I stopped shopping for things 15 years years ago. Currently, I live with two pairs of jeans and 5 shirts/blouses. I spend more time growing some organic fruits and vegetables in the backyard and cooking fresh meals every single day. We also spend money buying organic food. I do yoga regularly. We pray and learn scriptures daily. We also do not eat fast food or splurge on fancy restaurants. Goal is to stay away from medicines, doctors and hospitals. I am 62 and my husband is 69 and praying for our health and everyone's.
1. Relatable 2. You're just precious 3. Patience & understanding 4. Natural leadership 5. Beautiful soul *I love watching you, hearing your natural compassion, and watching your relatable videos because you are so honest and raw. Just lovely ❣️🖤👏💗
Yesterday I found your videos! I could not stop watching them! While I was supposed to be taking a shower I decluttered the guest bathroom and stayed up past midnight! Today I decluttered 5 cupboards in the kitchen! I have a full donation box and hubby just took out my full trash bag! This feels great! I’ve been so overwhelmed! We moved into a smaller house and I thought with selling, donating and getting rid of so much before moving it would be better. But no! It’s been over 2 years in this house and I’ve felt overwhelmed the entire time and it’s a mess and I just can’t! Thank you for your videos!
I stumbled across this same video 2yrs ago after watching Marie Kondo on Netflix- and we’ve been enjoying the perks ever since. I just wished I found it when my kids were younger. I have a 16yr old and 21 yr old now (she’s only home during college breaks).
I am staying up until 3am watching your videos like a crash course! I love you!!! I have 5 kids 2yrs to 12 yrs, homeschool, help run a business and everything you say is exactly how i feel. So blessed, abundance of everything and no time to stop and smell the roses or enjoy my kids. I have been praying for the Lord to shift my mindset and free myself from this bad routine of 'organising' when it should be 'reducing' and you have been a tremendous help. The guilt of moving things on has been replaced by the desire for mental and spatial freedom. Thank you so much for rescuing another mom from the drudgery and helping me get back in touch with family life. I've removed bags and bags of stuff in the last 2 days and am on a roll. Feeling excited and elated. Thank you. xx
Isn't she awesome l truly believe this is her gift the way she comes across really has changed my life and I always pray for her family she's someone you just feel close to because she's so real and genuine God does that he gives you the heart to change people's lives for the better you just have to be about your Father's business some people don't comply They certainly have humble hearts it's so refreshing
I will be 65 in a month. We are empty nesters for several years. Your videos are inspiring me to this minimal life style. When i see puctures of your home it relaxes me. I want my home to feel like this.
In one of your other videos, you can definitely see that your husband is house proud and appreciates an orderly clean house. Great Job. House looks great!
I wanted my children to appreciate what they have and learn to take care of their things and it has been so freeing. I cared about their things more than they did.
I was firstly inspired by Joshua Becker and began to minimalise, but just went so far. Then I began to watch Marie and folded everything tidily, but haven’t kept it up. Now I’m watching Minimal Mum and feel inspired to get back to it and go further. Thank you Dawn I love your videos.
You are the minimalist RUclipsr I’ve been waiting my whole life for!😂! Every word is so relatable it’s incredible. So obsessed with your videos, and your eye opening advice. Love love love!!
I love this channel too! I've been trying to simplify for years and always give up in the middle or stuff comes creeping back into the house... First on my to do list is simplifying our family meal plan!
TODAY after about a year, the inside of my house is 95% done. This is probably the closest to perfection on our definition of minimalism we will ever get. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR EVERYTHING. YOU ARE A GIFT. Thank you for being a blessing in my life and my family's life!!!!! 💥💟💟💟💟💟💟💟
I am 63 and I am trying to "take the blinders off." In other words, some stuff has been there so long, and I thought I needed it for so long, that it does not even cross my mind to get rid of it. For example, I only use tablecloths about once a year, on a holiday. So why do I have so many? I got them on sale, they are pretty, they fit in the box they are in, they are not bothering anyone, etc. But I simply don't need them and don't use all of them. I want to dig deep and really "see" the stuff, and let it go if I am not using it, whether it is good stuff or not. I don't plan on dying for a long time, but when I do, I do not want to leave my children with a big mess to go thru.
petmom ful as a child who has already lost both parents, it can be such a daunting task cleaning and sorting after they have passed on. Do consider eliminating Aprox 40-60% of your belongings and donate them to a woman's domestic violence shelter. Your heart will spill over with joy knowing you have passed on a new item for someone less fortunate. 😊
@@missyelle2749 That is good advice. My daughter and I have been reading Marie Kondo's books and reading about minimalism. We are getting rid of a lot. It is funny how you can do it over and over, and get rid of more each time. I am also making my grown kids take ALL their stuff. They all have houses now so they can take their things and make their own decisions on what to keep. It is part of being an adult. lol When my mom passed, my oldest sister took charge of everything and took what she wanted. She would not let anyone else make decisions. So she did most of it. I can only imagine how hard it must be to go thru an entire house. My mom had downsized quite a bit already, as dad was long ago dead. I wish you all the best.
we are newish empty nesters and want to downsize in two years. We are starting now. I take a pic of anything that might be sentimental or useful and send it to my kids and siblings. In 24 hours it's gone if they don't respond. Mostly no one wants our old tablecloths, dishes and knickknacks.
@@paulalerose1546 Wow, that is a really great idea. It is easier to let things go when you know they are, "going to a good home." And some things seem to mean more to different members of the family. My dad was a mean guy, but we did have a good memory of him playing a ukulele while we did the dishes, and we sang in harmony. I play the ukulele so I wanted it. My sister had it laying in her basement broken, and wanted to get rid of it. She gave it it me and I got it repaired. I treasure it. It meant nothing to her.
@@petmomful2260 Marie Kondo would say if it brings you joy it isn't clutter (or something like that). I cherish a silver serving dish belonging to a deceased aunt and silver candlesticks belonging to my grandmother. My mom has a boatload of silver and I've told her and my sibs that I only want one item. That will be three silver pieces from different eras in a modern small home. I feel it will be an interesting decor item but not overwhelming. And I love it all. I can toss a lot of the other stuff to make room.
I know this video is a year old, but I am just watching it for the first time. The point where you were talking about how overwhelmed you felt when your kids were little and you how you didn't feel like you were enjoying it...and then felt guilty for that. That is so where I'm at right now and you saying that made me wanna cry! It's always good knowing that someone else has felt that too. Thank you!
I like how you talk about the process. Then you are motivated to not go backwards. I've said it before, but your videos are great for people no matter what season of life they are in.
I just found your videos about 3 weeks ago and am hooked. I started minimizing and I love it. I started with my daughters' room and they were happy and excited to see their room clutter-free. I already did my kitchen and am working around my house. Thank you so much for what you do! God bless!
Your story is exactly like mine. I have 4 kids under 8 and totally overwhelmed by stuff. I know I'm incredibly blessed, yet feel so burdened. I start working on minimizing, then life happens and it gets tossed aside. Thank you for your channel.
This is me! This is me! This is me! Thank you 😊 I don’t have children and I currently live on my own. I’m not sure I want to be a full on minimalist but I feel totally overwhelmed by clutter, to the extent where I cannot find stuff so I just go and buy it again or change projects to avoid feeling overwhelmed. I also want to change my priorities and direction in life.
I no longer fear the doorbell and unexpected guests! I’ve had people come over and not once have I done any last minute clean up. I love it. I also feel so much lighter in my place. It took over a year to complete and it’s worth it.
After watching your kitchen declutter video, I went through my kitchen and thinned out so much. Next I cleaned out and organized my downstairs pantry/storage area and dropped off a trunkful of small appliances, storage containers, etc. So liberating! Thank you for the inspiration. I can’t wait to continue through my house and regain my peace!
I stuck to my goal this week of decluttering and reorganizing at least 5 to 15 minutes a day! It makes me happy and feels great. I also know that if I keep going with these little steps I will continually move ahead. Who knows where I will be a year from now. A thrilling thought. The little dosages of decluttering are manageable even on busy days. Decluttering and reorganizing can be emotionally draining since you deal with old stuff and have to make constant decisions. Here the daily small doses of doing it are a great concept!
I'm right there. Looking around the house thinking I can't do this and I have already done a lot of purging. I felt I was stuck. Thank you for the encouragement. I can do it.
I have to laugh because "minimalism" used to be called just good housekeeping. Back before cheap goods from China, people couldn't afford tons of stuff, so it was unusual to have piles of anything around the house. Generally speaking, only determined hoarders had that problem. I remember how much I had to pay for the cheapest dress at the local low-end clothing store - $40 bucks, in 1973! My husband made $10,000/year. I made $1.47/hour as a book keeper at a department store. $40 was a lot of money! It would take me more than 27 hours of work to pay for that one "cheap" dress. Now extrapolate that to everything you needed for a household, and you see how people just didn't accumulate that much stuff.
I think that the fact that you can afford something and make the choice to not have it is minimalism , because you choose to have stuffs you use and that make you happy!
I agree. When I was an exchange student in Argentina, living with an upper middle class family, there was no clutter, and no waste. Leftovers from the big meal eaten in the middle of the day were finished that night for dinner. Shopping was not a way to pass the time, it was done when you needed something. Their contentment surprised me - as long as they had clothes, food, a clean home, etc. - in other words, as long as their needs were met - they were happy. They spent a lot of time together, watching TV while chatting, playing cards, cooking/cleaning together, and I admired their contentment. It's like in the U.S. we buy different sets of dishes, cushions, sheets, and other decor to match each season just because we CAN. I haven't in the past because I have nowhere to store all that stuff, but now I'm reminded what true contentment really is.
Your home is lovely. Growing up in a military family, we moved a lot and so didn't collect stuff. Our home was always clean, organized, simple. I married a man raised totally opposite. About two months ago, he saw the light, and helped me begin discarding stuff. Our goal is to have 70% gone by year's end. We are so much more at peace and joyful. It's never too late to begin improving our lives. Thank you for sharing yours.
This is so wonderful. I feel as though I’m treading water constantly. I’m drowning in clutter and chores and constant decision making. I am so glad my sister in law shared your channel with me!
OMG. I’m sooooo happy I came across you today. I’m a 49 yr old mom of 4 n everything you said was me 10 yrs ago and sadly still is today. 2 Kids going off to college now n me now back to working full time n I’m still overwhelmed by the STUFF!!!! I’m done!! I want it all gone!!! This is the motivation I’ve needed. Bless you!!! 🥰
Yes, it is gratifying to even get a drawer minimized. Whenever I feel overwhelmed with clutter in my house I look in my most recently revised area and feel a lot calmer and a sense of accomplishment. It's a process. :)
This is so true! When I can´t handle a big decluttering job one day, I pick a spot in my house that has bothered me recently. It can be as small as a cluttered end table or a single drawer, but clearing it up makes a huge difference in my day.
I don't have kids, but I can sense how helpful your story is to those who do. It is related with so much heart-felt sincerity and compassion - really, really good video.
I understand the feeling of just wishing your kids were older. Mine are almost 2 and 5 and I've just embarrassed the fact that we are in a season of having a messy "life". After watching your videos now, I have reduced a lot of our things and I feel so much happier
Thank you for the way you encourage others without judgement. Listening to you makes me feel supported in stepping into making choices that are going to take me out of my comfort zone.
I agree that you'll see benefits over you start, far before you "finish". We don't do all the things and we're really just a few months "in" to this way of thinking, but we have been streamlining our toys, clothes, and kitchen items. It's awesome. We have given several families big bags of clothes and my older kids, who do their own laundry, actually really like having fewer clothes to deal with. I chip away at a drawer, a bin, a shelf most days and take a break when I need a week off. My husband, who is a great guy, has *without me asking* filled up bags of his own stuff to give away and throw away. That's a new thing for him, and I take that change as him seeing how good it feels to have less to manage! It's awesome to see how these small changes add up for all of us!
You know what’s so great, I’m a minimalist by nature. Even when I was young I realized I didn’t like having a lot of stuff. When the minimalist movement took off, I just thought it was silly to watch videos on it. But then we cut cable and I needed stuff to watch and happened upon this. This week I cleared all the plug-ins off my countertops. I thought my husband would hate that, but he’s so stinking happy. I keep getting inspired with every video!
Does anyone remember how HAPPY!!! we were when we were fresh out of college and enjoying our first apartment? IT WAS PRECISELY BECAUSE WE! HAD! NO! "STUFF".....I swear all my misery began when I was making more money and able to BUY!! MORE!! Totally unnecessary household ITEMS to the point that I became completely miserable and never wanted to come home anymore after work (avoiding my house 😩)..... minimalist lifestyle is the KEY to a better life. THANK! God! I found this life saving channel!
I know this video is a little older now, but for me, minimalism gives me more time with my family and to do what I want to do. And you are so right in all your videos Dawn, about minimalism being about more than making it easier to manage our stuff - it permeates our finances, how we spend our time, perhaps even our faith life. Part of that for me, is not using social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, twitter, etc. I have so much more free time than most of my peers and other SAHMs, and I frankly get so much more done, and I truly believe it is because my time isn't being wasted with those websites, nor is my mental and emotional energy being sapped up by them. Me being more productive at home also impacts my husband, because if I have time to do a small house repair or errands because I am not bogged down with tons of other things, it means he can be more present in the evenings and weekends with our family. God bless you and your family for sharing your ways.
First, you are such a dear and such a cutie. I have been watching you for a few months now and love everything I see. I appreciate your rawness and how sincere you are. I've been working at turtle's pace for about a year now on simplifying THINGS in my home (and mind). I'm so encouraged by you and your videos. This note alone says a lot - I never leave a comment. Thank you for what you are doing and how you are doing it.
This was exactly what I needed to see that it takes time. It’s so overwhelming I have 4 kids and one is under 1 it’s a lot to do each day. I feel so swamped by house work and laundry and never get to enjoy my day.
You're quite possibly my spirit animal. You just described my story. 3 years ago there were no resources for minimalist FAMILIES. I'm so glad to see this addition. Thanks for all you do.
Yep! It takes a very long time - but don't try to take short-cuts. It took me a year and a half to get most of the decluttering done - another year to finish, including all the house projects that needed to get done too. Once your house is decluttered the construction projects are easier to do.
wow, now that is a good statement......"Time is going to pass anyway". True, time is marching on, so be encouraged......I am preaching to myself right now.....thanks
I loved your analogy about the struggling racers! I am a homeschooling mom of 4 (read: my kids are home all day!). We don't buy or own a lot of toys (especially not noisy or "big" toys), yet I feel anxiety and unrest when my kids leave clutter on the floor and surfaces. We recently sold our 1000sqft home and are moving into 2600sqft of finished space! But I don't plan on filling up our new space with new stuff, or even all of our old stuff. When we moved three years ago, our 3 kids did not complain once of boredom when all of their toys except Duplo blocks and stuffed animals were packed in boxes for 2 months. After watching one of your videos before Christmas, I talked to my children: "You only play with your blocks, dress-up clothes, and drawing supplies." They agreed to eliminate a lot of toys, and a zoo membership is their promised non-toy Christmas gift. Since packing up the toys they were hesitant to sell, and decluttering for selling our house, my husband has appreciated the calm and space that "less" has brought to our lives. I want my kids to understand true "need" versus "want," to appreciate time and relationships instead of possessions, and to prefer the possessions that bring us together (bikes, camping gear, and Lego, for instance). I would love to hear more about how minimalism has extended to your kids' lives. I don't know if my kids are quite convinced, but it has been a hectic few months of renovations and decluttering.
Thank you!❤ After stumbling through some decluttering youtuber channels over the past several months, I have found yours to be one of the very best!! I am so glad that you have put your experiences for all to see! So encouraged that I don't have to declutter my whole house in a weekend crash session. I am taking small steps to letting things go!! It has been so incredibly rewarding to "build my decluttering muscles"!😊 You are auch a blessing!
I was also searching for an example of minimalism for a family, we have 3 kids 3 to 8. Thank you for being there ! You are such an inspiration. Since watching your videos we downsized the kids toys, family clothes and the kids books. This is wonderful, I would never go back. We already feel the difference in our moods and that affects all the family. Now when we need to clean our family room it takes literally 5 min! With this video I know it will probably take a year to do the whole house and I feel fine with that. Thanks again ! I'll keep watching !
This is the Dave Ramsey of motherhood...once you are fed up you will begin making changes...and one baby step at a time you will get healthy routines made.
We have lots of knives and forks but they are kept in the storeroom for when we entertain. We keep a single set out for my husband and I and 4 spoons for my one year old twins. It is fabulous that we are physically not able to make a huge mess in the kitchen or create a huge pile of dishes
YES, I completely agree! Even if we dirtied EVERY dish in our kitchen, I know that it can be cleaned up in a matter of minutes not hours like in the past!!
I could store more than half of my dishes and silverware and not need them at all-- till company came over--but then they will still have to go somewhere. Seems logical to keep" like with like" rather than have same items in different places. I'm open to how you do this, please share. Thanks.
My friend introduced me to Go Clean Co and I was looking for videos on RUclips when I found one of yours. It was comparing different cleaning methods. After that one came another. I heard you talk about “reducing inventory” and about how things pull you down emotionally (that is what I learned from it anyway). I began to declutter with a whole new mindset. Whenever I get rid of something that has made me make a mental to-do list, it was so relieving! I know it won’t happen overnight, but It’s coming along. It doesn’t’ take as much energy to clean and I’ve even made my bed nearly every morning (before I didn’t care). I’ve even shared your channel with my friend who inadvertently started me on this journey.
One closet/drawer at a time is definetely a good way to go! :) About two months ago, in my summer vacation, I did an intense speed declutter of all the rooms. I live in an apartment (kitchen, bathroom, hallway and combined dining/living/sleeping space), but it was almost scary how much I had managed to pack into the closets - things I was mostly keeping out of guilt or 'what if'. I managed to purge a lot, and I invested in a few new pieces of furniture with more optimal function. The feeling was amazing! I have nothing whatsoever under my bed, I have a place where I can sit in the morning and get ready, and my space feels more functional and calm. And it is so much faster and easier to tidy and clean. Since then, I have had an unintentional break. I think the main thing is, it is difficult to get the things out of my house. I live in the city, I don't have a car, and there are no recycling stations nearby. I have to walk pretty far to the nearest charity shop, and without a car, it is not much I can carry at once. I can only stockpile so much at a time in the kitchen, before it starts to get in the way. The first sweep was 'easy', because so much of it was junk. I think the next one will be a bit harder. Either way, I think it is time to get back at it, and do a more detailed round. I will take this video as my sign. :)
you know I minimilised 5 years ago when we sold up everything and went to travel in our caravan full time. We were on the road 8 months then found out we were expecting baby number 4. We have been back living in a house now 4 years and I never thought minimising would ever be overwhelming for me. I can so relate when you spoke about when you look at all the things you have to tidy up and the amount of clothes you have to wash each day. It is definately a motivation breaker. So grateful for coming across your channel. Thankyou
Traveling full time, that sounds awesome!! And thank you! It is quite amazing ALL of the things that four kids come with these days, isn't it!?! Blessings on your journey, I'll look forward to keeping in touch!
Yes it certainly is amazing what four kids come with, hahahaha! Thankyou for your blessings. I watched your Laundry Video and Minmizing the kids wardrobe video aswell. Lessened their wardrobe a few months ago to the nuber 10. Number 5 will be the number for us for sure and certainly basket shopping is on the list. :). Have a fabulous weekend :)
You described my life exactly in the first 5 minutes! I added homeschooling to that life and felt SO lost. My kids are teens now, and Im committed to minimalism. Thank you for your honest videos- and I love it when your twin sister visits too!
@ abt 8:00 she said it took her approx a Year.. Good..bc i get overwhelmed just looking at this TEENY 720 sq ft. OLD 1942 "house" crammed with stuff as there is nowhere to put it.. i just get defeated & cry 😢
"Time is going to pass anyway"... I too am in same exhausted defeated feeling..but having been ur subscriber & today watching this is surely timely, much needed motivation..God bless u all
I got emotional listening to your experience because that was me as well when I had my child in this huge house that took all my time to keep clean and tidy. I felt guilty and miserable. Thank you for shining a light on this issue that many women have. ❤️
Another great reason to be a minimalist is the environment, which is something that I care about but often feel powerless to help. The less cheap plastic materials you bring into your home, the less plastic will one day end up in a landfill or ocean and the less demand you create for these products.
omg I think I finally found someone who understands me. I just want to have a good cry because you hit so many unnerving point. I am feeling all of this at this moment and there are days I just want to throw everything out my apt. because no one wants to or are not capable enough to deal with their stuff so it all falls on me
This is literally me!!!!!! I have never been able to articulate it but oh gosh, THIS IS ME! I definitely need to look into minimalism- I drowning in clothes and toys and dishes! DROWNING!
Love the video. It's been the way I've been feeling for years bc I started not to care either! All the kids were in school now, so I started my minimalist journey. I started in the kitchen bc all guests and it's the most used room. I have been posting the items online and making extra money also. Why didn't I start years before was my regret. It will take time to go through the house. I do see that trickle down effect you talk about. It has made such a difference. I cook with such ease. I meal plan. I work a full time job and it makes it refreshing to come home to. I make breakfast, lunch and dinner everyday. I will give myself one day to pick up lunch, to pick up breakfast and one to pick up dinner. This way it gives me permission to take a break without eating out like we used to. I will take more fruit for breakfast and a coffee from home. Leftovers or a sandwich for lunch. Fresh dinners for the family to eat. My bank account shows it too! I've been spending so much less.
Yay! This is all SO awesome and inspiring! I love the giving yourself one day off for each meal as well...I know this will inspire others, thank YOU for sharing!!!! :)
What I've noticed about us is, so many things because just part of the scene. We overlook so much stuff just because [whatever it is] it has sat in that spot for years. Suddenly one day, it dawns on me....why are we keeping this ?! So much is there just because it has been for so long. The more that leaves out house, the better we feel. The more we lighten the load, again, the better we feel. We can breathe a sigh of relief. I don't think we'll go all out minimal....but, boy, we've got too much stuff & it feels wonderful to let a lot of it go.
I love the positive attitude you have about being a minimalist. I also have children, and husband im a homemaker. I always felt the same way you did ,and even though I felt that way I still cleaned the house ,and believe that every day brings me one step closer to becoming a minimalist as I'm donating ,and tossing items not needed no more as well. I enjoyed watching your channel.
Oh my gosh hide and seek yes... I've been embarrassed before... The worst was when I had a friend over and I lost my phone and she was trying to help me find it, looking in the couch and cabinets as my toddler hid it somewhere... My goal now is to be unashamed and even proud of what the insides of cabinets and closets look like and even proud! I love your idea of having the cabinets and such only half full, it really makes everything easier to find and just looks great! Just found your channel yesterday, subscribed with notifications, and declutterred and cleaned the heck out of my linen cabinet today! Thanks for the motivation 😁. Now I can't wait for people to open up that closet lol
I'm with you on the "washing and using the same things over and over again." I realized i only need those things and i have been living for a while just using those same things over and over. That is why i got rid of the stuff we didn't need. I am proud to say that we actually have four huge rooms in our house that could actually be condensed completely into one room. One room has just a play tunnel and judo mats, 2nd room just has a set of toddler beds, nothing else, 3rd room has a small couch and mounted tv and small basket of toys and small play kitchen(was able to downsize three of the four sizes of the huge kitchen set) 4 th room has the bigger couch and a few picture frames on the wall. Literally could combine all those things into one room. Basically could downsize our house in half easily by square footage. I have no decorations to dust or dvds cause we do Netflix and Amazon prime. I wouldn't change my house/life style for anything. It took me 2 to 3 yrs to get rid of everything because we moved 4 times in a couple yrs so each time we got rid of more stuff. My husband and i have less stuff now total than BEFORE we had our three kids!!! And, we even had an extra room in our old apartment just for our junk!! And that was before kids too. We laugh about it now cause we literally just packed it full of stuff and never used any of it. We wasted so much money on a 2 bedroom apartment all in the name of stuff. Let that be something to take into consideration my fellow inspiring minimalist!💙
You were right about just starting. I was overwhelmed with the idea of clearing out with the KonMari method. Taking everything out (like clothes) and sorting and tossing. It was another major project. But instead I did what you had said in another video...like peeling an onion layer by layer....(something to that effect). So I started with the master bedroom. First it was a drawer...then another and before I knew I was clearing the top of the chest of drawers and a bookcase. I then rearranged an artwork to another wall. I did as much clearing that was enough for that day. But I felt refreshed about the whole room and the atmosphere. Even my husband who did not helped, said the room felt lighter. So after clearing the master bedroom I'm inspired to tackle other clutter problem areas throughout my home...the hallway bookcase, the coat closet, …..as when I have time and energy. Layer by layer....thanks for a great video!!!
I'm single, childless and therein immediately way removed from your demographic but!... I clicked in to listen whilst I was washing up, and having quietly gone through my own 1-year stop and start 'de-clutter / minimalism' experience, found myself applauding your down-to-earth, indeed frank, approach. Very nicely done 👏
I just wanted to say a big thankyou . My husband and I have 5 children and a dog , I've always just been getting by. A year and half ago my husband died age 40 and with your help, clutterbug lady and Swedish death cleaning has changed me so much I'm actually smiling while doing chores around the house . Thanks again Susan Sherwood UK 💋
Couldn't agree more! I started with clutterbug about a year ago and don't get me wrong I LOVE Her, but haven't been quite able to go fully in and implement a lot of it, and I truly believe it's bc this right here is the piece I've been missing! You Dawn was my Missing Link😂 I've been off and on steadily the last month trying and just end up back at square one like usual and then.... I found you the other day and Ahh-Haaa!!!! Cannot Express how Much you are Truly a Blessing!! I can watch and watch organization, decluttering, different method video's all day and don't stop to do anything bc I was still searching! Kicking myself in the bud for not clicking when I had the chance a year ago!!!! God Bless You! And I'm Sooo Sorry for Your Loss! One day at a time and slowly with each go through and change, WE WILL GET THERE!!! I too got my kid Everything and regret it sooo sooo much now!! Looking forward to being able to put on your videos again 2mro and work, work, work!!!
I’m so here.. I’m very much in this season where I feel like my days are ONLY trying to catch up on chores and tidying and while life passes me by and shoeing my kids. And I’m just missing their early years :(
Thank you so much for sharing your minimalist journey, ups and downs. Realistic views, dramatic and actual views for every day life of a minimal family. 👪 Have been watching you for couple of years now and at first, I thought how 🤔 can this possible be. There is no way I could do this. My husband has been telling me for years, this is what he would love for our home to look like. Yet, I was the one dealing with the mess or as you say "managing it". So I told my husband, you are dreaming. We are a family of 5 and 3 kids that I keep up with. OH, I was so frustrated with my hubby when he would tell me the same thing, "What did you do all day" 😠 now he calls it, "You goofing 🤪 off again. 😩 After, my Pastor did a Powerful Sermon on Clutter and Mess, is interrupting your spiritual life. 🙏 🤯🤯🤯 I took that message personally, NOW...I am on the 🏁 of minimalist my home. Watching 👀 your videos again and the content is hitting me just as the sermon. 🙌
I am a mum and manage all the household chores, and always find that the chores seem to get on top of me. At the end of everyday the house is completely messy and stuff is everywhere. I am naturally a messy person and have never been able to keep the house organised no matter how hard I tried. Your videos have given me a new outlook on life! Time to start the decluttering process.
To help stop the flow of toys coming in, you have to get grandparents on board. If they keep bringing cool stuff in, it will become a battle.. You've done a great job.
Just discovered your channel and loving it. You are spot on with saying you will see the effects of decluttering straight away even from starting small. My first step was to declutter my kitchen drawers that contained cutlery and utensils and as I'm in the kitchen daily I had to open those drawers many times and the feeling of seeing less in those drawers was so fulfilling. The feeling was so great that I continued decluttering other areas from there and then it almost became addictive as the feeling that comes with having less is so great.
You are so right. When I first started, it was tough! Where do I start? What's my plan (I don't plan). I was totally overwhelmed hiding out in my office doing projects or watching RUclips or even doing absolutely nothing because I was completely stalled from moving toward decluttering anything. But then I decluttered some clothes. I wanted all my clothes to fit into 1 closet instead of 2. Then I took some living room furniture into the garage to see if I cared about having or using those chairs and tables. They went to Good Will. Then I started telling people I had an extra dresser and dining table and do they need it. Today the dresser is gone and I have somewhere for the table to go. Still looking for a home for the dining chairs, but I can hang them in the rafters for now. It was slow for me at first but the more decluttering I did, the better I started feeling about myself and my home. I have a long way to go (Dec 31, 2021 goal date) but it's amazing what keeps happening next. This weekend I found the perfect couch that makes into a bed (and fits my 5' height). I gave back all the furniture I was holding onto for my daughter. 2 chairs, 2 side tables and a very large couch. Now I can remove the twin bed from the second bedroom (for grandkids sleep over) and make it my office and sewing/art room instead. Now I have begun to fit the things I actually need in the second bedroom and made it a space I love. I've been labeling everything with a label maker. I usually label stuff with tape and a sharpie, but it didn't look nice or consistent. The label maker was a game changer. I labeled my entire file cabinet and decluttered it at the same time. It took 6 hours but I was so thrilled to get it completed I didn't want to stop. Then there was a free shred day in the community and I got rid of 25 years of documents I'd been keeping. All these things I've done from listening to you (and other RUclipsrs you've mentioned) and I'm so happy to have found you. Thank you Dawn!
Thank you for using the term simple living l think that has helped me a lot. What works best for you personally you always say 😊 My house is not big I saw people decluttering their kitchen on U Tube I have three cabinets to put things in and they had nine or more for me I do have stuff setting out there's really nowhere to put it. But decluttering inside of the cabinets I just smile when I open them I'm still working on it there's 7 people in my house so there's a lot of stuff not many closets in This Old House that I'm blessed to have I'll just keep working thank you Dawn You ARE about your Father's business. What is it Mother Teresa said Not all of us can do great things but we can do small things with great love. I believe you are Dawn
Oh yes! Your comment on missing your career, and peoples thoughts on enjoying the kiddos now...but you simply NOT, resonated. This is me right now. Thank you. I needed an answer for living intentionally and not.the drowning feeling with the learning curve of adding a second baby two months ago on top of bookkeeping for my hubbies business. You are an answer to my prayers. Literally!
I just came across your channel and I find you to be so transparent and absolutely adorable ❤️ All people ever want is TRUTH AND HONESTY and you give it to your viewers in spades....KUDOS young lady! Patty sending you blessings from Colorado 🙏❤️🙏
I am a mother of four. I work and I am trying to finish my bachelors. I realized cleaning my kid's rooms that the rooms were packed of stuff. Why do we have so much. I recently started with my own room, yet I felt exhausted and overwhelmed. So thank you for your advice to just take it one step at a time, one day at a time. I will continue on this journey.
I've watched more of your current videos and thought I'd take a gander at this one. So authentic, vulnerable and downright funny! I appreciate your journey and encouragement as each person endeavors to live more simply!
Just finished reading most of the comments (which I seldom do) and began to give up because there were so many. Amazingly, you found time to reply to most of them. I figured your blog targeted young mothers and professionals, but was delighted to see some of us “more mature” women responding. I myself am 64 and raised four kids as well. Growing up was not typical (I guess) for my ethnicity. I present as white even though my dad has Choctaw roots and met my mom in Oklahoma. We moved every couple of years and I had 2 sisters and a brother. Dad was always searing for work and get rich Quick schemes. Mom kept us housed and fed. We definitely lived a minimalist lifestyle. Toothbrushes and socks for birthdays, etc. When I graduated from college, I was the first in my ancestry to do so. Of course I wanted to use my teaching degree and my husband made a very good salary in farming and then IT. We accumulated so much stuff it wouldn’t fit in our house and we rented storage places and filled our garage! Like others, I purged stuff all along, clothes, toys, etc. But never could completely declutter. My mom would come visit and make comments that I could open up a store with all my stuff. Ugh! Well, now I’m retired, 64 years old and my already minimalist “hiker” husband convinced me to buy a smaller house just down the street. Yes, it is quite a bit smaller and he is insisting on putting our two cars in the garage. He thought it would take a couple of months. We had lived in our bigger two story house for 30 years. We are now in our 6th month of downsizing. We were in a position to not sell our older house for a while, but he is getting antsy. The rule was not to bring ANYTHING to the new house that we absolutely didn’t need. It is working...my new house is clutter free and easy to maintain. Both cars are in the garage. My only stress now is what to do with the mountains of stuff at my old house. A lot of it is stuff I used when teaching and sentimental heirlooms from his family and loads of stuff we had hanging on the wall. I was losing hope until I saw it took years for some. I don’t really have years since we need to sell, how do I cut the ties that bind me to my precious stuff?
LOVE THIS!!! This is where I am now. Husband works long hours and isn't on the same page and I'm a teacher on summer break with a toddler and feel defeated since there's stuff every where and she's getting into everything! All I do is move a stack of clutter from the dinning room table to another table, which she can then reach later on by climbing on the couch, etc... You're real, and honest and trying to use nap time to go through things but also exercise, shower and watch a non singing cartoon video! Will not feel defeated if all I can do is a couple of cabinets in a week! :)
started to see it years too late. when the children were small it was normal to buy more and more. we were raised that way by our parents and environment. 3 years ago I started to see it differently. we work for things that you do not need, which will cause a burden on your shoulders. because you always have to do something with it. I have now started to live smaller in terms of home. But with a much larger garden that I have always wanted.
I’m not sure if you mentioned this in this video or not, but I wanted to share. On one of your videos that I watched awhile ago, you said that you wanted a home where someone could drop by and you only had to pick up in 5-10 mins to feel like your home was clean for them to come. Yesterday my husband had an issue with the lawnmower and his parents needed to come by to help. They are 30 mins away. In about 15 mins, we have the kitchen and living room picked up and I even had time to vacuum the stairs and clean the mirror in the bathroom 🤣 All I could think of was what you had said and it felt AMAZING to finally be in that position without running around until they got there and still having stuff I wanted to clean. You’ve helped me so much and I can’t thank you enough. Yesterday showed me that this is the journey I want to be on even though I’ve been trying for years. 💜💜💜
I'm not a mom but I am a researcher turned lawyer so you can only IMAGINE the paperwork I have stored. I REALLY appreciated this video because I so relate to the sense of oppression that comes with being surrounded by clutter and stuff and feeling like you're beholden to it instead of IT serving YOU. Thanks so much for making this video and being so genuine. That's so much nicer than the hyper-polished youtube "personalities" that dominate this site. Subscribed.
Your house tour was what really motivated me to get going with minimalism. It was the first time I saw a family with four kids, like me, practicing minimalism. I had always wanted to but getting going didn't feel possible until I came upon your blog. So for you to have a RUclips channel is like amazing for me! I'm not kidding! Minimalism has changed my life. And wouldn't have happened if you hadn't started talking about minimalism openly. Thanks for reading, Carrie Spencer
I lived and worked in China for 2 years. I traveled with 2 large suitcases and 1 carry on. I had to set up house from scratch, and knowing I would only be there a couple of years, I only purchased the necessities for my apartment. I remember I had gone through my closet and only picked pieces that could match with everything else and multi-task for many occasions. I absolutely loved living simply with a minimal of possessions! Now, I am back in the U.S. and I’m sitting here thinking, “I lived without all this stuff for 26 months...why do I even NEED it? I am ready to take the journey to simplify my home once and for all. I move a lot, and most of my storage hasn’t even left the boxes for several moves!!! Why am I even holding onto this stuff? 📦 📦 📦
You responded to The Minimal Mom 3 years ago about living with just necessities in China for 2 years. Thank you for what you shared it was eye-opening! Blessings
Joshua Becker was also the one who inspired my family to live with less. The benefits that have came with that decision have been overwhelmingly positive! My only regret is that I didn’t do it sooner! ❤️
Watched your videos for aprox. six months now and can't understand how I missed this one! So interesting and you really tell from your heart, one can feel that. Thank you! Another good thing is that you show your children, both boys and girls, that an adult (here mother) can have children and still have time for some career, and most importantly, how to acknowledge your feelings back then and taking an adult responsibility and change this to the better! They will know that this can be done. So inspiring!
Your home is so clean and beautiful! It just looks so peaceful and relaxing; I wish I would have grown up in a house that looked like this. Great job !!
"So... What did you do all day...?" LOL! I get that line sooo often! I need less stuff and more motivation to live my life to the fullest with my family. Thank you for your videos.
Hi Dawn! I love your videos! They've been so inspiring! We're beginning our minimalism journey and I'm loving it so far. We're downsizing to a 1300 sq ft house (from 1900). We have 5 children. I'm selling everything (well almost) and paying off debt. I just feel the shackles and burdens of stuff and debt melting away. It feels so good and I'm able to focus on what's really important and essential: relationships, experiences, love, etc. We still have a long way to go, but I see the vision of it now and I don't want to stop! Thanks for sharing your journey with us!
Gosh, I relate so well to you! Last year when I set out on this journey i felt like I was treading water only the water were laundry, dishes, cleaning and a mom with a bad attitude while doing it. I had started to give up and we never seemed to have any time. You are very inspiring, truly!
Thank you Alex and thank YOU for ALL of the encouragement along the way, it means more than you know!!!! (and love following you on instagram, you house is👌, love your style!!!)
Love your channel so much! During quarantine I have decluttered every room and closet in my house. I also did the meal planning with my husband. Life feels radically freeing. Living simply is truly the best!
I'm exactly where you were at. Thank you for this. I used to be minimalist by nature. I left everything go over the last year and now I'm on my journey back. This helped me so much to feel motivated.
Thank you so much for opening my eyes! You are amazing! You have inspired me to look at all of my belongings and decide to keep only what I use. I’m almost done with my kitchen and I’m so excited at my results! Thank you, thank you! You have made such an impact in my life! May the Lord bless you!
Great video! I began a minimalist lifestyle two years ago. It took me about a year to declutter also. It makes life so much easier! I can't imagine going back!
I stopped shopping for things 15 years years ago. Currently, I live with two pairs of jeans and 5 shirts/blouses. I spend more time growing some organic fruits and vegetables in the backyard and cooking fresh meals every single day. We also spend money buying organic food. I do yoga regularly. We pray and learn scriptures daily. We also do not eat fast food or splurge on fancy restaurants. Goal is to stay away from medicines, doctors and hospitals. I am 62 and my husband is 69 and praying for our health and everyone's.
👌life goals 🙌 😍 Congratulations 👏
1. Relatable
2. You're just precious
3. Patience & understanding
4. Natural leadership
5. Beautiful soul
*I love watching you, hearing your natural compassion, and watching your relatable videos because you are so honest and raw.
Just lovely ❣️🖤👏💗
Yesterday I found your videos! I could not stop watching them! While I was supposed to be taking a shower I decluttered the guest bathroom and stayed up past midnight! Today I decluttered 5 cupboards in the kitchen! I have a full donation box and hubby just took out my full trash bag! This feels great! I’ve been so overwhelmed! We moved into a smaller house and I thought with selling, donating and getting rid of so much before moving it would be better. But no! It’s been over 2 years in this house and I’ve felt overwhelmed the entire time and it’s a mess and I just can’t! Thank you for your videos!
I stumbled across this same video 2yrs ago after watching Marie Kondo on Netflix- and we’ve been enjoying the perks ever since. I just wished I found it when my kids were younger. I have a 16yr old and 21 yr old now (she’s only home during college breaks).
I am staying up until 3am watching your videos like a crash course! I love you!!! I have 5 kids 2yrs to 12 yrs, homeschool, help run a business and everything you say is exactly how i feel. So blessed, abundance of everything and no time to stop and smell the roses or enjoy my kids. I have been praying for the Lord to shift my mindset and free myself from this bad routine of 'organising' when it should be 'reducing' and you have been a tremendous help. The guilt of moving things on has been replaced by the desire for mental and spatial freedom. Thank you so much for rescuing another mom from the drudgery and helping me get back in touch with family life. I've removed bags and bags of stuff in the last 2 days and am on a roll. Feeling excited and elated. Thank you. xx
SO glad to hear this Dorothy!! Thank YOU!!! :)
Isn't she awesome l truly believe this is her gift the way she comes across really has changed my life and I always pray for her family she's someone you just feel close to because she's so real and genuine God does that he gives you the heart to change people's lives for the better you just have to be about your Father's business some people don't comply
They certainly
have humble hearts it's so refreshing
I’m just checking this out for the first time 🙂 I’m a mom of four. Age 7-13 💙
Yeppp...currently 2:11am here in Australia 🇦🇺 😂 and I’m binge watching Dawn 👏🏼
And literally removed bags and bags in the last two days also! 🙌🏼👏🏼🎆 I am exhausted but so grateful for this guidance. I’m so happy.
I will be 65 in a month. We are empty nesters for several years. Your videos are inspiring me to this minimal life style. When i see puctures of your home it relaxes me. I want my home to feel like this.
Agree. I want to enjoy the life I have while I can
In one of your other videos, you can definitely see that your husband is house proud and appreciates an orderly clean house. Great Job. House looks great!
I wanted my children to appreciate what they have and learn to take care of their things and it has been so freeing. I cared about their things more than they did.
I was firstly inspired by Joshua Becker and began to minimalise, but just went so far.
Then I began to watch Marie and folded everything tidily, but haven’t kept it up.
Now I’m watching Minimal Mum and feel inspired to get back to it and go further.
Thank you Dawn I love your videos.
You are the minimalist RUclipsr I’ve been waiting my whole life for!😂! Every word is so relatable it’s incredible. So obsessed with your videos, and your eye opening advice. Love love love!!
Wow, THANK YOU! That means more than you know!!
I completely agree!!! I'm so glad that I found you!!!
I love this channel too! I've been trying to simplify for years and always give up in the middle or stuff comes creeping back into the house... First on my to do list is simplifying our family meal plan!
tfcstevi
TODAY after about a year, the inside of my house is 95% done. This is probably the closest to perfection on our definition of minimalism we will ever get. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR EVERYTHING. YOU ARE A GIFT. Thank you for being a blessing in my life and my family's life!!!!! 💥💟💟💟💟💟💟💟
I'm 62...raised 5 kids and can so relate to the points you make!!! A clean house is a peaceful home! Thank you!
I am 63 and I am trying to "take the blinders off." In other words, some stuff has been there so long, and I thought I needed it for so long, that it does not even cross my mind to get rid of it. For example, I only use tablecloths about once a year, on a holiday. So why do I have so many? I got them on sale, they are pretty, they fit in the box they are in, they are not bothering anyone, etc. But I simply don't need them and don't use all of them. I want to dig deep and really "see" the stuff, and let it go if I am not using it, whether it is good stuff or not. I don't plan on dying for a long time, but when I do, I do not want to leave my children with a big mess to go thru.
petmom ful as a child who has already lost both parents, it can be such a daunting task cleaning and sorting after they have passed on. Do consider eliminating Aprox 40-60% of your belongings and donate them to a woman's domestic violence shelter. Your heart will spill over with joy knowing you have passed on a new item for someone less fortunate. 😊
@@missyelle2749 That is good advice. My daughter and I have been reading Marie Kondo's books and reading about minimalism. We are getting rid of a lot. It is funny how you can do it over and over, and get rid of more each time. I am also making my grown kids take ALL their stuff. They all have houses now so they can take their things and make their own decisions on what to keep. It is part of being an adult. lol When my mom passed, my oldest sister took charge of everything and took what she wanted. She would not let anyone else make decisions. So she did most of it. I can only imagine how hard it must be to go thru an entire house. My mom had downsized quite a bit already, as dad was long ago dead. I wish you all the best.
we are newish empty nesters and want to downsize in two years. We are starting now. I take a pic of anything that might be sentimental or useful and send it to my kids and siblings. In 24 hours it's gone if they don't respond. Mostly no one wants our old tablecloths, dishes and knickknacks.
@@paulalerose1546 Wow, that is a really great idea. It is easier to let things go when you know they are, "going to a good home." And some things seem to mean more to different members of the family. My dad was a mean guy, but we did have a good memory of him playing a ukulele while we did the dishes, and we sang in harmony. I play the ukulele so I wanted it. My sister had it laying in her basement broken, and wanted to get rid of it. She gave it it me and I got it repaired. I treasure it. It meant nothing to her.
@@petmomful2260 Marie Kondo would say if it brings you joy it isn't clutter (or something like that). I cherish a silver serving dish belonging to a deceased aunt and silver candlesticks belonging to my grandmother. My mom has a boatload of silver and I've told her and my sibs that I only want one item. That will be three silver pieces from different eras in a modern small home. I feel it will be an interesting decor item but not overwhelming. And I love it all. I can toss a lot of the other stuff to make room.
I know this video is a year old, but I am just watching it for the first time. The point where you were talking about how overwhelmed you felt when your kids were little and you how you didn't feel like you were enjoying it...and then felt guilty for that. That is so where I'm at right now and you saying that made me wanna cry! It's always good knowing that someone else has felt that too. Thank you!
I like how you talk about the process. Then you are motivated to not go backwards. I've said it before, but your videos are great for people no matter what season of life they are in.
I just found your videos about 3 weeks ago and am hooked. I started minimizing and I love it. I started with my daughters' room and they were happy and excited to see their room clutter-free. I already did my kitchen and am working around my house. Thank you so much for what you do! God bless!
Your story is exactly like mine. I have 4 kids under 8 and totally overwhelmed by stuff. I know I'm incredibly blessed, yet feel so burdened. I start working on minimizing, then life happens and it gets tossed aside. Thank you for your channel.
This is me! This is me! This is me! Thank you 😊 I don’t have children and I currently live on my own. I’m not sure I want to be a full on minimalist but I feel totally overwhelmed by clutter, to the extent where I cannot find stuff so I just go and buy it again or change projects to avoid feeling overwhelmed. I also want to change my priorities and direction in life.
I no longer fear the doorbell and unexpected guests! I’ve had people come over and not once have I done any last minute clean up. I love it. I also feel so much lighter in my place. It took over a year to complete and it’s worth it.
YES! This is awesome!!!
After watching your kitchen declutter video, I went through my kitchen and thinned out so much. Next I cleaned out and organized my downstairs pantry/storage area and dropped off a trunkful of small appliances, storage containers, etc. So liberating! Thank you for the inspiration. I can’t wait to continue through my house and regain my peace!
I stuck to my goal this week of decluttering and reorganizing at least 5 to 15 minutes a day! It makes me happy and feels great. I also know that if I keep going with these little steps I will continually move ahead. Who knows where I will be a year from now. A thrilling thought. The little dosages of decluttering are manageable even on busy days. Decluttering and reorganizing can be emotionally draining since you deal with old stuff and have to make constant decisions. Here the daily small doses of doing it are a great concept!
I'm right there. Looking around the house thinking I can't do this and I have already done a lot of purging. I felt I was stuck. Thank you for the encouragement. I can do it.
I have to laugh because "minimalism" used to be called just good housekeeping. Back before cheap goods from China, people couldn't afford tons of stuff, so it was unusual to have piles of anything around the house. Generally speaking, only determined hoarders had that problem. I remember how much I had to pay for the cheapest dress at the local low-end clothing store - $40 bucks, in 1973! My husband made $10,000/year. I made $1.47/hour as a book keeper at a department store. $40 was a lot of money! It would take me more than 27 hours of work to pay for that one "cheap" dress. Now extrapolate that to everything you needed for a household, and you see how people just didn't accumulate that much stuff.
I agree, my mom and I have talked about this several times!!!
Minimalism is basically how immigrants from India live for their first five years
I think that the fact that you can afford something and make the choice to not have it is minimalism , because you choose to have stuffs you use and that make you happy!
I agree. When I was an exchange student in Argentina, living with an upper middle class family, there was no clutter, and no waste. Leftovers from the big meal eaten in the middle of the day were finished that night for dinner. Shopping was not a way to pass the time, it was done when you needed something. Their contentment surprised me - as long as they had clothes, food, a clean home, etc. - in other words, as long as their needs were met - they were happy. They spent a lot of time together, watching TV while chatting, playing cards, cooking/cleaning together, and I admired their contentment. It's like in the U.S. we buy different sets of dishes, cushions, sheets, and other decor to match each season just because we CAN. I haven't in the past because I have nowhere to store all that stuff, but now I'm reminded what true contentment really is.
Very true .
I love you!!! You motivate me so much. "Time will pass anyway" So true about so many things.
I totally feel exactly the way you do!!!!
Love watching these old videos and following how you’ve grown and progressed... and Oh! look at that; you’re talking about The Amazing Race 🤗
Your home is lovely. Growing up in a military family, we moved a lot and so didn't collect stuff. Our home was always clean, organized, simple. I married a man raised totally opposite. About two months ago, he saw the light, and helped me begin discarding stuff. Our goal is to have 70% gone by year's end. We are so much more at peace and joyful. It's never too late to begin improving our lives. Thank you for sharing yours.
This is so cool! And I'm glad you shared this, I know it will encourage others who's husbands aren't on board yet!!!
This is so wonderful. I feel as though I’m treading water constantly. I’m drowning in clutter and chores and constant decision making. I am so glad my sister in law shared your channel with me!
OMG. I’m sooooo happy I came across you today. I’m a 49 yr old mom of 4 n everything you said was me 10 yrs ago and sadly still is today. 2 Kids going off to college now n me now back to working full time n I’m still overwhelmed by the STUFF!!!! I’m done!! I want it all gone!!! This is the motivation I’ve needed. Bless you!!! 🥰
Yes, it is gratifying to even get a drawer minimized. Whenever I feel overwhelmed with clutter in my house I look in my most recently revised area and feel a lot calmer and a sense of accomplishment. It's a process. :)
This is a GREAT idea!!
This is so true! When I can´t handle a big decluttering job one day, I pick a spot in my house that has bothered me recently. It can be as small as a cluttered end table or a single drawer, but clearing it up makes a huge difference in my day.
I don't have kids, but I can sense how helpful your story is to those who do. It is related with so much heart-felt sincerity and compassion - really, really good video.
Thank you!!!
I don't have kids at home anymore, but I do have stuff! lol
I understand the feeling of just wishing your kids were older. Mine are almost 2 and 5 and I've just embarrassed the fact that we are in a season of having a messy "life". After watching your videos now, I have reduced a lot of our things and I feel so much happier
Thank you for the way you encourage others without judgement. Listening to you makes me feel supported in stepping into making choices that are going to take me out of my comfort zone.
I agree that you'll see benefits over you start, far before you "finish". We don't do all the things and we're really just a few months "in" to this way of thinking, but we have been streamlining our toys, clothes, and kitchen items. It's awesome. We have given several families big bags of clothes and my older kids, who do their own laundry, actually really like having fewer clothes to deal with. I chip away at a drawer, a bin, a shelf most days and take a break when I need a week off. My husband, who is a great guy, has *without me asking* filled up bags of his own stuff to give away and throw away. That's a new thing for him, and I take that change as him seeing how good it feels to have less to manage! It's awesome to see how these small changes add up for all of us!
Your details and examples are the reason your videos are more helpful to me than other bloggers!
Thank you!!!
You know what’s so great, I’m a minimalist by nature. Even when I was young I realized I didn’t like having a lot of stuff. When the minimalist movement took off, I just thought it was silly to watch videos on it. But then we cut cable and I needed stuff to watch and happened upon this. This week I cleared all the plug-ins off my countertops. I thought my husband would hate that, but he’s so stinking happy. I keep getting inspired with every video!
Does anyone remember how HAPPY!!! we were when we were fresh out of college and enjoying our first apartment? IT WAS PRECISELY BECAUSE WE! HAD! NO! "STUFF".....I swear all my misery began when I was making more money and able to BUY!! MORE!! Totally unnecessary household ITEMS to the point that I became completely miserable and never wanted to come home anymore after work (avoiding my house 😩)..... minimalist lifestyle is the KEY to a better life. THANK! God! I found this life saving channel!
I know this video is a little older now, but for me, minimalism gives me more time with my family and to do what I want to do. And you are so right in all your videos Dawn, about minimalism being about more than making it easier to manage our stuff - it permeates our finances, how we spend our time, perhaps even our faith life. Part of that for me, is not using social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, twitter, etc. I have so much more free time than most of my peers and other SAHMs, and I frankly get so much more done, and I truly believe it is because my time isn't being wasted with those websites, nor is my mental and emotional energy being sapped up by them. Me being more productive at home also impacts my husband, because if I have time to do a small house repair or errands because I am not bogged down with tons of other things, it means he can be more present in the evenings and weekends with our family. God bless you and your family for sharing your ways.
First, you are such a dear and such a cutie. I have been watching you for a few months now and love everything I see. I appreciate your rawness and how sincere you are. I've been working at turtle's pace for about a year now on simplifying THINGS in my home (and mind). I'm so encouraged by you and your videos. This note alone says a lot - I never leave a comment. Thank you for what you are doing and how you are doing it.
This was exactly what I needed to see that it takes time. It’s so overwhelming I have 4 kids and one is under 1 it’s a lot to do each day. I feel so swamped by house work and laundry and never get to enjoy my day.
You're quite possibly my spirit animal. You just described my story. 3 years ago there were no resources for minimalist FAMILIES. I'm so glad to see this addition. Thanks for all you do.
Thank YOU, I really appreciate that!!! :)
Yep! It takes a very long time - but don't try to take short-cuts. It took me a year and a half to get most of the decluttering done - another year to finish, including all the house projects that needed to get done too. Once your house is decluttered the construction projects are easier to do.
wow, now that is a good statement......"Time is going to pass anyway". True, time is marching on, so be encouraged......I am preaching to myself right now.....thanks
This is so refreshing. I’m feeling crowded even though most people think my house is organized. I’m taking 2019 to simplify.
I loved your analogy about the struggling racers! I am a homeschooling mom of 4 (read: my kids are home all day!). We don't buy or own a lot of toys (especially not noisy or "big" toys), yet I feel anxiety and unrest when my kids leave clutter on the floor and surfaces. We recently sold our 1000sqft home and are moving into 2600sqft of finished space! But I don't plan on filling up our new space with new stuff, or even all of our old stuff. When we moved three years ago, our 3 kids did not complain once of boredom when all of their toys except Duplo blocks and stuffed animals were packed in boxes for 2 months. After watching one of your videos before Christmas, I talked to my children: "You only play with your blocks, dress-up clothes, and drawing supplies." They agreed to eliminate a lot of toys, and a zoo membership is their promised non-toy Christmas gift. Since packing up the toys they were hesitant to sell, and decluttering for selling our house, my husband has appreciated the calm and space that "less" has brought to our lives. I want my kids to understand true "need" versus "want," to appreciate time and relationships instead of possessions, and to prefer the possessions that bring us together (bikes, camping gear, and Lego, for instance). I would love to hear more about how minimalism has extended to your kids' lives. I don't know if my kids are quite convinced, but it has been a hectic few months of renovations and decluttering.
Thank you!❤ After stumbling through some decluttering youtuber channels over the past several months, I have found yours to be one of the very best!! I am so glad that you have put your experiences for all to see! So encouraged that I don't have to declutter my whole house in a weekend crash session. I am taking small steps to letting things go!! It has been so incredibly rewarding to "build my decluttering muscles"!😊 You are auch a blessing!
I was also searching for an example of minimalism for a family, we have 3 kids 3 to 8. Thank you for being there ! You are such an inspiration. Since watching your videos we downsized the kids toys, family clothes and the kids books. This is wonderful, I would never go back. We already feel the difference in our moods and that affects all the family. Now when we need to clean our family room it takes literally 5 min! With this video I know it will probably take a year to do the whole house and I feel fine with that. Thanks again ! I'll keep watching !
Yay!! This. is. SO. AWESOME!!!! Thank you for sharing, this is SO encouraging! (To me and EVERYONE else who reads it!!!) :)
This is the Dave Ramsey of motherhood...once you are fed up you will begin making changes...and one baby step at a time you will get healthy routines made.
We have lots of knives and forks but they are kept in the storeroom for when we entertain. We keep a single set out for my husband and I and 4 spoons for my one year old twins. It is fabulous that we are physically not able to make a huge mess in the kitchen or create a huge pile of dishes
YES, I completely agree! Even if we dirtied EVERY dish in our kitchen, I know that it can be cleaned up in a matter of minutes not hours like in the past!!
I could store more than half of my dishes and silverware and not need them at all-- till company came over--but then they will still have to go somewhere. Seems logical to keep" like with like" rather than have same items in different places. I'm open to how you do this, please share. Thanks.
My friend introduced me to Go Clean Co and I was looking for videos on RUclips when I found one of yours. It was comparing different cleaning methods. After that one came another. I heard you talk about “reducing inventory” and about how things pull you down emotionally (that is what I learned from it anyway). I began to declutter with a whole new mindset. Whenever I get rid of something that has made me make a mental to-do list, it was so relieving! I know it won’t happen overnight, but It’s coming along. It doesn’t’ take as much energy to clean and I’ve even made my bed nearly every morning (before I didn’t care). I’ve even shared your channel with my friend who inadvertently started me on this journey.
One closet/drawer at a time is definetely a good way to go! :) About two months ago, in my summer vacation, I did an intense speed declutter of all the rooms. I live in an apartment (kitchen, bathroom, hallway and combined dining/living/sleeping space), but it was almost scary how much I had managed to pack into the closets - things I was mostly keeping out of guilt or 'what if'. I managed to purge a lot, and I invested in a few new pieces of furniture with more optimal function. The feeling was amazing! I have nothing whatsoever under my bed, I have a place where I can sit in the morning and get ready, and my space feels more functional and calm. And it is so much faster and easier to tidy and clean.
Since then, I have had an unintentional break. I think the main thing is, it is difficult to get the things out of my house. I live in the city, I don't have a car, and there are no recycling stations nearby. I have to walk pretty far to the nearest charity shop, and without a car, it is not much I can carry at once. I can only stockpile so much at a time in the kitchen, before it starts to get in the way.
The first sweep was 'easy', because so much of it was junk. I think the next one will be a bit harder. Either way, I think it is time to get back at it, and do a more detailed round. I will take this video as my sign. :)
you know I minimilised 5 years ago when we sold up everything and went to travel in our caravan full time. We were on the road 8 months then found out we were expecting baby number 4. We have been back living in a house now 4 years and I never thought minimising would ever be overwhelming for me. I can so relate when you spoke about when you look at all the things you have to tidy up and the amount of clothes you have to wash each day. It is definately a motivation breaker. So grateful for coming across your channel. Thankyou
Traveling full time, that sounds awesome!! And thank you! It is quite amazing ALL of the things that four kids come with these days, isn't it!?! Blessings on your journey, I'll look forward to keeping in touch!
Yes it certainly is amazing what four kids come with, hahahaha! Thankyou for your blessings. I watched your Laundry Video and Minmizing the kids wardrobe video aswell. Lessened their wardrobe a few months ago to the nuber 10. Number 5 will be the number for us for sure and certainly basket shopping is on the list. :). Have a fabulous weekend :)
Ah, that's really fun to hear! (Especially with all of the people who have given me a hard time about not folding...FOUR KIDS PEOPLE!!! 😉)
You described my life exactly in the first 5 minutes! I added homeschooling to that life and felt SO lost. My kids are teens now, and Im committed to minimalism. Thank you for your honest videos- and I love it when your twin sister visits too!
@ abt 8:00 she said it took her approx a Year.. Good..bc i get overwhelmed just looking at this TEENY 720 sq ft. OLD 1942 "house" crammed with stuff as there is nowhere to put it..
i just get defeated & cry 😢
"Time is going to pass anyway"... I too am in same exhausted defeated feeling..but having been ur subscriber & today watching this is surely timely, much needed motivation..God bless u all
I got emotional listening to your experience because that was me as well when I had my child in this huge house that took all my time to keep clean and tidy. I felt guilty and miserable. Thank you for shining a light on this issue that many women have. ❤️
Another great reason to be a minimalist is the environment, which is something that I care about but often feel powerless to help. The less cheap plastic materials you bring into your home, the less plastic will one day end up in a landfill or ocean and the less demand you create for these products.
omg I think I finally found someone who understands me. I just want to have a good cry because you hit so many unnerving point. I am feeling all of this at this moment and there are days I just want to throw everything out my apt. because no one wants to or are not capable enough to deal with their stuff so it all falls on me
This is literally me!!!!!! I have never been able to articulate it but oh gosh, THIS IS ME! I definitely need to look into minimalism- I drowning in clothes and toys and dishes! DROWNING!
You’re right! I’m feeling more confident about things . Like I cleaned out my house now I feel like other things are possible. Thank you 🙂
Love the video. It's been the way I've been feeling for years bc I started not to care either! All the kids were in school now, so I started my minimalist journey. I started in the kitchen bc all guests and it's the most used room. I have been posting the items online and making extra money also. Why didn't I start years before was my regret. It will take time to go through the house. I do see that trickle down effect you talk about. It has made such a difference. I cook with such ease. I meal plan. I work a full time job and it makes it refreshing to come home to. I make breakfast, lunch and dinner everyday. I will give myself one day to pick up lunch, to pick up breakfast and one to pick up dinner. This way it gives me permission to take a break without eating out like we used to. I will take more fruit for breakfast and a coffee from home. Leftovers or a sandwich for lunch. Fresh dinners for the family to eat. My bank account shows it too! I've been spending so much less.
Yay! This is all SO awesome and inspiring! I love the giving yourself one day off for each meal as well...I know this will inspire others, thank YOU for sharing!!!! :)
What I've noticed about us is, so many things because just part of the scene. We overlook so much stuff just because [whatever it is] it has sat in that spot for years. Suddenly one day, it dawns on me....why are we keeping this ?! So much is there just because it has been for so long. The more that leaves out house, the better we feel. The more we lighten the load, again, the better we feel. We can breathe a sigh of relief. I don't think we'll go all out minimal....but, boy, we've got too much stuff & it feels wonderful to let a lot of it go.
I love the positive attitude you have about being a minimalist. I also have children, and husband im a homemaker. I always felt the same way you did ,and even though I felt that way I still cleaned the house ,and believe that every day brings me one step closer to becoming a minimalist as I'm donating ,and tossing items not needed no more as well. I enjoyed watching your channel.
Thank you Michelle!!
Oh my gosh hide and seek yes... I've been embarrassed before... The worst was when I had a friend over and I lost my phone and she was trying to help me find it, looking in the couch and cabinets as my toddler hid it somewhere... My goal now is to be unashamed and even proud of what the insides of cabinets and closets look like and even proud! I love your idea of having the cabinets and such only half full, it really makes everything easier to find and just looks great! Just found your channel yesterday, subscribed with notifications, and declutterred and cleaned the heck out of my linen cabinet today! Thanks for the motivation 😁. Now I can't wait for people to open up that closet lol
I'm with you on the "washing and using the same things over and over again." I realized i only need those things and i have been living for a while just using those same things over and over. That is why i got rid of the stuff we didn't need. I am proud to say that we actually have four huge rooms in our house that could actually be condensed completely into one room. One room has just a play tunnel and judo mats, 2nd room just has a set of toddler beds, nothing else, 3rd room has a small couch and mounted tv and small basket of toys and small play kitchen(was able to downsize three of the four sizes of the huge kitchen set) 4 th room has the bigger couch and a few picture frames on the wall. Literally could combine all those things into one room. Basically could downsize our house in half easily by square footage. I have no decorations to dust or dvds cause we do Netflix and Amazon prime. I wouldn't change my house/life style for anything. It took me 2 to 3 yrs to get rid of everything because we moved 4 times in a couple yrs so each time we got rid of more stuff. My husband and i have less stuff now total than BEFORE we had our three kids!!! And, we even had an extra room in our old apartment just for our junk!! And that was before kids too. We laugh about it now cause we literally just packed it full of stuff and never used any of it. We wasted so much money on a 2 bedroom apartment all in the name of stuff. Let that be something to take into consideration my fellow inspiring minimalist!💙
I SECOND THAT! Totally awesome and inspiring!!!
You were right about just starting. I was overwhelmed with the idea of clearing out with the KonMari method. Taking everything out (like clothes) and sorting and tossing. It was another major project. But instead I did what you had said in another video...like peeling an onion layer by layer....(something to that effect). So I started with the master bedroom. First it was a drawer...then another and before I knew I was clearing the top of the chest of drawers and a bookcase. I then rearranged an artwork to another wall. I did as much clearing that was enough for that day. But I felt refreshed about the whole room and the atmosphere. Even my husband who did not helped, said the room felt lighter.
So after clearing the master bedroom I'm inspired to tackle other clutter problem areas throughout my home...the hallway bookcase, the coat closet, …..as when I have time and energy. Layer by layer....thanks for a great video!!!
I'm single, childless and therein immediately way removed from your demographic but!... I clicked in to listen whilst I was washing up, and having quietly gone through my own 1-year stop and start 'de-clutter / minimalism' experience, found myself applauding your down-to-earth, indeed frank, approach. Very nicely done 👏
I just wanted to say a big thankyou .
My husband and I have 5 children and a dog , I've always just been getting by.
A year and half ago my husband died age 40 and with your help, clutterbug lady and Swedish death cleaning has changed me so much I'm actually smiling while doing chores around the house . Thanks again Susan Sherwood UK 💋
Couldn't agree more! I started with clutterbug about a year ago and don't get me wrong I LOVE Her, but haven't been quite able to go fully in and implement a lot of it, and I truly believe it's bc this right here is the piece I've been missing! You Dawn was my Missing Link😂 I've been off and on steadily the last month trying and just end up back at square one like usual and then.... I found you the other day and Ahh-Haaa!!!! Cannot Express how Much you are Truly a Blessing!! I can watch and watch organization, decluttering, different method video's all day and don't stop to do anything bc I was still searching! Kicking myself in the bud for not clicking when I had the chance a year ago!!!! God Bless You! And I'm Sooo Sorry for Your Loss! One day at a time and slowly with each go through and change, WE WILL GET THERE!!! I too got my kid Everything and regret it sooo sooo much now!! Looking forward to being able to put on your videos again 2mro and work, work, work!!!
I’m so here.. I’m very much in this season where I feel like my days are ONLY trying to catch up on chores and tidying and while life passes me by and shoeing my kids. And I’m just missing their early years :(
Thank you so much for sharing your minimalist journey, ups and downs. Realistic views, dramatic and actual views for every day life of a minimal family. 👪
Have been watching you for couple of years now and at first, I thought how 🤔 can this possible be. There is no way I could do this. My husband has been telling me for years, this is what he would love for our home to look like. Yet, I was the one dealing with the mess or as you say "managing it". So I told my husband, you are dreaming. We are a family of 5 and 3 kids that I keep up with. OH, I was so frustrated with my hubby when he would tell me the same thing, "What did you do all day" 😠 now he calls it, "You goofing 🤪 off again. 😩
After, my Pastor did a Powerful Sermon on Clutter and Mess, is interrupting your spiritual life. 🙏 🤯🤯🤯 I took that message personally, NOW...I am on the 🏁 of minimalist my home. Watching 👀 your videos again and the content is hitting me just as the sermon. 🙌
I am a mum and manage all the household chores, and always find that the chores seem to get on top of me. At the end of everyday the house is completely messy and stuff is everywhere. I am naturally a messy person and have never been able to keep the house organised no matter how hard I tried. Your videos have given me a new outlook on life! Time to start the decluttering process.
To help stop the flow of toys coming in, you have to get grandparents on board. If they keep bringing cool stuff in, it will become a battle.. You've done a great job.
Just discovered your channel and loving it. You are spot on with saying you will see the effects of decluttering straight away even from starting small. My first step was to declutter my kitchen drawers that contained cutlery and utensils and as I'm in the kitchen daily I had to open those drawers many times and the feeling of seeing less in those drawers was so fulfilling. The feeling was so great that I continued decluttering other areas from there and then it almost became addictive as the feeling that comes with having less is so great.
You are so right. When I first started, it was tough! Where do I start? What's my plan (I don't plan). I was totally overwhelmed hiding out in my office doing projects or watching RUclips or even doing absolutely nothing because I was completely stalled from moving toward decluttering anything. But then I decluttered some clothes. I wanted all my clothes to fit into 1 closet instead of 2. Then I took some living room furniture into the garage to see if I cared about having or using those chairs and tables. They went to Good Will. Then I started telling people I had an extra dresser and dining table and do they need it. Today the dresser is gone and I have somewhere for the table to go. Still looking for a home for the dining chairs, but I can hang them in the rafters for now. It was slow for me at first but the more decluttering I did, the better I started feeling about myself and my home. I have a long way to go (Dec 31, 2021 goal date) but it's amazing what keeps happening next. This weekend I found the perfect couch that makes into a bed (and fits my 5' height). I gave back all the furniture I was holding onto for my daughter. 2 chairs, 2 side tables and a very large couch. Now I can remove the twin bed from the second bedroom (for grandkids sleep over) and make it my office and sewing/art room instead. Now I have begun to fit the things I actually need in the second bedroom and made it a space I love. I've been labeling everything with a label maker. I usually label stuff with tape and a sharpie, but it didn't look nice or consistent. The label maker was a game changer. I labeled my entire file cabinet and decluttered it at the same time. It took 6 hours but I was so thrilled to get it completed I didn't want to stop. Then there was a free shred day in the community and I got rid of 25 years of documents I'd been keeping. All these things I've done from listening to you (and other RUclipsrs you've mentioned) and I'm so happy to have found you. Thank you Dawn!
Thank you for using the term
simple living l think that has helped me a lot. What works best for you personally you always say 😊
My house is not big I saw people decluttering their kitchen on
U Tube I have three cabinets to put things in and they had nine or more for me I do have stuff setting out there's really nowhere to put it. But decluttering inside of the cabinets I just smile when I open them I'm still working on it there's 7 people in my house so there's a lot of stuff not many closets in This Old House that I'm blessed to have I'll just keep working thank you Dawn
You ARE about your Father's business. What is it
Mother Teresa said
Not all of us can do great things
but we can do small things with great love.
I believe you are Dawn
Oh yes! Your comment on missing your career, and peoples thoughts on enjoying the kiddos now...but you simply NOT, resonated. This is me right now. Thank you. I needed an answer for living intentionally and not.the drowning feeling with the learning curve of adding a second baby two months ago on top of bookkeeping for my hubbies business. You are an answer to my prayers. Literally!
Thank YOU!!! :)
I just came across your channel and I find you to be so transparent and absolutely adorable ❤️ All people ever want is TRUTH AND HONESTY and you give it to your viewers in spades....KUDOS young lady! Patty sending you blessings from Colorado 🙏❤️🙏
I am a mother of four. I work and I am trying to finish my bachelors. I realized cleaning my kid's rooms that the rooms were packed of stuff. Why do we have so much. I recently started with my own room, yet I felt exhausted and overwhelmed. So thank you for your advice to just take it one step at a time, one day at a time. I will continue on this journey.
I've watched more of your current videos and thought I'd take a gander at this one. So authentic, vulnerable and downright funny! I appreciate your journey and encouragement as each person endeavors to live more simply!
Just finished reading most of the comments (which I seldom do) and began to give up because there were so many. Amazingly, you found time to reply to most of them. I figured your blog targeted young mothers and professionals, but was delighted to see some of us “more mature” women responding. I myself am 64 and raised four kids as well. Growing up was not typical (I guess) for my ethnicity. I present as white even though my dad has Choctaw roots and met my mom in Oklahoma. We moved every couple of years and I had 2 sisters and a brother. Dad was always searing for work and get rich Quick schemes. Mom kept us housed and fed. We definitely lived a minimalist lifestyle. Toothbrushes and socks for birthdays, etc. When I graduated from college, I was the first in my ancestry to do so. Of course I wanted to use my teaching degree and my husband made a very good salary in farming and then IT. We accumulated so much stuff it wouldn’t fit in our house and we rented storage places and filled our garage! Like others, I purged stuff all along, clothes, toys, etc. But never could completely declutter. My mom would come visit and make comments that I could open up a store with all my stuff. Ugh!
Well, now I’m retired, 64 years old and my already minimalist “hiker” husband convinced me to buy a smaller house just down the street. Yes, it is quite a bit smaller and he is insisting on putting our two cars in the garage. He thought it would take a couple of months. We had lived in our bigger two story house for 30 years. We are now in our 6th month of downsizing. We were in a position to not sell our older house for a while, but he is getting antsy. The rule was not to bring ANYTHING to the new house that we absolutely didn’t need. It is working...my new house is clutter free and easy to maintain. Both cars are in the garage. My only stress now is what to do with the mountains of stuff at my old house. A lot of it is stuff I used when teaching and sentimental heirlooms from his family and loads of stuff we had hanging on the wall. I was losing hope until I saw it took years for some. I don’t really have years since we need to sell, how do I cut the ties that bind me to my precious stuff?
LOVE THIS!!! This is where I am now. Husband works long hours and isn't on the same page and I'm a teacher on summer break with a toddler and feel defeated since there's stuff every where and she's getting into everything! All I do is move a stack of clutter from the dinning room table to another table, which she can then reach later on by climbing on the couch, etc... You're real, and honest and trying to use nap time to go through things but also exercise, shower and watch a non singing cartoon video! Will not feel defeated if all I can do is a couple of cabinets in a week! :)
thank you for voicing what so many of us feel on the daily !
started to see it years too late. when the children were small it was normal to buy more and more. we were raised that way by our parents and environment. 3 years ago I started to see it differently. we work for things that you do not need, which will cause a burden on your shoulders. because you always have to do something with it. I have now started to live smaller in terms of home. But with a much larger garden that I have always wanted.
I’m not sure if you mentioned this in this video or not, but I wanted to share.
On one of your videos that I watched awhile ago, you said that you wanted a home where someone could drop by and you only had to pick up in 5-10 mins to feel like your home was clean for them to come. Yesterday my husband had an issue with the lawnmower and his parents needed to come by to help. They are 30 mins away. In about 15 mins, we have the kitchen and living room picked up and I even had time to vacuum the stairs and clean the mirror in the bathroom 🤣
All I could think of was what you had said and it felt AMAZING to finally be in that position without running around until they got there and still having stuff I wanted to clean.
You’ve helped me so much and I can’t thank you enough. Yesterday showed me that this is the journey I want to be on even though I’ve been trying for years. 💜💜💜
I'm not a mom but I am a researcher turned lawyer so you can only IMAGINE the paperwork I have stored. I REALLY appreciated this video because I so relate to the sense of oppression that comes with being surrounded by clutter and stuff and feeling like you're beholden to it instead of IT serving YOU. Thanks so much for making this video and being so genuine. That's so much nicer than the hyper-polished youtube "personalities" that dominate this site. Subscribed.
Your house tour was what really motivated me to get going with minimalism. It was the first time I saw a family with four kids, like me, practicing minimalism. I had always wanted to but getting going didn't feel possible until I came upon your blog. So for you to have a RUclips channel is like amazing for me! I'm not kidding! Minimalism has changed my life. And wouldn't have happened if you hadn't started talking about minimalism openly. Thanks for reading, Carrie Spencer
Wow, you just gave me goosebumps Carrie, THANK YOU!!!! :) :) :)
I lived and worked in China for 2 years. I traveled with 2 large suitcases and 1 carry on. I had to set up house from scratch, and knowing I would only be there a couple of years, I only purchased the necessities for my apartment. I remember I had gone through my closet and only picked pieces that could match with everything else and multi-task for many occasions. I absolutely loved living simply with a minimal of possessions! Now, I am back in the U.S. and I’m sitting here thinking, “I lived without all this stuff for 26 months...why do I even NEED it? I am ready to take the journey to simplify my home once and for all. I move a lot, and most of my storage hasn’t even left the boxes for several moves!!! Why am I even holding onto this stuff? 📦 📦 📦
You responded to The Minimal Mom 3 years ago about living with just necessities in China for 2 years. Thank you for what you shared it was eye-opening! Blessings
Joshua Becker was also the one who inspired my family to live with less. The benefits that have came with that decision have been overwhelmingly positive! My only regret is that I didn’t do it sooner! ❤️
Right!?! Same here!! :)
Watched your videos for aprox. six months now and can't understand how I missed this one! So interesting and you really tell from your heart, one can feel that. Thank you!
Another good thing is that you show your children, both boys and girls, that an adult (here mother) can have children and still have time for some career, and most importantly, how to acknowledge your feelings back then and taking an adult responsibility and change this to the better! They will know that this can be done.
So inspiring!
Your home is so clean and beautiful! It just looks so peaceful and relaxing; I wish I would have grown up in a house that looked like this. Great job !!
I think I would have enjoyed growing up in a house like this, too! Thank you!!!
@@TheMinimalMom extremely underrated comment💝
"So... What did you do all day...?" LOL! I get that line sooo often! I need less stuff and more motivation to live my life to the fullest with my family. Thank you for your videos.
Yes finally "family minimalism" not just for single or a backpacker person..
Hi Dawn! I love your videos! They've been so inspiring! We're beginning our minimalism journey and I'm loving it so far. We're downsizing to a 1300 sq ft house (from 1900). We have 5 children. I'm selling everything (well almost) and paying off debt. I just feel the shackles and burdens of stuff and debt melting away. It feels so good and I'm able to focus on what's really important and essential: relationships, experiences, love, etc. We still have a long way to go, but I see the vision of it now and I don't want to stop! Thanks for sharing your journey with us!
Gosh, I relate so well to you! Last year when I set out on this journey i felt like I was treading water only the water were laundry, dishes, cleaning and a mom with a bad attitude while doing it. I had started to give up and we never seemed to have any time. You are very inspiring, truly!
Thank you Alex and thank YOU for ALL of the encouragement along the way, it means more than you know!!!! (and love following you on instagram, you house is👌, love your style!!!)
Saved this video. This is me now. I'm at that point. I'm on the edge of simplifying my life and my home. You're so real 🤗🌸🧡
I want to see inside of alllllll the drawers!!! 🙋🙋🙋🙈
Hahaha, YOU GOT IT!!!
Lol
Me too!!!
🤣🤣🤣🤣
Omg you literally are speaking to my soul! ♥️ You're adorable, glad I found you on YT today
Love your channel so much! During quarantine I have decluttered every room and closet in my house. I also did the meal planning with my husband. Life feels radically freeing. Living simply is truly the best!
I hope I can get my wife to watch this. She needs to understand the beauty of minimalism!
Todd Autry : Joshua Becker too!
I'm exactly where you were at. Thank you for this. I used to be minimalist by nature. I left everything go over the last year and now I'm on my journey back. This helped me so much to feel motivated.
Thank you so much for opening my eyes! You are amazing! You have inspired me to look at all of my belongings and decide to keep only what I use. I’m almost done with my kitchen and I’m so excited at my results! Thank you, thank you! You have made such an impact in my life! May the Lord bless you!
Ooh but we love looking inside cupboards n drawers! Thanks for all ur inspiration
Great video! I began a minimalist lifestyle two years ago. It took me about a year to declutter also. It makes life so much easier! I can't imagine going back!
Awesome! I always SO glad to hear this!!!!