife, or two towels, and three shirts, or whatever. There was a bit of a light-bulb moment, when I realized I could easily get rid of 99% of our stuff and still function (read: cook healthy meals, wear clean, well-fitting clothes, etc.) more than adequately with way less. It made me excited to come home and declutter. Your "packing for vacation" method is similar to my "packing for stem cell transplant" method, but WAY HAPPIER. ;)
Your comment really struck a chord in me. A few years ago a close family member passed from cancer and I took my family to our beach house for some breathing room and some time to come to grips. The simplicity of the house and the minimalism I encountered there changed my life. I've been on the journey every since. Sending you both hugs and prayers for supernatural healing and full recovery🤗.
Praying for your journey as a family through this.
Best wishes for a quick recovery.
Same experience.my daughter was in hospital for over 4 months at the age of 12..I lived there with her and realized very quickly how little I needed to live with...
Prayers and hugs
I literally just had this conversation with my husband 3 days ago. I folded all his laundry, left it on top of his dresser, and informed him I hate putting his clothes away because his drawers are too full. He said there's room for it all to fit. Just because one can close the drawer while pushing everything down with one hand does not mean I'm going to do it.
Totally get it!
I had decluttered a lot of my clothing, but hubby still had a huge pile on the floor in front of the dresser (which was also full of his clothes!)… I didn’t know what was clean and what was dirty… not sure if he knew either! I’d almost given up on doing his laundry!
Luckily, he (eventually) followed my lead and we worked together to sort it all out. Now we have equal space in the dresser! And no piles! 🎉
Can fit all of his clothes in the drawers, but I wish he would let go of a few more t-shirts, just so it fits more comfortably to put away. But he’s let go of so much already, so I’m biting my tongue. 😄
I tried. My husband left it all for me to do it. Guess 2nd times the charm 😂
Was literally just thinking about this problem, I don't want to nag him but🤪what really is frustrating for me is he's always asking if I can do the laundry cause he wants 2 of his favorite shirts, meanwhile his shirt drawer is a waterfall overflowing, he's working and his health has not been good, so I'm not going to ask him to do it himself🙈
I just spent 15 minutes going through our son's dresser drawers and got rid of a bag of clothes that no longer fit him, decluttering is never ending. It's a work in progress. 😁
You got that 👉
Try having 7 kids worth of outgrown clothes 😂
Great And what about your drawer ?
Feels so good!!! That’s awesome!
Especially with kids clothes! It’s definitely never ending 😄💕
I'm not perfect and probably never will be, but this channel is giving me courage to ask hard questions and toss clutter.
I’ve never considered myself to be a clothes hoarder, pairing down clothes has always been challenging for me regardless of whichever method of decluttering I’m using. However, when you held up the salmon coloured shirt and said (I’m paraphrasing here), ‘oh, this doesn’t quite fit me anymore’, you wouldn’t take it on a trip, so why keep it in your drawer? resonated so strongly with me. I’m going to go back through my closet with this mindset, asking questions that feel relevant. I love you Dawn. Thank you for being you. 🙏🏻
Hello Phyllis 👋
I love the 20/80 theory. You only wear 20% of your clothes 80% of the time. I put all of my planner items in quarantine. Today I am finally getting rid of what I didn’t go back for. It was heartbreaking at first but I just had to remind myself that I am not that person at the moment. You help so much.
Did this last year & gifted high end clothes to a college student. ~ 🙋
"Donate whatever you don't need"
I loved the concept of keeping what I would take on vacation! That was a real “Aha” moment. It is so true that an overstuffed drawer causes trouble. Thank you for this!
This video is a serious wake up call for me and no doubt answers a question that I've asked of myself so many times in the last 18+ years...
"Why is it so hard for me to keep things neat and put away!?"
The amount of frustration and overwhelming anxiety that I've been through because of clutter is unbelievable.
I was raised in my family with consumerism and hoarding... As a child I hated cleaning‚ I was always overwhelmed and unmotivated and this point in this video makes me realize what one of the major problems has been all along.
"Stuffed drawer theory" is the reality for me and my home right now.
I'm newly married (still in our first year) and we just found out we're pregnant.
We have a long journey ahead of us but I am craving (at least) SOME structure in our home before our first little one comes. I want to break the cycle of hoarding and begin a healing process from all this frustration.
Thank you Minimal Mom for this video and inspiring those of us who struggle! 💪🏻💙
I totally understand this..I have so many clothes that I only wear every now and then..I just have a hard time getting rid of them
I hope you have had the baby safely by now? How are you getting along on your minimalist journey. That first year with your first baby is crazy!!!!!! ❤
I tried the ‘packing for a trip’ technique with my jewelry this morning. It’s amazing how easy it is to pick my favorite, and most worn, pieces. I will be donating the remaining. I don’t need the huge jewelry box any more, so it’s being donated, as well.
I have gotten rid of the dresser all together. By using unconventional storage it has forced me to keep the wardrobe paired down and I can see the spots available very easily. Because of the current work environment I do still have a work wardrobe kept separately but I realized over the past year of working from home that I wear the same few outfits repeatedly by choice so that helped me to let go of many things that had been just taking up room in the closet.
I don’t care for conventional bedroom furniture and it doesn’t fit well in my small bedroom anyway. Instead, I have a stack of medium elfa drawers in my closet and that seems to be enough. This video makes me want to see if I can whittle down the contents of those drawers.
We wear 20% of our clothes 80% of the time.
Yes, we get stuck in wearing the same things. One summer I let my husband pick out my outfit for the day. He grabbed things I hadn't worn in a while and did a great job. He picked out dresses which I don't usually wear often. He had fun and I enjoyed not having to pick out the clothes. I had to trust him. Try it out..
I feel that we store things we don’t use and so the stuff we do use stays out because we have no where to put it .
So true!
So true 👍
Oh snap! This! You just nailed exactly what I'm doing. *light bulb going on moment*
OMG! Talk about being slapped upside the head!
This theory makes so much sense! Each new season, I try to buy fewer new clothes for the kids...it’s so easy to get too much for them, and then their drawers are stuffed, and they never even wear what’s at the bottom!
The cost of storing things...so very true. Thank you for sharing! 😊
Yes!! I always buy way too much for my kids and they, like us, wear the same 5 shirts all the time lol..lesson learned.
I like how simple this is. I've always had 'full' drawers. I'm a Bee so the drawers were totally organized (I fold like Mari Kondo and they stay up). But I don't wear all the items in the drawer. I know I need to shop for nicer clothes, because what I wear is basically crap that I don't mind getting dirty. With all the decluttering, yard work and cleaning out of the garage I do, that's what I wear right now. But I realized if I finally get to go somewhere with other people in some kind of gathering, I don't have anything. If I was going to a wedding, I have really nice clothes, but dinner or lunch out with friends and family, I have nothing. I told myself at the beginning of this journey, I'd just shop my closet and not buy anything new until I have to. I've succeeded and my closets are getting more and more thinned out. (12 feet of closet space down to 5 feet in a spacious closet) Now it's almost Fall and soon Winter weather, I think I can continue to shop my closet for a while longer. Thanks for all of what you provide. (oh and I really miss the Sunday videos, but I'm glad you created a better life balance for yourself)
Wear your wedding clothes to dinner!
This was a great strategy! It's hard for me to go through clothes. I'm not sentimental with them, but I think I don't love most of what I have, so it's hard to get rid of things when what's left isn't satisfying either. 🙈 Can anyone else relate?
You need to find your style, just like your Clutterbug style. I don't know mine yet, and I have a lot of random dresses. If it requires more than jeans and tee, then I'm lost. We need a fashion bug quiz!
@@amywright2243 it's a book by Christopher Hopkins, Staging Your Comeback.
Yessssssse I am slowly figuring out what I like but I feel bad for having to spend to build a new wardrobe.
i was like this, but when its been discussed that selling items are a pain in the hiney, ive chosen to give on free site to someone in need. even if i'm down to 2 items.
I have a "fantasy dressed-up person" living in my brain. This gal thinks she wears dresses, including evening gowns! But the truth is, I'm only comfortable in casual clothes and I have ZERO occasions lately to wear a dress. So all my dresses are going into a one-year quarantine to see whether I'll decide to wear them when Covid is over, perhaps to church or some event.
I need to buy a long garment bag so I can safely store away long dresses, long term, without worrying they will get musty or something.
It's amazing how intentional you need to be to avoid "junk drawers." It seems every kitchen I visit has one! When it comes to clothing drawers, it's amazing how many things can stay at the bottom that never get touched. Love focusing on pairing down to shift importance to the things that really bring you joy! 😊
I had a junk drawer until the bottom fell out of it. I realized that we could live without it and we still don’t have one!
@@allisonmiller3148 Way to go Allison! Talk about a call to action with the bottom falling out! That's awesome! 😊
I don’t have any junk draws. I do on occasion have a small pile. As I believe if I just find a home for stuff it will stay. If I make a pile in the week and sort at the weekend it works best for me
Sorry, no. I love my kitchen junk drawer. It has miscellaneous items that I like not having to fetch from office, garage. eg. tape measure, mini flash lights a few new batteries, twist ties, pen, note pad. does it collect other stuff? Sure but I sort it once a month or so. Meanwhile no piles on the countertops. I think this is the cricket style? put it out of sight in "macro sorted" way. ie miscellaneous. Love you, Minimal Mom.
@@normabaker5837 Me, too, Norma. I intentionally have a junk drawer (or a "utility drawer" if that sounds nicer 😄) and it is great. We know what's in it and it's a good home for those small things.
You made an excellent point! I used to hate putting laundry away. It would sit there for a week or more! Then I had a friend come and help me purge my closet. She is a super-minimalist and was ruthless. Now, most of the time, the laundry gets put away the same day it is done, and it feels AMAZING!! Your videos inspire me when I am feeling overwhelmed. Keep on posting, PLEASE!!
Hello Doris 👋
ohmigosh so helpful!! We seriously only pack our best stuff when we go on trips and I've often mentioned to my husband that I could easily live out of whatever suitcase I pack because I'm thorough when packing. So today, it's closet cleanout time, thank you, Dawn!!
Hello Geri.
I love how you explain things! It has totally transformed how I look at all.this.stuff!! I just started watching you last week and I've been dragging stuff to the curb and our donation center for days now. My "quarantine boxes" went to a storage unit until the end of the year. If I don't need it by January its going to be donated.
Thank you so.much for what you do!!
Wow! Way to go Claire!!!!
Yes way to go! Dawn definitely has a gift of explaining things in a way that just make it click and seem so easy to do 😊
Please keep doing videos like this! I always love your videos! They are like templates and help me not feel so overwhelmed when decluttering.
Oh please get rid of the storage unit. They cost so much. In a year you spend so much you could’ve taken a cruise or just purchased new stuff
@@Grammapama I agree in principle about storage units, but everyone's situation is unique.❤It takes TIME to go through stuff (our own, or emotionally charged inherited items), and for those without a garage or basement, having a peaceful living space free from piles of things can be a form of self-care.🙂
Yes! One of the most impactful changes I made was to remove all the things in my dresser I wasn’t using! It’s so satisfying!
That’s deeeeeep. So are my dresser drawers! Good tip! And so Mr Obvious but to the Overwhelmed, always welcomed!
I just used this concept last night with my pants! I noticed I had a few pairs on the floor and realized they were there solely because they didn't fit on my pants shelf. I de-cluttered a few from the bottom of the pile and viola! all my pants fit nicely again.
Both of our children were in high school band and I was holding on to ALL of the band t-shirts. With your encouraging videos I’ve kept two of them and let go of the rest. I felt very guilty until they were actually out of the house and then felt joy when I could close my drawers. 😂 Thank you for the encouragement.
I've seen people make t-shirt quilts, which they give to their kids when they go off to college.
@@WrightFarmhouse yes, I have seen that also and thought it would be a nice idea.
I love you too, Dawn. When you say you love us - it sounds real, I feel you and Tom are TRULY our friends!!
Have a good day!!
SO TRUE! It is so much more fun to 'replenish' a drawer with clean clothes when you don't need to shove them in!
The light bulb went on-yay! I put the video on pause, and went directly to my closet for 5 minutes-so much better-and then finished the video. Made my day-thx!
I broke up with my dresser in 2005. Never missed it. What doesn’t fit in my closet and hanging closet organizer is a hard no.
I have one dresser in a closet I havent been in for four years. I wonder what is in there?
Oooh!! Edgy! I like!
I feel the two things that have really resonated with me from this video and others of yours is; getting rid of clothes that I get a bad feeling from (for various reasons) and the second is the “quarantine” bin where after a season I go back and go through clothes that I was originally unsure of. Going into my closet and knowing that my clothes fit me, are comfortable, and I feel good in, really gives me a sense of calm when I look at what I own. 😌
It's so true about the sense of calm! I was shocked at how good it felt to look in my closet and see only things I like and that fit me! Dawn rocks! : - )
Thank you your motivational help Dawn ! I was washing dishes while watching and looked at 2 kids plates and 2 kids bowls that I don't like and after dishes I set them aside and then dove into my white cabinet (games, art supplies, records - misc. Cabinet basically) 20 minutes later I had a trash pile, a relocate pile, a thrift pile and a quarantine pile ! Thank you! Going through the 30 day minimalism game for the second time and you help with motivation my friend ! God Bless you!
I stopped the video & got my box of
"smaller jeans" out of storage & tried them & current ones on. I have been losing weight and what I was wearing was really too big. This box was from thrifting months ago with hopeful smaller sizes. Well all but 3 fit now, several fit but weren't quite right. When I ended up with too many, I tried a few again and edited out the pairs that I had to admit I would only choose if everything else was dirty!! So I ended up with 5 great pairs, and 3 waiting in the wings for a few more pounds, and the box full of jeans to go back to the thrift store! Thanks, Dawn!!
You are so down to earth and so real with your thoughts and mindset, Kind of like the Waltons😎
Partly based on Buzzfeed and partly because I trust you guys & your recommendation for the Helix mattress, I got one! I had gotten rid of my mattress and went back to a much older pillow top mattress because that mattress didn’t even last 5 years. (It was an expensive mattress too!) Mu pillow top was still going strong but after nightly use, and given that it was 20 years old, I HAD to get a new mattress.
I was really hesitant though because that other mattress didn’t last and I sure didn’t want to deal with that again (buying again well before it’s “expiration” date).
I bought within 24 hours of your first ad. I didn’t use your code because they were offering just as good.
But I wanted to tell you this because, you deserve credit for my purchase!
I also go the pillows and mattress protector!
Thank you!
Plus you guys are so cute. As much as Tom is such a man, I love to see him cuddling with you, Dawn!
You have helped me get my house in order over the past 2-3 years. I finally started labeling after listening to you and wow is that effective at putting stuff away. I shied away from labels bc they seemed so extreme but it is amazing and it is like the ‘address’ for the item and it makes putting stuff away automatic for my whole family. My house and clothing serve me so well now because of all you great ideas. The video about the silent to do list is everything to me, I can walk around my home and if I hear anything negative coming from an item, it goes in my donation box in the basement. I keep a box at all times and plan to visit my favorite thrift store monthly which is actually such a treat and the highlight of my calendar. Also the concept of inventory and managing it is life changing. And I love your idea of making your home feel simple like a vacation rental. Brilliant concepts spoken so well with love and compassion. Keep up the good work. Be well, my friend.
I find that for simple storage, cube drawers work really well for me.
I have 1 cube each for:
- daily t-shirts and tank tops
- shorts and skirts and sarongs
- pants
- long sleeve shirts and sweatshirts
- pajamas and sweatpants
- socks
- underwear
- cold weather hats and gloves (on entry rack)
- scarves (on entry rack)
- dressy clothes are on hangers
- baseball caps are on the entry coat rack or in the car where we would use them
I move the cubes based on the season (summer wear gets put at torso level in summer, then gets switched to the bottom row in the winter)
This helps reduce sorting and discerning that my brain would otherwise have to do in the morning, and makes getting dressed much easier and faster. It also makes it easier to grab the things we may need right where we would think to grab or use them before we go out.
I Marie Kondo fold my clothes so that I can see what my options are and how many days I have left before needing to do laundry (yes, underwear and socks too. Huge time saver!)
The keeping the drawers clean and going on vacation are good tips 👍
Do you find that your shirts you fold are very wrinkled? I've tried it and mine are terribly wrinkled.
I cleaned out all my drawers and made immediate "Yes or No" decisions (I rarely use the TWT or quarantine bins - something either stays or goes) and what a difference! I do use a Marie Kondo-style folding technique (I made up my own) and created drawer dividers from foam board and I not only love how it looks but how it functions! I know when it's time to do laundry (no more "Oh no, I'm out of undies yesterday" moments!) and I am SO much more likely to fold and put away clean laundry as soon as it reaches the bedroom! Same thing for my hanging garments - some stayed, most went and now I can actually hang clean laundry without having to struggle for space on the hanging rods! AND, as an aside, I also got rid of every extra hanger except 6 of two kinds (one kind for shirts/dresses/one kind for pants/skirts.) No more fighting my way through endless hangers that never want to be separated from one another!! I'm by no means a minimalist but I am living a newly liberated life style! Thank you Dawn!
You are so motivating. As so many others have said, it is truly a never ending process. Everytime you upload a new video, it prompts me to go through another drawer or donate what I already needed to. Thanks for all that you do!
Good morning Laura
Sooo glad you did this topic! I was going to transition out of using a dresser...my husband and I just fill it and lay things on top
I was traveling for work for over two years and living very comfortable out of a small suitcase, that was my lightbulb moment that I didn’t need an over-filled closet of clothes. During pandemic being home with ALL my possessions 24/7 I purged another 50%. I am loving having less inventory in my home and a closet of cloths that fit.
I took my girl guide motto of Be Prepared to heart and pack literally every possible thing for a trip. My brother once made me a little clay kitchen sink so I could pack that too😅. I used to have a survival bag that I carried wherever I went, even shopping. So now, I'm trying to envision that I am packing to leave my house during an apocalyptic event (seems appropriate for the world at the moment) and what I would actually take with me if the world was ending. 😅😂
Im binging all your video's while i have been stuck at home while my son has a tummy bug. I have honestly never binged a YT channel like this before!!!!!! Its really helped me clear a mental block over my space and storage, im in a really tiny flat in England and i just need to accept that i need to pare down my belongings to fit the flat. Ive binned loads of out of date paperwork and filled bags for the charity shop already ❤
Edit: oh and i pray that one day God blesses me with a husband who looks at me with as much love in his eyes as your husband does with you. So lovely!
My recent experience suggests that, yes indeed, having less in the storage space means it’s easier to put things away and the place stays tidier. 🎉🎉🎉
I recently cleared out our bathroom cabinet, which is quite small, and I put back only the things we use daily. I used containers to group items and make use of vertical space. Every item has a specific home.
Other items to keep went in a container in the hall linen closet, where they are still easily accessible when needed.
It’s been a few weeks, we’re not missing any items, and the sink counter (also tiny) is staying completely clear! And hubby has started putting his own things away, without me ever asking! 😄👍
This is GENIUS! I have been racking my brain trying to figure out “how much” I truly need to keep. Thanks so much
Definitely agree with the stuffed drawer "issue". It pertains to all drawers, cabinets, really everything you use for storage. I've been watching as many videos of yours that I can find. You're so easy to watch, listen to, and understand. You make it very easy to get up and go declutter. You are super motivating....thank you for doing what you do 😊
Stuffed drawer theory.. I immediately thought of books!! If there isn't space on the shelf no one will put the books away! I have really adopted letting the container be the boundary and the bad guy. Thanks for all the helpful tips, Dawn!
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My husband is naturally a minimalist and he helps me by being a great example! And encourages me to not keep stuff we dont use :) thankful for him!!
So very right... that’s why all surfaces gets cluttered...ur videos r really so right on spot...just love u , dear Dawn
Great timing with this video for me. I was thinking recently that I should declutter by dresser drawers some more and my bathroom drawers some more because they are a little too full. Now I'm motivated to get that done. Thanks. Good tips as usual.
Oh wow! This video posted at the PERFECT time! I’m on vacation this week and told my husband just last night(after I cleaned out his dresser 🤷🏻♀️😂) that today I’m going to clean out a couple of drawers in my dresser 🙌🏻👏🏻🙌🏻. Thank you so much! ❤️
Hello Donna. How are you doing today?
I absolutely love your videos. I retired the end of July. I am a 37 year special education teacher. Trust me when I say.....I have stuff. Living simply at this time of my life is what I want. As of today, I have decluttered my upstairs....every closet, drawer, bin, nook and cranny! My main level has also been completely decluttered except for 2 bins of papers. 2 other bins have been recycled or shredded so these will be done soon. I'm now ready to tackle our basement which consists of the laundry/storage room, a family room and a large craft room with attached bathroom,/storage room. I have gotten rid of so much stuff. None of our drawers or shelves are stuffed. Thank you so, so much for helping me realize I do not need the stuff.
Wonderful explanation! I’ve had a difficult time justifying empty space. This is what I need to keep in mind!
I’m so thankful for the way that you, Cas, and Dana have learned from each other and combined your ideas!
Right before summer I had an aha moment. My kids' drawers were always a mess and no one wanted to put their laundry away. I did a quick declutter of their drawers and poof problem solved. They started school last week and seriously we have not had a problem all summer long. My elementary age kids actually thanked me for making their chores easier.
You simplify things so well. Watching you sort through your clothes is encouraging. It shows how little you attach emotion to your clothes, like it doesn't have to be a big deal.
Love the 'pretend you are packing' method! That will really help me make fast decisions. I was at a thrift store recently and was continually saying to myself, "if it's not a definite yes, it's a definite no." Thank you Dawn!
Love, love, love this video! Soooo helpful! The vacation method is a FANTASTIC idea! Woo hoo! You are such an inspiration. I had so many t-shirts. When I went to pair them down, I also got rid of any t-shirts that didn't feel soft and comfy. I am at a place in my life where I think I deserve to have soft fabrics against my skin. 😁 Especially for casual clothes.
Hi my friend 👋
Oh my gosh..were you at my house today? I stuffed one more sweater into the same dresser you have.. the drawer was stuffed and I thought "I really should take care of that!" Now I'll go through them to see what I really would wear during a normal week. I liked the visuals in this video as well of showing the games full on the shelf with no room to put a game back vs. a pared down shelf with room to easily put away a game. Thanks for sharing!
I have been trying to figure out how I want to decide on clothes to keep for the upcoming season change. I love the idea of asking "would I pack this to take on a trip?". I think it will make my decision process so much easier.
I love this way of looking at it! You’re totally right about the types of things you pick when packing for vacation, soooo why am I even holding onto these other clothes?? Looking at it this way makes it seem so simple and freeing. I can think of 3 shirts already that I constantly push out of the way to get to others I like more… they need to go! I love all your tips but this one has really resonated with me!
This is 100% true! I just recently decluttered my clothes after watching one of your videos. I feel so much better! All my clothes get put away right from the laundry now. Everything in there fits and I like it! Easy decisions 😊
Wonderful as always! Thank you, Dawn!
Yes! This is something I deal with so much! I've always been adept at packing and making room for things, but the day came when there was no extra room to put things away out of sight. Drawers are stuffed. I take stuff out, but I am not good and getting rid of stuff. What a great idea to pack a suitcase to pick out the things you really like and like to wear! I have only made baby steps, and truthfully, after my last camping trip, I can't even reach my closet, but I will get there!
This came at the perfect time. I was just trying to put some new clothes away in my closet but it’s already full 😂
My Takeaway from this video is twofold: 1. Heading to WalMart? or whatever store has those storage bag/box units, and 2. Going online to Helix and praying I still love you after I invest in their bed 😜😁🤪. I think I have been watching long enough to have already internalized the rest of your tips. They are how I have been thinking, but I have procrastinated spending the bucks on “another container” for a while.
Thanks, again, for the time and research you do in preparing and producing these videos.
Storage bags are in her Amazon storefront. 😊
@@cinderellafan362436 Thanks. I found and ordered. They will be here Friday. 👍🏼😄
@@gingerstrahan7464 you are welcome! Blessings! 😊
You are so amazing! I am peeling the layers again and this was perfectly timed. It feels so good to open a drawer and say, "wow, that one looks great! ....moving along to the next one!" I love you so much! Thank you for motivating me and helping me reclaim my house!❤️🙏 Jane from SC
Omg!!!!! 😂😂😂😂😂….. I am going through your older videos and came upon this gem and Tom is hilarious!!!!!! I believe you were mentioning the sponsor of this video when you were talking about the mattress, and you asked Tom.. “What would you call it?”…. and he goes… “ What?… you put me on the spot…. I don’t know what to do with my hands..” LMBO!!! Sooooo funny !!!! The “ Just in Case” video I shared with all of my friends and it’s one of our favorites and the idea behind it has really stuck in our heads and has helped. Dawn, I love you. You are awesome!!!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
This has always been my theory. I detest trying to put clothes away in a space that is overstuffed.
Great video and concept! You make it so accessible and easy to do! If your folded clothes aren't standing up, you need to fold them at least one more time, like from hotdog to hamburger fold or from 1/2 to 1/3. Mine always stand up. Hmm, the one exception can be very slick clothes, but even then just fold them smaller and they stand up. I like having all my clothes be visible from just a glance from the top or side and I think it's fun, but I can understand if people don't want to take the time.
You know, Dawn, I like that trip thinking idea. Also, I could really see when watching you do it - this could be me-, how beautiful and graceful it is when we do the Konmari method of joy "Yes!" and "Thank you" to the things we put aside in that moment. It is so especially remarkable the change in your energy and gestures and voice, cos you´re such a bright and bubbly person usually! Sincerely.
The idea of thinking what I would take on a trip is genius! Though having some home/old clothes for messy jobs is good to have at home so as not to ruin nice stuff. Helps my addled brain so much with the decision process. It’s always hardest to decide what to get rid of. Or emotionally let go of
The concept that keeping things also has a "cost" has been the number one most helpful thing in inspiring me to want to declutter. The serenity of living in an environment that supports me instead of stressing me out or shaming me is invaluable! 😀❤
I just went through this last night! I went through my pj and they have tops that match that I don’t wear, so out they go! A home for everything you own!❤️
It’s funny you mention that as I’ve just been looking at a couple of fuzzy ( and bulky) tops that go with my winter pjs and thought I’m not sure I wear these any more.
@@sheilaenglish3293 ha ha! I have been getting rid of a lot of things and I just bit the bullet and went through my pj last night and then I seen Dawn talking about going through dresser drawers! That’s funny you thought of that too!
Oh I’m absolutely doing this before the week ends! My closet has been a source of frustration for a long time, but this method makes so much sense!!
Dawn, I was under the impression that you only had a few black T-shirts left. Glad to see that this is not the case 😂
As a flight attendant I’m not able to “quarantine” any clothes. It’s Summer here and winter somewhere else. I wish I could, it would give me much more space in my closet.
I laughed out loud when you talked about clothes you are not wearing that fit you better when you loose 5 lbs. - lol cause that is half my wardrobe. Thanks for the fun and inspiring philosophy on order. Love it.
Would you please link your storage container? My kids totally understand the vacation packing theory. Even my 14-year-old daughter said if I wouldn't take it on a trip why should I keep it in my closet. Thank you so much for all you do.
The storage container bags are linked in her Amazon storefront. 😊
Thank you for the reminder, I always for get to add the links! Canvas Storage Bags: amzn.to/3DAR5x9
@@TheMinimalMom You are welcome! Blessings! 😊❤️
Thank you🤓
wow, Dawn, I would not have guessed you had a stuffed drawer. Thanks for taking us through your process with your shirts .... real life stuff. I just did my overstuffed jar cabinet and gained a whole shelf in the kitchen. "Dawn would be proud" I thought ;-)
Hey Dawn, You are SO sensible and your tips are changing my life. You're so easy to listen to. Here are some thoughts. It DOES cost money to store extra stuff. You are paying to heat and cool that item. Time is money, too, so we should include the time it takes to manage it. Also, I find the temptation to make emotional purchases is much greater when I feel dissatisfied by the clutter in my home. That can be VERY expensive. Your tip about it needing to be just as easy to put something away as to leave it out has been a game changer for me and has allowed me to get rid of so many things I don't use. Thank you for all the wisdom you are sharing and also for your encouragement. God Bless.
I totally agree with the stuffed drawer theory. I learned this when we did a kitchen remodel. When it was done I only put things back in the cabinets that I used at least once a week. Everything else stayed " in quarantine ". My cabinets looked empty but I immediately found emptying the dishwasher was SO much faster and easier. This meant having an empty dishwasher to put all the dirty dishes in all day. This kept the counters and sink clutter free. I began to feel the sense of calm this creates. Since then I have applied this theory to every storage area in our home. It definitely makes it just as easy to put thing as away as leave them out. It was a total game changer for me.
WOW - this hits it for me. If my walk-in closet is too full or too hard to access- I hang clean laundry on the doors which have over-the-door hooks. I just bought six more over-the-door hooks when what I need to do is purge and donate. My closet is full of stuff I don't wear because I work at home now or it doesn't fit.
So needed to hear this today.
I like these videos, where you mix the visual with theory. I’ve been using my large suitcase for my quarantine bin, since I’m not going anywhere for more than a few days. Even once I start taking longer trips, I don’t think I’ll use it anymore. I will book placed with laundry facilities, so I can take less stuff.
That's a great idea to use your suitcase for quarantine!!
I love to have laundry/dryer machine when travel
This is perfect "light bulb" moment. 1. What would I take on a short trip 2. Quarantine other items to see if I will use/get into/miss! Thanks so much!
This is Brilliant!!!! Thank you Dawn!!!
Great video! Marie Kondo's new series premiered on Netflix today. Wish there were more than 3 shows. For me, minimalism & organization is life changing for the better.
Having stuffed drawers give me stress, so I just don't do it.
Oh! I didn't know she had a new series, that's fun!
@@TheMinimalMom It's called Sparking Joy. It premiered today & I watched all 3 shows already, lol. She's a true inspiration, as u r! 😁(She's preg w 3rd child).
I didn't really relate quarantining my clothing when you suggested to quarantine items - yes, my drawers are TOO FULL and I love the idea of packing for a trip. In fact, I just took a 10-day road trip and knowing that I was not going to do laundry, I pulled 10 shirts; the ones that fit, are comfortable and that I usually grab. I'm going to get a bin and quarantine today! THANK YOU.
Great inspiration. Need to do with my tshirts in fact. I bought those canvas bags too and once I moved out seasonal clothing, all sorts of room popped. Thanks for sharing
Good reminders. Thank you.
The one good thing about the Marie Kondo method of folding is that clothes seem to have less wrinkles/fold lines. Also you also don't have to disturb folded clothes to get to the one you want.
When I think about how I get dressed for work from my designated work clothes (usually polo shirt with tank top underneath, and pants, one of two different pairs of shoes, sometimes a cardigan) and how simple it is to just grab each piece and go it is making me want to do the same thing with my non-work clothes. I am starting with anything that is worn out, or that I do not like or can not wear to begin with. I love the "packing for a trip" idea. I am going to try it right away!
Packing for vacation had the same “lightbulb” moment for me like your managing inventory did when I first found your channel. Thank you so much for sharing your life on this platform. You have impacted my life more than you will ever know💜.
2:18 The Cost of Storing Things. Thank you Dawn, this is a shift in thinking that is a big AHA! for me.
Her dresser has been sitting empty for weeks....
My sweet 11yr old could not keep her clothes organized. Her closet and dresser were always in disorder, she could not get ready for anything quickly and it was clearly not working for her. Before school started, I tossed out some ideas for alternative storage. We landed on some totes/bins under her bed that could be pulled out like drawers, but weren't actually drawers. She admitted she hated drawers, didn't know why, (LOL) but she did.
It's been life changing. One bin for tops, one for bottoms, one for socks, underwear, and tanks/bike shorts (more underwear). She loves it, I love it, she surprises with how FAST she can be ready now. Laundry is easier to put away, we put clean clothes in the front, if it doesn't all fit, we pick something to let go of. The bin is the boundary. It's easier to see what she has and what she's not using... If it's always in the back, it's not getting used.
Her closet isn't deep enough for a standard hanger anyway, so only a few things hang: dresses, jackets/coats and snow pants. Two dollar store buckets hold swim and soccer gear, her shoes are on a shelf or lined up on the floor. Her dresser has been sitting empty for weeks, and I'm okay with that.
It's so simple, yet I can't believe it took us this long to try something new. All along I thought the problem was my daughter, but it wasn't her, it was the system we were using that didn't work for her.
I have been loving big broad category bins - thank you Cass from @Clutterbug for teaching us about our organizing styles. I love Dawn @theMinimalMom for (so many reasons, but also for) telling us to try it out and see if it works. She gives us permission and encouragement to try something new, and keep trying until we figured out what works for us (or our loved ones.)💛
From a place of chaos to calm, my heart is sending all of your hearts (everyone on this journey) hugs and smiles and gratitude. Thank you for being open and willing to let your wisdom and experiences pour out for the good of each and all of us. 💗💗💖
I just did similar to this this last week, and I still have a lot of things in my drawers but it is A LOT more manageable and no clothes get piled on my “clothes pile chair” in my room.
Great perspective! Packing your drawer like a vacation suitcase. Definitely using that one!
My son watched this video with me and after he asked to declutter his drawers!! We are off to do some much needed decluttering!! Thanks
@The Minimal Mom, thank you for all your videos. I truly love watching you and getting inspired to declutter. Since I am the type of person who needs to see things, otherwise I forget, how do I remember I have things in quarantine? Out of sight out of mind. Lol.. you are such a blessing.
You have inspire me sooooo much. My closet is so clean and simple now, everything I have I love. I have simplified 90% of my house. My husband said I’m leaving our house in bare bones 😂😂😂😂 and my 9 year old said it looks like we just moved to our house 😅😅 and I love that. I sent my 3 year old to put away craft stuff and she knows where to put it because everything has its place now ♥️♥️♥️ thanks for your videos 😘😘😘😘 God bless you… also tell your sister we miss her 😘😘
This makes so much sense to me! I have a very cluttered home, definitely a work-in-progress, but when I’m trying to declutter I always go for cupboards and drawers first. My logic is that if the cupboards and drawers are full to overflowing, how on earth am I going to put anything away? But this is the FIRST TIME I’ve ever heard someone else recommend this method. Every single person / video / tutorial etc I’ve come across, starting with my own mother, has been “clear the surfaces first, because then you’ll immediately see a difference”. And I understand that, but my brain is shouting “where do I put the stuff that was on the surfaces????” So thank you, thank you, thank you - for the first time ever (and I’m 64yo) I feel vindicated!
Such a great point- very true. If the drawer is bursting it really does make a difference.
I just love your channel. I watch but I don’t even know where to start with all your tips you give. I just can’t part with anything no matter what!! I grew up in the Foster Care System and even though I have everything I need and want, and I am truly blessed. I am stuck in this mentality what if I need it. What if I loose everything!! I know this comes from years of being moved from one home to the next. When I first got married I didn’t even unpack all my things for a year. My husband couldn’t understand why I just couldn’t relax. I knew I was not leaving ever, but my brain was stuck in the mode of never been settled because I would get settled and then have to pack up again!! I was a teenager when my parents died. I had no other family, and nobody wanted an almost grown adult!!
I love that packing for a vacation concept! Also thanks for the time stamps. I always look forward to your videos!
After considering buying a new mattress for many months today I used your code and am now waiting on my new Helix mattress. Thank you for trying stuff like this out for us and letting us know how it goes. It's a big purchase and knowing both you and Tom like it feels super helpful!
Good morning Trina 👋
This was AWESOME! Great perspectives all around! TY Cass, Dana, & Dawn!