✨ Your messy to minimal series was inspiring, but this video was hands down the best talk on minimalism I have ever heard. Thank you for the reminder that minimalism looks different for everyone and that it takes practice and work. I now see it as letting go of material possessions and worldly desires to make room for the most important things, God and family. Thank you Natalie! 🌸
The book "30 Days to Stop Being a Shopaholic" by Harper Daniels is gaining some popularity. It takes a mindfulness approach. Shopping and consuming are so psychological. If you can beat the psychological game, you save so much $$$. A healthy perspective and mind leads to better shopping.
Yes i love this video. I will never be what most would consider a minimalist. However. Every item having a home and being easily accessible without excess is minimalist enough for me. Trying to be conscious of what i bring in and making sure it really fits into my life.
My husband was laughing at me for watching these videos, so I made him sit down and watch with me. 10 minutes later he got up and decluttered his clothes 😂 You’re a miracle worker! 😆
Yep, shows or videos on youtube can get u to check around and declutter or help u not to buy anymore if can resist getting more till made space for any new cause gotta be a need ahead of any wants as u try to have less anytime.
Men are funny. I showed him something similar and he was like ok crazy Next day, bag of clothes, he asked for me to donate. At the end of the day, men listen, just takes them awhile to
I am not a hoarder. I have a “normal” amount of stuff. But sometimes I feel so overwhelmed by all the things in my house. I started declutering during the lockdown. I am still on it. And I feel sooooo free already....
I was recently diagnosed with ADHD and my therapist suggested minimalism as a way to help manage my symptoms. Decluttering in and of itself is incredibly overwhelming for me, mainly because my brain has a hard time staying organized/focused. You've definitely helped take the pressure off and I'm feeling motivated to tackle this in my own way, so thank you
If you need more help or motivation, I’d recommend read Marie Kendo’s books the art of tidying up, and spark joy. It helps you find your reason why you want your home clean and what feelings you want to gain, how you want your home to feel and look. Plus a specific method and order to go through when decluttering. And I would definitely recommend looking into bullet journaling for helping mentally. For me this was a huge help too. Especially habit trackers. It helped me to stay on task on days when I was overwhelmed. 💗
As an ADHDer myself, my favourite books for helping are order from chaos by jaclyn paul, and organising solutions for people with ADHD by susan c pinsky, and help for women with ADHD by Joan wilder
@@mousegrey6747 Thank you so much for the suggestions!! I'm currently reading Driven to Distraction. It's helpful, but also kinda hard to get through LOL I'll add these to my Goodreads since they seem more relevant
I have ADHD too and my minimalism journey has helped me so much! I never realized before how everything in my environment was distracting me. You've got this :)
Usually this kind of wisdom comes with age. It’s only as I’ve gotten older....40s+....that I’ve become more secure in who I am and not caring what other’s opinions are of me. The fact that you’re a young woman and have already learned this is a true blessing.
Oh, I totally agree!! I am 65. My mom has been gone nearly 5 years. I am just now beginning to be able to use the things I love that were hers and toss the rest. I am also getting rid of things that I have felt guilt over tossing. It IS ok. Life goes on... only with lighter shoulders, heart and mind.
I've been labelled the messy girl my entire life by the family, because I am. Transitioning my life to declutter more & have a minimalist mindset is such a difficult and daunting process. I was brought up with the mindset (& still living through it as I live with my parents) to "not waste", not throw away stuff because you can use it sometime in the future. My dad (who got it from his dad) picks up stuff from our own garbage, stuff I threw that he thinks have some worth or things left on the street that he thinks have some kind of value. Our house is filled with so much stuff. I need to break this cycle. Thank you for letting us feel safe about this very intimidating process.
I am facing the same challenge too... Here, in our Indian family, my family members fear much about throwing stuffs that whenever I start to declutter my room they label me as a careless girl who always wastes things😔 I am still trying to inculcate the art of letting go of things into my life and theirs too...
You're adorable. And at 72yo I'm finally learning to minimalize for JOY in Life! So take heart Beloved...you're ALL WAY AHEAD OF THIS GREAT GRANDMA! Thank you Darlin'...you're beautiful in every way! ✨
I’m a single, childless Jew living in a basement studio apartment so there’s not a lot of overlap in our lifestyles and when I initially started watching your content I didn’t think it would be super helpful or relevant for me. But oh my goddess was I wrong! I’ve watched your entire Messy to Minimal series all the way through at least 4 times now. Sometimes I sit on the couch and actively watch and sometimes it’s been the background noise to my own year-long decluttering adventure. Reducing my belongings to only the things that are important to me and that I really need or want has been life changing. I feel so much more at peace and it feels easy to go about my daily life in my space. I couldn’t have done it without you! Happy New Year and New You, Natalie! 💙
I laughed out loud when you said people think your not minimalist because you have to many kids! Oh boy that made me laugh! People are just something! Loved the video 🥰
I’m entering minimalism, not by necessarily by choice but by a natural attraction to it. It started with my physical being, no more hair dye, less make up, short natural nails, simpler clothing. I didn’t even notice it at first! I thought I just wanted to be more ‘natural’ and whilst that is very true it’s also the start of my minimalism path! I’m downsizing so I’m getting rid of so much physically and emotionally. Stuff is expensive and clutter is chaos and I’m done with it!! 😁
Your comment was 100% more informative on "minimalism" than this vlog was. (Maybe YOU should do a vlog?!?) This poor girl needs to start her "process" by cutting UA-cam out of her life and go help at a soup kitchen or help a poor person get organized for free.
Right! I actually wasn't even going to watch because I get tired of feeling like I can't be a minimalist because I have 3 kids or 2 dogs or 3 cars (1 is a work truck), but as Natalie said minimalism is different for everyone. I thoroughly enjoyed this! I'm gonna start Jan 2021 with the beginning of her series and actually go through it now that I know it's not as judgmental as I feared >-
@@Jolly.Joy_Rose I think we all get confused and it took me a while to grasp that minimalism isn't about owning the minimal amount of things, it's more about only owning the things you actually use and love. I started a use it or loose it game and was able to stop storing some things I actually love (like the garden decorations I was storing until my garden was 'done' enough to use, I decided to use them anyway on the 3 plants I do have and it actually jazzed up the area in a way I enjoy right now instead of waiting until I have the time, money, etc to make it 'perfect' which could be a while). Minimalism is about increased enjoyment and decreased obligation to stuff. With kids and dogs and working materials, you may have more stuff that you use and need and love, it's just about making sure you are actually using it all extemely regularly and moving on from the rare occasion items. Konmari teaches that every item costs you continually, be it time or space or dust collection. So it better serve you to cost you.
I’ve been a follower since early 2020 and I have to say (as a fellow Christian) I’ve noticed that you’ve gotten braver with sharing your faith and I’m here for it!! XOXO
I went minimalist a couple years ago and still only spend maybe half an hour on tidying a 1.5 story house. Just having the physical space opened up helps reduce my stress soooo much more than I thought it would.
I have lived minimal for 4 years, I was never the type of person that had too much, yet one day I decided to donate and declutter everything I didn’t love, need, or use... I ended up decluttering 70% of what I owned.. I now have capsule wardrobe, I now have empty spaces, that make my home look so calming... my pantry actually has empty shelves etc etc... it didn’t stop there, my whole mindset changed, in ever aspect of my life.. This video, is one of the BEST videos, I have ever watched on this subject. I know you will have helped many people realize the wonderful effect that living this lifestyle can do for one.. If your reading this, and want to live this lifestyle, please listen to this video all the way thru.... best advise you will ever get..❤️ Oh I forgot to mention, there is not one thing that left my home, that I say, I wish I still had... once I donated, It was completely out of my memory bank
I think the biggest surprise most minimalists discover is the experience of freedom you enjoy. It's as if literal weights are lifted off your shoulders. But you're right: it's not a one-time event. Even minimalism takes maintenance. But it is so rewarding!
I grew up in a family that was extremely messy--probably leaning toward hoarding. This included both materials and pets. When I finally had my own room, it was my own, peaceful little sanctuary to keep clean, so I developed a strong appreciation for clean and minimal surroundings. Minimalism has helped me as an adult to, like you said, appreciate the things that truly matter and recognize the things that make me truly happy, like sitting down with my kids and their older toys and actually engaging with them instead of buying new toys, or like reading a section of my favorite book (Walt Whitman's Song of Myself) instead of scrolling through the Target app. I love it that you addressed the fact that minimalism is so much more than just keeping your house clean and having fewer things. I honestly think that it is more mentally transformative than anything else. Thank you for sharing these videos that I have used to keep me company while decluttering, folding laundry, or even cooking dinner!
@@MonaGP So true...It actually ended up causing a huge family split when my husband and I had to move back in with my family for a short time. Caused us to actually move across the country! Luckily, being so far apart has fixed those relationships for the most part. I just wish that they'd recognize how greatly the entirety of their mental health is affected by their surroundings.
It never stops. I began over 20 years ago, and through two moves (downsizing as my family grew and moved on...) I honed my decluttering skills. Life happens, my kids moved out, a house guest moved in/out, we lost family members and inherited beautiful heirlooms that needed integrating, and that required decluttering their belongings, redistributing, decluttering some of my things to accomodate the lovely old things I wanted to enjoy in my home as I remember loved ones, it's an ongoing process. As a result, clearing several other homes respectfully, decluttering, sorting, holding onto, keeping, reintegrating have become things I actually quite enjoy doing and today, as a grandma of 5 with four generations living, we have a beautiful, curated home that reflects our history and I love it!
🌸 As a Christian, I have the head knowledge that having less stuff will provide more room (physically and beyond) for Christ. More confidence in inviting people over at the drop of a hat, more peace to be able to just read the Bible because there’s no clutter around bothering me. Thank you for making these videos!
Natalie, as I’m writing this, I’m in tears because I can see so much truth in what your talking about, me in what you’ve done in the past year. I wanted so badly to go through the messy to minimal journey with you this year, but I’m truth, I don’t think I was quite ready, and on top of that my mental health has just been in a really bad place. I feel the weight of all the stuff in my home, and can see how it’s all keeping me from being the best mom, and wife that I can be. My mama passed when I was a little girl, and I think that because of that I’ve developed a very unhealthy attachment to things because I attach so much sentimental value to things that truly don’t deserve that value. It is so so hard for me to just get rid of things I really don’t need. I have watched your videos throughout this year, and they have been an encouragement that it is possible to reduce the stuff, and clutter. I just want you to know how much I appreciate you sharing this journey in such a real, and honest way, and I think I’m now ready to start my journey, And hopefully by this time next year I’ll be able to say my life, and home feel so much lighter, and more free.✨💖
You can do it ! This past year I undertook the journey and it’s made me so much happier. Once you start, it gains momentum and becomes enjoyable. God bless you.
You can do it!.. Go Girl🤗.. Just start in baby steps... I have burn-out, depression, insomnia and have been/ am still going through a nasty divorce... And I started the decluttering in Jan 17 when my ex-husband moved out and I had to start separating our 18yrs of life together. To date, I have boxed over 70 boxes of my ex husbands stuff for him to take! (most is still here until my lawyer gives him a deadline) ... I am on round 4 of decluttering my and my kids stuff and have changed eg my kids bedrooms a few times in this time due to my older son becoming a teenager, my younger son transitioning from kindergarten to infants and now juniors.. So life gets in the way... But I keep going between work, looking after my kids, their and my health issues, life etc... It is really worth it!... As Natalie says "you don't regret getting rid of stuff" .. In fact when you are on later rounds of decluttering you think "why didn't I get rid of this the first time? "... Just try and start... It will also really help your mental health issues... It certainly has helped me with mine. Sending love and positive vibes for a good 21!🤗
@@rebeccarendle3706 Good for you ! It does help mental health. Every time we declutter, even one small task, we get positive hormones. That sense of accomplishment and control is a blessing. How wonderful that you are making your home so nice for your sons. God bless you.
@@daisybuchanan5378 thank you for your kind words😊... I have always been minamalist my whole life. I never shop unless I have to (I hate shopping of any kind). Plus global travel, moving 12x in my adult life, and living in different countries restricts the accumulated of stuff... But over the past 15 yrs with my career, two sick kids, household and a useless husband, I never got around to decluttering things over the years... the house was always clean and tidy, but every cupboard was "fit to bust"... Now I have empty furniture, and enjoy empty cupboards and am now donating a lot of it because I don't need it and am now enjoying the open spaces... It's wonderful 😊. My son's (15 and 8) have more, but they are only allowed what fits in their bedroom shelves and cupboards... And we declutter their rooms regularly.
🌺 2 years of minimalism here and I still struggle with clothing. Also always being criticized by people around me telling me that I buy stuff and get rid of the them like I had a mental health issue. People don’t understand that decluttering requires maintenance.
The minimalism community inspires me so much with stories like this! It really shows everyone's journey is different but in the end the result is so much more freedom!
🌸 I'd be interested in a video about how minimalism has positively affected your finances. Maybe something along the lines of streamlining banking accounts... Or, how a more minimal lifestyle has lowered some monthly bills, such as less clothing = less laundry = lower water bill...
🌸 Giiiirl.. this message had spiritual weight to it for both practical reasons pertaining to our homes and what actually matters concerning our soul. Girl i have a knot in my throat and so grateful for this perspective.. wow. What a blessing. Thank you!
You’re a great speaker, and you really touch on the most important parts about minimalism. The fact that you said you got rid of 85% of your stuff and you don’t miss ANY of it!? That’s so motivating. Just gotta get my wife on board. Thank you!
As someone who has decluttered and downsized for close to 10 years now, yes it is definitely an ongoing process. Even now clutter still manages to sneak its way back into my house but I have strategies in place to minimize it and I have regular decluttering periods. It is so beneficial for my mental health to have a tidy house, and not just at first glance.
Thank you so much.Just thank you. My mom is a hoarder and i was raised in a hoarding house,so for me that was absolutely normal. I lived for almost 8 years without electricity because my house was so pilled up that it was impossible for the electrician to come inside. I was a dirty kid(because no electricity=no water heater too),i became overweight and overall miserable and unhappy. When i went to my own house i continued the hoarding cycle that was so familiar to me. It destroyed my mental health,my sexual health,my regural health,my relationships, everything. When i started with Marie Kondo and then with the minimalists it became so clear with me. I was the problem. So i changed everything,im more happy now,more honest and im heading to the right direction. You said everything correctly. Thank you for what you said,you made it even more clear now. U earned a new loyal subscriber! ❤️❤️ Greetings from Greece 🇬🇷🇬🇷
☄🌸 Thank you so much for sharing about your relationship with Jesus and saying scripture! It is such a big part of who you are and I am so proud of you for not being afraid to share it! Can't wait to see what you have in store for us in 2021!
✨ What blew me away was when you talked about how moving towards minimalism is not imprisonment. It’s freedom. It struck me then how similar that is to following God’s commandments- so many people declare that living a life following the Lord is confining, when it is the exact opposite! And when you pointed that out much later in the video about storing your treasures up in Heaven, I almost cried. 💖 You are such an amazing lady! I am so glad to have found your channel this past week. I have been watching your videos and it has been so inspiring. I am a mother of 4 and I grew up with a mom who hoarded and it was very unorganized. Being unable to keep up with my house has me so stressed out and, this past week while watching your videos, I have decluttered our toys (and set up better organization), decluttered entire kitchen, and I’m turning towards closets next. And LOL- your reference to Zaboomafoo just made my day!! 😂
I finally decluttered my kitchen last week and got everything except the coffee maker off the counter! It's awesome. I just stand in it and stare at the peace! Added bonus... My husband isn't one to notice clutter or what might need to go in the dishwasher etc. Well. Once those counters were CLEARED, he readily keeps them cleared off and even loads the dishwasher! He didn't even see the mess, for all the clutter! Kids clothes and closets are next. I'm going to check in on your videos for inspiration!
Yes I did exactly that.De-cluttered my kitchen/cabinets/drawers.Nothing on or around either side of the kitchen sink counter and nothing on counters except my keurig,a few food cannisters a few cooking utensils in a pottery vase and one spoon rest and one cookie jar on the center island,one set of butcher block knives set.
• You’ve shared so many key 🔑 points here. • It’s truly not a one and done process! • You evolve psychologically as you go through the process so you’re drawn to going back over spaces becauseyoure in a different head space • You’re releasing long held beliefs and habits which are being excised with each bag and box you take to Goodwill 🛍 or the trash 🗑• The mental 🧠 clarity and weight off your shoulders is indescribable. The more you do the easier it gets.
I’ve been decluttering, and I don’t miss anything either! The key is to be intentional about everything you part with. And of course, don’t get rid of anything you actively use! Much love to you, Natalie!
Oh my goodness...I just found your channel, I've been minimizing for about a year now; everything you said resonated so much with me! And to have someone that loves God and isn't afraid to say it and how your minimalism journey has impacted your walk with Him made my heart sing ❤🙌🏾
YESSS! Minimalism isn’t a one size fits all. I love having a simplified collection of things we actually love but like you said it takes an intentional work. It’s a lifestyle. I’ve always loved decluttering and organizing but this year I got serious about it and went through almost every spot in my home. It’s a mindset. I’m amazed how much it’s changed my mental/physical health too! Thank you for sharing your raw and real journey. 🤍✨
I am so passionate about what minimalism can bring and it’s so cool to see others come around to feeling the same way. You can’t force anyone to change and it’s really important not to force your perspectives on someone else!
I’ve been decluttering for years and this year really stripping back to a minimalist set-up for me, stuff sold, charity, thrown out, moved to other suitable rooms, tidier zones (as I work from home too) the less stuff I have the more relaxed I am and really believe it helps me to think more clearly too
I’ve watched you for years and this series allowed us to see the true you shine and develop. Thank you for including how minimalism is in line with Biblical teachings. 🌸
Great video. I can relate so much. I started decluttering in 2013. Everything you’re saying is what I’ve discovered for myself. I have definitely felt it’s like peeling away layers. After each layer - more “clutter” reveals itself. Things I never expected to declutter - are suddenly getting attention and become something to declutter in the next rounds. In 2016 - I began doing an inventory of each category of items - just to see how much we owned. I update it each year. The sheer numbers often has me question “how much is enough?”. And, I began making decisions about how much is enough for our home. It’s simply a different perspective. It’s helped me let go of “useful” items - when we honestly had too many. Bath towels, bed sheet sets, coffee cups, spatulas, socks, etc. Each year we decide which items we need to replace or buy or repair. No more mindless shopping. Yes, very freeing. Sometimes I find myself taking a picture and/or making a list of items I’m questioning. Are we using it. Liking it? It’s a mental decluttering round. I find this helps with decision fatigue. I make a list. It marinates. I decide and out it goes. 🌸
You have the most caring approach on minimalism that I have never seen on the internet. People put standard on every single thing that way we don't feel perfect and feel guilty about it... this is really sad cause it's such a wonderful lifestyle. Thank you so much for sharing you vision you are making such a difference out there (sorry my English I'm French canadian ) 💋❤️ kiss from france
We are in the process of listing our home and as I’m packing and getting rid of stuff I find myself excited to downsize ‘things ‘yesterday and today I got rid of about 9 bags of clothes and toys .. I’m using this moving experience as an opportunity to start anew with a clean slate !thank u for your transparency it made me see I wasn’t alone !
I started decluttering recently before I found your videos, and I was also surprised that once I started I discovered how much fun it is and how great it feels to get rid of all that stuff, and how the energy in my home has improved. I feel so much lighter! I also would have never thought that I would feel motivated to keep going. I can only encourage others to start this journey. You will be amazed! Thanks for this great video!
✨🌸 I've been loving your minimalism as a mom series. It feels like most who share their minimalist lifestyle are not parents with kids who just need more stuff than expected just to survive. Thank you for sharing and can't wait for more from you and your fam in 2021!
This video was so nice and relaxing to watch ! I’m 19 and I recently moved to another country and I can honestly say that is 100% true that our standards change ! I decluttered everything I owned before I moved from my family home and now I came home for Christmas and I was able to declutter even more stuff ! And it feels so freeing 🌸✨ I’m very excited to continue to watch your videos and continue to be inspired by you in 2021 ☺️
🌸 started my declutter it journey at the beginning of 2019 by accident and it got kicked into hyperdrive when I found out I was pregnant with baby #3. I just felt so overwhelmed by the amount of household stuff I was in charge of. I have slowly moved along throughout my household. I found your channel a few months ago and have enjoy the content and hearing about your experiences. :) The process you described regarding your past year is something I have never thought of but in watching the video I found myself noting and realizing so many of the points you discussed have also happened for me including enjoying more time with family and the freedom it has opened. It’s pretty exciting to see the impact these changes can make in your life!
🌸 thank you for sharing this with us. Loved that you said it’s something that gets easier and feels good. One minimalist isn’t the same as another so true. I’m hoping to declutter so much this year and let go
Can’t wait to watch this later today!! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Natalie and family!! 💕 I’m so thankful that I found your “cozy corner of the internet” earlier this year. You’ve not only motivated me to get a bunch of decluttering accomplished in my own home, but you’ve also inspired me as a mom of two young ones on how to accomplish more during the day while having plenty of intentional bonding time with my kiddos. While we don’t know each other and I’m sure never will meet, it’s been so comforting “spending time with you,” as if you’re a friend, each week throughout this crazy year. May God bless you and keep you and your family happy, safe, and healthy. Thank you for everything you do for your family and for the joy you bring to all of your subscribers here each and every week. Sending you so much love from the East Coast. 💕💕💕💕
This is one of the best--and most tolerant--minimalist channels out there, both you and your audience. A lot of people I think troll minimalist hashtagged channels just to criticize. If I can't have color in my house, I don't wanna belong to your club! haha Thank you, Natalie.
I learnt that watching your messy to minimal series makes cleaning a lot quicker and easier. Thank you so much for that Natalie! Hope you guys have a wonderful day and a great new year! xx
🌸 this series has really helped with my motivation to keep going and to keep pairing back. I love it. Our house is actually getting cleaned now. I’m able to clean the house when before, all I was ever doing was tidying and shifting things around the house.
I forgot to say 2 things! One, I really appreciate you bringing up your relationship with Jesus and the Scripture about storing up treasures in heaven, not on earth! This is a big motivator for me too! Second thing is I HAVE regretted getting rid of a FEW things but its not the end of the world. The main one was getting rid of my electric tea kettle and using a stove top one I had in storage. I missed not having to worry about leaving it on or hearing the screaming whistle so I had to spend another $25 on a replacement! But that's ok to have all the plusses of having only what you need, use and love around!
Starting out decluttering and living with less, you will come to be able to let go of things more as you improve your ability to let go. In that sense, going back through areas after a time really makes sense. I hate how critical people can be when your view of something like minimalism doesn't exactly match their view. Thank you for being an inspiration!
🌺Math teacher here. Getting rid of 80% means you used to have 400% more stuff! Doesn't it sound even more impressive when you say it that way?!? I'm just starting to shift my view of stuff and clean out, but it must feel good to look at a throw pillow or bottle of lotion and realize that you used to have 5 times as many of that item weighing you down. I love this reflection, and I'm off to watch the process now!
This was probably my favorite video you've ever made!! I loved the real talk and you're just so refreshing to watch. This was a nice way to put my mind back on track going into 2021. Also side note, the camera quality and editing was top notch!!!! 🌺 ❣️
Thanks! I love being able to get my nice camera out for these kinds of videos! Totally worth all the extra work of proper lighting and microphone setup!
Thank you Natalie. I always been extremely messy and I wanted to start going minimalist for years . Instead I ended up completely overwhelmed. Now I feel ready, I have just taken the first steps towards what I feel is a liberation. I am having my flat cleaned , hired a decluttering specialist as I am not yet able to do it by myself and stumbling on to your video just exactly express what I was thinking in term of gain to myself and my well being. Again thank you 🙏💋 Ps: showing the mess you were living in is actually a blessing as we truly realised WE ARE NOT ALONE! 😰 !
✨ I'm on my way to minimalism while living in a family of hoarders. It's taking some extreme patience, but I feel more clear in my own space! This morning, I got my stepdad to get rid of 15 spoonulas and spatulas! We still have 25, but it's better and less for me to keep up on!
I just found you after starting "take back your house" and this is the calm I need while decluttering. I've done my kitchen and am currently doing my pantry. I shall be watching your old videos, your voice is so soothing! Happy new year from the UK x
I’ve said this about other areas of my life but if minimalism is bondage then there is freedom in my bondage. I have never felt more free than when I clean out and organize different areas of my life.
God worked through minimalism to teach you so much. Just one of His wondrous ways. He will finish the good work He started in us! I think minimalism is just another way we can serve Him better! He wants us to be joyful. Thanks for sharing all this! Inspired!
I enjoy listening to you when I’m at a standstill with ✨decluttering✨I’ve done many passes through my bedroom and it gets where I need it to be and then I get used to it and declutter again 🌸
So much of what you say resonates with me. Minimalism is so much more than getting rid of stuff, it's a total psychological change for the better. It is difficult but worthwhile. I found myself a bit despondent after I got rid of 50% of my belongings because my home didn't look or feel any different, then I realised all the stuff I removed had been tucked away in cupboards so it didn't look like I'd done anything. I then read someone's comment that said go further with decluttering. I then started to assess my pieces of furniture and got rid of some of that. I also realised I now had space inside cupboards to store essential items that were cluttering tabletops. It's a big learning process.
✨ your whole journey has inspired me to go minimalist. I’m planning on following your messy to minimal series as a guide to go room to room in my small apartment. ✨ thank you so much!
This is such a beautiful talk. It literally makes me so emotional. Realizing we need to learn to minimalize our lives and be grateful. I will be working on my decluttering journey. Thank you!!!!
My young daughter just got diagnosed with cancer at the end of last year. Trying to juggle driving to a children's hospital 3 hours away, on the regular, juggling work as a teacher, and two other kids as a single mom made me go crazy or something. This month every time I clean I find myself randomly chucking half of everything in every room I go into. And I gotta say it feels liberating! I didnt realize there was a name for this kind of SANITY until your video popped up in my feed. I am going to keep going.
Thank you for this series! Yours and the minimal Mom have helped me declutter our current home on wheels (as full time traveling rvers) to a much more comfortable space with only the items we love & need! My husband has also started decluttering his outdoor spaces to reduce the excess weight so it's easier for traveling. 😍😍😍
✨your videos have helped me think differently about decluttering our apartment. Apartment living is so hard to keep clean when the amount of stuff one owns is equivalent to a house twice the size. Thank you for taking us along for your journey to a minimal life.
I’m sorry I have to comment twice as you look incredibly beautiful and this video is so well edited and recorded! I took pleasure in watching this and it was so truly amazing to feel like something agrees with my thoughts too xx
Just finished my first pass on de-cluttering in my apartment. This video is so validating and I know it is still so early, but I can already feel some of these changes you’re talking about. Thanks for sharing
After spending THE entire day watching YT videos on decluttering, I have finally found YOU! What an awesome and inspirational video you've posted. I am thrilled to have found your channel and have just spoken with my sister so she can start following you and putting into action the many things you've spoken about. I'm personally a minimalist and completely agree with you that it's not a "one and done" journey. Thank you for your willingness to share the ups and downs of decluttering!
I could not agree more on the minimalism looks different for everyone. We live on a farm. We prep food for the colder months. We have 6 children so clothes dont get tossed out or donated. They get put away for the next child. But what im trying to get down to in my home. What is in my face everyday is what I'm trying to minimize. I dont want a huge cluttered mess. I dont want laundry for days because we are a family of 8 that really adds up! I want to live a simple life and that includes what is in my home. Simple functional yet homie. I was using your videos for cleaning but have been inspired to get rid of what doesn't need to be here!
Really great message. It has re-motivated me to declutter our home. I’ll have to try and get my wife on the same page. She’s ok with getting rid of things that we just don’t use anymore, but the challenge is her purchasing more things. Have to work on it. Thanks for sharing your journey.
When purchasing have her ask herself “am I willing to clean this item” “where is this item going to go in my home” and “ do I really want or need this item, or is this an impulse buy”. Sometimes it’s just bringing awareness to what you’re doing. Hopefully those questions help her. I know they helped me. When I realized that I wanted to buy something just because I saw it on T.V. It broke that habit for me. Because I didn’t really want that item, someone else was telling me I had to buy that item or that I somehow needed that item. And I don’t like people telling me what to do. 🤣
You are such a sweetie pie.I can't imagine how someone would be unkind to thinking about that because precious children which are a gift from God might not make you a minimalist. Love your soft, kind voice. I have learned a lot from you.✨🥰
Me too, but I started yesterday and did some paperwork that has been in the closet and accumulating for years. I did a fair amount and now today I have 4 piles that I am looking at on my table and shaking my head and feeling overwhelmed. But tomorrow is a new day and I know I will start again. Little by little is what I tell myself and I also allow myself to take the day off to finish the job I started if I need to. Rome wasn't built in a day and neither was everything I own. Remember the story of the tortuous and the hare? Well, I'm definitely the tortuous. Others will be the hare and that's ok, I'm me and that's ok too. Be blessed and remember to take it one day at a time and to love yourself through it..
Take a step back and Start small. No need to do the entire closet of clothes, be nice to yourselves. . Start with your socks and be happy 😊 it got you started (!) and you finished this job(!) . Some people forget to celebrate the steps😉. When you're ready for the next step (I suggest a full day break) , do your trousers... And repeat.. Create momentum and keep it small but happy! # ❤️ Whenever you feel it's overwhelming again, step back, try to find the tinyest job in the whole process and get yourself going again. If stuck, keep it, totally ok and don't worry about it, you will get back to it when you're ready. ☺️ Keeping it going is much more important. Decluttering is a great way to get rid of junk, but it's much more a mental process of learning to keep the bar low for a change. You can do this ❤️
You have inspired me to work towards a more minimalist lifestyle. Since having children Ive begun to feel like I'm drowning in our possessions. 2021 will be the year I take control of my possessions rather than letting them control me. I know it will bring more calm to my life. Seeing you go back and declutter areas that you already worked on is so very helpful. It's freeing to realize that I don't have to get an area perfect the first time. Thank you for being so open!🌸
✨🌸 This series has rocked my world! I’ve always been a “purger” as my husband would say, but this series has made me dive even deeper into what I’m holding on to and why. I’m a newer subscriber and also a PNW homeschooler. Loving your channel
It’s not one and done. Thank you! It truly is a minimalist lifestyle that has personally made my life so much better. I feel so lucky to have found great coaches like you to declutter, tidy and clean as part of my daily routines. I now love my house and the sense of calm and serenity in my home is SO lovely. Just wow ❤️
Thank you for being unapologetically real in your thoughts and in your actions! I so appreciate your channel and decisions. I wish I had started this journey to be simplified way sooner. I am really enjoying it but your videos inspire me to simplify even more! 🌸
Thank you. My husband and I have been married 36 years and are now retired. I have recently started full-on decluttering. At first it seemed easy to purge everyday areas. But now I have delved into the deeper clutter and I feel that as I pull it out and make the decisions…I have created a huge mess. I panicked and spent a day trying to organize the decluttering clutter. Lol Now I understand it is a process and a shift in mindset. I am okay. I can do this. Eventually I will see open spaces and feel that my house and myself can breathe again. Everything I have tossed or donated so far has given me such a happy boost and a feeling of confidence and the knowledge that this is my life and I can simplify it.
Thank you for sharing!!!! Saving to my playlist. And you’re right, “Pinterest perfect” isn’t good for me- or my budget since I’m trying to stay debt free. Yes, yes, yes- the clutter is an huge obstacle in my spiritual journey and relationship with God. I’m hoping to work on it daily- I can’t wait to watch more!!! 🌸🌸🌸
I've always been minimalistic, a lot in Europe are due to being frugal because of the cost of living in our own countries. I could see how it helps not having so much stuff for others, when you've never had it you never miss it and when it's gone you'll forget you ever had it anyway. Health is more important ❤️.
Just adding to the flood of positive comments: This video is incredibly well thought out and shows a really unique perspective of what it's like to actually set these systems up in your home. A lot of other organization/minimalism videos seem to be very repetitive in the sense that they maybe read the same article online somewhere and practice those things with a few variations. There's nothing inherently wrong with those videos, but as someone who's continually trying to organize spaces those videos don't really help much since the core ideas will always remain the same. This deeper reflection of having to go back and having to continue and maybe modify what you've already done has been my experience as well, but your encouragement, lessons learned, and epiphanies are really inspiring yet practical.
🌸 stuck to the end! Thank you, I'm at the beginning if my journey and so inspired but still finding it so hard to make progress AND keep up with the regular daily stuff! I know it's possible though and I want that freedom!
Thank you Natalie for this video. As a Christian, I have been asking God to speak to me a today, and through you, He has done just that ‘where your treasure is, there your heart is also’. Thank you so much. God bless you.
I would love to do work on decluttering my home and go towards a minimal lifestyle, but this spring we will be having a new baby arriving and I just don't think I'm ready to tackle it! Would you make a video on how to start to declutter for those who feel so intimidated or overwhelmed by it?
Start with one thing. A cupboard or the junk drawer. Remember you didn’t accumulate it all at once and decluttering is a journey. Do what you can as you can and don’t pressure yourself to a specific time frame. You can do it! At your own pace.
@@jodytigges1830 that's a great idea! The thought of decluttering just one drawer or cupboard first sounds way more doable than tackling my whole house with a toddler year old + being so pregnant or having a newborn.
✨ Your messy to minimal series was inspiring, but this video was hands down the best talk on minimalism I have ever heard. Thank you for the reminder that minimalism looks different for everyone and that it takes practice and work. I now see it as letting go of material possessions and worldly desires to make room for the most important things, God and family. Thank you Natalie! 🌸
Yes, these decisions are totally based on importance to each and every person. It makes you ask what is the most important in your life.
The book "30 Days to Stop Being a Shopaholic" by Harper Daniels is gaining some popularity. It takes a mindfulness approach. Shopping and consuming are so psychological. If you can beat the psychological game, you save so much $$$. A healthy perspective and mind leads to better shopping.
Yes i love this video. I will never be what most would consider a minimalist. However. Every item having a home and being easily accessible without excess is minimalist enough for me. Trying to be conscious of what i bring in and making sure it really fits into my life.
👍👀❤️
I appreciate your compassionate sharing, Natalie. Thanks for being so encouraging. I can’t wait to declutter and have my own version of minimalism 💝
My husband was laughing at me for watching these videos, so I made him sit down and watch with me. 10 minutes later he got up and decluttered his clothes 😂 You’re a miracle worker! 😆
Wow cool
Yep, shows or videos on youtube can get u to check around and declutter or help u not to buy anymore if can resist getting more till made space for any new cause gotta be a need ahead of any wants as u try to have less anytime.
Wow!
He needs to come motivate my husband!! 😄
Men are funny. I showed him something similar and he was like ok crazy
Next day, bag of clothes, he asked for me to donate.
At the end of the day, men listen, just takes them awhile to
I am not a hoarder. I have a “normal” amount of stuff. But sometimes I feel so overwhelmed by all the things in my house. I started declutering during the lockdown. I am still on it. And I feel sooooo free already....
I was recently diagnosed with ADHD and my therapist suggested minimalism as a way to help manage my symptoms. Decluttering in and of itself is incredibly overwhelming for me, mainly because my brain has a hard time staying organized/focused. You've definitely helped take the pressure off and I'm feeling motivated to tackle this in my own way, so thank you
If you need more help or motivation, I’d recommend read Marie Kendo’s books the art of tidying up, and spark joy. It helps you find your reason why you want your home clean and what feelings you want to gain, how you want your home to feel and look. Plus a specific method and order to go through when decluttering.
And I would definitely recommend looking into bullet journaling for helping mentally. For me this was a huge help too. Especially habit trackers. It helped me to stay on task on days when I was overwhelmed. 💗
As an ADHDer myself, my favourite books for helping are order from chaos by jaclyn paul, and organising solutions for people with ADHD by susan c pinsky, and help for women with ADHD by Joan wilder
@@mousegrey6747 Thank you so much for the suggestions!! I'm currently reading Driven to Distraction. It's helpful, but also kinda hard to get through LOL I'll add these to my Goodreads since they seem more relevant
I have ADHD too and my minimalism journey has helped me so much! I never realized before how everything in my environment was distracting me. You've got this :)
What is ADHD
Usually this kind of wisdom comes with age. It’s only as I’ve gotten older....40s+....that I’ve become more secure in who I am and not caring what other’s opinions are of me. The fact that you’re a young woman and have already learned this is a true blessing.
Oh, I totally agree!! I am 65. My mom has been gone nearly 5 years. I am just now beginning to be able to use the things I love that were hers and toss the rest. I am also getting rid of things that I have felt guilt over tossing. It IS ok. Life goes on... only with lighter shoulders, heart and mind.
I noticed this too- she has "grown up" ❤️💞
I've been labelled the messy girl my entire life by the family, because I am. Transitioning my life to declutter more & have a minimalist mindset is such a difficult and daunting process. I was brought up with the mindset (& still living through it as I live with my parents) to "not waste", not throw away stuff because you can use it sometime in the future. My dad (who got it from his dad) picks up stuff from our own garbage, stuff I threw that he thinks have some worth or things left on the street that he thinks have some kind of value. Our house is filled with so much stuff. I need to break this cycle. Thank you for letting us feel safe about this very intimidating process.
I am facing the same challenge too... Here, in our Indian family, my family members fear much about throwing stuffs that whenever I start to declutter my room they label me as a careless girl who always wastes things😔 I am still trying to inculcate the art of letting go of things into my life and theirs too...
I feel like I need a support system to do this hard work.
Omgggg it is so true...
My parents do the same thing. Bring so much stuff in from the streets or trash. Good luck in your journey
You're adorable. And at 72yo I'm finally learning to minimalize for JOY in Life! So take heart Beloved...you're ALL WAY AHEAD OF THIS GREAT GRANDMA! Thank you Darlin'...you're beautiful in every way! ✨
Yes! I am 65. Doing the same.
In my case, it wouldn't be minimalizing for joy. but joy itself. Buying plenty of things makes me happy.
59 here; same 👋👋👋
I’m a single, childless Jew living in a basement studio apartment so there’s not a lot of overlap in our lifestyles and when I initially started watching your content I didn’t think it would be super helpful or relevant for me. But oh my goddess was I wrong! I’ve watched your entire Messy to Minimal series all the way through at least 4 times now. Sometimes I sit on the couch and actively watch and sometimes it’s been the background noise to my own year-long decluttering adventure. Reducing my belongings to only the things that are important to me and that I really need or want has been life changing. I feel so much more at peace and it feels easy to go about my daily life in my space. I couldn’t have done it without you! Happy New Year and New You, Natalie! 💙
I laughed out loud when you said people think your not minimalist because you have to many kids! Oh boy that made me laugh! People are just something! Loved the video 🥰
People are silly!
I’m entering minimalism, not by necessarily by choice but by a natural attraction to it. It started with my physical being, no more hair dye, less make up, short natural nails, simpler clothing. I didn’t even notice it at first! I thought I just wanted to be more ‘natural’ and whilst that is very true it’s also the start of my minimalism path! I’m downsizing so I’m getting rid of so much physically and emotionally. Stuff is expensive and clutter is chaos and I’m done with it!! 😁
Your comment was 100% more informative on "minimalism" than this vlog was. (Maybe YOU should do a vlog?!?) This poor girl needs to start her "process" by cutting UA-cam out of her life and go help at a soup kitchen or help a poor person get organized for free.
@@ccziv seek help.
You are doing a great job. Keep up the good work. What color paint is on your wall?
This is probably the best video about minimalism I've ever seen. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing. Such an inspiration!
Wow! This just makes me so very happy and gratified! Thank you for the kind comment!
Right! I actually wasn't even going to watch because I get tired of feeling like I can't be a minimalist because I have 3 kids or 2 dogs or 3 cars (1 is a work truck), but as Natalie said minimalism is different for everyone. I thoroughly enjoyed this! I'm gonna start Jan 2021 with the beginning of her series and actually go through it now that I know it's not as judgmental as I feared >-
@@Jolly.Joy_Rose I think we all get confused and it took me a while to grasp that minimalism isn't about owning the minimal amount of things, it's more about only owning the things you actually use and love. I started a use it or loose it game and was able to stop storing some things I actually love (like the garden decorations I was storing until my garden was 'done' enough to use, I decided to use them anyway on the 3 plants I do have and it actually jazzed up the area in a way I enjoy right now instead of waiting until I have the time, money, etc to make it 'perfect' which could be a while). Minimalism is about increased enjoyment and decreased obligation to stuff. With kids and dogs and working materials, you may have more stuff that you use and need and love, it's just about making sure you are actually using it all extemely regularly and moving on from the rare occasion items. Konmari teaches that every item costs you continually, be it time or space or dust collection. So it better serve you to cost you.
@@kerenkroll LLP all pmpppmpppmppp
I’ve been a follower since early 2020 and I have to say (as a fellow Christian) I’ve noticed that you’ve gotten braver with sharing your faith and I’m here for it!! XOXO
Same!
Yes!!! ❤️❤️
I went minimalist a couple years ago and still only spend maybe half an hour on tidying a 1.5 story house. Just having the physical space opened up helps reduce my stress soooo much more than I thought it would.
I have lived minimal for 4 years, I was never the type of person that had too much, yet one day I decided to donate and declutter everything I didn’t love, need, or use... I ended up decluttering 70% of what I owned.. I now have capsule wardrobe, I now have empty spaces, that make my home look so calming... my pantry actually has empty shelves etc etc... it didn’t stop there, my whole mindset changed, in ever aspect of my life..
This video, is one of the BEST videos, I have ever watched on this subject. I know you will have helped many people realize the wonderful effect that living this lifestyle can do for one..
If your reading this, and want to live this lifestyle, please listen to this video all the way thru.... best advise you will ever get..❤️
Oh I forgot to mention, there is not one thing that left my home, that I say, I wish I still had... once I donated, It was completely out of my memory bank
I think the biggest surprise most minimalists discover is the experience of freedom you enjoy. It's as if literal weights are lifted off your shoulders. But you're right: it's not a one-time event. Even minimalism takes maintenance. But it is so rewarding!
Wonderful words 🤩
I grew up in a family that was extremely messy--probably leaning toward hoarding. This included both materials and pets. When I finally had my own room, it was my own, peaceful little sanctuary to keep clean, so I developed a strong appreciation for clean and minimal surroundings. Minimalism has helped me as an adult to, like you said, appreciate the things that truly matter and recognize the things that make me truly happy, like sitting down with my kids and their older toys and actually engaging with them instead of buying new toys, or like reading a section of my favorite book (Walt Whitman's Song of Myself) instead of scrolling through the Target app. I love it that you addressed the fact that minimalism is so much more than just keeping your house clean and having fewer things. I honestly think that it is more mentally transformative than anything else. Thank you for sharing these videos that I have used to keep me company while decluttering, folding laundry, or even cooking dinner!
I totally relate to this!
My sister and mom are like that! I try and help but you can only do so much if they don’t cooperate.
@@MonaGP So true...It actually ended up causing a huge family split when my husband and I had to move back in with my family for a short time. Caused us to actually move across the country! Luckily, being so far apart has fixed those relationships for the most part. I just wish that they'd recognize how greatly the entirety of their mental health is affected by their surroundings.
I relate to this too!
It never stops. I began over 20 years ago, and through two moves (downsizing as my family grew and moved on...) I honed my decluttering skills. Life happens, my kids moved out, a house guest moved in/out, we lost family members and inherited beautiful heirlooms that needed integrating, and that required decluttering their belongings, redistributing, decluttering some of my things to accomodate the lovely old things I wanted to enjoy in my home as I remember loved ones, it's an ongoing process. As a result, clearing several other homes respectfully, decluttering, sorting, holding onto, keeping, reintegrating have become things I actually quite enjoy doing and today, as a grandma of 5 with four generations living, we have a beautiful, curated home that reflects our history and I love it!
🌸 As a Christian, I have the head knowledge that having less stuff will provide more room (physically and beyond) for Christ. More confidence in inviting people over at the drop of a hat, more peace to be able to just read the Bible because there’s no clutter around bothering me. Thank you for making these videos!
Amen!
Natalie, as I’m writing this, I’m in tears because I can see so much truth in what your talking about, me in what you’ve done in the past year. I wanted so badly to go through the messy to minimal journey with you this year, but I’m truth, I don’t think I was quite ready, and on top of that my mental health has just been in a really bad place. I feel the weight of all the stuff in my home, and can see how it’s all keeping me from being the best mom, and wife that I can be. My mama passed when I was a little girl, and I think that because of that I’ve developed a very unhealthy attachment to things because I attach so much sentimental value to things that truly don’t deserve that value. It is so so hard for me to just get rid of things I really don’t need. I have watched your videos throughout this year, and they have been an encouragement that it is possible to reduce the stuff, and clutter. I just want you to know how much I appreciate you sharing this journey in such a real, and honest way, and I think I’m now ready to start my journey, And hopefully by this time next year I’ll be able to say my life, and home feel so much lighter, and more free.✨💖
You can do it ! This past year I undertook the journey and it’s made me so much happier. Once you start, it gains momentum and becomes enjoyable. God bless you.
You can do it!.. Go Girl🤗.. Just start in baby steps... I have burn-out, depression, insomnia and have been/ am still going through a nasty divorce... And I started the decluttering in Jan 17 when my ex-husband moved out and I had to start separating our 18yrs of life together. To date, I have boxed over 70 boxes of my ex husbands stuff for him to take! (most is still here until my lawyer gives him a deadline) ... I am on round 4 of decluttering my and my kids stuff and have changed eg my kids bedrooms a few times in this time due to my older son becoming a teenager, my younger son transitioning from kindergarten to infants and now juniors.. So life gets in the way... But I keep going between work, looking after my kids, their and my health issues, life etc... It is really worth it!... As Natalie says "you don't regret getting rid of stuff" .. In fact when you are on later rounds of decluttering you think "why didn't I get rid of this the first time? "... Just try and start... It will also really help your mental health issues... It certainly has helped me with mine. Sending love and positive vibes for a good 21!🤗
@@rebeccarendle3706 Good for you ! It does help mental health. Every time we declutter, even one small task, we get positive hormones. That sense of accomplishment and control is a blessing. How wonderful that you are making your home so nice for your sons. God bless you.
A Hoarders Heart would be a really nice channel for you to watch also
@@daisybuchanan5378 thank you for your kind words😊... I have always been minamalist my whole life. I never shop unless I have to (I hate shopping of any kind). Plus global travel, moving 12x in my adult life, and living in different countries restricts the accumulated of stuff... But over the past 15 yrs with my career, two sick kids, household and a useless husband, I never got around to decluttering things over the years... the house was always clean and tidy, but every cupboard was "fit to bust"... Now I have empty furniture, and enjoy empty cupboards and am now donating a lot of it because I don't need it and am now enjoying the open spaces... It's wonderful 😊. My son's (15 and 8) have more, but they are only allowed what fits in their bedroom shelves and cupboards... And we declutter their rooms regularly.
🌺 2 years of minimalism here and I still struggle with clothing.
Also always being criticized by people around me telling me that I buy stuff and get rid of the them like I had a mental health issue. People don’t understand that decluttering requires maintenance.
My daughter does that. She usually buys nice good will or upper end second hand. Gets sick of it gives it back to good will (or my garage !)
The minimalism community inspires me so much with stories like this! It really shows everyone's journey is different but in the end the result is so much more freedom!
🌸 I'd be interested in a video about how minimalism has positively affected your finances. Maybe something along the lines of streamlining banking accounts... Or, how a more minimal lifestyle has lowered some monthly bills, such as less clothing = less laundry = lower water bill...
Thanks for the video topic suggestions! 🌸🌸🌸 And thanks for sticking through the whole video! Your support means the world to me! 🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸
This would be great! I second your idea, Kelly!
🌸 Giiiirl.. this message had spiritual weight to it for both practical reasons pertaining to our homes and what actually matters concerning our soul. Girl i have a knot in my throat and so grateful for this perspective.. wow. What a blessing. Thank you!
You’re a great speaker, and you really touch on the most important parts about minimalism. The fact that you said you got rid of 85% of your stuff and you don’t miss ANY of it!? That’s so motivating. Just gotta get my wife on board. Thank you!
My goal every Monday is to see how much I can get done before I sit down to enjoy your weekly video. 🤗
I actually do this too! Monday mornings are my cleaning times and I reward myself with Natalie’s videos after!
Heck. Same! 😅✨
I do the same thing!
I really loved this video. First time I’ve seen her, but your comment about her doing this weekly has made me subscribe to her.
As someone who has decluttered and downsized for close to 10 years now, yes it is definitely an ongoing process. Even now clutter still manages to sneak its way back into my house but I have strategies in place to minimize it and I have regular decluttering periods. It is so beneficial for my mental health to have a tidy house, and not just at first glance.
Thank you so much.Just thank you. My mom is a hoarder and i was raised in a hoarding house,so for me that was absolutely normal. I lived for almost 8 years without electricity because my house was so pilled up that it was impossible for the electrician to come inside. I was a dirty kid(because no electricity=no water heater too),i became overweight and overall miserable and unhappy. When i went to my own house i continued the hoarding cycle that was so familiar to me. It destroyed my mental health,my sexual health,my regural health,my relationships, everything. When i started with Marie Kondo and then with the minimalists it became so clear with me. I was the problem. So i changed everything,im more happy now,more honest and im heading to the right direction. You said everything correctly.
Thank you for what you said,you made it even more clear now. U earned a new loyal subscriber! ❤️❤️
Greetings from Greece 🇬🇷🇬🇷
So glad you overcame this!
Well done! You should be SO proud of yourself 😍
☄🌸 Thank you so much for sharing about your relationship with Jesus and saying scripture! It is such a big part of who you are and I am so proud of you for not being afraid to share it! Can't wait to see what you have in store for us in 2021!
Yes! AND Jesus was a minimalist. 😁
Me too- thanks Natalie.
“Minimalism is a process.” - This hit me hard. Thank you Natalie for the lessons and motivation. 😍😘😊
✨ What blew me away was when you talked about how moving towards minimalism is not imprisonment. It’s freedom. It struck me then how similar that is to following God’s commandments- so many people declare that living a life following the Lord is confining, when it is the exact opposite! And when you pointed that out much later in the video about storing your treasures up in Heaven, I almost cried. 💖 You are such an amazing lady! I am so glad to have found your channel this past week. I have been watching your videos and it has been so inspiring. I am a mother of 4 and I grew up with a mom who hoarded and it was very unorganized. Being unable to keep up with my house has me so stressed out and, this past week while watching your videos, I have decluttered our toys (and set up better organization), decluttered entire kitchen, and I’m turning towards closets next.
And LOL- your reference to Zaboomafoo just made my day!! 😂
I finally decluttered my kitchen last week and got everything except the coffee maker off the counter! It's awesome. I just stand in it and stare at the peace!
Added bonus... My husband isn't one to notice clutter or what might need to go in the dishwasher etc. Well. Once those counters were CLEARED, he readily keeps them cleared off and even loads the dishwasher! He didn't even see the mess, for all the clutter! Kids clothes and closets are next. I'm going to check in on your videos for inspiration!
Yes I did exactly that.De-cluttered my kitchen/cabinets/drawers.Nothing on or around either side of the kitchen sink counter and nothing on counters except my keurig,a few food cannisters a few cooking utensils in a pottery vase and one spoon rest and one cookie jar on the center island,one set of butcher block knives set.
✨ my 8 year old daughter, heard your voice and said hey that’s Natalie, the organizer lady 🤣.
haha love it! Tell her hi from me!
My 4 year old randomly mentions Natalie when we are decluttering as well. "We need to get this less messy and more minimal like Natalie!" hilarious 😆.
I needed this video! The “minimalism looks different for everyone” part was very encouraging for me!
• You’ve shared so many key 🔑 points here. • It’s truly not a one and done process! • You evolve psychologically as you go through the process so you’re drawn to going back over spaces becauseyoure in a different head space • You’re releasing long held beliefs and habits which are being excised with each bag and box you take to Goodwill 🛍 or the trash 🗑• The mental 🧠 clarity and weight off your shoulders is indescribable. The more you do the easier it gets.
I’ve been decluttering, and I don’t miss anything either! The key is to be intentional about everything you part with. And of course, don’t get rid of anything you actively use! Much love to you, Natalie!
Oh my goodness...I just found your channel, I've been minimizing for about a year now; everything you said resonated so much with me! And to have someone that loves God and isn't afraid to say it and how your minimalism journey has impacted your walk with Him made my heart sing ❤🙌🏾
YESSS! Minimalism isn’t a one size fits all. I love having a simplified collection of things we actually love but like you said it takes an intentional work. It’s a lifestyle.
I’ve always loved decluttering and organizing but this year I got serious about it and went through almost every spot in my home. It’s a mindset. I’m amazed how much it’s changed my mental/physical health too! Thank you for sharing your raw and real journey. 🤍✨
A great minimal UA-cam channel is minimal mom, she describes that decluttering is a continuing journey !
I LOVE Dawn! We're collaborating in January!
@@NatalieBennett yes Dawn is so awesome ♥️ can’t wait to see the collaboration !
I am so passionate about what minimalism can bring and it’s so cool to see others come around to feeling the same way. You can’t force anyone to change and it’s really important not to force your perspectives on someone else!
I’ve been decluttering for years and this year really stripping back to a minimalist set-up for me, stuff sold, charity, thrown out, moved to other suitable rooms, tidier zones (as I work from home too) the less stuff I have the more relaxed I am and really believe it helps me to think more clearly too
I’ve watched you for years and this series allowed us to see the true you shine and develop. Thank you for including how minimalism is in line with Biblical teachings. 🌸
Great video. I can relate so much. I started decluttering in 2013. Everything you’re saying is what I’ve discovered for myself. I have definitely felt it’s like peeling away layers. After each layer - more “clutter” reveals itself. Things I never expected to declutter - are suddenly getting attention and become something to declutter in the next rounds. In 2016 - I began doing an inventory of each category of items - just to see how much we owned. I update it each year. The sheer numbers often has me question “how much is enough?”. And, I began making decisions about how much is enough for our home. It’s simply a different perspective. It’s helped me let go of “useful” items - when we honestly had too many. Bath towels, bed sheet sets, coffee cups, spatulas, socks, etc. Each year we decide which items we need to replace or buy or repair. No more mindless shopping. Yes, very freeing. Sometimes I find myself taking a picture and/or making a list of items I’m questioning. Are we using it. Liking it? It’s a mental decluttering round. I find this helps with decision fatigue. I make a list. It marinates. I decide and out it goes. 🌸
You have the most caring approach on minimalism that I have never seen on the internet. People put standard on every single thing that way we don't feel perfect and feel guilty about it... this is really sad cause it's such a wonderful lifestyle. Thank you so much for sharing you vision you are making such a difference out there (sorry my English I'm French canadian ) 💋❤️ kiss from france
We are in the process of listing our home and as I’m packing and getting rid of stuff I find myself excited to downsize ‘things ‘yesterday and today I got rid of about 9 bags of clothes and toys .. I’m using this moving experience as an opportunity to start anew with a clean slate !thank u for your transparency it made me see I wasn’t alone !
I started decluttering recently before I found your videos, and I was also surprised that once I started I discovered how much fun it is and how great it feels to get rid of all that stuff, and how the energy in my home has improved. I feel so much lighter! I also would have never thought that I would feel motivated to keep going. I can only encourage others to start this journey. You will be amazed!
Thanks for this great video!
✨🌸 I've been loving your minimalism as a mom series. It feels like most who share their minimalist lifestyle are not parents with kids who just need more stuff than expected just to survive. Thank you for sharing and can't wait for more from you and your fam in 2021!
This video was so nice and relaxing to watch ! I’m 19 and I recently moved to another country and I can honestly say that is 100% true that our standards change ! I decluttered everything I owned before I moved from my family home and now I came home for Christmas and I was able to declutter even more stuff ! And it feels so freeing 🌸✨ I’m very excited to continue to watch your videos and continue to be inspired by you in 2021 ☺️
Thank you for watching the whole video! Much love! 🌸🌸🌸🌸
🌸 started my declutter it journey at the beginning of 2019 by accident and it got kicked into hyperdrive when I found out I was pregnant with baby #3. I just felt so overwhelmed by the amount of household stuff I was in charge of. I have slowly moved along throughout my household. I found your channel a few months ago and have enjoy the content and hearing about your experiences. :) The process you described regarding your past year is something I have never thought of but in watching the video I found myself noting and realizing so many of the points you discussed have also happened for me including enjoying more time with family and the freedom it has opened. It’s pretty exciting to see the impact these changes can make in your life!
🌸 thank you for sharing this with us. Loved that you said it’s something that gets easier and feels good. One minimalist isn’t the same as another so true. I’m hoping to declutter so much this year and let go
I just went and started following you!🌺
Can’t wait to watch this later today!! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Natalie and family!! 💕
I’m so thankful that I found your “cozy corner of the internet” earlier this year. You’ve not only motivated me to get a bunch of decluttering accomplished in my own home, but you’ve also inspired me as a mom of two young ones on how to accomplish more during the day while having plenty of intentional bonding time with my kiddos. While we don’t know each other and I’m sure never will meet, it’s been so comforting “spending time with you,” as if you’re a friend, each week throughout this crazy year. May God bless you and keep you and your family happy, safe, and healthy. Thank you for everything you do for your family and for the joy you bring to all of your subscribers here each and every week. Sending you so much love from the East Coast. 💕💕💕💕
This is one of the best--and most tolerant--minimalist channels out there, both you and your audience. A lot of people I think troll minimalist hashtagged channels just to criticize. If I can't have color in my house, I don't wanna belong to your club! haha Thank you, Natalie.
I learnt that watching your messy to minimal series makes cleaning a lot quicker and easier. Thank you so much for that Natalie! Hope you guys have a wonderful day and a great new year! xx
Amen! What you said about storing up treasures in heaven have been something on my mind more and more! Thank you for sharing! This is inspiring!
🌸 this series has really helped with my motivation to keep going and to keep pairing back. I love it. Our house is actually getting cleaned now. I’m able to clean the house when before, all I was ever doing was tidying and shifting things around the house.
I forgot to say 2 things! One, I really appreciate you bringing up your relationship with Jesus and the Scripture about storing up treasures in heaven, not on earth! This is a big motivator for me too! Second thing is I HAVE regretted getting rid of a FEW things but its not the end of the world. The main one was getting rid of my electric tea kettle and using a stove top one I had in storage. I missed not having to worry about leaving it on or hearing the screaming whistle so I had to spend another $25 on a replacement! But that's ok to have all the plusses of having only what you need, use and love around!
Starting out decluttering and living with less, you will come to be able to let go of things more as you improve your ability to let go. In that sense, going back through areas after a time really makes sense. I hate how critical people can be when your view of something like minimalism doesn't exactly match their view. Thank you for being an inspiration!
I started this video thinking I don’t think I can watch 30 minutes. However, I was hooked. I love this. The spiritual part is perfect. Thank you 😊
Listened to the end. I’m encouraged to use my extra time to grow in my relationship with God. Thank you ❤️
'Pinterest perfect isn't always perfect for you' I love that!
🌺Math teacher here. Getting rid of 80% means you used to have 400% more stuff! Doesn't it sound even more impressive when you say it that way?!? I'm just starting to shift my view of stuff and clean out, but it must feel good to look at a throw pillow or bottle of lotion and realize that you used to have 5 times as many of that item weighing you down. I love this reflection, and I'm off to watch the process now!
This was probably my favorite video you've ever made!! I loved the real talk and you're just so refreshing to watch. This was a nice way to put my mind back on track going into 2021. Also side note, the camera quality and editing was top notch!!!! 🌺 ❣️
Thanks! I love being able to get my nice camera out for these kinds of videos! Totally worth all the extra work of proper lighting and microphone setup!
This is amazing. So inspirational Natalie.
Thanks, friend! ♥️♥️♥️
🌸✨ Have really enjoyed your videos! Great inspiration and such a chill, positive tone.
Thank you Natalie. I always been extremely messy and I wanted to start going minimalist for years . Instead I ended up completely overwhelmed. Now I feel ready, I have just taken the first steps towards what I feel is a liberation. I am having my flat cleaned , hired a decluttering specialist as I am not yet able to do it by myself and stumbling on to your video just exactly express what I was thinking in term of gain to myself and my well being.
Again thank you 🙏💋
Ps: showing the mess you were living in is actually a blessing as we truly realised WE ARE NOT ALONE! 😰 !
✨ I'm on my way to minimalism while living in a family of hoarders. It's taking some extreme patience, but I feel more clear in my own space! This morning, I got my stepdad to get rid of 15 spoonulas and spatulas! We still have 25, but it's better and less for me to keep up on!
I just found you after starting "take back your house" and this is the calm I need while decluttering. I've done my kitchen and am currently doing my pantry. I shall be watching your old videos, your voice is so soothing! Happy new year from the UK x
I’ve said this about other areas of my life but if minimalism is bondage then there is freedom in my bondage. I have never felt more free than when I clean out and organize different areas of my life.
God worked through minimalism to teach you so much. Just one of His wondrous ways. He will finish the good work He started in us! I think minimalism is just another way we can serve Him better! He wants us to be joyful. Thanks for sharing all this! Inspired!
Best comment award.
I enjoy listening to you when I’m at a standstill with ✨decluttering✨I’ve done many passes through my bedroom and it gets where I need it to be and then I get used to it and declutter again 🌸
So much of what you say resonates with me. Minimalism is so much more than getting rid of stuff, it's a total psychological change for the better. It is difficult but worthwhile. I found myself a bit despondent after I got rid of 50% of my belongings because my home didn't look or feel any different, then I realised all the stuff I removed had been tucked away in cupboards so it didn't look like I'd done anything. I then read someone's comment that said go further with decluttering. I then started to assess my pieces of furniture and got rid of some of that. I also realised I now had space inside cupboards to store essential items that were cluttering tabletops. It's a big learning process.
✨ your whole journey has inspired me to go minimalist. I’m planning on following your messy to minimal series as a guide to go room to room in my small apartment. ✨ thank you so much!
This is such a beautiful talk. It literally makes me so emotional. Realizing we need to learn to minimalize our lives and be grateful. I will be working on my decluttering journey. Thank you!!!!
My young daughter just got diagnosed with cancer at the end of last year. Trying to juggle driving to a children's hospital 3 hours away, on the regular, juggling work as a teacher, and two other kids as a single mom made me go crazy or something. This month every time I clean I find myself randomly chucking half of everything in every room I go into. And I gotta say it feels liberating! I didnt realize there was a name for this kind of SANITY until your video popped up in my feed. I am going to keep going.
I am praying for your daughter and your whole family! ♥️
Thank you! This covid period makes me think about decluttering and trying to live differently in 2021.
Thank you for this series! Yours and the minimal Mom have helped me declutter our current home on wheels (as full time traveling rvers) to a much more comfortable space with only the items we love & need! My husband has also started decluttering his outdoor spaces to reduce the excess weight so it's easier for traveling. 😍😍😍
✨your videos have helped me think differently about decluttering our apartment. Apartment living is so hard to keep clean when the amount of stuff one owns is equivalent to a house twice the size. Thank you for taking us along for your journey to a minimal life.
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I’m sorry I have to comment twice as you look incredibly beautiful and this video is so well edited and recorded! I took pleasure in watching this and it was so truly amazing to feel like something agrees with my thoughts too xx
Just finished my first pass on de-cluttering in my apartment. This video is so validating and I know it is still so early, but I can already feel some of these changes you’re talking about. Thanks for sharing
I’ve been decluttering here and there for years. I finally GOT it. I have been really decluttering heavily lately and I feel sooo good about it.
After spending THE entire day watching YT videos on decluttering, I have finally found YOU! What an awesome and inspirational video you've posted. I am thrilled to have found your channel and have just spoken with my sister so she can start following you and putting into action the many things you've spoken about. I'm personally a minimalist and completely agree with you that it's not a "one and done" journey. Thank you for your willingness to share the ups and downs of decluttering!
I could not agree more on the minimalism looks different for everyone. We live on a farm. We prep food for the colder months. We have 6 children so clothes dont get tossed out or donated. They get put away for the next child. But what im trying to get down to in my home. What is in my face everyday is what I'm trying to minimize. I dont want a huge cluttered mess. I dont want laundry for days because we are a family of 8 that really adds up! I want to live a simple life and that includes what is in my home. Simple functional yet homie. I was using your videos for cleaning but have been inspired to get rid of what doesn't need to be here!
You sound like me! I had 6 kids on a farm but they are grown now. Enjoy!
Really great message. It has re-motivated me to declutter our home. I’ll have to try and get my wife on the same page. She’s ok with getting rid of things that we just don’t use anymore, but the challenge is her purchasing more things. Have to work on it. Thanks for sharing your journey.
When purchasing have her ask herself “am I willing to clean this item” “where is this item going to go in my home” and “ do I really want or need this item, or is this an impulse buy”. Sometimes it’s just bringing awareness to what you’re doing. Hopefully those questions help her. I know they helped me. When I realized that I wanted to buy something just because I saw it on T.V. It broke that habit for me. Because I didn’t really want that item, someone else was telling me I had to buy that item or that I somehow needed that item. And I don’t like people telling me what to do. 🤣
You are such a sweetie pie.I can't imagine how someone would be unkind to thinking about that because precious children which are a gift from God might not make you a minimalist. Love your soft, kind voice. I have learned a lot from you.✨🥰
🌸struggling to get started, so overwhelmed and tired all the time
Me too, but I started yesterday and did some paperwork that has been in the closet and accumulating for years. I did a fair amount and now today I have 4 piles that I am looking at on my table and shaking my head and feeling overwhelmed. But tomorrow is a new day and I know I will start again. Little by little is what I tell myself and I also allow myself to take the day off to finish the job I started if I need to. Rome wasn't built in a day and neither was everything I own. Remember the story of the tortuous and the hare? Well, I'm definitely the tortuous. Others will be the hare and that's ok, I'm me and that's ok too. Be blessed and remember to take it one day at a time and to love yourself through it..
Take a step back and Start small. No need to do the entire closet of clothes, be nice to yourselves. . Start with your socks and be happy 😊 it got you started (!) and you finished this job(!) . Some people forget to celebrate the steps😉.
When you're ready for the next step (I suggest a full day break) , do your trousers... And repeat.. Create momentum and keep it small but happy! # ❤️
Whenever you feel it's overwhelming again, step back, try to find the tinyest job in the whole process and get yourself going again. If stuck, keep it, totally ok and don't worry about it, you will get back to it when you're ready.
☺️ Keeping it going is much more important.
Decluttering is a great way to get rid of junk, but it's much more a mental process of learning to keep the bar low for a change. You can do this ❤️
It is not just a process, it is a lifestyle! :)
You have inspired me to work towards a more minimalist lifestyle. Since having children Ive begun to feel like I'm drowning in our possessions. 2021 will be the year I take control of my possessions rather than letting them control me. I know it will bring more calm to my life. Seeing you go back and declutter areas that you already worked on is so very helpful. It's freeing to realize that I don't have to get an area perfect the first time. Thank you for being so open!🌸
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This series has rocked my world! I’ve always been a “purger” as my husband would say, but this series has made me dive even deeper into what I’m holding on to and why. I’m a newer subscriber and also a PNW homeschooler. Loving your channel
I love when you say minimalism looks different. Just purchased a home. I'm getting rid of stuff before we move in. :/
It’s not one and done. Thank you! It truly is a minimalist lifestyle that has personally made my life so much better. I feel so lucky to have found great coaches like you to declutter, tidy and clean as part of my daily routines. I now love my house and the sense of calm and serenity in my home is SO lovely. Just wow ❤️
Thank you for being unapologetically real in your thoughts and in your actions! I so appreciate your channel and decisions. I wish I had started this journey to be simplified way sooner. I am really enjoying it but your videos inspire me to simplify even more! 🌸
This was my 1st video of urs I've watched, &I luv it...I will b going back to watch everything from u;)
Me too!
Thank you. My husband and I have been married 36 years and are now retired. I have recently started full-on decluttering. At first it seemed easy to purge everyday areas. But now I have delved into the deeper clutter and I feel that as I pull it out and make the decisions…I have created a huge mess. I panicked and spent a day trying to organize the decluttering clutter. Lol Now I understand it is a process and a shift in mindset. I am okay. I can do this. Eventually I will see open spaces and feel that my house and myself can breathe again. Everything I have tossed or donated so far has given me such a happy boost and a feeling of confidence and the knowledge that this is my life and I can simplify it.
I love this video. It is helping me feel more confident about moving to a smaller room and just letting things go. God bless you!
Thank you for sharing!!!! Saving to my playlist. And you’re right, “Pinterest perfect” isn’t good for me- or my budget since I’m trying to stay debt free. Yes, yes, yes- the clutter is an huge obstacle in my spiritual journey and relationship with God. I’m hoping to work on it daily- I can’t wait to watch more!!! 🌸🌸🌸
I've always been minimalistic, a lot in Europe are due to being frugal because of the cost of living in our own countries. I could see how it helps not having so much stuff for others, when you've never had it you never miss it and when it's gone you'll forget you ever had it anyway. Health is more important ❤️.
I STARTED MINIMALIZM 3 YEARS BEFORE, NOWI AM IN HEAVEN 💖
You're so realistic. Thank you. This gives me hope that I can get my house to a happy place and turn it into my sanctuary 🌸🌸🌸🌸
Just adding to the flood of positive comments: This video is incredibly well thought out and shows a really unique perspective of what it's like to actually set these systems up in your home.
A lot of other organization/minimalism videos seem to be very repetitive in the sense that they maybe read the same article online somewhere and practice those things with a few variations. There's nothing inherently wrong with those videos, but as someone who's continually trying to organize spaces those videos don't really help much since the core ideas will always remain the same.
This deeper reflection of having to go back and having to continue and maybe modify what you've already done has been my experience as well, but your encouragement, lessons learned, and epiphanies are really inspiring yet practical.
Your approach is so refreshing and real! I’m starting mine this year, and your channel is a goldmine ❤️
Rather a shit-mine.
🌸 stuck to the end! Thank you, I'm at the beginning if my journey and so inspired but still finding it so hard to make progress AND keep up with the regular daily stuff! I know it's possible though and I want that freedom!
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Thank you Natalie for this video. As a Christian, I have been asking God to speak to me a today, and through you, He has done just that ‘where your treasure is, there your heart is also’. Thank you so much. God bless you.
I would love to do work on decluttering my home and go towards a minimal lifestyle, but this spring we will be having a new baby arriving and I just don't think I'm ready to tackle it! Would you make a video on how to start to declutter for those who feel so intimidated or overwhelmed by it?
Start with one thing. A cupboard or the junk drawer. Remember you didn’t accumulate it all at once and decluttering is a journey. Do what you can as you can and don’t pressure yourself to a specific time frame. You can do it! At your own pace.
@@jodytigges1830 that's a great idea! The thought of decluttering just one drawer or cupboard first sounds way more doable than tackling my whole house with a toddler year old + being so pregnant or having a newborn.