Whole House Declutter | Swedish Death Cleaning Part 2
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- Опубліковано 21 лис 2024
- Part 2 of my Swedish Death Cleaning is NOT the video I was expecting to bring you but it is very real and very much the truth. Today I'm making some observations about this process as I declutter my whole house. I have learned so much about myself and about how and why I have been holding on to so much stuff. Time to let it go!
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Thanks, Jen! It's that idea of toxic clutter. My mom can't throw anything away and her house is full of clutter everywhere. This has made me the opposite and I have no problem getting rid of things. It brings me peace to not have clutter everywhere. And if you don't make those decisions now, there will come a point where you won't be able to physically, then you're trapped. That's how my mom is now and I don't want that.
This. Absolutely true!!
My mom is very much the same, probably worse than most. However, I’m also a mess. The common areas of the house can be cleaned and are pretty. But closets - not to mention the two kids’ rooms (they moved out, again & finally, last summer just as I retired - and did they take all their stuff? Of course not!) and egads the garage. It’s going to be a lot. Thanks for the motivation Jen, it’s great to see & feel the truth of the process.
My mom is the same. I get so much anxiety when I visit and always come home and look for things I can get rid of to compensate.
@@midlife_minimalist I am in the same situation with my parents. They have moved twice in the last year and still carry the burden of too much stuff
My mom was a “saver”. She was very cluttery. No garbage. And the house was clean but she had TOO much stuff. After she died 7 years ago, my dad said to us grown kids and grand kids, so what you want. He put post it notes on things he wanted to keep and the rest went away. We had 1 big yard sale, and the rest went to our local resale shop. So, my dad kept a about 10-15% of the stuff. He said he would’ve felt overwhelmed had it not been for his kid and grandkids to help make decisions. But it was daunting. I too don’t want to leave that to my kids and grandkids so, we’ve been slowly scaling back. I’m 57 and I’m tired of cleaning around the stuff ! Ugh !
Giving yourself permission to not be the person you used to be is just brilliant, and exactly what I needed to hear. You know, I was really into astronomy as a kid, and my husband bought me a telescope I asked for back when we were dating. I've lugged that thing (and its giant tripod) to 2 houses and several apartments without ever looking through it. My life has changed 9 million percent since that was purchased, and I think it's time to sell it. One neat trick I learned for saying goodbye to some of the more sentimental items in my life is to take pictures of them before donating, selling, or tossing. That way, I can go back and look at them without having to make room for them in physical form.
I've given art books to my Daughter-in-law or my daughter's friend. Art supplies go to a local seniors' group. Clothes go to Goodwill or Salvation Army.
Towels and blankets go to the animal shelter. I'm getting rid of 25 items each day. It feels great. Tina, Al's wife
“One collection point” really resonated. I procrastinate , wanting to find the right place to hand something on. Nuts.
I say, I need to put my mom's jewelry on ebay. Not appealing. Not rescheduling. I don't know what ebay or Amazon or jeweler's get your info. Yes, I will donate to Red Box in our area.
We started Swedish death cleaning this year. Already tackled the kitchen, basement, garage, linen closets and bathrooms. It is so freeing. And I agree - finding myself not wanting to buy things, and that’s even more freeing.
In 1969 we moved from the city to the country. My parents had the contents of the house moved intact. In 1973 my great uncle died as did my gram, helped my dad move stuff to our house and one aunts house. Where the stuff sat. In 1979 moved into an apartment, had what I needed , bought a house in 1981 bought very little . Family started giving us stuff. My partner thought every gift was precious! In the 1990
Thru 2002 we lost most of our birth family 😮relatives. Naturally stuff was shifted from one relative to another. We were okay about moving stuff along but not great. My partner and our families were poor, managed thru two wars, the depression , several market crashes. I spent my life hearing‘that has life left in it, too good to throw away, we worked hard to buy that ! I am now widowed and have been winnowing the contents of my home. I am not faultless in acquiring stuff but I am so much better about it that the previous generation. I keep a box, a couple of bags set up in car. I handle an item once - trash, donate, trade or sell. Anything that goes out is not allowed back in. Paper is shredded and composted with my garden waste. Had a fabulous veg patch. If I buy something it’s either to replace something that I use, need or work with after the current item is kaput. No more wasting time, money or space. My home is my haven not a storage
she’d. thank you for more inspiration.
Hello from Paris, France. I have just come across your channel and I liked your personality and your approach. I have been struggling for years to get rid of things that NO LONGER serve me. You now have a new follower. Maureen
Bonjour, Marie and welcome!! So glad you’re here!
Don Aslett, I haven’t heard that name in years. His book Is There Life After Housework is great! 🙂
Lost our home to fire in 2022. I do not recommend this method of reducing stuff, but it sure is effective and has allowed me to be very intentional about what items find their way back into our new (MUCH smaller) home.
I often think about people who lose everything in fires and it helps me not to be too attached to things. It is better to choose to let things go than to be forced to though. 😬
Honestly, when dad passed, one small wardrobe and a few tools, and his belongings were sorted. When mum passed, I spent two months of wading through stuff every day..I gave away 5 full kitchens full of Tupperware to some young women just setting up. 5 wardrobes of clothing, shoes, jewlery, craft items, sewing products, knitting wool, dinner sets, ..... there was so much work in it all, I ended up having a big declutter in my own home so my kids won't be so burdened. When you're going through mountains of photos, and don't even know who the people are (friends and family of my parents that I didn't know, never met, or was young and don't remember them) so even my own photos, I realise I would now never run back into a burning house to save my photos!!!
Yep l know a woman who lost her 4 bedroom house full of stuff in a wildfire and while that's not ideal she said it made her start fresh with possessions
@@ykook7000 So true. It made me be so much more thoughtful about what things I let back into my possession. Almost everything in my home has a story now. And editing possessions allows you the opportunity for your home to be a true reflection of you.
I feel like this could also really backfire too, because the trauma of losing everything can sometimes cause a person to hold on to every single, tiny, whatever in an attempt to mentally replace what they've already lost.
I really liked the concept of releasing stuff that is no longer me! I did that today by sorting through so much jewelry from my previous self when I had to dress up for work every day. Now retired I don’t need 30 pairs of earrings and necklaces I wear 2 or 3 only and they are much simpler in style
It’s hard but also so wonderful to accept and embrace our lives now. Thanks for watching!
You are the first declutterer to mention Don Aslett. His book started me on this so far 25 year old decluttering journey. He changed my life. Clutter's Last Stand.
Bizarrely, I used to check his books out of the library when I was a kid!
I think I read that. Lifelong declutter here.
Habitat is truly a charity but alas in my area they don’t accept clothes.😢 clutters last stand was cutting edge! So funny and profound. Thanks for sharing.
i can't look at more than a few rubber bands, plastic bags, old pens, bread bag ties etc without remembering reading that book! how many do you really need? he changed my life too!
@@wendynieves7159clutter last stand was hilarious. And profound. It literally made my good friend cry. It hit a nerve with both of us! Homeschooling, church activities, 4-h ... it was overwhelming. Now I have a granddaughter and here I go again, lol. And I have to sell, find a home and move. But no deadline yet, so I struggle! I can honestly say, looking around my bedroom. Only clothes, one mirror, 3 "grandma" knickknacks (set), and about ten books to pack from this room. I didn't realize how well I'd decluttered. But still ... wanting to hit minimalist status at some time
I never thought of my decluttering as Swedish Death Cleaning, but while listening to your story, it’s apparent that it’s what I’m doing. 7 years ago, we had a cute little Craftsman with a garage building the same size as the house. And both buildings were full of stuff! I was embarrassed! We sold that house to get my son medical treatment (he’s a happy 15 year old now) and I got rid of over 60% of our belongings. In our first rental house, I continued the purge with the goal of allowing my daughter, who is now 20, to park her new car in the garage. Now, in our second rental (hoping to be our final before we buy again within three years), our garage is big enough for the shelves of stuff that is left to go through. I’m going through one box at a time and it feels like I’m finally getting somewhere. Thank you for this video. :)
I really loved this idea of a little bit at a time - I actually grabbed a drawer of underwear that has been bugging me for ages and got cracking on sorting it as soon as I was half way through this video, as it felt manageable - Thank you - you may have just saved me years more of stress from the overwhelm of feeling the need to get it all done, yesterday. I’m 48 so hopefully I do not need to have gotten it all done yesterday - small, slow progress is still progress - we need to remember that
Yes this exactly!!
I'm 35 and have been decluttering over and over again (plenty of moves as well) since I was 20. I've had an apartment full of stuff. I've also only had luggage to live off of. These days, I've got a few pieces of furniture (moved in with the boyfriend), everyday clothing in a small drawer set including bathroom items, the bookcase is full of things and shoes, my desk doubles as a vanity, and my cube storage has books, linens, and random items. Winter clothing is in a carry on backpack. That's all I have. I can upgrade what I wear. I can buy the rest of my favorite book series. I don't need anything, and it feels good.
If something were to happen to me (I have depression and bad physical health), God forbid, my family wouldn't have to deal with deciding on much. I have two gallon-ish bags of mementos: one for stuffed animals/cat beanie babies..sans my teddy bear lol, and then one for ALL cards and pictures and such.
It's freeing and it's worth it. Get out and make memories instead of keeping stuff! 💜💜
Great comment and take care of yourself and your loved ones!
I’ve been Swedish Death Cleaning slowly but consistently for about 2 years now. I’ve definitely felt that sense of relief that letting go of things without guilt brings and it’s invigorating! While I watched this video I cleaned out a kitchen cabinet and purged 3 huge beer growlers my husband got during the 2020 Covid lockdown but hasn’t used since ! I love supporting a small local brewery during a very difficult time for us all, but man does it feel good knowing those will be returned (and reused endlessly!) and having freed up space in my cabinet as well!!
Great job!!
It helps me to think of Swedish Death Cleaning as an ongoing lifestyle rather than a once-and-done project. 🤔
I used to watch hoarders show to get motivated to declutter
Same
Lol, me too! I'd purposefully watch an episode, become utterly horrified, and then get straight to work decluttering!!
That will do it for sure
Wonderful video, thank you for mentioning that it is ok to donate/gift what you can within your limits. I am the “Marie Kondo”(sometimes militant minimalist, rejecting growing up in a hoarder household) of our friend group and have spent multiple days with friends cleaning out their apartment after the arrival of their new baby, or helping a mild hoarder move, and it is so important to realize your own limitations on effort, or as I like to call it “where good intentions go to die”. If you haven’t donated those old markers to an in-need school, or the blankets to an animal shelter, that is ok, it doesn’t mean you personally need to hold on to them. It is ok to admit I will never climb Everest, and it is ok to admit I’m not spending the mental effort to think out who would most need my stuff and get it to them.
It is beautiful that you talked about letting things go that were part of the person you were that are no longer contributing to the person you have become
What a lovely comment! Thank you.
I enjoyed the term "militant minimalist" and your analogy to climbing Everest; some have the time and energy and desire to go the extra mile but it's okay if you don't.
I used to tackle things all at once! There’s nothing more daunting, emotional and exhausting as doing that. In the last few years, I’ve started to purge areas little by little. I’ve started to clean my house that way too. Gone are the days of torturing myself with a 16 hour day of cleaning and purging. Much healthier approach. Thanks Jen!
I used to be the same - older and wiser now!
I have a friend who does that. With cleaning house I mean. Unfortunately, I think she prides herself on how exhausted she is afterwards. I'm going to suggest that she do it bit by bit. I'm going to say, "Geez, I could never do that - I prefer to do it a bit at a time," and see how that goes. For example, it's only September, but I've started carpet shampooing. In time for Christmas. lol. This means moving furniture around. But I don't do more than one room at a time. Heck, I might only do a half room at a time because I'm not going to move all the furniture into another room just so I can do it all at once. In this way, only one room is topsy turvy and there is less disruption to the rest of the household.
When I was a kid, everything was left for a few weeks before Christmas and I couldn't enjoy the season as much with helping with curtains and washing windows and stuff.
I’m doing this now. I’m better starting in the morning. I’m making lots of trips to Goodwill.
I’m giving stuff to my daughter.
If I only have a few hours. I open a drawer, dump all the stuff out and get to work. It’s so freeing. My husband wants to downsize soon and I’m starting now. I have a few friends that already downsized and they both says start early.
This video really resonated with me. I am a fairly new empty nester, and I'm struggling with giving away my kids' things (more so than my own). I did a huge toy clean out last December while my younger son was home from college. I needed him to help me make the decisions (both for emotional support and because there was stuff he wasn't ready to part with--which was totally okay). We donated 2 car loads to a friend who is a social worker in a school with many underprivileged children and recent immigrants. I have spoken to people who have kept toys, books, etc. for their grandkids, and I hesitate to give away too much--but realize I don't need to keep as much as I have. Next step--taking a few bins of baby clothes that I still have and having a memory quilt made. The rest needs to go. What I'm not ready for: parting with their artwork, special school projects, certificates, etc. So I guess it's good to hear "You have time." In the back of my head, I worry about someday inheriting whole rooms full from my aging parents. Both have large houses and some nice/special items.
Starting early gives us that luxury! Love that.❤️
Just a suggestion Take a picture of the art work etc and either throw away or see if the person that made it wants it back…that’s what me and my mom did when she was sorting through stuff
I did a while back let go of an item (a garden pump sprayer) because it was just in the way and I wasn't using it or didn't see a need for it any time soon. Well, it unfortunately was one of those items I ended up needing, so I sort of regretted getting rid of it UNTIL I asked around and was able to BORROW someone's sprayer. Made me realize that hanging onto things for that 'just in case'....is probably not all that necessary...especially if you can just borrow from someone anyway!
I’ve started putting the planet first. If you set yourself a rule not to buy anything more which started off as oil, that’s an awful lot of stuff you’re not buying. My mantra is buy less, but buy better. Eg, I like to knit and organic wool is really expensive, but it will last a lifetime and it really doesn’t need washing any more often than a Wool coat. Just hang it outside on really cold or sunny days. It’s what people did years ago.
I love this philosophy!!!
I concur… the environmental mindset works like magic!
Yrs ago (when we bought books & read them lol) when I would tackle a few boxes or move a bookcase, I would come across a book I have long owned called “How to Declutter.” Inevitably at the bottom of the pile. (Hi again book! Omg)
This method, and the focus behind it, seems so much more intelligent than what I’ve tried before. Not to mention, time of life! Just turned 60 & recently retired, if now is not the time, when is? I have so much I can’t see needing or using again - honestly much of it given to me or inherited! Oh my, so much stuff just has to go. Thx for the motivation Jen! 🤗
Oh the irony LOL
Recalling one of my fave writers, Miss Manners. She said, “That’s what memories are for.” I think it was to do with madly taking photos of everything, though that was back in the film camera days. So that’s dated, but maybe it applies to now, and “stuff” even more.
Thought. I have my dad’s baby clothes, mostly decaying (so so cute, but now almost 85 yrs old) in a box. Perhaps if I take photos of them, I can release them…
Thank you. I find your videos on travel, luggage and decluttering very comforting. Watching them de-stresses me. Your explanation of Swedish Death Cleaning took away all the fear I had of tackling it. Now, I know that I can just declutter in little free-time blocks instead of devoting days, weeks or months to it.
I totally agree! I don’t have time to run around all over town. Just pick a place and get it gone!! Good job.
Yes! Glad you agree!
I’m from Sweden and I have done this multiple times. I agree on everything but one thing you say!.. keep old photos and visit old familymembers and ask who the people on the photos are and write it on the back of the photo. Save old important familyhistory papers. You never know when your niece, childre or grandchildren will become interested in genealogy or familyhistory.
I started getting up really early and devoting a few hours to cleaning out. Don Aslet was an old favorite… and the guys on the Goodwill dock do know me by name!
This could not have been a more timely video! I've been using this approach to clear out our home of 20 years over the last several months - in fact, this morning before 9:00 a.m. I had gathered enough stuff for donations to fill the back of my Subaru outback! I appreciate the points you made, as they really speak to me at this time in my life. My son is grown, our dog passed away, and it just seems time to let go of things that tie me to the past - as you said, those memories live in my mind and I don't need to drag the physical reminders with me for the rest of my life! Love the content, as always. Take care ❤
thank you so much, Elizabeth and YES I just wasn't ready before but now I absolutely am. Can't tell you exactly what did it but I'm glad for the motivation! Good luck as you continue your journey!
I also read Clutters Last Stand by Don Aslett. A good friend who had 5 kids and multiple animals found it under a bed a few years after I lent it to her. We laughed ourselves silly. Appreciate your input. It helps. Several years ago, I was the clean up person for 2 packed houses and 2 storage areas. Will NEVER do that to my kids.
Hey Jen, from me in Australia! I am listening to you while declutterring my cupboards in my bedroom and have gained so much more space in the last hour, too! I needed the reminder to do this when I have an hour, and it’s amazing how much you just no longer care about the things that are useless to who I am now, and things I totally forgot I had that can go as well. More things to sell on eBay! The reason I am motivated is because I I am over 60, live in a 100 y/o cottage which has no built in cupboards, so seeing everything on shelving, in my face all the time, drives me crazy, and have been here 15 years!
Loved this video! I agree that Konmari is too much to attempt for a whole house, but I have found that decluttering some things in categories has worked better for me than just clearing areas. I sort of combined the Konmari method with the onion method and also broke it down into chunks. Like with my clothing. I did small category by small category within the big clothing category and it helped to not have to make so many decisions at once. I have gone through my clothes several times now and really narrowed down what I have. Books was one where Konmari helped me a lot. I had two bookcases full of books in my living room, and a bookcase full in my bedroom. Bringing everything out to the front room helped me see the excess and now I only have one narrow bookcase of books and that's it. We had a similar situation to you, where my parents died young and we had all of our stuff plus theirs, plus my grandparents stuff and it was an unholy chaotic mess. It took me three years to declutter it all. But now I live in a tidy, decluttered place and am grateful I held on and completed what I started. Thank you for your channel. I just found you today and am excited to watch more of your content. =)
Amazing! So glad you found my channel!
This ia a beautiful video. Love your message. I did kon-mari my flat in 2019. That method helped me to see the beauty of reverse decluttering. Collecting all my clothes and considered them gone as they laid there in a huge pile. Then rescuing the clothes that made me feel good, comfortable, beautiful. Leaving me a wardrobe that I never had before. What a sense of luxury!
Now I still declutter but peeling the onion style. And with a hightened awareness of what I bring into my home. The Swedish death cleaning gives an added dimension to the decluttering.
I'm so happy to see this, and to hear about the anti-consumerist effects of the process.
I truly under-estimated that but it's been very helpful in curbing my buying habits!
This is great - “release the me that needed that”. I love this idea!
Thank you for this. I so agree with you about the Konmari method. I could not even get started with that. For one thing, I never had a big enough block of time to go through even one of her categories of things. For another thing, I couldn't catch her concept of "Sparks Joy". Even things I highly value do not give me any sense of joy that makes sense of her phrase. The way you put it, that decluttering by this method is "gentle", and can be done in small doses, makes so much more sense for me. I also love that you are reassuring about letting things go. I'm relatively new to this journey, and still a little hesitant about letting things go. So far, I haven't missed anything, but there is always that nagging doubt. Thank you again. Your videos are inspiring!
I found the Swedish death cleaning idea was a switch up in thinking too. The question of who is better to decide on something, me or my family, really focused my mind.
Yes exactly! Game changing mind shift
VERY good point!
My mum is stuck in that rut of thinking that 1 - 100 different items will go to 1 -100 different charities! And thus, nothing is going anywhere. As you’ve said in another video, I have to accept what I can’t change. But, now I’m slowly clearing my own clutter
This video is great. You pointing out the major difference between Swedish Death Cleaning and Konmari Method is helpful, brings the stress of urgency down a lot!
Thanks for the video it’s so hard after someone dies to get rid of all their stuff you just don’t got the time for all that. I think once I end up retired I will for sure start.
I agree on the taking the stuff to one place...keep it moving.
Don Aslett. I had his books too. I always want to clear out stuff. My peace of mind requires it....but my loved husband wants to keep everything.
I totally agree! This is a much gentler method, and you have a much more personal goal which is to not leave the crap for someone else to get rid of!
Thank you for sharing.
Yes, having the focus be on how it will affect my kids has really. helped!
100%!!! We’ve done whole house purges (as we like to call them) and they can be very daunting. I agree that making one place your choice of donations makes it a lot more manageable than having to run all over everywhere and take an entire day to do it.
I mean i love the intention there but the o my plan that will never work is the one I won’t do 😜
I agree with most of your observations. Its a long process. Your feelings change as you go along. Its good to get rid of that old stuff. I threw out my 8th grade yearbook, from 50 years ago! I am now cutthroat about the purging. Your style changes, your hobbies change, your priorities change, so go with the flow. However, Goodwill is not the best outlet if you want your items to get USED, especially clothing. Most of the clothing donated gets sent to make rags. However, if your mindset is, "that is trash to me, anyway," then its an OK option. I opt for the local community resale shop because I see my donated items displayed on my next visit. I know they are getting used, and sold, instead of trashed. I have never seen anything I donated in the Goodwill, for sale, ever, in 30 years. They get so much donated that they feel free to trash at will. That is why you find entire closed bags of donations at the Goodwill bins outlets.
Thank you. I needed this video. I have so many things I’ve wanted to purge, but the thing that keeps me from starting is knowing I can’t get it all done within a specific time frame. The idea of grabbing time when I can makes it feel more manageable.
Also letting go of past versions of myself will make it easier to get rid of collectibles and knick knacks.
I’m so glad you found it helpful!
What a wise, thoughtful and humane approach! No gimmicks, trendiness, or X-ism to espouse. And, agreed, konmarie method is as cruel and hurtful as break-in trashing your house and taking your possessions away from you. Thank you
The konmarie method isn't supposed to be like that. It's mainly for people who accumulate stuff that they don't particularly care about. Maybe they have a shopping addiction, or take in every free thing they get given to them, or they inherited a bunch of stuff that they'll never use and don't want. Marie states that she expects the process to take 6 months. It isn't instant. You aren't supposed to be left feeling like the victim of a burglary.
I found the KonMarie method helped me to move out so much stuff that wasn’t needed.
It helps some people 😊
Rewatching while I'm putting away laundry, and you mentioned that you love that people watch your videos while decluttering. Just wanted to let you know that I do that all the time! You have a great vibe to "hang out with" while working.
Love that! Thank you for watching!
Wow! When you talked about releasing your Disney memorabilia that really struck a chord with me. I have boxes of that stuff in my basement and I am not the person I was when I needed it and I need to pass it on.
You are absolutely correct, it is wonderful to feel liberated from your stuff. In my years long journey I have decluttered 95% of my belongings and have never regretted a single item. You are doing a great job. I knew we lived in the same area but we must donate at the same Goodwill because I recognized the drive thru area. I too make many drop offs.
Oh I love that! Aren’t they lovely there?!
@@JoyfulLivingwithJenLefforgeYes they are lovely. I try to spread the wealth around and donate at different ones. But this one is my go to lately.
Thank you so much for this. I found I was much more successful with the Swedish Death Cleaning book than any other guide out there. It's a slow process but I can see I really have changed from the shopper I used to be. I wish I could get the money back I wasted on Stuff!
You’re spot on, all you need to do is find the time, or make the time to do this, and gosh look what you did in one hour! Bravo my dear friend!! (And I love that goodwill knows you by name!)❤❤
They are my people now 😂🤗❤️
Anytime I've watched "Hoarders", it makes me want to just get rid of everything!
If someone is having a hard time letting go of a sentimental item, take a photo! You will have the image to look at if you need to and it takes up way less space. Start an album of pictures if you need to, you could even make a scrapbook and write the story next to it. This can allow one to empty an entire closet and have a nice coffee table book instead... If other family members want it when you perish, the memory can be handed down without them worrying where to put it!
“I am not a crazy person … -ish.” 😂
I mean . . . truth in advertising. LOL
That was good !😂
@@JoyfulLivingwithJenLefforge lol and that’s why we love your videos. Always telling it like it is. 😄
@@JoyfulLivingwithJenLefforge😂
That comment is so Brit-ish some people wouldn't get it but it gave me a real chuckle. It's so how I see myself.😄
As Dana K White says, "My home is not a project." In other words, don't expect to spend a big block of time at once, then be done forever.
Since you'll always be decluttering, for the rest of your life, just do what you can when you can - even is it's only a few seconds or minutes at a time. It will still make a difference.
Exactly this!!
Thank you for detailing how to breakdown the Death Cleaning into small tasks. The importance of doing what you can & to not rush the process is so efficient to reach the end goal. Happy day!
Swedish death cleaning is the best thing I ever came across! I tried the Konmarie method and all it did was overwhelm me. SDC has made it so easy to let things go! I don't know what it is, but it takes the guilt out of it. I'm looking at my stuff in a totally different way and I've let so much go. Just today, my husband and I took a garbage bag of stuff from our kitchen, a box full of stuff, and a huge bag of clothes to Goodwill. I was smiling as I drove away, knowing it will all hopefully be able to find better places with someone who needs it and I no longer have to worry about it. :)
Shifting from it being a one time or several weeks project to being a lifestyle approach has radically helped me! I'm so glad you resonated with it, too!
I am currently in week 3 of SDC and my house is a wreck, BUT I know it will be worth it in the end! I was getting a little overwhelmed and took a break to watch your videos. Honestly, seeing you go through the same emotions and struggles makes me feel so much better. It took me months to go through my great aunt’s things when she passed away and I don’t want my kids to have to go through that same experience. I am so grateful to this at 50 as well so that I can live in a more peaceful place for the rest of my life. Thank you for sharing!
That's the goal for me as well - more peace!!!
I love that you refer to past versions of ourselves. You are so right! We are different people now and in different phases.
The biggest obstacle for me is thinking about how much money I spent on collectibles, household items, decor, clothes and shoes. I have to tell myself it's okay to get rid of it and perhaps someone else can use these items.
I heard the best thing on that recently! She said holding on to the item doesn’t bring the money back. I found that so helpful.
Absolutely agree with you about picking one place that will take all my donations. ❤
I also prefer the relatively slow and gentle method of Swedish Death Cleaning. 😊
7:46 🥺 i struggle with this so hard but you're right- we have to make space for the current version of us
I watched a neighbors family rent three dumpsters as they filled each with their relatives memories. This has been a process over the last 6 years for me and I’m reminded it is time to take the last step with albums and baby books.
I have been waffling on starting the process of death cleaning (have wanted to for quite some time), but what you’ve said really helped me. I do hold on to too much sentimental stuff and it’s never occurred to me that I’ll still have those lovely memories without the items cluttering space up.
I took a lot of pictures of things so I have that and a picture in my phone takes up only a tiny bit of space;). Good luck!
Thank you for making such a major project feel doable, Jen. I am reminded of one of my all-time fav videos of yours, "One Box Wednesday" - which I happily practice. It is the perfect intro to the bigger Swedish Death Cleaning idea, so I thank you for making the next step feel possible!
I read Don Aslett as a kid. 😂
That’s when I started as well which says a lot about us both as those weren’t kids books but I found them fascinating!
I love seeing your decluttering videos it helps motivate me. We plan to move & downsize. In the last year I have started the purge there has been many trips to goodwill selling items on FB marketplace & hired 1 dumpster. We have more to go but I am so glad I started, I will never have this much stuff ever again. I do have times I don't do much but then I have times of really getting back on track so progress in a year has been made. It does chance your thinking in bringing in items to the home.
Just found you today. I moved to a new house. Luckily I had some time to sort things before I moved it. I think the hardest part of decluttering is the emotional attachment to some of the things or clothes you like but don’t fit. Once you get past that, it gets easier to do this. Before we moved my daughter wanted to take everything out of my closet and put it on the bed and put back into the closet. I said, “That is not going to happen.”
In trying to help my mother figure out some easier ways to get rid of things, I asked how she would feel about boxing up items that didn't have sentimental value and just setting them out on the curb in the small town where she lived (there were a good number of needy people living there).
Her reply: "But what if someone I don't like gets them?"🤯 She was a grudge hoarder, too.
She wasn't swayed by my comment that she could take pleasure in knowing her cr@p was cluttering up her "enemy's" house and stressing them out.
I gave up trying to be helpful after that.
My boss told me a story about how she gave a nice bag to someone who was needy. She saw the person later using it as a market bag. She was so upset. lol. She said it was why she didn't like to give away her things. I told her - but maybe she has more of a need for a grocery bag. You can be happy you are fulfilling a need. Anyway, you gave it away. You shouldn't have strings attached.
I'm not sure I convinced her though. 🤔😅
Bible: Luke 6:35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because *he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.*
Tell her that Jesus says she needs to be kind to the wicked.😅
@@markusgorelli5278
Yeah, she was very good at ignoring the parts of the Bible she didn't like.
@@markusgorelli5278
Or rationalizing them away. A very prolific manipulator of words and people.
If you can't find an animal shelter that takes towels and blankets, you can actually compost textiles that are made from natural fibers or use them for "lasagna" gardening as they will eventually decompose.
Somebody I can finally relate to. We can get very and extremely into hoarding Hoarder Videos. On one level they can motivate you and on another level they can have you second guessing yourself. There are days I feel I’m achieving and on other days I feel I’m putting extreme pressure on myself. So much more to this. I’m just taking the Christmas break to hibernate and organise. Much of what you say I have already considered and change methods constantly.
More to come in this topic very soon!!
Personally I find the Hoarder videos depressing. 😢
Goodwill is my go to drop off donation place. I agree with you I just don’t have time to go all over the place
Thank you for your sensible approach to decluttering
This is helpful to me
I got rid of my Snoopy stuff to a collector and it was hard but a huge relief ❤
I wish I had found your video before I was forced to do “ the Swedish Death Cleaning “. We were relocating to Florida. The movers were booked. Unfortunately the movers had the wrong date. We were forced to get our big house full of collections and things of value on a sentimental level moved out in exactly one week. It was traumatic. Way, way too fast. I’m still grieving all of my collections and photograph albums. Yes, though, as you said I have the memories of these things in my mind. Anyway, I just wanted to tell you I think your method would have been perfect for me. I know your video is going to help a lot of people to avoid what happened to me
I'm so sorry that happened to you. Just reading the comment it feels traumatic almost like a fire or a flood (both of which I know first hand can be devastating). Thank you for your kind words!
I agree with you. One place drop off.
I can relate to every thing you say! Thank you, thank you. I have started but it is a LIFETIME project.
It absolutely is! Thanks for your comment!
I’m watching your declutterring video while I declutter! 🙋♀️
I love reading that!!!!
A very uplifting video, thank you.
You are so welcome
Jen, thank you for sharing this journey with us. We are contemporaries and I face a similar challenge of having decades of things to go through. I’ve been through several decluttering attempts over the years (starting when I was a teenager) and in some ways, this feels like a lifelong journey.
Has traveling boosted your motivation to take on this work? I went on a lengthy overseas trip this summer, and I was so proud of being on team carry-on and having all my things so carefully organized in packing cubes, etc. I was in and out of so many hotels and it was a breeze. Then I came home to a hopelessly overflowing dresser and closet and it has snapped me into action. While I certainly need more clothing year-round than what I took on that trip (for one thing, we have four seasons here), I wager that 70-80% of the clothing I have now with will be hitting the discard pile. Do you find that being so focused on packing minimally for trips has also caused you to think more critically what you actually need in your home for joyful living?
Also, thank you for keeping your death cleaning videos real. I appreciated your talking about feeling overwhelmed and exhausted, like people were coming in at night and stashing more things in your house, that it could be emotional, that you had no idea what to do with the loose spools of thread and lone shoelaces, etc. I love that you talked about carving out bits of time to work on this on a regular basis-it’s definitely a marathon, not a sprint.
I also follow the Minimalist Mom and she too has great ideas. If you get bogged down on an item have a “decide later” bin and keep moving along. So far two trips to my Good Will and 10 tall kitchen trash bags. “Kids” have a memory bin to go through when home next.
I have just found your video. Ive just batch cooked and comtemplating the bedroom that is like Narnia. You have totally inspired me. SDC allows kindness to yourself. I have already started this week and have found that immediately donating stuff is the best way of letting go. My local Hospice charity shop is a few minutes drive and I think they appreciate getting smaller frequent bags. They even take articles that are only suitable for "rags" so I take bags of clean unsellable stuff tagged as rags that they weigh in for cash. Better than land fill. Do count me as a new subsciber.x From wet and windy Uk
Lol, I used to read Don Aslett's books way back when! Lol😊
I make and mend a lot of things so I often keep stuff that I think mIght come in handy. I keep things for years and then it's uncanny how often, when I do decide to throw something away, that I subsequently think of a use for it
I have boxes of photos and documents from my cousin and my uncle. They had no children. I went through all and threw away loads not needed nor wanted by anyone. Then I sorted photos by person(s). Next will ship to relatives or toss
Don't forget local historical and Genealogical societies for documents and old pictures. Remember, they also need donations to help them manage these items.
Thank you for sharing and congrats on making such great headway! We've been in our house 33 years. Very easy to "collect" stuff. Then there is my late parent's house and Grandpa's house down the road, and outbuildings with old farming stuff in rural Iowa. I live in CO, so I need to check with siblings as to what are we going to do. 😬 Too easy to just ignore.
And the task won’t get easier over time - it’s a lot!
Doing the konmare method is over whelming it took me 8 years to declutter. It’s not a weekend project it’s a process. Now I know if I have to leave my home for some reason I would be able pack up in 3 days.
Thank you so much for sharing your de cluttering journey im encouraged and motivated to continue mine , going the one box , one drawer at a time method as I was delaying my journey awaiting a big chunk of time to get started..your method sounds good ! 😊
I’m so glad! It’s a round and approachable way to do it and the o my way that doesn’t overwhelm me so I’m glad to hear it’s helped.
As a professional organizer, it makes me so happy when decluttering finally clicks with my clients! Congratulations on continuing on this journey. Decluttering and becoming organized takes time. Just keep at it.
I have two shops that I made donations to. I will not donate to Goodwill. I've had some really bad experiences with Goodwill.
I am decluttering as I’m listening to all your videos!
OMG, you're the girl who goes on cruises with Adam! I'm not going crazy! Loved the Pompeii trip!
You're not going crazy! And thank you!
Not only do I watch your cleaning videos when I'm also cleaning, but I watch them while I'm working from home - you're like a body double! I always get more done when I have my bestie Jen playing in the background 😜
Oh my I love this so much - thank you!!
Most weeks I have a full bag of stuff I find going into each room… today I found an old piggy bank I got from a coworker 15 years ago… no special memory and it was full of pennies which we don’t use in Canada anymore so gone, put the Pennie’s in my old Pennie’s jar, a top I’ve worn once or twice but it’s not comfy gone, a plastic cereal or grains holder but I’m keto now so gone, il e limited quantities by getting a few bins for canned goods or oils, vinegars etc…. Also makes cleaning shelves in pantry easier. I saw that I have 7 pairs of winter tights which is ridiculous as I rarely wear them…gone. I do fold my clothes like Marie Kondo though as it keeps my inventory limited. A trick to get rid of clothes is every season I put seasonal clothes up front in my closet but I put the hook on backwards so then when I wear them and wash them they go back on forward so at the end of the season you can clearly see what you haven’t worn and I send them to the home will tell closet in another room. If they are still there after the following year they are gone. Another rule is one in, one out so if I buy a blouse I get rid of one etc.
You just keep uncovering new areas needing to be decluttered
Onion. Never thought of it like that but it’s perfect
Thanks, Chris!
Wow! Decluttering with a such an impact on lifestyle! Sounds so good. I’d definitely need to start small…
Seriously a drawer. A shelf. It’s so satisfying and smaller steps are definitely the way to go!
Jen, thank you. You get to the point, you offer excellent insight and it is a pleasure to watch you. I'm looking forward to getting started.
Taking your time helps prevent hasty decisions and regret.
Yes take it all to Goodwill you will not regret it!!!❤
I’m decluttering! Thank you for the inspiration!
I'm so glad to do so! Thank you for your kind words!
I got rid of cupboards as it means I cannot stuff in them . We do still have drawers in our bedroom and kitchen but they are decluttered on a regular basis .