Get a 7-day free trial and 40% off Blinkist Annual Premium by clicking: bit.ly/TheMinimalMomMay24 or by scanning the QR code! Thank YOU for watching, I greatly appreciate it!! - Dawn
Floor mats and rugs not only get in the way of cleaning, but for those of us who use mobility devices, they can be a huge hazard - e.g. I've flipped all the way backwards in my wheelchair because there was a mat in the way (and it happened right in front of the bee who insisted, and still insists to this day, that the mat stay there, even though she's seen the hazard it poses).
Monks worship satan. If it’s not of Christ it’s of Satan. Why would Christians want to look to Monks? I would strongly recommend everyone look to Christ alone and His Word for everything including keeping a home. Has minimalism become your god?
Dawn, I love the way you talk about your faith. I am an atheist with bad childhood experiences. The last time I tried to attend a church, my brain literally knocked me out to "protect" me from going. Unlike the people I grew up with, your faith gives you joy and generosity, not arrogance and superiority. I am happy for you when I hear you talk about it.
Oh, this hurts my heart!!! I'm so grateful you are seeing a TRUE believer but I'm so sad for your childhood experiences! 😢 I am a church going believer in Jesus, but I don't ever want to be seen as superior. When we're in public and we see all kinds of people who probably don't believe the way we do and may belive the opposite, I constantly tell my 5 children, "These people are PRECIOUS souls for whom Christ died, just like He did for you and me!" Church hurt is WAY too real and I believe it's because in every church there are pew warmers and then there's the very few who actually LOVE THE LORD THEIR GOD. Sorry to be so long winded but I just want you to know that there are more of us out here. ❤
Cynthia, I love the honest and respectful way you speak about your feelings and past experiences. I had to separate what people had done and what God had done (he never lied). Took a while. Best wishes, fellow traveler. (Yes! I love the natural way Dawn talks about her faith! She is definitely a safe place!)
It feels SO GOOD to wake up in the morning and not have to clean the dishes from the night before. It reminds me of the Bible verse about each day has enough evil of its own that we shouldn’t have to take on the burdens of any other day than the one we are currently in. Yesterday’s mess in our home is the burden from other days! Today has enough, for heaven’s sake lol
That is such a great comparison! Not only does it feel great to start the morning fresh, but there's also a certain form of peaceful closure to the day when finishing up the dishes before bed. Totally a double win!
Iove how you so aptly tied in that scripture! That's a beautiful reminder. I try to not leave a mess when we leave the house also so we don't come back to a mess. Especially on vacation. It's such a breath of fresh air to walk in the door from being away to a clean space. And like you said, walking out from the bedroom in the morning to a clean kitchen just fills me with peace to start the day!
I lived overseas in Bolivia, I loved the lifestyle. I lost so much weight. Coming back to the United States it was a culture shock, I gained weight, and my health declined greatly. Work weeks easily go to 60 to 80 hours. Food is unhealthy and even our frozen vegetables have added sugar! Portions are super large! We don't walk and the town planning is horrible so you depend on your car in most states to drive 10 miles to the grocery store. So you overbuy to save trips to the store. We don't have a healthy lifestyle here in the United States.
I have a toddler and baby twin girls. Every day I make all the meals from scratch, take care of the children, do all the cleaning, make smoothies, breastfeed, all on hardly any sleep, and I’m not dead yet. THIS IS BECAUSE OF MINIMALISM! Whenever someone asks me “ how do you do it” I say “ I threw everything out” That and GOD 🙏 I wouldn’t be able to keep up with the chores if I hadn’t declutterred. It takes me five minutes to make sure everything in the house is picked up for cleaning the floors. Laundry is a task, but we have no more clothes than we need and what fits. I’m diligent to get clothes out of the house as soon as it’s outgrown. And new or not, even if it’s a gift, if it doesn’t get worn for whatever reason, I won’t hesitate to get rid of something even if it still fits someone. I started decluttering just over two years ago when I was pregnant with my first born. It amazes me how much I’ve gotten rid of, and that I’m still able to find more! Our home is highly simplified. I’m at the point where, just yesterday, I got rid of two wooden bowls that I LOVE, because they collect clutter. I’m literally donating things that bring me Joy, because not having them bring me MORE! I used to get a thrill when I found a score at a store…. Now I get a thrill when I find something I can get rid of! BYE BYE! Hello freedom! What we actually need is not very much!
@@camillaholst7321 people usually laugh at first not knowing what I mean, and then I say “ seriously, I just got rid of 90% of our belongings. If I don’t own it, it can’t make a mess!”
I so agree! Well said. It’s bad for family moral when cleanliness isn’t prioritized to some reasonable degree. It’s like being hospitable to the people who live in the space.
My husband is finally realizing this! More than a month ago I did a deep declutter of my half of the bathroom - counter, drawers, space under sink, but I didn't touch his side. For weeks he's quietly watched how easy it is for me to find what I need, put it away, and keep the counter clean. My mom is coming for the weekend and he was helping clean rooms. He did a major declutter of his own stuff, asked for a small storage bin for his items to keep on the counter, and then cleaned both our sinks and wiped the whole counter. So much easier to do! Thanks Dawn for your inspiration!
I’ve volunteered to clean my local temple for my church before, and we did a full cleaning every single evening. They said the point wasn’t to clean it because it was dirty, but rather to continually clean it so it never gets to the point of being dirty. I loved that. 😊
Something my DinL OFTEN says when she visits my house is, "your house is so peaceful." I believe what she's really noticing is the clean kitchen surfaces, the lack of clutter throughout & the calming effect created by having an easily maintained home. It pleases me, for her, that she has found a place of respite. ♡
When my house was cluttered, I enjoyed going over to my parents house because it just felt calm and peaceful. I guess I now realize that was because they didn’t have as much clutter in their living Spaces. We won’t talk about how full their attic was and my dad‘s office was, but your comment reminded me that their home was peaceful and now mine has that same feeling.
Interesting!! That’s what people have said about my home as well, and I never linked it to me keeping a very tidy home. I always thought it was because we live in the country away from the hustle and bustle.
My husband spent 18 months in a Benedictine monastery (discerning priesthood) before we met. He spent many hours working in their apple orchard. One of the reasons that many monks do 'menial', repetitive tasks, such as making fruitcake, is because this allows them to pray for hours while they work. While some orders are committed to a more visible service to the church (as is the case with a teaching order), monks and other more isolated clergy, consider it their main mission to pray for the church. It is really a beautiful model that we can adapt to our own lives.
As a Catholic myself I loved your comment. It also gives new meaning and VALUE to the menial tasks of homemaking and motherhood that so many women think they are too good for these days. The praying and meditating, FOR MY FAMILY I can do while folding laundry... or cooking the same meal for the 100th time... or rocking a baby to sleep 😍🙏
Yes, there is a serious lack of prayer in the advice from these non-Christian monks. I hope Dawn will take the time to read the Christian monks' wisdom more than others.
Exactly. I know there are pieces of truth in all faiths, but i was really surprised to hear "monk" and think franciscan, trappist, benedictine.....only to find out it's likely buddhist etc. When faiths come from different places, you're going to get slightly different goals. As a christian, charity should be paramount as part of our lives, which i doubt is something that a buddhist would harp on as much, but yet, as a housekeeper, is forefront on my kind when it comes to serving others, especially the little ones in my home. and Christ always looked out for the little ones. Love to hear about what those in christian monasteries and convents have said for thoughts on tidiness- anybody have any sources i can follow? I'm intrigued!!
I actually overcame depression by embracing, well, not minimalism, but less stuff, every task completed, and not letting things build up. I have always had what I called "The Big List". It was overwhelming, and I couldn't deal with it alone, so I hired a professional organizer to do it with me. I have one or two more sessions, and then I'll be on my own. (Of course I can call on her if I need support.) My organizer's time is one of he best purchases I ever made. My whole mood has changed; when I wake up in the morning, I feel happy. I even spontaneously cleaned my apartment the other day! I'm sure I COULD have done everything myself, but I WASN'T doing it. Now it's almost done.
This is the push I needed to get an organiser myself! Been holding it back because "why pay for something you can do on your own" which obviously I can't. I need someone to kickstart it for me. Thank you being so inspiring!
@@cheryl-annegoh5278 You're welcome, Cheryl! It took me years to get over the "why pay for something you can do on your own" problem. But I finally admitted to myself that I COULDN'T do it on my own. My organizer gives me "homework" between sessions. Doing those tasks makes me feel competent and empowered. I have occasionally fallen back into old habits, but now that everything has a place, it's easy to put things away and get back to my mew normal. I am actually confident that I will be able to keep the new habits up, and if I need her, I can always hire my organizer again. One of the best characteristics of a good organizer is that she (or he, I suppose, although I don't know any male organizers) doesn't judge your mess, or you for making it. She just sees it as a collection of stuff to be winnowed down and organized, and a collection of new habits to be encouraged. That gives you permission to stop putting yourself down for making the mess and not being able to control it, which solves a LOT. of problems, both in your surroundings, and in your life. Good luck, and have fun creating space!
It will not only help but you will find more ways to be peaceful and calm, an empty and simplified environment brings forth our inner peace that we constantly try to seek outward.
Remember minimalism doesn't mean white walls and furniture! I think people who actually like colour and pattern call themselves maximalists but really you can have way less stuff and still have a home you find beautiful. Give it a try, not only am I sure you'll feel better but you'll end up keeping the things you truly love that bring maximum joy 😊
I'm still struggling myself, but I like to remind myself of the words of English designer William Morris in 1880 -'Have nothing in your house that you do not _know_ to be *useful* or _believe_ to be *beautiful* '. P.S. Trying to do things by finishing one whole area at a time doesn't work for me when I get overwhelmed by the rest of the spaces. I'm trying a different approach: one _category_ at a time, throughout my home. Whatever currently seems to be contributing the most to the clutter or is slowing down my functioning. So, for me, magazines and books and paper for the former (clutter), and perhaps clothes, kitchenware/stuff, things around sinks or entry that are in my way, for the latter (daily functioning). Good luck to us both!
Minimalism is what you want it to be. You can be an only 2 plates per person kind of household but have 20 paintings on the walls because you love seeing them every day - then do that. I agree with the other comments, you’ll find that declutterring allows the things you LOVE to shine. Be a minimalist where you can so being a maximalist where you want doesn’t stress you out.
My mom and grandmother always said don’t go to bed with dirty dishes. It’s so nice to get some coffee without having to look at that first thing in the morning
I love it when people are confident enough in their own convictions that they can look without fear at other ways of life. Good practices are good practices, irrespective of culture or spiritual beliefs.
For Christians, we can do menial tasks like cleaning as acts of stewardship: managing the stuff God gave us and thankfulness: thanking God for the stuff He provided for us. Christian meditation is meditating on God's word and the listening side of prayer as in, "What are you trying to tell me/teach me, God?"
I’m an atheist but I look at cleaning and other household tasks in a similar way. Being thankful for the home I have as I clean, viewing my labors as a gift to my family, feeling the peaceful and meditative vibes when everything is clean and tidy. How we frame things makes such a difference in finding joy in the mundane.
Yes and amen. I grew up in A family of six. Whenever the dishwasher broke I became the dishwasher. Not fun. However when my Grandma would come to visit she would help me and we would sing in harmony while doing them.
If I've got dirty dishes, I am grateful the family has been fed. So doing the dishes is not a problem for me. Same with laundry. If I have a basket full of dirty laundry, I am grateful we have more than one set of clothes. So doing the laundry is not a problem.
My husband and the dogs are put of town. Cleaned house last Friday. It's still clean and tidy. I wish he would pick up after himself. House being perfectly clean has me in the BEST mood. 😂👍🤩
This is how I feel when my husband is gone. I miss him, but I don’t miss cleaning up after him. He doesn’t try to be messy, but he’s ADHD and he just sees the world through different lenses. I wish I could feel in control, when things are messy, but I just can’t. It makes me feel so anxious and irritated.
My ex-husband freaked out once, because I'd straightened the pile of scrunched up Post-it notes jumbled across the top of his dresser. I got him a tray and used a paperclip, smoothed and stacked the multitude; clipped them together and put them in the tray. He was beside himself when he saw this - in an unholy uproar! Swore he couldn't find important notes! I reassured him that I hadn't tossed anything - just "de-crumpled" his hoard. Once he calmed down, he found what he was looking for and pretty much maintained the new system after that. We lasted another 17 years!😂
My dream is for a family vacation where I get to stay home and everyone else does not. They might have to be gone two weeks, but my house would be glorious. I just need some thousands of dollars to afford to send them off and do all the things. LOL I can dream. But anyway, I did like this video; and need to start thinking like a monk.
Yesterday I had off from work and I took a box of old small rugs and linens to a local animal rescue. It felt so good to get that out of our home. A couple of weeks ago we got rid of our old couch (we had had it for 25 years! It was a beast) and we got a smaller couch, rearranged the living room and it feels so open and tidy now. I find I keep walking into the room just to look at it. LOL But every little thing you do to declutter your home helps to declutter your life. Gretchen Rubin was correct when she said that outer order contributes to inner calm.
Dawn, I want to share a total win with you! Yesterday, organizing my bedroom (recently moved in), I picked up something and thought, "Where shall I put this?" The immediate internal answer was "Donation box." Woot! Woot! Decluttering win!! Thanks!!
I love you too Dawn! Thank you so much for saying this, at this point in my life I have no one to tell me that. It's so comforting to me when you say, "I love you". God bless you 🙏
I have been a fan of yours for a number of years. Although I am in a different season of life. I just retired at 62. I have been able to put the majority of what you teach into practice in my own life. I just sold my home after living in it for 24 years. The packing process was so much easier than I would have imagined because I had been decluttering for about 5 years. I moved into a two bedroom condo from a four bedroom house with an in law apartment. I only brought what would comfortably fit and honestly I am still decluttering as I unpack as I love the feeling of clear surfaces with just the things I love and need. Keep doing what you are doing. I am still learning from all you are teaching.
Here at my home, because we only have one royal seat, we cleaned it multiple times a day. Everyone who poops cleans it leaving it clean for the next person. A quick swich and flush keeping it very fresh.
33 years ago my contractor tried to convince me that I needed to add a second bathroom, I told him that one was plenty to keep clean. Never regretted not having an extra toilet, but an extra tub would be nice sometimes.
@@sunshine3914 I wish we had our own house. We would have gotten an exterior toilet with sink for visitors. I really would want 2 ⅔ bathrooms for our home.
@@sunshine3914I understand not wanting extra cleaning, but having a half bath is useful for when someone has an emergency, or when one of your siblings have been showering for the last 50 minutes and you've been drinking water all day 🙄
Loved all of this apart from the laundry, here in uk it’s not normal to have a laundry room unless you are wealthy, we don’t have dryers as standard, and washing daily is bad for the environment, I prefer to wait until I have a full load to wash. I am in the middle of decluttering now, I think it will make it so much easier for me to
I have come to love sweeping after many years of sweeping stage floors as a stage technician and stage manager. Now I sweep my own floors at home and I know that women have been sweeping floors for eternity and it just feels as if I'm connecting with ancients ancient women.
When my husband and I got married, my parents gave us a washing machine for our gift. We fixed it 3 or 4 times, but after 24 years, it finally died, and I cried because it had been such a great machine in our life. I’m sure I wouldn’t have been so emotionally attached to it had we only had it a few years and had just gotten a new one instead of fixing it when it broke before.
This is what I found with my sentimental items from the 1980s. Was I just keeping them because they were old or were they actually sentimental? I came down on the side of old and when I donated them, I had no regrets or second thoughts. Some were even ugly or had bad memories attached but because they were leftovers from my childhood, I’d kept them. Nothing like a good washing machine, it had a great life!
Same here! Bought our house in 1998 and got new washer/dryer from my parents. We finally replaced them 6 months ago because they no longer make a needed part for a repair. It made me sad to say goodbye and even sadder reading up on the lifetime of newer washer/dryers....much shorter! they just dont make things as well as they used too.
@@Mimulus2717 Same! My washer and dryer are over 30 years old. The dryer won't stop by itself; you have to turn it off or it will keep going, I guess until it burns itself up lol. So I always set a timer. My washing machine stopped working a while back--turns out it just needed a little plastic piece called a "dog ear" of all things. 😊 I'm dreading the day when they finally give out and I have to replace them with modern made-to-be-disposable machines.
I love that you drew on science, ancient wisdom, and personal experience to discuss minimalism. It shows how passionate you are about minimalism (as am I)
I can relate to the idea of thinking that cleaning was just a thing to get over with quickly so that I can focus “on real things”. Once I started accepting that cleaning is just as important as cooking or gaming or working. It doesn’t have to be rushed. It can be planned and it can be fun! If I need two hours to clean my kitchen the way I want to and I only get to go to bed after, that’s fine too. I didn’t “waste the day away cleaning”. Now I don’t mind it as much. It doesn’t feel like a chore anymore. It feels like something nice I’m doing for myself like cooking a nice dinner or taking myself on a walk.
What you said about the "menial" mindless tasks as having important e and significance in that they give our minds time to rest & reflect & process the rest of our times...that is a wonderful, life-changing take-away. Thank you!
My Mother thinks everything someone gives you has sentimental value. I don’t feel this way and it’s caused conflict. We have been decluttering and donating in anticipation of selling our house and downsizing. My husband wants to leave his high pressure and long hours job. We want to travel more and have less things to worry about. It’s been freeing!
Maybe if people gave high-quality stuff that they really pubsime thought in whether it suits you. But that is seldom the case these days... There are a few remarks about this in Matsumoto's book. Try to use things that are well-designed and take care of them, repair them, upcycle them. The value in gifts often lies 'only' in the act of giving. So be grateful but don't feel you need to keep every (plastic) trinket you are given :-)
I’ve watched you for two years. I had two kids under two when I found you. I’ve decluttered and continued to declutter. With a 2 and 3 year old now, I love the freedom to spend days outside relaxing with my kids rather than inside cleaning. ❤ Thanks for everything Dawn!
The best thing ever is the FREE BOX in our neighborhood. It even has its own instagram. I love walking down to the free box with the clothes, shoes, etc that we no longer use and giving them away for free. A win for the environment, too!! Loved this video, thank you for sharing!
Love the idea, but it rains so often here. People do it anyway at the food blessing boxes, & the rain & heat turns everything into a moldy mess. We do have a fb group that list whatever is about to be thrown out, but it’s private, so that means very few benefit from it.
I know I greatly overestimate how long it takes to get a task done. Sometimes I set a mental timer for 15 minutes and I am usually surprised how much I can get done. Dishes can be put away, laundry folded, counters wiped down. It makes the house feel so much better.
We love you too Dawn! I have always liked the idea of cleaning as a spiritual practise, because it’s both practical and metaphorical. And I love your anti-consumerism message too. We’re killing the planet producing stuff no-one needs. Enough!
Great video! I’ve been following you for six years now! Honestly you’ve changed my life with your message of minimalism. I had a win just a few minutes ago - my son is making the 3 hour trek to IKEA today and I was so excited to give him a list to buy for me. I looked for about five minutes on their website and there it was - I really don’t need a thing. I didn’t even enjoy the “window shopping” on their website and found it to be a waste of time. This is huge for me!! Thank you a million times.
I think in this day and age that the word chore is a word that children don’t like to hear, we need to teach our children that are home is a safe haven, it is a place of calmness and a place that we enjoy and we should teach our children to maintain their bedrooms, Tidy up after themselves when they take a bath, help with the dishes after their mother or their father has prepared a nice meal for them to enjoy and to teach them the basic skills of keeping her home, I will say this, my son married a year after he married, he called me and thanked me for teaching him the household skills that would help him to become the husband and the father. He is today and helping his wife, create a home that was neat tidy, and they are teaching their son the skills that he needs to be our husband and father one day and even as skilled person in every aspect to life, how to take care minor repair on a vehicle how to maintain a yard with yardwork and sometimes yardwork can be a game to a childor teenager.
@@Jodiwms1969100% I have three boys all young men now . I was raised in a home where cleaning the house was an absolute, and there was no gender specific duties. Boy or girl we all took turns doing it all. So when I had boys , I made sure they knew how to take care and maintain their home , or only cleaning , but my husband taught them basic fixing skills too. My oldest his marred and his wife , my DIL thanks me all the time , for him being a good supportive husband. She works strange long hours , in the police forensic department. So he is a big help with cooking , cleaning , shopping . Very proud of him and their relationship.
I run a garden service in California and it's very very annoying when I get to a yard and I have to spend 15 minutes picking up kid toys and moving beer cans out of the way before I can even start cleaning the yard, plus with stuff everywhere it's impossible to blow the leaves and clean. I can't work around all this stuff.......Works for yards too
Have you considered : Either charging more for the extra time and (preparatory) work necessary for you to be able to do your job, or extending your time by 15 minutes (to allow for the pick-up time) and giving them the option of a price reduction, if they do their own pick-up? After all, it’s not helping anyone to simply ignore the issue. . . You are allowing yourself to be taken advantage of, and no-one respects that!
When I was telling a friend that I wished I had decluttered way more before moving four years ago, she said, "Well you probably couldn't afford to declutter so much back then." I replied, "Nope--I have decluttered thousands of items since and haven't replaced a single thing."
It’s interesting that there is a school of thought that minimalism is only easier for those with means. I have never needed that which I parted with. It was, as we were advised … excess. It was not my financial state but my feelings of freedom that helped me feel ‘rich’ (enriched)
@@duffyjones4476yes I've seen a lot of comments like that. I gave it all away and didn't repurchase any of it so yes I actually could "afford" to declutter.
I'm glad people are making this point. When I had no money, life was harder, and having more stuff added to the difficulty; it certainly didn't save me money. I've since helped destitute people in my family who hold onto more stuff than they could ever use. The stuff actually prevents them from using what they have and causes them to acquire still more. It is a vicious cycle that adds to their suffering. Minimalism is not only for the well off. It might look different for different people, but that's another subject
I’ve downsized to a small 1 bdrm apt, and have gotten rid of a long lifetime of stuff. I’m not super minimalist, but I have very, very, little that I’m not using or will use somewhat regularly. No closets, spare rooms, cabinets full of “stuff” that I’ve forgotten I even had. I still feel a tad surrounded by things….am pondering how much more I’ll relinquish lately. Living this way has helped this old woman ….less visual clutter has meant less emotional clutter. It works. 👍🏻
Yes!!!! I love how monks consider homemaking an important part of work and prayer life. Amen!! I love to listen to Brother David Steindl-Rast (a Benedictine monk) describe washing his dishes by hand (like I do) as part of his daily gratitude. His voice is fantastic and his talks will uplift you. For an "everyday monk" like me, he is very inspiring :) Great topic! xoxo
Omgosh yes @ the process of cleaning bringing peace. My mom passed away a couple of weeks ago and I'm finding such peace and even comfort in simple things like sorting the laundry in our very simplified home.
There have times in my life i found cleaning brought me balance and controli when life gave thingsvi could not control, such as illness or loss of a loved one
Americans don’t realize how fortunate we are to have so many helpful appliances. Having a washing machine and a dishwasher helps so much. Can’t imagine life without them 😄
This monks’ perspective on cleaning the floors makes me want to go vacuum the second floor of my home, which has been neglected since 2023. And then start cleaning floors and toilets every day. It could be life changing.
I’ve worked so hard over the last 5 years to declutter , and it’s so easy peasey to clean now . I surprised myself, I don’t even realize how quick I can clean the kitchen , bedrooms , family room / dining room ect . I’m so happy I decided to live more minimally!
I have, love and get a lot of value from this book and minimal mom, but for anyone who needs to hear it, just to say generally Monks don’t have other commitments.
It’s amazing how little we actually NEED to live a comfortable and happy life. I lived in the Philippines for over a year and while they had so little compared to what I and my family own and YET were the happiest people I have ever met. If we happen to declutter something we might need, we often just use something else or do without.
Homemaking/housekeeping IS a form of worship. Restoring order and removing the acquired filth of the day, removing weeds to make a garden beautiful/productive, caring for family and friends-all of these push back against the effects of the Fall. All creation yearns for, _requires,_ order and peace.
I recently had the privilege to implement what you teach, in a bedroom declutter for family members. I used the phrase "let it go", looked for categories 1 at a time like trash/laundry/broken items and asked the question if you were looking for this where would you find it/if they couldn't answer that, we knew it didn't have a home and found one. Some things were put off for another time like organizing desk drawers but we estimated it as a 15 minute job for later. I referred to your phrasing that it's okay to throw something away if you don't have a donate box/system set up just yet. I also shared with them how to set an expiration date on items that the person was uncertain about. The whole experience was exciting and successful...it felt like the final exam after watching all your teaching lessons. It has built in me confidence to tackle my home this summer!! Thank you for being such a wealth of information and so practical strong and encouraging. I have the same organizing style as you do-broad categories and hidden....and that makes your content extra relatable to me. One of the family members who had seen some of your videos I've shared was so giddy declaring that it felt like the minimal Mom had visited her house.
Many of the things you highlight I already do. I never, never leave dishes in the sink - this is a no-no. For people who live in multi-unit dwellings, with neighbors who are not as clean as you, it keeps uninvited "guests" from your home. If something accidently falls on the floor while preparing a meal, I stop and immediately clean it up (as my area is an ant area and I don't want them to get the vib to find a way into my home. I have to have my bath clean, toilet a must - I clean daily. Keep the kitchen and bath clean daily and you'll never have a heavy cleaning to do. Plus, it's good Feng Shui.
Me too! My dishwasher broke many years ago, and I discovered that I don't need it. I always say if you add a bit of soap to the sponge when you're pre-washing, you don't need the dishwasher. And I tend to go over a lot of stuff in my mind while I'm washing dishes. It's a great time for quiet meditation. Still, it was a big job when I had a cluttered kitchen. Simplifying my kitchen has drastically simplified the cleaning.
One of my favorite quotes for the times I feel like I'm wasting hours at the sink when I could be doing something more productive... "The best time for planning a book is while you are doing the dishes" -- Agatha Christie
This is lovely! The teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh, a Buddhist monk, talk so much about being present for our lives, ourselves and our loved ones. Something as simple as doing dishes, as you said, Dawn, can be a meditative act. What does the soap smell like, what is the temperature of the water, etc. Actually paying attention and having our minds and our bodies in the same place at the same time, is life-changing and so peaceful. Usually our mind is a million miles away from our bodies, thinking about the past or future but not here in the present.
Some of the best conversations I've had were in the kitchen doing dishes with other women. Open, heart felt and funny talks. I almost think people need to be overwhelmed with cutter to truly appreciate moving on to mimalism??
I think the companionship while doing regular tasks is important, too. How much easier is it to do a task alone or with someone there helping keep the task light/fun?
I’m glad to see you wash the dishes with a washcloth. Tired of using a sponge worrying about sanitizing, smells, is it time to change it out, etc. I replaced the sponge with 10 washcloths with a scrubby netting side and that I switch out daily then toss in the laundry at the end of the week. It feels so nice to grab a fresh one daily for that days dishes and it saves sponges from the landfill.
Since I started watching you I can't tell how many times I have picked up something at the store and put it back because I find myself saying do I really need this and I find out I don't miss it. So thank you. It's taken me 70yrs to realize I don't need new shiny stuff
When I clean the bathroom, I hate cleaning the toilet, but I always remember: "nothing says 'I love you!' more than a clean bathroom when someone feels unexpectedly unwell". I also think of how calm a clean bathroom feels when I visit someone.
It's been several years since I've implemented doing all of the laundry all of the way (wash, dry, fold, put away) every day and it's a game changer. For our family of 10 sometimes that means 3-4 loads a day, but never being behind on laundry makes life much less stressful!
I have 9 siblings so I remember mom doing 2-3 loads of laundry every day to keep up with it. She did well with basic laundry, but the ironing would pile up a bit 😆
I love this video! It is just the repeating unpleasant scene of running water unnecessarily across the many videos, and especially running hot water down the drain, that spoils the satisfacion of this lovely and otherwise by all standards perfect video.
Such a Great Way - living like a monk who marvels in minutiae of simple daily tasks: cleaning, sweeping, cooking… Eternal way of passing by this place called earth 😊
I love your friendly, supportive manner, Dawn. You are the one I recommend on this topic, because I know you will give encouragement and bite sized advice that is not overwhelming and won't cause MORE stress and guilt. 👍🏻👍🏻
I heartily agree! I used to subconsciously avoid cleaning because I didn't realize it was triggering emotional flashbacks to my abusive and critical mother. Dawn's warm and encouraging tone has literally helped me heal childhood trauma! ❤ Now I view cleaning and clutter clearing as self care and actually ENJOY it sometimes! 😄 Huzzah!
She’s the only one that is a must watch. For enforcement I watch those extreme cleaning situations, like Midwest Cleaning… he’s educated this lifelong housekeeper on things that I had never thought about.
P.S. @sunshine3914 I took a risk and watched some Midwest Magic Cleaning videos. He's funny! 😄I find it kind of embarrassing that I'm so easily triggered by judgmental cleaning content because of my history, but I figured since you like Dawn it might be a safe gamble. Thank you for mentioning him! 😃❤
This is so true. I just moved in with my partner, so, moved into a place that was already being lived in. I only took half of my clothes over to start with, expecting to collect the rest later. Was shocked to discover how much easier and happier life was without it.
I totally agree about cleaning and minimalism. The only thing and concern I have on this video is the use of possibility the same cloth to wipe the surfaces, from the counter to the toilet seat, lighting etc. I am conscious of the spread of bacteria all around. But in principle I believe in the practice of cleaning, tidying and minimalistic
Yes to all of this. Such great info! So glad I found you during my retirement years from teaching. Less stuff = more traveling, clarity, and I’ve even started putting a childrens book idea to paper….thank you!
Dawn, your content is always great, but I think this might be your best video yet! I used to hate cleaning but ever since I started trying to be more mindful in my everyday life, I realized that when you stop wishing you were somewhere else and come back to the present, it does feel like a spiritual moment. It's great that all your research backed up this feeling I didn't quite formulated in my mind. Thank you so much for all the work you're doing to help us loving our home again! (:
Really nice video Dawn ❤❤❤ I found the best way to get laundry done is to have my children do their own. My oldest started first when he was 10 or 11 years old. My other children started about 9 and 7 years old and the youngest started at 6. My sister's son had to get on a chair to get his clothes out of the washing machine. I took heart that my children could do their own laundry as well. It took maybe ten minutes to teach them to separate dark and light colors and how to measure soap and turn on the machines. I told them that doing laundry is the easiest work they will ever do. They would fold their clothes while watching a show. They each had an assigned day of the week to do their laundry. They had confidence in a life skill and stress and pressure in my life let up considerably!
Yes, I don't understand why many women think they need to do ALL the housework when the other people living there are capable of doing at least SOME of it. Start them young when they _want_ to help out, and they won't have a chance to become entitled and resentful and get into bad habits, procrastination, etc. They will _need_ those skills when they move out. Plus, children generally have more free time than adults, and can enjoy the responsibility and contribution of doing things for the family. Also, some weirdos like me have trouble doing their own tasks, decluttering or finding homes for their own stuff, etc. but are able and willing and even find satisfaction in doing it for others! If there is someone in a home like that, ask them to "do for others" and then they can get help with their own stuff.
Yes, when I was a kid my mom had us helping with dishes at 5 standing on a step stool at the sink. We learned to set the table for dinner as soon as we were tall enough. And we started doing our own laundry at 8. I wasn't tall enough to reach the controls so had to use a step stool. We also each had assigned weeks that we were expected to mop and vacuum the kitchen and living room. Great skills to learn before the teenage years.
I think this is one of your best videos yet. ❤ Just because we're Christian doesn’t mean we can't see value in other cultures. Wisdom spoken by others is still wisdom. 🎉
I love how Dawn sees the interconnections between religions, psychology, and practices. It is so enriching to discover the wisdom and beauty in common between different religions. In particular there is so much in common between the teachings of Buddha and the teachings of Jesus. Finding the quiet, the compassion, the kingdom within, and the serenity of a simple environment in harmony with nature. Dawn is helping me undo years of obliviously making my environment complicated and stressful by thinking I needed to get or accept things, and failing to part with things I was not using and did not actually value. This is a great video!
We are in the process of staging our home to sell. Thanks to minimalism it has been easier to pack, be ready to show house on a moment’s notice and have an easier and less costly move!
I just LOVE your videos ❤ I’ve been a decluttering fool!! One note: I did a huge declutter in my kitchen. I now clean and do dishes EVERY night. It’s fast and easy. 🙏🏻🙏🏻
I really liked the doing dishes each day. My grandmother and my Mom would always do dishes together, this was their time to share events of the day. They had a tight relationship due to spending quality time together. Great for husbands and wives!!! Communicate and clean together
I liked the disclaimer, but it‘s because I got to hear „I love you“ twice ❤❤ Dawn, we are finally doing it, going the whole way. I travel for work and when we came home it felt soooo much better. I am really grateful to you for the work you do here. You obviously research and think a lot about all aspects of minimalism and decluttering and there is always something to boost my energy and commitment to this task. Thank you for the confidence and hope you are helping me to regain.
I cannot cook unless the kitchen is clean and everything put away. So I clean while cooking, and after each dish. I tidy up, and start fresh again. Nothing ever builds up and collects. It is also easier to handle smaller amounts of dirty utensils.
I just did something that made our bathroom much easier to keep orderly. Instead of sharing all the drawers communally, I took one for myself (I clearly need much less than he does), he has TWO (!), and the large drawer in the bottom is the only communal drawer, mostly for items we use when traveling. We do have a small cabinet space with two pullout shelves with healthcare items only, and the pullout in the large space under the sink is for extra bottles of mouthwash, alcohol, etc. Works great! He can screw up his own drawers, he has a place for everything, and no one has to fish around to find anything. My chaos threshold is no longer on high alert, at least in the primary bathroom. And now we are renovating our kitchen, which will indeed have a place for everything! I am working a list to ensure that will be the case. I'll finally have calm countertops!
This is so true about travel and the ease of cleaning. My husband is in the Air Force and I noticed that when we come and visit him and stay either in on base housing or in an Airbnb that it is so much easier to keep the place clean and that’s just because there’s so much less stuff. I actually enjoy tidying and cleaning when we are away from our house which seems totally crazy but is true. I would love to Declutter, but I feel super overwhelmed about it right now. We have a teenager and a toddler (because God has a sense of humor) so I’m just trying to do a little bit as I can.
The Buddhist philosophy of detachment really does have great value in our lives and for our mental health regardless of whether we have a particular religious belief or no religious belief at all. Thank you so much for this video. It has reminded me of something I learned a long time ago, and hopefully I can put into practice to reset my home and my mindset.
I’ve been watching you for years and gained so much wisdom and peace from you and your practices! This is one of my favorite videos you’ve ever done. Thank you, Dawn!
If I were to pick one of your videos to share with family and friends about why I want to declutter more, this would be the one. Thanks for the 3 perspectives! 👍👍😊
In Vedic culture we live by - simple living, higher thinking. Nice to see other cultures also practice this. It’s innate human culture. ❤ Thank you for sharing.
I love the disclaimer lol it’s important that we learn other peoples faith, It doesn’t take away from ours, It helps us to understand theirs and them. We believe Christ died for us and we’re so grateful for him. You have a blessed day. Thank you for sharing.
Your channel, videos, comment section is such a bright spot in my life. I decided to rid myself of negativity on this app and I truly appreciate the positivity you cultivate ❤
Love this and I'm really inspired by your channel and especially this episode - thank you! I do want to say that I've been a Buddhist all my life, and Buddhists don't believe in proselytizing. In fact, most monks and nuns will try to dissuade a person from converting to Buddhism unless they have fully explored their root faith tradition. All faiths have many elements of truth that can nurture us. We do, however welcome anyone to use the techniques and tools that help. Use what helps, and don't worry about the rest. 🙏🏼
Best video EVER! ❤ I’m downsizing and moving to an apartment and you have inspired me to get rid of STUFF! It’s holding me hostage! I don’t need it. I crave peace and happiness and comfort. I want only the things I truly need and that add value to my life! Thank you for sharing this. Thank you for sharing your book list, which I will be reading. You have become MY INSPIRATION!!! Thank you SO much! 😘😘😘
YES, not to sound pitiful but you are the only one that I have telling me that at this point in my life. When Dawn says, I love you, it is so comforting.
I recently moved and realized that finally for me*** that because something is in perfect condition, I can use it and I like it doesn’t necessarily mean I must keep it. I once bought too many containers that are pretty and now I find myself being able to let go of those containers that are empty and if I keep them I’ll eventually end up filling them just to give them a use. This week I finally gave away the pretty containers/ organizers that I do not really need. 😅😅😅 Great feeling
I love separating spiritual from religious. We are all spiritual beings (all connected) whereas religion is a choice. And yes I was raised RC. I’ve ordered the book thank you and look forward to reading it. Such wise words. Love research too. Thank you. Feeling motivated to do what I can (after a serious injury).
We actually stayed overnight in an old working monastery in Western Australia. Part of the deal is, you clean up after yourself! We made our breakfast in the kitchen and cleaned up. We also remade the single beds with fresh sheets for the next visitors!
I really do appreciate you bringing in the science to support the spiritual part of how minimalism enhances our lives ❤ It does explain why I go into cleaning mode immediately if I’m stressed coming home from work. I like to be productively working out my struggles so I can be present with my partner later.
Dawn, your thoughts on hand-washing dishes blends pretty well with a book I've been reading recently by Cal Newport where he mentions the "solitude deprivation" that our culture is facing. We've packed every minute of our lives with "the thoughts of others" (music, shows, podcasts, etc) instead of taking time to just be/do our tasks and take time to reflect on our lives. It causes internal chaos and anxiety... similar to our homes before implementing minimalism!
It is so interesting how the way we relate to objects eventually parallels the way we relate to people. And the way owning too many clothes and other stuff can prevent us from really loving ourselves and others around us. I am also feeling lately that too many ideas can be detrimental as we lose focus on what is important.
Success story here: Dawn, I recently found your channel a couple months ago when feeling overwhelmed cleaning my kids unorganized cluttered rooms… your tips and tricks worked great but it was truly the MINDSET SHIFT that you shared has changed my life and the life of my family! Today I had a sink full of dishes, and dinner to be made. Normally I would feel paralyzed and overwhelmed. Now I just pick any of your videos and listen while I get the job done. The real success is that I was able to get ALL of my dishes done AND get dinner cooking on the stove in just the duration of this video! It would have taken over an HOUR in the past! Wow thank you for teaching me how to simplify and reduce inventory, it has been a game changer! Also the message in the video is just beautiful and really resonates now that I’ve reached the milestone of being able to MANAGE my inventory and care for the items, and most especially the people in my life that mean the most. Thank you thank you thank you ❤
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Get a 7-day free trial and 40% off Blinkist Annual Premium by clicking: bit.ly/TheMinimalMomMay24 or by scanning the QR code! Thank YOU for watching, I greatly appreciate it!! - Dawn
Floor mats and rugs not only get in the way of cleaning, but for those of us who use mobility devices, they can be a huge hazard - e.g. I've flipped all the way backwards in my wheelchair because there was a mat in the way (and it happened right in front of the bee who insisted, and still insists to this day, that the mat stay there, even though she's seen the hazard it poses).
Has anyone ever found out what authors think of Blinkist? Are they compensated for their books being on it?
Thanks, Dawn! I purchased the Blinkist! And I love it!
Monks worship satan. If it’s not of Christ it’s of Satan. Why would Christians want to look to Monks? I would strongly recommend everyone look to Christ alone and His Word for everything including keeping a home. Has minimalism become your god?
To@@SnowySpiritRuby
Dawn, I love the way you talk about your faith. I am an atheist with bad childhood experiences. The last time I tried to attend a church, my brain literally knocked me out to "protect" me from going. Unlike the people I grew up with, your faith gives you joy and generosity, not arrogance and superiority. I am happy for you when I hear you talk about it.
Agreed. She’s the one believer who doesn’t send me running.
Oh, this hurts my heart!!! I'm so grateful you are seeing a TRUE believer but I'm so sad for your childhood experiences! 😢 I am a church going believer in Jesus, but I don't ever want to be seen as superior. When we're in public and we see all kinds of people who probably don't believe the way we do and may belive the opposite, I constantly tell my 5 children, "These people are PRECIOUS souls for whom Christ died, just like He did for you and me!" Church hurt is WAY too real and I believe it's because in every church there are pew warmers and then there's the very few who actually LOVE THE LORD THEIR GOD. Sorry to be so long winded but I just want you to know that there are more of us out here. ❤
Prayers for you! ❤
Cynthia, I love the honest and respectful way you speak about your feelings and past experiences. I had to separate what people had done and what God had done (he never lied). Took a while. Best wishes, fellow traveler. (Yes! I love the natural way Dawn talks about her faith! She is definitely a safe place!)
❤❤❤😊😊😊
It feels SO GOOD to wake up in the morning and not have to clean the dishes from the night before. It reminds me of the Bible verse about each day has enough evil of its own that we shouldn’t have to take on the burdens of any other day than the one we are currently in. Yesterday’s mess in our home is the burden from other days! Today has enough, for heaven’s sake lol
That is such a great comparison! Not only does it feel great to start the morning fresh, but there's also a certain form of peaceful closure to the day when finishing up the dishes before bed. Totally a double win!
Good way to see it ha! Amen 🙏 😁
We've found that to. Hubby and I keep remarking how good a clean, uncluttered kitchen looks.
Iove how you so aptly tied in that scripture! That's a beautiful reminder. I try to not leave a mess when we leave the house also so we don't come back to a mess. Especially on vacation. It's such a breath of fresh air to walk in the door from being away to a clean space. And like you said, walking out from the bedroom in the morning to a clean kitchen just fills me with peace to start the day!
We like to change the sheets before we leave for vacation. There’s nothing better than to come home to our bed with clean fresh sheets!
I lived overseas in Bolivia, I loved the lifestyle. I lost so much weight. Coming back to the United States it was a culture shock, I gained weight, and my health declined greatly. Work weeks easily go to 60 to 80 hours. Food is unhealthy and even our frozen vegetables have added sugar! Portions are super large! We don't walk and the town planning is horrible so you depend on your car in most states to drive 10 miles to the grocery store. So you overbuy to save trips to the store. We don't have a healthy lifestyle here in the United States.
At least we don’t live in fear of El Sueno and Unidad.
@@simon3101you're making no sense. You can have a healthy lifestyle and no fear. Like most of Europe
Interesting the monks philosophy about cleaning.
I have a toddler and baby twin girls. Every day I make all the meals from scratch, take care of the children, do all the cleaning, make smoothies, breastfeed, all on hardly any sleep, and I’m not dead yet. THIS IS BECAUSE OF MINIMALISM!
Whenever someone asks me “ how do you do it”
I say
“ I threw everything out”
That and GOD 🙏
I wouldn’t be able to keep up with the chores if I hadn’t declutterred. It takes me five minutes to make sure everything in the house is picked up for cleaning the floors. Laundry is a task, but we have no more clothes than we need and what fits. I’m diligent to get clothes out of the house as soon as it’s outgrown. And new or not, even if it’s a gift, if it doesn’t get worn for whatever reason, I won’t hesitate to get rid of something even if it still fits someone.
I started decluttering just over two years ago when I was pregnant with my first born. It amazes me how much I’ve gotten rid of, and that I’m still able to find more!
Our home is highly simplified. I’m at the point where, just yesterday, I got rid of two wooden bowls that I LOVE, because they collect clutter. I’m literally donating things that bring me Joy, because not having them bring me MORE!
I used to get a thrill when I found a score at a store…. Now I get a thrill when I find something I can get rid of!
BYE BYE! Hello freedom! What we actually need is not very much!
"I threw everything out"...😂 love that..!!
I loved reading your story, thank you!
@@camillaholst7321 people usually laugh at first not knowing what I mean, and then I say “ seriously, I just got rid of 90% of our belongings. If I don’t own it, it can’t make a mess!”
@@libbykat3958 oh I’m so happy 😀
That's so inspiring!
Cleaning is a spiritual practice of hospitality - for self, family, others.
I love that perspective ❤
I so agree! Well said. It’s bad for family moral when cleanliness isn’t prioritized to some reasonable degree. It’s like being hospitable to the people who live in the space.
So true! What a lovely way to put it.
I like this. Thank you. 😊
My husband is finally realizing this! More than a month ago I did a deep declutter of my half of the bathroom - counter, drawers, space under sink, but I didn't touch his side. For weeks he's quietly watched how easy it is for me to find what I need, put it away, and keep the counter clean. My mom is coming for the weekend and he was helping clean rooms. He did a major declutter of his own stuff, asked for a small storage bin for his items to keep on the counter, and then cleaned both our sinks and wiped the whole counter. So much easier to do! Thanks Dawn for your inspiration!
Great job leading by example!
I’ve volunteered to clean my local temple for my church before, and we did a full cleaning every single evening. They said the point wasn’t to clean it because it was dirty, but rather to continually clean it so it never gets to the point of being dirty. I loved that. 😊
That’s a good way of looking at it.
Something my DinL OFTEN says when she visits my house is, "your house is so peaceful." I believe what she's really noticing is the clean kitchen surfaces, the lack of clutter throughout & the calming effect created by having an easily maintained home. It pleases me, for her, that she has found a place of respite. ♡
You’re also setting an example and possibly a goal for her and your son and grandchildren’s peace as well. 🥰
When my house was cluttered, I enjoyed going over to my parents house because it just felt calm and peaceful. I guess I now realize that was because they didn’t have as much clutter in their living Spaces. We won’t talk about how full their attic was and my dad‘s office was, but your comment reminded me that their home was peaceful and now mine has that same feeling.
Interesting!! That’s what people have said about my home as well, and I never linked it to me keeping a very tidy home. I always thought it was because we live in the country away from the hustle and bustle.
this is lovely.
My husband spent 18 months in a Benedictine monastery (discerning priesthood) before we met. He spent many hours working in their apple orchard. One of the reasons that many monks do 'menial', repetitive tasks, such as making fruitcake, is because this allows them to pray for hours while they work. While some orders are committed to a more visible service to the church (as is the case with a teaching order), monks and other more isolated clergy, consider it their main mission to pray for the church. It is really a beautiful model that we can adapt to our own lives.
Beautiful. Ora et Labora.
As a Catholic myself I loved your comment. It also gives new meaning and VALUE to the menial tasks of homemaking and motherhood that so many women think they are too good for these days. The praying and meditating, FOR MY FAMILY I can do while folding laundry... or cooking the same meal for the 100th time... or rocking a baby to sleep 😍🙏
Yes, there is a serious lack of prayer in the advice from these non-Christian monks. I hope Dawn will take the time to read the Christian monks' wisdom more than others.
Yes!!!!! ORA ET LABORA ❤️🔥🙏❤️🔥🙏✝️🌹✝️
Exactly. I know there are pieces of truth in all faiths, but i was really surprised to hear "monk" and think franciscan, trappist, benedictine.....only to find out it's likely buddhist etc. When faiths come from different places, you're going to get slightly different goals. As a christian, charity should be paramount as part of our lives, which i doubt is something that a buddhist would harp on as much, but yet, as a housekeeper, is forefront on my kind when it comes to serving others, especially the little ones in my home. and Christ always looked out for the little ones. Love to hear about what those in christian monasteries and convents have said for thoughts on tidiness- anybody have any sources i can follow? I'm intrigued!!
I actually overcame depression by embracing, well, not minimalism, but less stuff, every task completed, and not letting things build up. I have always had what I called "The Big List". It was overwhelming, and I couldn't deal with it alone, so I hired a professional organizer to do it with me. I have one or two more sessions, and then I'll be on my own. (Of course I can call on her if I need support.)
My organizer's time is one of he best purchases I ever made. My whole mood has changed; when I wake up in the morning, I feel happy. I even spontaneously cleaned my apartment the other day!
I'm sure I COULD have done everything myself, but I WASN'T doing it. Now it's almost done.
Bravo and thank you for sharing!! 😃👏👏👏❤
Working on doing this myself!
Most people need the boost. I get it whenever a friend says that they’re coming into town.
This is the push I needed to get an organiser myself! Been holding it back because "why pay for something you can do on your own" which obviously I can't. I need someone to kickstart it for me. Thank you being so inspiring!
@@cheryl-annegoh5278 You're welcome, Cheryl! It took me years to get over the "why pay for something you can do on your own" problem. But I finally admitted to myself that I COULDN'T do it on my own.
My organizer gives me "homework" between sessions. Doing those tasks makes me feel competent and empowered. I have occasionally fallen back into old habits, but now that everything has a place, it's easy to put things away and get back to my mew normal. I am actually confident that I will be able to keep the new habits up, and if I need her, I can always hire my organizer again.
One of the best characteristics of a good organizer is that she (or he, I suppose, although I don't know any male organizers) doesn't judge your mess, or you for making it. She just sees it as a collection of stuff to be winnowed down and organized, and a collection of new habits to be encouraged. That gives you permission to stop putting yourself down for making the mess and not being able to control it, which solves a LOT. of problems, both in your surroundings, and in your life.
Good luck, and have fun creating space!
I am a maximalist, but I am SO TIRED OF BEING ANXIOUS! Im going to highly simplify my house one room at a time and see if it helps.
It will not only help but you will find more ways to be peaceful and calm, an empty and simplified environment brings forth our inner peace that we constantly try to seek outward.
Remember minimalism doesn't mean white walls and furniture! I think people who actually like colour and pattern call themselves maximalists but really you can have way less stuff and still have a home you find beautiful.
Give it a try, not only am I sure you'll feel better but you'll end up keeping the things you truly love that bring maximum joy 😊
I'm still struggling myself, but I like to remind myself of the words of English designer William Morris in 1880 -'Have nothing in your house that you do not _know_ to be *useful* or _believe_ to be *beautiful* '.
P.S. Trying to do things by finishing one whole area at a time doesn't work for me when I get overwhelmed by the rest of the spaces. I'm trying a different approach: one _category_ at a time, throughout my home. Whatever currently seems to be contributing the most to the clutter or is slowing down my functioning. So, for me, magazines and books and paper for the former (clutter), and perhaps clothes, kitchenware/stuff, things around sinks or entry that are in my way, for the latter (daily functioning). Good luck to us both!
You will feel alive again..
Minimalism is what you want it to be. You can be an only 2 plates per person kind of household but have 20 paintings on the walls because you love seeing them every day - then do that. I agree with the other comments, you’ll find that declutterring allows the things you LOVE to shine.
Be a minimalist where you can so being a maximalist where you want doesn’t stress you out.
My mom and grandmother always said don’t go to bed with dirty dishes. It’s so nice to get some coffee without having to look at that first thing in the morning
I love it when people are confident enough in their own convictions that they can look without fear at other ways of life. Good practices are good practices, irrespective of culture or spiritual beliefs.
So well said!
Excellent
For Christians, we can do menial tasks like cleaning as acts of stewardship: managing the stuff God gave us and thankfulness: thanking God for the stuff He provided for us. Christian meditation is meditating on God's word and the listening side of prayer as in, "What are you trying to tell me/teach me, God?"
Yes! That’s how I see it. I steward it well as a way of saying thank you to God for it❤
I'd add, it is also an act of worship as well as gratitude for everything He has given us. All we have anyway is from Him and always will be. ❤
I’m an atheist but I look at cleaning and other household tasks in a similar way. Being thankful for the home I have as I clean, viewing my labors as a gift to my family, feeling the peaceful and meditative vibes when everything is clean and tidy. How we frame things makes such a difference in finding joy in the mundane.
Yes and amen. I grew up in A family of six. Whenever the dishwasher broke I became the dishwasher. Not fun. However when my Grandma would come to visit she would help me and we would sing in harmony while doing them.
Amen!
If I've got dirty dishes, I am grateful the family has been fed. So doing the dishes is not a problem for me. Same with laundry. If I have a basket full of dirty laundry, I am grateful we have more than one set of clothes. So doing the laundry is not a problem.
This is beautiful. Thank you.
✨❤️✨ thanks for these Aha moment
Wow...dats great...never thought this way...
What a positive spin!
what a great way to view this, thank you for sharing
My husband and the dogs are put of town. Cleaned house last Friday. It's still clean and tidy. I wish he would pick up after himself. House being perfectly clean has me in the BEST mood. 😂👍🤩
Oh my, my brain read "husband and dogs put out of town" ha ha ha.
Right? Still clean and tidy.
This is how I feel when my husband is gone. I miss him, but I don’t miss cleaning up after him. He doesn’t try to be messy, but he’s ADHD and he just sees the world through different lenses. I wish I could feel in control, when things are messy, but I just can’t. It makes me feel so anxious and irritated.
My ex-husband freaked out once, because I'd straightened the pile of scrunched up Post-it notes jumbled across the top of his dresser.
I got him a tray and used a paperclip, smoothed and stacked the multitude; clipped them together and put them in the tray.
He was beside himself when he saw this - in an unholy uproar! Swore he couldn't find important notes!
I reassured him that I hadn't tossed anything - just "de-crumpled" his hoard.
Once he calmed down, he found what he was looking for and pretty much maintained the new system after that.
We lasted another 17 years!😂
My dream is for a family vacation where I get to stay home and everyone else does not. They might have to be gone two weeks, but my house would be glorious. I just need some thousands of dollars to afford to send them off and do all the things. LOL I can dream. But anyway, I did like this video; and need to start thinking like a monk.
Yesterday I had off from work and I took a box of old small rugs and linens to a local animal rescue. It felt so good to get that out of our home. A couple of weeks ago we got rid of our old couch (we had had it for 25 years! It was a beast) and we got a smaller couch, rearranged the living room and it feels so open and tidy now. I find I keep walking into the room just to look at it. LOL But every little thing you do to declutter your home helps to declutter your life. Gretchen Rubin was correct when she said that outer order contributes to inner calm.
LOVE this!!!!
Dawn, I want to share a total win with you! Yesterday, organizing my bedroom (recently moved in), I picked up something and thought, "Where shall I put this?" The immediate internal answer was "Donation box." Woot! Woot! Decluttering win!! Thanks!!
That is AWESOME!!! Way to go Maryanne!
YES, we know you are a Christian!! IT GLOWS!!
Ramona love the play on words! `it glows` so true. She is so sweet.
I practice gratitude. For example When I’m cleaning the dishes I give thanks for having food
I love you too Dawn! Thank you so much for saying this, at this point in my life I have no one to tell me that. It's so comforting to me when you say, "I love you". God bless you 🙏
I'm in the same boat. I'm retired and live alone, so if Dawn didn't say it, I might not hear it for weeks at a time.
I love you, too!
@@sgallant2107 love you too ❣️
Love you too 💕💕💕💕
You guys are making me get teary eyed. Sending all the love!!
Sending love from Georgia! ❤️
I have been a fan of yours for a number of years. Although I am in a different season of life. I just retired at 62. I have been able to put the majority of what you teach into practice in my own life. I just sold my home after living in it for 24 years. The packing process was so much easier than I would have imagined because I had been decluttering for about 5 years. I moved into a two bedroom condo from a four bedroom house with an in law apartment. I only brought what would comfortably fit and honestly I am still decluttering as I unpack as I love the feeling of clear surfaces with just the things I love and need. Keep doing what you are doing. I am still learning from all you are teaching.
Here at my home, because we only have one royal seat, we cleaned it multiple times a day. Everyone who poops cleans it leaving it clean for the next person. A quick swich and flush keeping it very fresh.
LOVE this!!!
33 years ago my contractor tried to convince me that I needed to add a second bathroom, I told him that one was plenty to keep clean. Never regretted not having an extra toilet, but an extra tub would be nice sometimes.
@@sunshine3914 I wish we had our own house. We would have gotten an exterior toilet with sink for visitors. I really would want 2 ⅔ bathrooms for our home.
@@sunshine3914I understand not wanting extra cleaning, but having a half bath is useful for when someone has an emergency, or when one of your siblings have been showering for the last 50 minutes and you've been drinking water all day 🙄
I expect you don't have 5 children in the house, I have 4 siblings and 7 people with one bathroom does not necessarily lead to nirvana.
Loved all of this apart from the laundry, here in uk it’s not normal to have a laundry room unless you are wealthy, we don’t have dryers as standard, and washing daily is bad for the environment, I prefer to wait until I have a full load to wash. I am in the middle of decluttering now, I think it will make it so much easier for me to
I have come to love sweeping after many years of sweeping stage floors as a stage technician and stage manager. Now I sweep my own floors at home and I know that women have been sweeping floors for eternity and it just feels as if I'm connecting with ancients ancient women.
When my husband and I got married, my parents gave us a washing machine for our gift. We fixed it 3 or 4 times, but after 24 years, it finally died, and I cried because it had been such a great machine in our life. I’m sure I wouldn’t have been so emotionally attached to it had we only had it a few years and had just gotten a new one instead of fixing it when it broke before.
This is what I found with my sentimental items from the 1980s. Was I just keeping them because they were old or were they actually sentimental? I came down on the side of old and when I donated them, I had no regrets or second thoughts. Some were even ugly or had bad memories attached but because they were leftovers from my childhood, I’d kept them. Nothing like a good washing machine, it had a great life!
Same here! Bought our house in 1998 and got new washer/dryer from my parents. We finally replaced them 6 months ago because they no longer make a needed part for a repair. It made me sad to say goodbye and even sadder reading up on the lifetime of newer washer/dryers....much shorter! they just dont make things as well as they used too.
@@Mimulus2717 Same! My washer and dryer are over 30 years old. The dryer won't stop by itself; you have to turn it off or it will keep going, I guess until it burns itself up lol. So I always set a timer. My washing machine stopped working a while back--turns out it just needed a little plastic piece called a "dog ear" of all things. 😊
I'm dreading the day when they finally give out and I have to replace them with modern made-to-be-disposable machines.
We got married and got ours in 1998, too. Must have been a good year for washers!!!
@@Mimulus2717sad isn't it, they make them to live a short life, so you have to buy a new one otherwise they don't sell enough 😢
I love that you drew on science, ancient wisdom, and personal experience to discuss minimalism. It shows how passionate you are about minimalism (as am I)
I can relate to the idea of thinking that cleaning was just a thing to get over with quickly so that I can focus “on real things”. Once I started accepting that cleaning is just as important as cooking or gaming or working. It doesn’t have to be rushed. It can be planned and it can be fun! If I need two hours to clean my kitchen the way I want to and I only get to go to bed after, that’s fine too. I didn’t “waste the day away cleaning”. Now I don’t mind it as much. It doesn’t feel like a chore anymore. It feels like something nice I’m doing for myself like cooking a nice dinner or taking myself on a walk.
I like cleaning because when I do it it means that I take care of myself and I have enough energy.
What you said about the "menial" mindless tasks as having important e and significance in that they give our minds time to rest & reflect & process the rest of our times...that is a wonderful, life-changing take-away. Thank you!
My Mother thinks everything someone gives you has sentimental value. I don’t feel this way and it’s caused conflict. We have been decluttering and donating in anticipation of selling our house and downsizing. My husband wants to leave his high pressure and long hours job. We want to travel more and have less things to worry about. It’s been freeing!
Maybe if people gave high-quality stuff that they really pubsime thought in whether it suits you. But that is seldom the case these days... There are a few remarks about this in Matsumoto's book. Try to use things that are well-designed and take care of them, repair them, upcycle them. The value in gifts often lies 'only' in the act of giving. So be grateful but don't feel you need to keep every (plastic) trinket you are given :-)
I’ve started the Japanese habit of cleaning my toilet daily. It’s quick to do and so nice having a fresh toilet to use daily.
I’ve watched you for two years. I had two kids under two when I found you. I’ve decluttered and continued to declutter. With a 2 and 3 year old now, I love the freedom to spend days outside relaxing with my kids rather than inside cleaning. ❤ Thanks for everything Dawn!
The best thing ever is the FREE BOX in our neighborhood. It even has its own instagram. I love walking down to the free box with the clothes, shoes, etc that we no longer use and giving them away for free. A win for the environment, too!! Loved this video, thank you for sharing!
Love the idea, but it rains so often here. People do it anyway at the food blessing boxes, & the rain & heat turns everything into a moldy mess. We do have a fb group that list whatever is about to be thrown out, but it’s private, so that means very few benefit from it.
How wonderful to have this in your neighborhood. 😊
I love the beauty of a clean and sparkling kitchen sink. Sometimes it helps me to think "I'm not doing the dishes, I'm creating a beautiful sink."
I know I greatly overestimate how long it takes to get a task done. Sometimes I set a mental timer for 15 minutes and I am usually surprised how much I can get done. Dishes can be put away, laundry folded, counters wiped down. It makes the house feel so much better.
Sometimes I literally set a timer and see how fast I can get things done.
This principal applies to everything, mail, laundry, cooking. Do it before it’s daunting.
We love you too Dawn! I have always liked the idea of cleaning as a spiritual practise, because it’s both practical and metaphorical. And I love your anti-consumerism message too. We’re killing the planet producing stuff no-one needs. Enough!
Great video! I’ve been following you for six years now! Honestly you’ve changed my life with your message of minimalism. I had a win just a few minutes ago - my son is making the 3 hour trek to IKEA today and I was so excited to give him a list to buy for me. I looked for about five minutes on their website and there it was - I really don’t need a thing. I didn’t even enjoy the “window shopping” on their website and found it to be a waste of time. This is huge for me!! Thank you a million times.
Parents, Stop calling it CHORES.
How about "reset time" "tidy take care time"
also, if we as parents view it as something precious and valuable then this shines through!
I told my children it's one of the ways we give thanks for all that God has blessed us with.
Yes. Or "Loving our home" or "taking care of our home."
I think in this day and age that the word chore is a word that children don’t like to hear, we need to teach our children that are home is a safe haven, it is a place of calmness and a place that we enjoy and we should teach our children to maintain their bedrooms, Tidy up after themselves when they take a bath, help with the dishes after their mother or their father has prepared a nice meal for them to enjoy and to teach them the basic skills of keeping her home, I will say this, my son married a year after he married, he called me and thanked me for teaching him the household skills that would help him to become the husband and the father. He is today and helping his wife, create a home that was neat tidy, and they are teaching their son the skills that he needs to be our husband and father one day and even as skilled person in every aspect to life, how to take care minor repair on a vehicle how to maintain a yard with yardwork and sometimes yardwork can be a game to a childor teenager.
@@Jodiwms1969100%
I have three boys all young men now . I was raised in a home where cleaning the house was an absolute, and there was no gender specific duties. Boy or girl we all took turns doing it all.
So when I had boys , I made sure they knew how to take care and maintain their home , or only cleaning , but my husband taught them basic fixing skills too. My oldest his marred and his wife , my DIL thanks me all the time , for him being a good supportive husband. She works strange long hours , in the police forensic department. So he is a big help with cooking , cleaning , shopping . Very proud of him and their relationship.
I run a garden service in California and it's very very annoying when I get to a yard and I have to spend 15 minutes picking up kid toys and moving beer cans out of the way before I can even start cleaning the yard, plus with stuff everywhere it's impossible to blow the leaves and clean. I can't work around all this stuff.......Works for yards too
Have you considered : Either charging more for the extra time and (preparatory) work necessary for you to be able to do your job, or extending your time by 15 minutes (to allow for the pick-up time) and giving them the option of a price reduction, if they do their own pick-up? After all, it’s not helping anyone to simply ignore the issue. . . You are allowing yourself to be taken advantage of, and no-one respects that!
@@nanwilder2853 They're renters and they moved out as of May 31st which I just found out so problem solved
@@Mouserjan0222: I’m glad for you, Jan!
Take care.
When I was telling a friend that I wished I had decluttered way more before moving four years ago, she said, "Well you probably couldn't afford to declutter so much back then." I replied, "Nope--I have decluttered thousands of items since and haven't replaced a single thing."
It’s interesting that there is a school of thought that minimalism is only easier for those with means. I have never needed that which I parted with. It was, as we were advised … excess. It was not my financial state but my feelings of freedom that helped me feel ‘rich’ (enriched)
@@duffyjones4476yes I've seen a lot of comments like that. I gave it all away and didn't repurchase any of it so yes I actually could "afford" to declutter.
I'm glad people are making this point. When I had no money, life was harder, and having more stuff added to the difficulty; it certainly didn't save me money. I've since helped destitute people in my family who hold onto more stuff than they could ever use. The stuff actually prevents them from using what they have and causes them to acquire still more. It is a vicious cycle that adds to their suffering. Minimalism is not only for the well off. It might look different for different people, but that's another subject
I have furniture pieces that are hand-me-downs. I don't give them away because I could literally never afford to replace it.
@@mom2artists I have hand me down furniture too, the difference is I'm using all those pieces. No need to declutter items you use.
Smaller houses help with keeping it minimal. Less to clean.
I’ve downsized to a small 1 bdrm apt, and have gotten rid of a long lifetime of stuff. I’m not super minimalist, but I have very, very, little that I’m not using or will use somewhat regularly. No closets, spare rooms, cabinets full of “stuff” that I’ve forgotten I even had. I still feel a tad surrounded by things….am pondering how much more I’ll relinquish lately. Living this way has helped this old woman ….less visual clutter has meant less emotional clutter. It works. 👍🏻
Yes!!!! I love how monks consider homemaking an important part of work and prayer life. Amen!! I love to listen to Brother David Steindl-Rast (a Benedictine monk) describe washing his dishes by hand (like I do) as part of his daily gratitude. His voice is fantastic and his talks will uplift you. For an "everyday monk" like me, he is very inspiring :) Great topic! xoxo
Omgosh yes @ the process of cleaning bringing peace. My mom passed away a couple of weeks ago and I'm finding such peace and even comfort in simple things like sorting the laundry in our very simplified home.
So very sorry for your loss. ❤️
My condolences.
Sorry for the loss of your mom
There have times in my life i found cleaning brought me balance and controli when life gave thingsvi could not control, such as illness or loss of a loved one
Americans don’t realize how fortunate we are to have so many helpful appliances. Having a washing machine and a dishwasher helps so much. Can’t imagine life without them 😄
This monks’ perspective on cleaning the floors makes me want to go vacuum the second floor of my home, which has been neglected since 2023. And then start cleaning floors and toilets every day. It could be life changing.
I’ve worked so hard over the last 5 years to declutter , and it’s so easy peasey to clean now . I surprised myself, I don’t even realize how quick I can clean the kitchen , bedrooms , family room / dining room ect . I’m so happy I decided to live more minimally!
We've been uncluttering and it's changing our lives!
I have, love and get a lot of value from this book and minimal mom, but for anyone who needs to hear it, just to say generally Monks don’t have other commitments.
It’s amazing how little we actually NEED to live a comfortable and happy life. I lived in the Philippines for over a year and while they had so little compared to what I and my family own and YET were the happiest people I have ever met. If we happen to declutter something we might need, we often just use something else or do without.
Homemaking/housekeeping IS a form of worship.
Restoring order and removing the acquired filth of the day, removing weeds to make a garden beautiful/productive, caring for family and friends-all of these push back against the effects of the Fall. All creation yearns for, _requires,_ order and peace.
For all my adult life, my laundry days are Mondays and Thursdays. That has been very manageable; even when we had six children living at home.
I recently had the privilege to implement what you teach, in a bedroom declutter for family members. I used the phrase "let it go", looked for categories 1 at a time like trash/laundry/broken items and asked the question if you were looking for this where would you find it/if they couldn't answer that, we knew it didn't have a home and found one. Some things were put off for another time like organizing desk drawers but we estimated it as a 15 minute job for later. I referred to your phrasing that it's okay to throw something away if you don't have a donate box/system set up just yet. I also shared with them how to set an expiration date on items that the person was uncertain about. The whole experience was exciting and successful...it felt like the final exam after watching all your teaching lessons. It has built in me confidence to tackle my home this summer!! Thank you for being such a wealth of information and so practical strong and encouraging. I have the same organizing style as you do-broad categories and hidden....and that makes your content extra relatable to me. One of the family members who had seen some of your videos I've shared was so giddy declaring that it felt like the minimal Mom had visited her house.
Many of the things you highlight I already do. I never, never leave dishes in the sink - this is a no-no. For people who live in multi-unit dwellings, with neighbors who are not as clean as you, it keeps uninvited "guests" from your home. If something accidently falls on the floor while preparing a meal, I stop and immediately clean it up (as my area is an ant area and I don't want them to get the vib to find a way into my home. I have to have my bath clean, toilet a must - I clean daily. Keep the kitchen and bath clean daily and you'll never have a heavy cleaning to do. Plus, it's good Feng Shui.
My chore, at the age of 10 years, was the family laundry for 2 adults and 3 kids. I loved it then and I still love it!
I feel like washing dishes by hand is meditative.
Agreed!!!
Me too! My dishwasher broke many years ago, and I discovered that I don't need it. I always say if you add a bit of soap to the sponge when you're pre-washing, you don't need the dishwasher. And I tend to go over a lot of stuff in my mind while I'm washing dishes. It's a great time for quiet meditation.
Still, it was a big job when I had a cluttered kitchen.
Simplifying my kitchen has drastically simplified the cleaning.
It’s the chore that I like least, but don’t mind since I do them immediately & don’t have a crew to clean up after.
One of my favorite quotes for the times I feel like I'm wasting hours at the sink when I could be doing something more productive... "The best time for planning a book is while you are doing the dishes" -- Agatha Christie
True ! You also are digesting your food better while standing! I find dishwashing so soothing!
This is lovely! The teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh, a Buddhist monk, talk so much about being present for our lives, ourselves and our loved ones. Something as simple as doing dishes, as you said, Dawn, can be a meditative act. What does the soap smell like, what is the temperature of the water, etc. Actually paying attention and having our minds and our bodies in the same place at the same time, is life-changing and so peaceful. Usually our mind is a million miles away from our bodies, thinking about the past or future but not here in the present.
Some of the best conversations I've had were in the kitchen doing dishes with other women. Open, heart felt and funny talks.
I almost think people need to be overwhelmed with cutter to truly appreciate moving on to mimalism??
I think the companionship while doing regular tasks is important, too. How much easier is it to do a task alone or with someone there helping keep the task light/fun?
I’m glad to see you wash the dishes with a washcloth. Tired of using a sponge worrying about sanitizing, smells, is it time to change it out, etc. I replaced the sponge with 10 washcloths with a scrubby netting side and that I switch out daily then toss in the laundry at the end of the week. It feels so nice to grab a fresh one daily for that days dishes and it saves sponges from the landfill.
Sponge cloths from Sweden are a game changer for me.
I am a huge fan of luffa dish sponges. All natural material, no microplastics down the drain. They hardly absorb any smells or bacteria.
Since I started watching you I can't tell how many times I have picked up something at the store and put it back because I find myself saying do I really need this and I find out I don't miss it. So thank you. It's taken me 70yrs to realize I don't need new shiny stuff
When I clean the bathroom, I hate cleaning the toilet, but I always remember: "nothing says 'I love you!' more than a clean bathroom when someone feels unexpectedly unwell". I also think of how calm a clean bathroom feels when I visit someone.
It's been several years since I've implemented doing all of the laundry all of the way (wash, dry, fold, put away) every day and it's a game changer. For our family of 10 sometimes that means 3-4 loads a day, but never being behind on laundry makes life much less stressful!
I have 9 siblings so I remember mom doing 2-3 loads of laundry every day to keep up with it. She did well with basic laundry, but the ironing would pile up a bit 😆
I love this video! It is just the repeating unpleasant scene of running water unnecessarily across the many videos, and especially running hot water down the drain, that spoils the satisfacion of this lovely and otherwise by all standards perfect video.
Such a Great Way - living like a monk who marvels in minutiae of simple daily tasks: cleaning, sweeping, cooking…
Eternal way of passing by this place called earth 😊
I love your friendly, supportive manner, Dawn. You are the one I recommend on this topic, because I know you will give encouragement and bite sized advice that is not overwhelming and won't cause MORE stress and guilt. 👍🏻👍🏻
I heartily agree! I used to subconsciously avoid cleaning because I didn't realize it was triggering emotional flashbacks to my abusive and critical mother. Dawn's warm and encouraging tone has literally helped me heal childhood trauma! ❤ Now I view cleaning and clutter clearing as self care and actually ENJOY it sometimes! 😄 Huzzah!
She’s the only one that is a must watch. For enforcement I watch those extreme cleaning situations, like Midwest Cleaning… he’s educated this lifelong housekeeper on things that I had never thought about.
P.S. @sunshine3914 I took a risk and watched some Midwest Magic Cleaning videos. He's funny! 😄I find it kind of embarrassing that I'm so easily triggered by judgmental cleaning content because of my history, but I figured since you like Dawn it might be a safe gamble. Thank you for mentioning him! 😃❤
This is so true. I just moved in with my partner, so, moved into a place that was already being lived in. I only took half of my clothes over to start with, expecting to collect the rest later. Was shocked to discover how much easier and happier life was without it.
I totally agree about cleaning and minimalism. The only thing and concern I have on this video is the use of possibility the same cloth to wipe the surfaces, from the counter to the toilet seat, lighting etc. I am conscious of the spread of bacteria all around. But in principle I believe in the practice of cleaning, tidying and minimalistic
Yes to all of this. Such great info! So glad I found you during my retirement years from teaching. Less stuff = more traveling, clarity, and I’ve even started putting a childrens book idea to paper….thank you!
Dawn, your content is always great, but I think this might be your best video yet! I used to hate cleaning but ever since I started trying to be more mindful in my everyday life, I realized that when you stop wishing you were somewhere else and come back to the present, it does feel like a spiritual moment. It's great that all your research backed up this feeling I didn't quite formulated in my mind. Thank you so much for all the work you're doing to help us loving our home again! (:
Really nice video Dawn ❤❤❤
I found the best way to get laundry done is to have my children do their own. My oldest started first when he was 10 or 11 years old. My other children started about 9 and 7 years old and the youngest started at 6. My sister's son had to get on a chair to get his clothes out of the washing machine. I took heart that my children could do their own laundry as well. It took maybe ten minutes to teach them to separate dark and light colors and how to measure soap and turn on the machines. I told them that doing laundry is the easiest work they will ever do. They would fold their clothes while watching a show. They each had an assigned day of the week to do their laundry. They had confidence in a life skill and stress and pressure in my life let up considerably!
Yes, I don't understand why many women think they need to do ALL the housework when the other people living there are capable of doing at least SOME of it. Start them young when they _want_ to help out, and they won't have a chance to become entitled and resentful and get into bad habits, procrastination, etc. They will _need_ those skills when they move out. Plus, children generally have more free time than adults, and can enjoy the responsibility and contribution of doing things for the family.
Also, some weirdos like me have trouble doing their own tasks, decluttering or finding homes for their own stuff, etc. but are able and willing and even find satisfaction in doing it for others! If there is someone in a home like that, ask them to "do for others" and then they can get help with their own stuff.
Yes, when I was a kid my mom had us helping with dishes at 5 standing on a step stool at the sink. We learned to set the table for dinner as soon as we were tall enough. And we started doing our own laundry at 8. I wasn't tall enough to reach the controls so had to use a step stool. We also each had assigned weeks that we were expected to mop and vacuum the kitchen and living room. Great skills to learn before the teenage years.
I think this is one of your best videos yet. ❤ Just because we're Christian doesn’t mean we can't see value in other cultures. Wisdom spoken by others is still wisdom. 🎉
I love how Dawn sees the interconnections between religions, psychology, and practices. It is so enriching to discover the wisdom and beauty in common between different religions. In particular there is so much in common between the teachings of Buddha and the teachings of Jesus. Finding the quiet, the compassion, the kingdom within, and the serenity of a simple environment in harmony with nature. Dawn is helping me undo years of obliviously making my environment complicated and stressful by thinking I needed to get or accept things, and failing to part with things I was not using and did not actually value. This is a great video!
We are in the process of staging our home to sell. Thanks to minimalism it has been easier to pack, be ready to show house on a moment’s notice and have an easier and less costly move!
I just LOVE your videos ❤ I’ve been a decluttering fool!! One note: I did a huge declutter in my kitchen. I now clean and do dishes EVERY night. It’s fast and easy. 🙏🏻🙏🏻
I really liked the doing dishes each day. My grandmother and my Mom would always do dishes together, this was their time to share events of the day. They had a tight relationship due to spending quality time together. Great for husbands and wives!!! Communicate and clean together
This is one of your BEST videos Dawn. I’m passing it onto my daughters. God bless you❣️
"I have enough confidence in my own beliefs that I don't worry about getting off track." I wish with all my heart every person was this way.
I liked the disclaimer, but it‘s because I got to hear „I love you“ twice ❤❤
Dawn, we are finally doing it, going the whole way. I travel for work and when we came home it felt soooo much better.
I am really grateful to you for the work you do here. You obviously research and think a lot about all aspects of minimalism and decluttering and there is always something to boost my energy and commitment to this task.
Thank you for the confidence and hope you are helping me to regain.
I've study Zen Buddhist philosophy for 25 years. It more them anything improved evey aspect of my life.
I cannot cook unless the kitchen is clean and everything put away. So I clean while cooking, and after each dish. I tidy up, and start fresh again. Nothing ever builds up and collects. It is also easier to handle smaller amounts of dirty utensils.
I just did something that made our bathroom much easier to keep orderly. Instead of sharing all the drawers communally, I took one for myself (I clearly need much less than he does), he has TWO (!), and the large drawer in the bottom is the only communal drawer, mostly for items we use when traveling. We do have a small cabinet space with two pullout shelves with healthcare items only, and the pullout in the large space under the sink is for extra bottles of mouthwash, alcohol, etc. Works great! He can screw up his own drawers, he has a place for everything, and no one has to fish around to find anything. My chaos threshold is no longer on high alert, at least in the primary bathroom. And now we are renovating our kitchen, which will indeed have a place for everything! I am working a list to ensure that will be the case. I'll finally have calm countertops!
This is so true about travel and the ease of cleaning. My husband is in the Air Force and I noticed that when we come and visit him and stay either in on base housing or in an Airbnb that it is so much easier to keep the place clean and that’s just because there’s so much less stuff. I actually enjoy tidying and cleaning when we are away from our house which seems totally crazy but is true. I would love to Declutter, but I feel super overwhelmed about it right now. We have a teenager and a toddler (because God has a sense of humor) so I’m just trying to do a little bit as I can.
The Buddhist philosophy of detachment really does have great value in our lives and for our mental health regardless of whether we have a particular religious belief or no religious belief at all.
Thank you so much for this video. It has reminded me of something I learned a long time ago, and hopefully I can put into practice to reset my home and my mindset.
It's refreshing to see we can learn and respect others beliefs and keep our own too! Thank you
I’ve been watching you for years and gained so much wisdom and peace from you and your practices! This is one of my favorite videos you’ve ever done. Thank you, Dawn!
If I were to pick one of your videos to share with family and friends about why I want to declutter more, this would be the one. Thanks for the 3 perspectives! 👍👍😊
That's awesome, thank you!!!!
In Vedic culture we live by - simple living, higher thinking. Nice to see other cultures also practice this. It’s innate human culture. ❤ Thank you for sharing.
I love the disclaimer lol it’s important that we learn other peoples faith, It doesn’t take away from ours, It helps us to understand theirs and them. We believe Christ died for us and we’re so grateful for him. You have a blessed day. Thank you for sharing.
Your channel, videos, comment section is such a bright spot in my life. I decided to rid myself of negativity on this app and I truly appreciate the positivity you cultivate ❤
Love this and I'm really inspired by your channel and especially this episode - thank you! I do want to say that I've been a Buddhist all my life, and Buddhists don't believe in proselytizing. In fact, most monks and nuns will try to dissuade a person from converting to Buddhism unless they have fully explored their root faith tradition. All faiths have many elements of truth that can nurture us. We do, however welcome anyone to use the techniques and tools that help. Use what helps, and don't worry about the rest. 🙏🏼
Best video EVER! ❤ I’m downsizing and moving to an apartment and you have inspired me to get rid of STUFF! It’s holding me hostage! I don’t need it. I crave peace and happiness and comfort. I want only the things I truly need and that add value to my life! Thank you for sharing this. Thank you for sharing your book list, which I will be reading. You have become MY INSPIRATION!!! Thank you SO much! 😘😘😘
Thank you Dawn for saying ❤I love you 💞
YES, not to sound pitiful but you are the only one that I have telling me that at this point in my life. When Dawn says, I love you, it is so comforting.
I recently moved and realized that finally for me*** that because something is in perfect condition, I can use it and I like it doesn’t necessarily mean I must keep it.
I once bought too many containers that are pretty and now I find myself being able to let go of those containers that are empty and if I keep them I’ll eventually end up filling them just to give them a use.
This week I finally gave away the pretty containers/ organizers that I do not really need. 😅😅😅
Great feeling
I love separating spiritual from religious. We are all spiritual beings (all connected) whereas religion is a choice. And yes I was raised RC.
I’ve ordered the book thank you and look forward to reading it. Such wise words. Love research too.
Thank you. Feeling motivated to do what I can (after a serious injury).
We actually stayed overnight in an old working monastery in Western Australia. Part of the deal is, you clean up after yourself! We made our breakfast in the kitchen and cleaned up. We also remade the single beds with fresh sheets for the next visitors!
My bathroom is minimal, but I still don't like cleaning it.
I really do appreciate you bringing in the science to support the spiritual part of how minimalism enhances our lives ❤
It does explain why I go into cleaning mode immediately if I’m stressed coming home from work. I like to be productively working out my struggles so I can be present with my partner later.
Dawn, your thoughts on hand-washing dishes blends pretty well with a book I've been reading recently by Cal Newport where he mentions the "solitude deprivation" that our culture is facing. We've packed every minute of our lives with "the thoughts of others" (music, shows, podcasts, etc) instead of taking time to just be/do our tasks and take time to reflect on our lives. It causes internal chaos and anxiety... similar to our homes before implementing minimalism!
It is so interesting how the way we relate to objects eventually parallels the way we relate to people. And the way owning too many clothes and other stuff can prevent us from really loving ourselves and others around us.
I am also feeling lately that too many ideas can be detrimental as we lose focus on what is important.
Success story here: Dawn, I recently found your channel a couple months ago when feeling overwhelmed cleaning my kids unorganized cluttered rooms… your tips and tricks worked great but it was truly the MINDSET SHIFT that you shared has changed my life and the life of my family! Today I had a sink full of dishes, and dinner to be made. Normally I would feel paralyzed and overwhelmed. Now I just pick any of your videos and listen while I get the job done. The real success is that I was able to get ALL of my dishes done AND get dinner cooking on the stove in just the duration of this video! It would have taken over an HOUR in the past! Wow thank you for teaching me how to simplify and reduce inventory, it has been a game changer! Also the message in the video is just beautiful and really resonates now that I’ve reached the milestone of being able to MANAGE my inventory and care for the items, and most especially the people in my life that mean the most. Thank you thank you thank you ❤
Good job!
I wish that I could convince others. I’m about to retire as an organizer & housekeeper.
@@sunshine3914 it’s so frustrating to feel like you’ve found the key yet no one listens.