Hi Gayle and Ed. I am watching you and at the same time watching my neighbor carry out things to the curb. I am inspired by you guys and her urban giving. This particular discussion is so important. It feels like a great time to clear out. Best wishes
I am new to your channel just over the holidays. I decluttered alot over the New Year holiday..i am trying to catch up on your video's..I even fall asleep at night listeinng to you guys.. I declutter every day because I'm obsessed with it..getting older and want stuff gone.
Looking forward to next week's topic. My two cents: while I'm not done downsizing, there's not so much left to do. I've used nearly every decluttering strategy at one time or another during this journey. Some were ideal for certain stages or types of clutter, but would have been overwhelming if I had tried them at a different time or on different things. For example, in the early stages, when we had way too much stuff, the Kon Marie method would have completely shut down my ability to function, but at that stage, 40 bags in 40 days was enormously helpful. After I'd made 3 or 4 passes through my book collection, though, the Kon Marie method worked great to take them to the next level. I'm not sure we would have made it through this project if we weren't willing to let ourselves be flexible and adapt our methods to our changing circumstances.
Happy early birthday Ed. I'm moving this week so will skip the tittle. I'm looking forward to next week's show. I listen to ten different decluttering / organizing podcasts and read every book I come across. It's pretty much my hobby. I find value in all the approaches the various organizers have. You're my favorites though. I love how you complement each other so well and how very practical you are. You give tips that can really be implemented.
Your commentary, particularly about ADD, lists, and time management. Always insightful... Been an on again off again declutterer but you were one of the first and most important to help me Release my "clutter" after inheriting NINE GENERATIONS OF CLUTTER at 21 years old. Thank You... More Than You Know. ♥️
Wow. Can’t imagine inheriting 9 generations of stuff! Shame on them for landing it all in your lap. I hope you’re releasing things as you go and lightening your burden!
I took your advice and took a break from decluttering over the holidays...and the benefits were huge. What became so GLARINGLY OBVIOUS during the stressful holidays, were the weakest areas in my decluttering/organization., which caused too much extra work. The holidays became a "stress test" , which showed all the weak points of how my house operates. But I took your recommended time off, and 1. realized of what was not working and 2. take time to figure out the best solution, BEFORE diving in to do the work. Now, I am in a much better position to drive in and do the work, after the holidays . Because I know now what clearly has to be changed, and also I have had a few weeks to figure out the best solutions.
I am retired from a 34 year teaching career and have collected MANY treasures such as pressed plants, animal skulls, seashells, as well as a vast amount of teaching paperwork and 12 sets of everything for lab groups. As the last 20 months since retirement, I am now finally able to have some closure on that identity. I decided to identify as something new (basically all the things I never had time to fully do when I taught.) My standard of things to keep now rests on "Does this support my identity NOW?" What a relief to have given myself permission . I am purging, donating and tossing lots of things. My favorite project was shredding old class copies that were on colored paper and creating handmade paper for art journals.
Happy New Year! And Happy Birthday, Ed! If you need to place a time constraint on your work to avoid disappearing into it, music can help. A Broadway cast album or movie soundtrack of a suitable length, a couple of rock albums in a digital playlist, a complete ballet, etc. When the music stops, you stop. Or at least take a break. By the way ... if you're cleaning, "Annie" is good for sweeping and mopping, especially "It's a Hard Luck Life". ;-D
Grew up in the 80's dancing to the Annie record...When I was about 9 years old, my twin sister a friend and I performed "It's a Hard Knock Life" at a mall! Great Suggestion, thank you!
@@slowroastedmarshmallow9226 That must have been fun and exciting! And thank YOU for correcting my mistake so gently. "A Hard Knock Life" of course, not hard luck.
Happy New Year, you two. I’ve fallen off the wagon (decluttering-wise) for the holidays. It’s time to get back to business. There are still areas that have not been gone through, and some that need more attention than originally given. As it turned out, my company didn’t stay at our house, and I am not ready yet for company, but getting there. Finding your video again is just what I need to get me moving again. So tomorrow, I will begin again. Thank you both for all you do.
I love how you mentioned the ADHD time blindness thing. It is very true and then I get these hyperfocuses where tons of time passes and I get a lot of stuff done but then other times it's so hard to even start on something I never can judge how long something takes. People will give the advice of blocking out your schedule and doing things for certain time blocks like this for 15 minutes or that for 20 minutes. That definitely doesn't work for the flow of me I do better getting into a groove and then just continuing if I can. Doing work when I have the motivation and the interest in it.
I think that 15 or 20 minute could work mostly for a drawer or a cabinet, like in the bathroom or kitchen. Just simple throwing away trash that collects. But I agree, subsumed is hard to even start or not enough time over you get going.
Reminded me of my pantry. I only did one shelf, cleaned it out and threw away what junk food or old snacks I know I was not going to consume anymore, then put the rest back.
@@roxanaconception that's exactly how I do my pantry. One shelf at a time. I usually keep going but it gives me and area to focus on and even if the shelf ends up a bit better I am happy.
In the olden days (before internet) "clutter" was "stuff not where it's supposed to be." Then the definition changed to include stuff you need to pass on, whether they are in the "right place" or not. I realize I'm swimming upstream on this. My greatest fears are a) having SO much stuff when I die that it takes months or years for my kids to clean out the house and/or b) having to pack, move, unpack, and find new places for all the stuff that is currently at my address. (We have historically moved frequently but failed to own less stuff like true nomads. I'm positive we will move again.) If you like all your stuff and want to keep it and manage it, then do so. If not, you don't have to ask anyone's permission to pass it along. Another way to put it: Decluttering is solving a problem. If you don't think you have a problem, then don't worry about "the right way to declutter."
She also talks about time passage awareness disorder. TPAD. I love Dana. She's fantastic. Oh and another concept I love of hers is slob vision where you don't see the clutter accumulating And then I'll send you look around and say where did everything come from. I definitely have clutter blindness.
Regarding last week's tittle (I almost said "last year," but I guess that would be appropriate, too): I am a part time college professor, and things get pretty intense with grading and testing at the end of the semester. So, I totally took the last two weeks off from anything school-related. And then, yesterday, I realized our spring semester starts in two weeks! So, I have to jump right into course preparation. But the last two weeks have been so relaxing; I fully believe it was worth it.
Following up to my previous comment: I began seeing private music students again this week. (My college classes don't start until the 19th.) My students have told me I seem so much more relaxed and refreshed since the holidays. Hooray! Taking time off from work and focusing on family and myself really made a difference!
For holiday decor, internet designers recommended removing or rearranging furniture and decorative items for a clean slate before putting out holiday decor. I removed all the non holiday decor, put out 1 holiday item on each bookcase shelf and coffee table, and 1 major holiday display per room. Now in Jan 2022, I am so happy how fast I was able to put away the holiday decor, and am loving the “negative space” and will keep it that way til Spring Fever hits me.
I am in the process of cleaning out my attic at 57 less is more ! I had 4 containers of photos now I have one ❤️ I am amazed how much crap I buy and never use ! I gave my daughter my 6 foot tree an I now have a four foot one and I just plug it in and put a star on top !
I am wondering about the tittle. It seems like I won't know until the future whether some things are "clutter or treasure"! (A good percentage of my stuff falls into this territory.) I'm keeping most of it because i see myself using it in the future, or finding the perfect person to give it to as a gift. 🎁 Trouble is: i live in 550 square feet 🐾🐾 and am running out of room, especially since my mother downsized just before Christmas 🎄 and i asked for lots of memorabilia!!! Added later: may do Minimalists' challenge in February... One thing tomorrow, Feb 1st... Two things Feb 2nd, etc ..
I collect DVDs of Scrooge. I don't keep the case, I put all my movies in sleeves in one of those DVD/CD binders. I do that with my CDs too. Saves a lot of clutter. I like getting as many versions as I can.
At time mark 3:00 they are discussing the Minimalist Challenge started by Joshua and Ryan of the Minimalists. I did it May 2021 and am embarrassed to admit most of the 495 items were trash or broken or stained or had been replaced with newer tech.
I have an 'Urgent' list for ea month. Every day i pick 1 item to take care of on the list, in addition to my everyday things. (My list is usually completed w/in the wk) Then i have a list of random 'to dos' as listener mentioned fix this, sew that, etc. Whenever I run an errand (which is usually once a month groceries, maybe a return, or appt) i put any other items in vehicle that need to be dealt with so they are ready to go & not forgotten, but it has also been placed on either urgent or to do list.
Isn't the idea of conquering the clutter a way of freeing up our houses and lives so we can spend more time going to restaurants and movies and enjoying our life?
CAVEAT: Do NOT toss your ski poles as you'll need them in Later Life for getting around in your container garden area! (The Voice of Experience Speaks!)
PUT ALL THE LIKE WITH LIKE///ALL PHOTO ALBLUM////ALL PAPER WORKS////ALL NOTES BOOKS////ALL IMPORTANT PAPER////ROTATE ALL THE BOXES PERIODCALLY//// GET RID OF ALL THE BOXES THAT ARE NO LONGER IN USE. DO IT ONECE A DAY///ONCE A WEEK///ONCE A MONTH//ONCE A QUARTER////ONCE HALF YEAR////ONCE A YEAR///
We always review last weeks homework first. Next time, you can jump the homework by going to the main topic chapter to start. Thanks for watching the video!
Hi Gayle and Ed. I am watching you and at the same time watching my neighbor carry out things to the curb. I am inspired by you guys and her urban giving. This particular discussion is so important. It feels like a great time to clear out. Best wishes
I am new to your channel just over the holidays. I decluttered alot over the New Year holiday..i am trying to catch up on your video's..I even fall asleep at night listeinng to you guys.. I declutter every day because I'm obsessed with it..getting older and want stuff gone.
My name is Jodi btw
Looking forward to next week's topic. My two cents: while I'm not done downsizing, there's not so much left to do. I've used nearly every decluttering strategy at one time or another during this journey. Some were ideal for certain stages or types of clutter, but would have been overwhelming if I had tried them at a different time or on different things. For example, in the early stages, when we had way too much stuff, the Kon Marie method would have completely shut down my ability to function, but at that stage, 40 bags in 40 days was enormously helpful. After I'd made 3 or 4 passes through my book collection, though, the Kon Marie method worked great to take them to the next level.
I'm not sure we would have made it through this project if we weren't willing to let ourselves be flexible and adapt our methods to our changing circumstances.
Happy early birthday Ed. I'm moving this week so will skip the tittle.
I'm looking forward to next week's show. I listen to ten different decluttering / organizing podcasts and read every book I come across. It's pretty much my hobby. I find value in all the approaches the various organizers have. You're my favorites though. I love how you complement each other so well and how very practical you are. You give tips that can really be implemented.
yes me too
Your commentary, particularly about ADD, lists, and time management. Always insightful... Been an on again off again declutterer but you were one of the first and most important to help me Release my "clutter" after inheriting NINE GENERATIONS OF CLUTTER at 21 years old. Thank You... More Than You Know. ♥️
Wow. Can’t imagine inheriting 9 generations of stuff! Shame on them for landing it all in your lap. I hope you’re releasing things as you go and lightening your burden!
I took your advice and took a break from decluttering over the holidays...and the benefits were huge. What became so GLARINGLY OBVIOUS during the stressful holidays, were the weakest areas in my decluttering/organization., which caused too much extra work. The holidays became a "stress test" , which showed all the weak points of how my house operates. But I took your recommended time off, and 1. realized of what was not working and 2. take time to figure out the best solution, BEFORE diving in to do the work. Now, I am in a much better position to drive in and do the work, after the holidays . Because I know now what clearly has to be changed, and also I have had a few weeks to figure out the best solutions.
I am retired from a 34 year teaching career and have collected MANY treasures such as pressed plants, animal skulls, seashells, as well as a vast amount of teaching paperwork and 12 sets of everything for lab groups. As the last 20 months since retirement, I am now finally able to have some closure on that identity. I decided to identify as something new (basically all the things I never had time to fully do when I taught.) My standard of things to keep now rests on "Does this support my identity NOW?" What a relief to have given myself permission . I am purging, donating and tossing lots of things. My favorite project was shredding old class copies that were on colored paper and creating handmade paper for art journals.
Congrats on giving yourself permission to evolve! Changing who you are now doesn’t invalidate who you were before. Good job!
Happy New Year! And Happy Birthday, Ed!
If you need to place a time constraint on your work to avoid disappearing into it, music can help. A Broadway cast album or movie soundtrack of a suitable length, a couple of rock albums in a digital playlist, a complete ballet, etc. When the music stops, you stop. Or at least take a break. By the way ... if you're cleaning, "Annie" is good for sweeping and mopping, especially "It's a Hard Luck Life". ;-D
Grew up in the 80's dancing to the Annie record...When I was about 9 years old, my twin sister a friend and I performed "It's a Hard Knock Life" at a mall! Great Suggestion, thank you!
@@slowroastedmarshmallow9226 That must have been fun and exciting! And thank YOU for correcting my mistake so gently. "A Hard Knock Life" of course, not hard luck.
Happy New Year, you two. I’ve fallen off the wagon (decluttering-wise) for the holidays. It’s time to get back to business. There are still areas that have not been gone through, and some that need more attention than originally given. As it turned out, my company didn’t stay at our house, and I am not ready yet for company, but getting there. Finding your video again is just what I need to get me moving again. So tomorrow, I will begin again. Thank you both for all you do.
I want to be a minimalist. This video is another wonderful reminder of why. Thank you for these stories.
I love how you mentioned the ADHD time blindness thing. It is very true and then I get these hyperfocuses where tons of time passes and I get a lot of stuff done but then other times it's so hard to even start on something I never can judge how long something takes. People will give the advice of blocking out your schedule and doing things for certain time blocks like this for 15 minutes or that for 20 minutes. That definitely doesn't work for the flow of me I do better getting into a groove and then just continuing if I can. Doing work when I have the motivation and the interest in it.
I think that 15 or 20 minute could work mostly for a drawer or a cabinet, like in the bathroom or kitchen. Just simple throwing away trash that collects.
But I agree, subsumed is hard to even start or not enough time over you get going.
Reminded me of my pantry. I only did one shelf, cleaned it out and threw away what junk food or old snacks I know I was not going to consume anymore, then put the rest back.
@@roxanaconception that's exactly how I do my pantry. One shelf at a time. I usually keep going but it gives me and area to focus on and even if the shelf ends up a bit better I am happy.
In the olden days (before internet) "clutter" was "stuff not where it's supposed to be." Then the definition changed to include stuff you need to pass on, whether they are in the "right place" or not. I realize I'm swimming upstream on this. My greatest fears are a) having SO much stuff when I die that it takes months or years for my kids to clean out the house and/or b) having to pack, move, unpack, and find new places for all the stuff that is currently at my address. (We have historically moved frequently but failed to own less stuff like true nomads. I'm positive we will move again.)
If you like all your stuff and want to keep it and manage it, then do so. If not, you don't have to ask anyone's permission to pass it along. Another way to put it: Decluttering is solving a problem. If you don't think you have a problem, then don't worry about "the right way to declutter."
"Clutter threshold" is a concept also discussed by Dana K. White, my other fantastic decluttering guru who has helped me get my house under control.
She also talks about time passage awareness disorder. TPAD. I love Dana. She's fantastic. Oh and another concept I love of hers is slob vision where you don't see the clutter accumulating And then I'll send you look around and say where did everything come from. I definitely have clutter blindness.
I am going to start listening to her, I need another cleaning/day time friend thx
I'm first!!! Enjoy your posts. Thanks.
YAY! Happy new year!! I am glad you're back from your restful break.
Great Show!
17:40 "There's too much going on here so I can't even make my brain work"
That's it! That's my definition of clutter.
Regarding last week's tittle (I almost said "last year," but I guess that would be appropriate, too): I am a part time college professor, and things get pretty intense with grading and testing at the end of the semester. So, I totally took the last two weeks off from anything school-related. And then, yesterday, I realized our spring semester starts in two weeks! So, I have to jump right into course preparation. But the last two weeks have been so relaxing; I fully believe it was worth it.
Following up to my previous comment: I began seeing private music students again this week. (My college classes don't start until the 19th.) My students have told me I seem so much more relaxed and refreshed since the holidays. Hooray! Taking time off from work and focusing on family and myself really made a difference!
For holiday decor, internet designers recommended removing or rearranging furniture and decorative items for a clean slate before putting out holiday decor. I removed all the non holiday decor, put out 1 holiday item on each bookcase shelf and coffee table, and 1 major holiday display per room. Now in Jan 2022, I am so happy how fast I was able to put away the holiday decor, and am loving the “negative space” and will keep it that way til Spring Fever hits me.
I am in the process of cleaning out my attic at 57 less is more ! I had 4 containers of photos now I have one ❤️ I am amazed how much crap I buy and never use ! I gave my daughter my 6 foot tree an I now have a four foot one and I just plug it in and put a star on top !
23rd january 2022. packing up christmas things just found very loving, but unsent cards, from 2006.
yes. adhd. undiagnosed until 2020, aged 55.
Give Thanks and send the items to donations/////
I am wondering about the tittle. It seems like I won't know until the future whether some things are "clutter or treasure"! (A good percentage of my stuff falls into this territory.) I'm keeping most of it because i see myself using it in the future, or finding the perfect person to give it to as a gift. 🎁 Trouble is: i live in 550 square feet 🐾🐾 and am running out of room, especially since my mother downsized just before Christmas 🎄 and i asked for lots of memorabilia!!!
Added later: may do Minimalists' challenge in February... One thing tomorrow, Feb 1st... Two things Feb 2nd, etc ..
I collect DVDs of Scrooge. I don't keep the case, I put all my movies in sleeves in one of those DVD/CD binders. I do that with my CDs too. Saves a lot of clutter. I like getting as many versions as I can.
Fun collection!
At time mark 3:00 they are discussing the Minimalist Challenge started by Joshua and Ryan of the Minimalists. I did it May 2021 and am embarrassed to admit most of the 495 items were trash or broken or stained or had been replaced with newer tech.
Why be embarrassed? You wanted/needed to declutter those, and you did. It's absolutely okay to start with easier/more obvious stuff.
Darlene is right! No need to be embarrassed. You did the Minimalist Challenge and got rid of 495 things! You rock!
I have an 'Urgent' list for ea month. Every day i pick 1 item to take care of on the list, in addition to my everyday things. (My list is usually completed w/in the wk) Then i have a list of random 'to dos' as listener mentioned fix this, sew that, etc. Whenever I run an errand (which is usually once a month groceries, maybe a return, or appt) i put any other items in vehicle that need to be dealt with so they are ready to go & not forgotten, but it has also been placed on either urgent or to do list.
Truth!!
Isn't the idea of conquering the clutter a way of freeing up our houses and lives so we can spend more time going to restaurants and movies and enjoying our life?
CAVEAT: Do NOT toss your ski poles as you'll need them in Later Life for getting around in your container garden area! (The Voice of Experience Speaks!)
You just say, Hey google. Didn't know it could set a timer. I'll try that!
PUT ALL THE LIKE WITH LIKE///ALL PHOTO ALBLUM////ALL PAPER WORKS////ALL NOTES BOOKS////ALL IMPORTANT PAPER////ROTATE ALL THE BOXES PERIODCALLY//// GET RID OF ALL THE BOXES THAT ARE NO LONGER IN USE. DO IT ONECE A DAY///ONCE A WEEK///ONCE A MONTH//ONCE A QUARTER////ONCE HALF YEAR////ONCE A YEAR///
I have to say that background really was distracting ha ha! Love the channel!
GIVE HALF OF IT AWAY////GIVE 1/4 AWAY////GIVE 1/2 AWAY////GIVE IT ALL AWAY////
I have 1-5 pieces of paper that i deal w/ on a daily basis.
Get helpers////cleaners/////
Took too long to get to topic.
We always review last weeks homework first. Next time, you can jump the homework by going to the main topic chapter to start. Thanks for watching the video!