I stuff shuffled, pile filed, and bought totes- trying to organize my clutter and excess. I found Marissa, then Dawn, Cass, Dana, and Robyn. I was diagnosed with uterine cancer at the beginning of the pandemic and I began the real work of Swedish death cleaning because if the treatment didn’t work, I didn’t want to leave my son and husband with a mess. I began a MAJOR overhaul in my thinking, and lemme just say the INTENSITY of the inner work was painful. At 42 I had accumulated stuff and emotional clutter. Sorting through the mess-internally and externally was a multi-pronged approach. I had to shift my mentality and my focus on the time I had. I found freedom and friendship in all of you ladies, because I was also experiencing what often happens when people you think will be there begin to distance and remove themselves from your life because it’s less painful for them and accepting the change in relationships and letting them go without blame and sadness. To say the least, it was an emotionally intense time. Fast forward four years- I am in remission and now have a home which we can LIVE IN! It’s stuff and you can’t take it with you. My experience with decluttering and being overwhelmed helped me realize, the harsh(ish?) reality is how much of my time and life I wasted being committed to prioritizing stuff over my mental and emotional healing, which also caused me to have a low quality relationships with the people in my life. The reality is we aren’t guaranteed another day. I’m grateful beyond measure and words for the opportunity to have a better life and to be able to move forward with the time I have been gifted. Ladies, thank you doesn’t even come CLOSE to expressing how valuable you each are. I had a the best support team in each of you- I laughed, cried, and was encouraged by each of you. THANK YOU for your time and for your individual and collaborative positive impact in my life. ❤
Thank you for sharing your painfully learned/earned wisdom. These words of yours are a powerful statement on the importance of decluttering: "My experience with decluttering and being overwhelmed helped me realize, the harsh(ish?) reality is how much of my time and life I wasted being committed to prioritizing stuff over my mental and emotional healing, which also caused me to have a low quality relationships with the people in my life."
Thanks so so much for this heartfelt comment! This is why I do this work and I am so happy for you that things are going so well on all the levels these days!💕🙏🏼🩵
I could have written this... Except I shut down during treatment and afterwards I was just processing everything that happened. I also got c19 a few weeks after finishing treatment and that was scary. Suffice to say---I AM READY NOW! 😅 So glad you are in remission and that you are enjoying more peace in your life. Take care and God bless ❤
The best part of Dana is she has so much conviction to her process. She never waivers on any step. She is spot on, and it works. Her confidence comes because it worked for her and it works for anyone. You can think it won't make your space better (that you're different), but you will be wrong. Keep after it, Dana! Thanks for bringing her and her process to your space, Robyn. Getting more people to know Dana's way is a positive thing!
I’ve been diagnosed ADHD by a therapist, and Dana’s methods work so well I just assumed she had first-hand knowledge. “Take it there now” is amazing. You think you don’t have time or energy, but it’s so much better when it’s actually *done*. Plus, you get in steps, and when you next need it, you know right away. My ADHD-enhanced problem was getting distracted-seeing something else to do-while taking it there. The solution (for me)? Do NOT put down the thing you’re taking. As long as it stayed in my hand, I’d get it put away. But if I put it down, I’d end up in the endless circle. “Take it there now” means exactly that.
"Your house is like your report card as a Mom." Wow, I've read Dana's books and am a long-time follower of her podcast, and am in the Take Your House Back group. And she STILL says stuff that is new to me and resonates so much!
It helped me help my teenage son and he wants me to help him clean and declutter now because I say "I'm your runner, we need to take it there now, where would you look for this first". I had to tell him - your room doesn't need to be the craft storage, the book storage, the pencil/pen storage...our whole family has a place for those things, let's put those things with the family stuff. I think teens want their rooms to be their tiny house. Haha
Hello Dana! This is my first time hearing your process. I would like to add something, if I may. I am disabled with physical limitations. I experience so much anxiety because I can no longer take care of my house. Things pile up and this is not how I like to live. So I want your audience with limitations to please hear this. IT’S OKAY TO ASK FOR HELP! I have a dear friend that comes over and I sit while she pulls something out and I tell her to keep, throw away, or donate. Then she takes trash to the dumpster, donations to the van and I put away the keep items as I feel able to do so. When the van accumulates enough over time, we go to Good Will and they empty the van. I then get to go home with less to take care of, less stress and anxiety and a clearer mind. Please ASK FOR HELP. It truly is ok. ❤
This is great advice even for those without physical limitations. Sometimes it’s easier to accomplish a dreaded task when you have a friend to offer support.
I second this! For those of us who struggle with a disability, the added struggle of clutter creates unneeded stress-which can amplify some disabilities, which puts us into a never-ending spiral. My personal revelation was finding out that gaining control, even a little, helps SO much with my level of emotional energy to deal with my limitations-which helps (sometimes) with my physical energy to deal with more clutter. Ask for help! Others are glad to find something that is so helpful. They can see how their input improves our lives!
It really helps that Dana’s process is judgement free, it doesn’t guilt the person, it’s just about making things manageable. There’s no attack, and no defensiveness. So helpful for families.
I first found the Flylady, followed by Dana, Dawn, Cas, and Robyn. Between these wonderful ladies and their tips/processes, I have my home under control. It isn’t perfect, but we live in it and perfection isn’t real life. Thanks to all these ladies!!! I truly think before buying now!!!!
Before Dana, I always thought that”it has to get worse before it gets better”! For example, I could spend a couple days organizing the spare room. But then… what do I do with all the leftover stuff? I'd tell my husband “it gets worse before it gets better!” Ugh. Her method works so much better for me. I am no where near done decluttering but I have followed her visibility rule (and her dishes rule) . I can get the main areas of the house ready for someone to come is pretty quickly now without ditching stuff in other rooms! Thank you Dana!
Dana has helped me so much with her methods, and I’ve taught my family. They work with our ADHD, and it’s true we had to divest ourselves of so much we acquired in the 90s. Dana and also Dawn from the Minimal Mom have changed our lives. I often quote them in my head and they’ve brought tranquility and peace into our homes. Taking care of this issue of too much stuff is a powerful adjuvant treatment for anxiety also. And whenever I’m sick it reinforces for me how helpful it is to live simply and have a streamlined home and homecare processes.
I lost my house to a fire when my son was 6months old, we move bought a house where I have lived 40 years. My house is so full of stuff now, and I remember moving into my house and I was so much happier, year ago with less then. Now I too am having a hard time decluttering, but you give me hope.
There is hope! 🩵🌟 Sounds like you have legitimate reasons for feeling the need to hold into things and also it’s sounds like you are READY for a change and a mindset shift to simplify your life! ❤️
I did this with photos! I just grabbed a box and decided to look through and see what was in there without pressuring myself in any way. I have ended up thinning down box after box because over time things important to us change!
More support for what Dana says about getting started when you have health/energy limits. Even if you just throw away 2-3 things, or spend just 5 minutes taking a couple things to where they should be, that’s progress! You’re that much better off than before. You’ve done something, and that’s better than nothing. It really does add up. Often it creates momentum, but even if that’s all that gets done, at least *that* is done.
The very first helpful organizing ideas I ever heard were from Dana. 1. Take it there now ( I repeat it when I have something just in my hand!). 2. If you needed to find this item, where is the first place you would look? (This one was the solution I needed. I never knew where to put everything away or where was the best place until I asked myself that question and it never fails. ). Thank you for having Dana on the show and thank you Dana for being such a great teacher.
OMG! I had to pause this video because I identify with ALL of the examples, in all the stages in my life. I really love Dana's method, I just started with the 'is it trash method' and I have already cleared several spaces in my home. Even my husband has started decluttering and fixing some things around the house. Thank you so much!
I've used Dana's 5 step process with my young adult daughter and it makes it less confrontational and stressful. Because you start with trash the room starts looking better. No judgement just trash, donate or keep.😊
I love the cupboard door open behind Dana. She had a kitchen video years ago where she worked around an open door without even seeing it would have been easier just to close it. I think it was her family that noticed that she just didn’t see it.
The statement about idealists was brilliant. Yes! My sister will ask me to put something in the giveaway bin, but they won't take electronics for instance, so then she'll say well, recycle it. But they don't take electronics either. I'll throw it away, it's trash. If you aren't using it and it's just collecting dust here IT CAN BE TRASH! It's OKAY! lol
I don't know if I just haven't listened before. I've been decluttering my house for years and years but I take something to another room and I start in that room. Then I take something to the trash and I start it there and my whole house has something started and piled up and not finished My daughter will say stay on task stay on task stay on task. That seems to help me most when she's here, which can't be often. I'm going to listen to you as I declutter I think maybe that will be helpful. I keep thinking I'm going to be dead in my house is in the condition it's in and I don't want to leave it this way. Thank you Dana. I think you're the most relatable, especially since you don't talk about being a minimalist. Just simple living. What's going to work for that person? The sites where people are minimalist is kind of overwhelming. To begin with, they show you their home and you're like I'll never get there. Never
Thank you so much for this podcast with Dana! It is so helpful. Over the last several years, we have decluttered, donated, and given away kitchen items, clothing, house decor, furniture. That was great! But now we are soon retiring, downsizing and moving across the country , and I am still feeling like we have too much stuff. Now it's down to the family keepsakes and such that decision making is so much harder. So this is just what I needed. Thank you!!
It is so hard to think straight when there is simply TOO MUCH stuff! I’m glad to hear you talking about this in the passes tense. While decluttering never ends, we can bet to a place that I call “maintenance” and it’s way easier than the initial stages. 💕
Dana, your. Ethics have helped me and my family so much ! I repeat your steps to my kids and husband and I hear you in my head. Life changing !! Your help spreads and will resonate down the years. Thank-you !
Enjoyed this video very much. I follow Dana! I find that using her step method keeps me from buying "bargains" that I don't need because I know that I will have to make more decisions when I bring more STUFF into my house! Making decisions to get rid of things I spent hard earned money on is really hard for me. So less stuff is less decisions! 😊
Dana's decluttering process is unlike any other out there and that's why it works for everyone anytime. One minute, two minutes, an hour or more. Only progress. Her container concept will shift your way of thinking and you'll never go back. She's brilliant.
This video is great. My problem is other people in my house such as my husband. I can reduce clutter, clean etc. But my husband doesn't follow the plan. Very frustrating.
This can be hard! I’m not sure what you mean by the plan, but I do hope you find a way to address your frustrations with him or simply find ways to guide him to change / get with the plan! Good luck. 🤞🏼🌟
Progress is success! I love it! I always look at the box of donations and say out loud "Well, its not everything, but I won't have to declutter this stuff again!" G Ire
I LOVED lay away! Hee, hee, antique stores in my neighborhood still let me “pay on time” w/o interest. It’s good because you set a due date when you will have it paid off. 👍 Of course, nowadays I am more likely to be taking things to them instead of buying more! 🤩
I love Dana, her approach has helped me so much. The "oh I can do something with that" 😂 that's me! 😂 I see the value in everything. But I'm making better decisions and I'm able to part with things more. I love the "Take it there now". And "where's the first place you would look for it?" Not, where you think it should go or where other people say it should go but where you would look for it? Where would I look for it? I just love that!
You're just a gem! Dana, you're so down to earth, and us mums feel alot better bc of your great advice and I don't feel alone in this. God bless you. ❤
I listened to just the first 20 min and I was hooked. Great insight and practicality, coming from someone who is on a serious de-cluttering journey and finding voices of wisdom and sanity in these women! I am learning to stop blaming myself and look at outside forces and being forgiving of not "knowing" how to maintain a household. No one ever passed a manual to me, even when I was living at home! I thought I would be a perpetual slob... ;( and just didn't get the organization thing down. Now I know there are other forces at work. Bravo to meaningful, practical, life-changing information.
In the Netherlands there still are a lot of shops, most smaller ones, that don't accept creditcards! I now have my first creditcard for 3 years and only for buying courses and ebooks in your country😇
In the area where I live in Michigan many small shops are cash only. Some even allow payment on the honor system by putting cash into box on counter. Imagine such a world!!!
I ended up decluttering one of my cube shelves while listening to your video lol. My clutter is the semi-organized kind. When I finally put everything away (clothes are the worst and sit in a basket clean lol) I have tucked away pockets of clutter that doesn’t look bad. I have cut down on the clutter a bunch but still have more so another round is immanent. I will be moving out and setting up a house soon and I have gathered the necessities but will figure out what else I need after that. 100% agree on the “but I can think in clutter.” I actually am mildly disturbed with the clean space right after cleaning up. This is why as a reader and book collector I started consciously limiting which and how many books I brought in because I like having “my things” around me (I may be part dragon lol). My fiancé commented that when I start moving my things in the month before the wedding I could start with books and I was like “nope, those stay with me” 😂
I just started declitter journey. Only remove trash donate leave what i want to keep is where im at. i find the decisions arent hard yet Not worrying about organizing much. also find its easier to put stuff aside to put where it belongs after declutter session. I lose mementum if i start walking back and forth across the house. Your advice is truly appreciated. Thank you!
It feels like I can do this process. The No Mess aspect attracts me. Because I get completely overwhelmed by the Mess during the decluttering. Thank you for this video. Love and Light to all of us.
@@MinimalistHome Yes, I thought of you yesterday. I threw out A Black Trash Bag of Trash. It felt so good. A bag full of recycled containers that I thought I would use for storage . All gone. Inspired by your video. Thank you.
That’s my issue….i keep putting it off and saying on this day-this week-this time frame, I’m gonna start declutterring and it never happens. It’s a vicious cycle of running on a hamster wheel
There are so many resources out there and yet sometimes the research becomes its own form of procrastination… if you haven’t already, please sign up for my newsletter and join my Facebook group! For many of us, having a community of people working together makes all the difference! 🤞🏼💪🏼✅
@@jenforbes661 such a great way to look at it "better" maybe not done but better. 5 minutes can make a difference and if done consistently, watch out :)
Love Dana! Have been following her since she shared her struggles to get her own house in order. She was so brave to post her own photos of her home as she was perfecting her method. I bought her very first ebook of that process. Admire her so much! She is about the age of my own children.
Take it there really works! I have some ADD, officially diagnosed by coworkers and my husband! I love the feeling of finishing then if i find something more important to do I can do that with no guilt or mess. It really reinforces the whole "a place for everything" concept, too. And I tend to toss some junk to make that item fit better to boot, when it's easy, not an elaborate organizational task.
My clutter is the semi-organized kind. When I finally put everything away (clothes are the worst and sit in a basket clean lol) I have tucked away pockets of clutter that doesn’t look bad. I have cut down on the clutter a bunch but still have more so another round is immanent. I will be moving out and setting up a house soon and I have gathered the necessities but will figure out what else I need after that.
Scanning paper clutter seems like a good idea, but unless you have a system for naming digital files and/or sorting them so you can find them when you need them, you're really just converting it into digital clutter. Same goes for photos.
Listening to this while decluttering at 11.30 pm. While you were talking about how you just end up shuffling clutter around after you throw it in a random box I found a skein of cotton yarn from my sock drawer. Why is it there? Because I don't have a place for it because my craft boxed are behind boxes of random stuff so I just threw it in my sock drawer when I had people coming over.
Love your book, Decluttering at the Speed of Life!!! Need to get the others now... Random side note, what is the color of red nail polish you are wearing in the interview? Love it!
I so identify with the garage sales. I used to go to them and hold them, too. Now, I wonder why, just why, did I need to buy all that stuff??? I do still own a few useful garage sale pieces to this day, but much prefer quality over quantity.
I love Dana! Take it there now has been awesome for me as well I've also been told I have ADHD, but never interested in getting diagnosed. I love being asked why! It makes me feel like someone is interested in me. 😊
Interesting! I totally get it. Asking WHY can be done in so many different ways and feels different to different people. I like to help people (who are ready and curious about this) to ask why they are in a situation of having clutter and this CAN usually help them to let it go faster. They need to want to dig into this though, so it’s not the same as asking “OMG, WHY do you have all this clutter?” 🌺
I love the fact that Dana is so real - she often talks about cupboard doors and I spotted an open cupboard door behind her. 😂 x The display is beautiful though and one day I WILL achieve that. X
Ninja creami is a great appliance. Make your own simple ice cream or sorbet. Can do add ins with dark chocolate chips or put some mint flavoring or fresh fruit. It's super good. Try it. My fav treat without all the additives/preservatives.
I put my kids least used toys in a black trash bag in the shed. If they ask for them I will give them back. I keep the bags for about 3 months. They have never asked for toys back. I have decluttered over 20 yard bags this way. Both my sons are neurodivergent. We are now moving into the container concept now that we can actually get into their rooms.
Exactly that. My AuDHD son will never even part with a scrap of paper unless he's forgotten it exists. The "limbo" / "time will tell" boxes are the only way that works for him! ... Sure kiddo has the memory of an elephant and names half the items (and gets them back) BUT the net result is half a box still leaves 🥳
I find this funny about credit cards 😅 in Canada credit card can be use EVERYWHERE 😆 Even Dollorama take credit card now. Very nice podcast I love it 💛
Yes! We were maltât comparing how they are used more these days than 20-30 years ago, but I think you might be right about them being even more common here in Canada! 🇨🇦 🤪
My favorite recent quote I found of Dana's, while going through the blog 'backwards' is ... "Dana, Salutatorian, total disaster" Referring to how well you can function when focused on a goal you love ❤
Oh yes! Definitely! Especially the idea to always do the dishes before starting anything else and then straying with the trash in any area (including the kitchen / dishes). 🥰🥰🥰
ADHD *and* OCD (and severe back pain and bi-polar) are killing me, and I honestly believe it's contributing to the breakdown of my marriage. I think these ideas may, no, *will* help, though it may take longer than I'd like. Edited to fix spelling.
Simplifying your home as much as you possibly can will definitely help you along the way! Don’t be afraid to ask for extra help from a coach, if needed. 🤞🏼💪🏼💕
I so understand that part I am the person that can't do what I want to do because I have too much stuss to do to get to the stuff, that I want to do. Also it takes me a week or 2 to get ready for an event. Now got a leek in the kitchen and the company packed 140 + boxes of stem ware and dishes ect & & &... Now what HELP!!!😢
Don't ask why because often people may not even know why. It is anxiety provoking to try to figure out why to answer that question. They may know why and feel embarrassed or they may just be unable to verbalize it.
Very good point! My coaching style includes a lot of why as I’m all about getting at the underlying issues, but I recognize that this works for people at a certain point in their journey. 🙏🏼
I am a mom of 5. My primary thing I did was teach my 3 youngest at home. My two oldest were taught in public school because I though that was what everyone did and I had no other alternative. I went to Catholic School till 8th grade. After doing research I learned giving your children a lot of one on one learning was better for them to retain what they learn. Also I found out in regular school each child only gets 15 minutes of actual ‘learning’ in a 5 hour day. The rest of the time is in discipline, handing out finished test papers, and keeping order in the classroom. Plus you know who your children hang out with and today, what they are teaching. Today schools can be dangerous when we hear about the fights, shootings and violence that goes on today, it is not your fathers school. Things were so different back then. What happened? I taught my 3 youngest and my 2 oldest were jealous! Yes actually jealous they weren’t taught at home. They told me “Mom you have no idea what goes on in public schools.” My 3 youngest I taught all 12 years of schooling and found out through the resting we had to do twice a year, my kids were 3 years ahead of public schooled kids. They tested 2nd year college. level by the time they finished school.
I stuff shuffled, pile filed, and bought totes- trying to organize my clutter and excess. I found Marissa, then Dawn, Cass, Dana, and Robyn. I was diagnosed with uterine cancer at the beginning of the pandemic and I began the real work of Swedish death cleaning because if the treatment didn’t work, I didn’t want to leave my son and husband with a mess. I began a MAJOR overhaul in my thinking, and lemme just say the INTENSITY of the inner work was painful. At 42 I had accumulated stuff and emotional clutter. Sorting through the mess-internally and externally was a multi-pronged approach. I had to shift my mentality and my focus on the time I had. I found freedom and friendship in all of you ladies, because I was also experiencing what often happens when people you think will be there begin to distance and remove themselves from your life because it’s less painful for them and accepting the change in relationships and letting them go without blame and sadness. To say the least, it was an emotionally intense time. Fast forward four years- I am in remission and now have a home which we can LIVE IN! It’s stuff and you can’t take it with you. My experience with decluttering and being overwhelmed helped me realize, the harsh(ish?) reality is how much of my time and life I wasted being committed to prioritizing stuff over my mental and emotional healing, which also caused me to have a low quality relationships with the people in my life. The reality is we aren’t guaranteed another day. I’m grateful beyond measure and words for the opportunity to have a better life and to be able to move forward with the time I have been gifted. Ladies, thank you doesn’t even come CLOSE to expressing how valuable you each are. I had a the best support team in each of you- I laughed, cried, and was encouraged by each of you. THANK YOU for your time and for your individual and collaborative positive impact in my life. ❤
Thank you for sharing your painfully learned/earned wisdom. These words of yours are a powerful statement on the importance of decluttering: "My experience with decluttering and being overwhelmed helped me realize, the harsh(ish?) reality is how much of my time and life I wasted being committed to prioritizing stuff over my mental and emotional healing, which also caused me to have a low quality relationships with the people in my life."
Thanks so so much for this heartfelt comment! This is why I do this work and I am so happy for you that things are going so well on all the levels these days!💕🙏🏼🩵
I could have written this... Except I shut down during treatment and afterwards I was just processing everything that happened. I also got c19 a few weeks after finishing treatment and that was scary. Suffice to say---I AM READY NOW! 😅 So glad you are in remission and that you are enjoying more peace in your life. Take care and God bless ❤
What is c19?@@KissyHug
The best part of Dana is she has so much conviction to her process. She never waivers on any step. She is spot on, and it works. Her confidence comes because it worked for her and it works for anyone. You can think it won't make your space better (that you're different), but you will be wrong. Keep after it, Dana! Thanks for bringing her and her process to your space, Robyn. Getting more people to know Dana's way is a positive thing!
Thank you for this comment and your support! 🙏🏼🩵🌺
Agree!
I agree. I watch her on UA-cam and got her books from my library. Great ideas. Listening to this while I declutter is inspiring. TFS
I've been team Dana for years! She speaks Squirrel brain! Other organizers are born that way. A lot of us had to be taught.
Love Dana’s methods! It takes the pain out of facing things and making progress
Dana K White is amazing! Her container method is pure gold!!!
Her take it there now, is such a game changer!
Fantastic video!
Yes! Thank you! 😊
I’ve been diagnosed ADHD by a therapist, and Dana’s methods work so well I just assumed she had first-hand knowledge.
“Take it there now” is amazing. You think you don’t have time or energy, but it’s so much better when it’s actually *done*. Plus, you get in steps, and when you next need it, you know right away.
My ADHD-enhanced problem was getting distracted-seeing something else to do-while taking it there. The solution (for me)? Do NOT put down the thing you’re taking. As long as it stayed in my hand, I’d get it put away. But if I put it down, I’d end up in the endless circle.
“Take it there now” means exactly that.
That’s a great rule for this rule! 💪🏼
"Your house is like your report card as a Mom."
Wow, I've read Dana's books and am a long-time follower of her podcast, and am in the Take Your House Back group. And she STILL says stuff that is new to me and resonates so much!
🎉💕
"Take it there now" process has helped me to get my home in order.
That’s great!
Anytime I'm tempted to lay something down or not do a simple task I hear "Take It There Now" 😊😂❤
It helped me help my teenage son and he wants me to help him clean and declutter now because I say "I'm your runner, we need to take it there now, where would you look for this first". I had to tell him - your room doesn't need to be the craft storage, the book storage, the pencil/pen storage...our whole family has a place for those things, let's put those things with the family stuff. I think teens want their rooms to be their tiny house. Haha
Hello Dana! This is my first time hearing your process. I would like to add something, if I may. I am disabled with physical limitations. I experience so much anxiety because I can no longer take care of my house. Things pile up and this is not how I like to live. So I want your audience with limitations to please hear this. IT’S OKAY TO ASK FOR HELP! I have a dear friend that comes over and I sit while she pulls something out and I tell her to keep, throw away, or donate. Then she takes trash to the dumpster, donations to the van and I put away the keep items as I feel able to do so. When the van accumulates enough over time, we go to Good Will and they empty the van. I then get to go home with less to take care of, less stress and anxiety and a clearer mind. Please ASK FOR HELP. It truly is ok. ❤
This is wonderful advice! I’m so glad you’ve figured out this system and have a friend to help! 🌺
So sad that many people won’t accept help because they don’t want people to see their “mess”.
This is great advice even for those without physical limitations. Sometimes it’s easier to accomplish a dreaded task when you have a friend to offer support.
I second this! For those of us who struggle with a disability, the added struggle of clutter creates unneeded stress-which can amplify some disabilities, which puts us into a never-ending spiral. My personal revelation was finding out that gaining control, even a little, helps SO much with my level of emotional energy to deal with my limitations-which helps (sometimes) with my physical energy to deal with more clutter. Ask for help! Others are glad to find something that is so helpful. They can see how their input improves our lives!
It really helps that Dana’s process is judgement free, it doesn’t guilt the person, it’s just about making things manageable. There’s no attack, and no defensiveness. So helpful for families.
I first found the Flylady, followed by Dana, Dawn, Cas, and Robyn. Between these wonderful ladies and their tips/processes, I have my home under control. It isn’t perfect, but we live in it and perfection isn’t real life. Thanks to all these ladies!!! I truly think before buying now!!!!
Wonderful! 🎉🎉🎉
So good!
Diane in Denmark 🇩🇰 too
@@jenforbes661 Love Diane in Denmark. She makes me so happy :)
@@jenforbes661 yes….i watch her, too.
Before Dana, I always thought that”it has to get worse before it gets better”! For example, I could spend a couple days organizing the spare room. But then… what do I do with all the leftover stuff? I'd tell my husband “it gets worse before it gets better!” Ugh. Her method works so much better for me. I am no where near done decluttering but I have followed her visibility rule (and her dishes rule) . I can get the main areas of the house ready for someone to come is pretty quickly now without ditching stuff in other rooms! Thank you Dana!
💪🏼🎉✅
Love this!
I agree. I thought the same thing about getting it messy before it will improve.
Dana has helped me so much with her methods, and I’ve taught my family. They work with our ADHD, and it’s true we had to divest ourselves of so much we acquired in the 90s. Dana and also Dawn from the Minimal Mom have changed our lives. I often quote them in my head and they’ve brought tranquility and peace into our homes. Taking care of this issue of too much stuff is a powerful adjuvant treatment for anxiety also. And whenever I’m sick it reinforces for me how helpful it is to live simply and have a streamlined home and homecare processes.
After 10 years of decluttering, I can say that it absolutely is a muscle that gets easier with use ❤
Yes--the 80s and 90s were all about accumulating! I too, didn't realize my cleaning problems were really about having too much stuff!
🤪💪🏼✅
I lost my house to a fire when my son was 6months old, we move bought a house where I have lived 40 years. My house is so full of stuff now, and I remember moving into my house and I was so much happier, year ago with less then.
Now I too am having a hard time decluttering, but you give me hope.
There is hope! 🩵🌟
Sounds like you have legitimate reasons for feeling the need to hold into things and also it’s sounds like you are READY for a change and a mindset shift to simplify your life! ❤️
Dana K. White turned my life around. 😃
💪🏼✅🌟
Me too!!! Her advice works for my brain
Your process is perfect for us ADHDers, as every step gets you progress! Your 5 steps were lifesavers. Thank you dear Dana.
Glad it was helpful! 🌺
I did this with photos! I just grabbed a box and decided to look through and see what was in there without pressuring myself in any way. I have ended up thinning down box after box because over time things important to us change!
Thanks for sharing this’ and YES! What we value shifts and evolves and that’s okay and sometimes a great way to let things go!
More support for what Dana says about getting started when you have health/energy limits. Even if you just throw away 2-3 things, or spend just 5 minutes taking a couple things to where they should be, that’s progress! You’re that much better off than before. You’ve done something, and that’s better than nothing. It really does add up. Often it creates momentum, but even if that’s all that gets done, at least *that* is done.
Yes! And it also builds your confidence and momentum. Wonderful to hear this feedback! 🌟
The very first helpful organizing ideas I ever heard were from Dana. 1. Take it there now ( I repeat it when I have something just in my hand!). 2. If you needed to find this item, where is the first place you would look? (This one was the solution I needed. I never knew where to put everything away or where was the best place until I asked myself that question and it never fails. ). Thank you for having Dana on the show and thank you Dana for being such a great teacher.
Wonderful! You’re welcome! 💕
Dana has helped me soooo much!!! She understands my brain!
🎉🎉🎉
OMG! I had to pause this video because I identify with ALL of the examples, in all the stages in my life. I really love Dana's method, I just started with the 'is it trash method' and I have already cleared several spaces in my home. Even my husband has started decluttering and fixing some things around the house. Thank you so much!
Wonderful! 🌺
I've read all of Dana's books (that are out as of May 2024), and I have to say her insights are PROFOUND! I love her; thank you for this episode!
You’re welcome! Yes! 🙏🏼
I've used Dana's 5 step process with my young adult daughter and it makes it less confrontational and stressful. Because you start with trash the room starts looking better. No judgement just trash, donate or keep.😊
Inspiring! 💛
Excellent talk! Her decluttering method is like no other.
Glad you liked it! 💕
I love her!!!
Totally down to hearth and teaching self acceptance to make peace with our life❤
🙏🏼🌟🌺
I love the cupboard door open behind Dana. She had a kitchen video years ago where she worked around an open door without even seeing it would have been easier just to close it. I think it was her family that noticed that she just didn’t see it.
Didn’t know if anyone else noticed this.
I didn't see it either. 😅
🤪💛🙏🏼
1st thing I noticed, and it’s making me nutty, lol
I love to watch both Robyn & Dana. Having them together is even better.
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Dana speaks like she's reading my mind. Can't let anyone in, if people see my house they'll reconsider their opinion on my other work. ❤
Yes! That’s a big A-ha! 🌟
I often quote Dana K. White. My husband is very familiar with her name and philosophy
Wonderful! 🌟
The statement about idealists was brilliant. Yes! My sister will ask me to put something in the giveaway bin, but they won't take electronics for instance, so then she'll say well, recycle it. But they don't take electronics either. I'll throw it away, it's trash. If you aren't using it and it's just collecting dust here IT CAN BE TRASH! It's OKAY! lol
Yes!!! (& It seems that some stores that sell electronics now have recycling stations now, in case you want to look into that). 💪🏼💛
@@MinimalistHome Oh! I have seen that, at Staples. Thanks for the reminder!
5 minutes in and already love it. sooo relatable! thanks to both of you 💕🎀💕
🎉👋🏼🌺
I don't know if I just haven't listened before. I've been decluttering my house for years and years but I take something to another room and I start in that room. Then I take something to the trash and I start it there and my whole house has something started and piled up and not finished My daughter will say stay on task stay on task stay on task. That seems to help me most when she's here, which can't be often. I'm going to listen to you as I declutter I think maybe that will be helpful. I keep thinking I'm going to be dead in my house is in the condition it's in and I don't want to leave it this way. Thank you Dana. I think you're the most relatable, especially since you don't talk about being a minimalist. Just simple living. What's going to work for that person? The sites where people are minimalist is kind of overwhelming. To begin with, they show you their home and you're like I'll never get there. Never
Woot woot! We get another video before summer break!
Yes! Great timing! 🎉
WHERE would I look for this? YES! No decision just WHERE🤗
Yes!!! 🎉
Excellent interview! It always sounds so do able when Dana explains it!
Glad you enjoyed it! 👌🏼✅
Thank you so much for this podcast with Dana! It is so helpful. Over the last several years, we have decluttered, donated, and given away kitchen items, clothing, house decor, furniture. That was great! But now we are soon retiring, downsizing and moving across the country , and I am still feeling like we have too much stuff. Now it's down to the family keepsakes and such that decision making is so much harder. So this is just what I needed. Thank you!!
This was my life for years. I had tons of stuff just stacked in laundry baskets, never knowing what to do with them.
It is so hard to think straight when there is simply TOO MUCH stuff! I’m glad to hear you talking about this in the passes tense. While decluttering never ends, we can bet to a place that I call “maintenance” and it’s way easier than the initial stages. 💕
Wow, so much of what she said hit home!! TYSM 🎉
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Dana, your. Ethics have helped me and my family so much ! I repeat your steps to my kids and husband and I hear you in my head. Life changing !! Your help spreads and will resonate down the years. Thank-you !
Enjoyed this video very much. I follow Dana! I find that using her step method keeps me from buying "bargains" that I don't need because I know that I will have to make more decisions when I bring more STUFF into my house! Making decisions to get rid of things I spent hard earned money on is really hard for me. So less stuff is less decisions! 😊
Awesome! 🌟
Dana's decluttering process is unlike any other out there and that's why it works for everyone anytime. One minute, two minutes, an hour or more. Only progress. Her container concept will shift your way of thinking and you'll never go back. She's brilliant.
This video is great. My problem is other people in my house such as my husband. I can reduce clutter, clean etc. But my husband doesn't follow the plan. Very frustrating.
This can be hard! I’m not sure what you mean by the plan, but I do hope you find a way to address your frustrations with him or simply find ways to guide him to change / get with the plan! Good luck. 🤞🏼🌟
Progress is success! I love it! I always look at the box of donations and say out loud "Well, its not everything, but I won't have to declutter this stuff again!" G Ire
Yesssss!
Yes, I do this too. Often my sister will remind me to be happy with any progress because I still see a big mess.
@@carolg.6838 The 'empty'/tidy areas will eventually 'join up'! Be encouraged! And you are developing 'decluttering muscles' as you go! XG Ire
@@SF-ru3lp Thank you.
I LOVED lay away!
Hee, hee, antique stores in my neighborhood still let me “pay on time” w/o interest. It’s good because you set a due date when you will have it paid off. 👍 Of course, nowadays I am more likely to be taking things to them instead of buying more! 🤩
Love that! 🪑 💛
I love Dana, her approach has helped me so much.
The "oh I can do something with that" 😂 that's me! 😂
I see the value in everything.
But I'm making better decisions and I'm able to part with things more.
I love the "Take it there now".
And "where's the first place you would look for it?" Not, where you think it should go or where other people say it should go but where you would look for it? Where would I look for it? I just love that!
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You're just a gem! Dana, you're so down to earth, and us mums feel alot better bc of your great advice and I don't feel alone in this. God bless you. ❤
I listened to just the first 20 min and I was hooked. Great insight and practicality, coming from someone who is on a serious de-cluttering journey and finding voices of wisdom and sanity in these women! I am learning to stop blaming myself and look at outside forces and being forgiving of not "knowing" how to maintain a household. No one ever passed a manual to me, even when I was living at home! I thought I would be a perpetual slob... ;( and just didn't get the organization thing down. Now I know there are other forces at work. Bravo to meaningful, practical, life-changing information.
Wonderful! 🦋💪🏼🎉
Love Dana & her process is life-changing!! ❤️
🦋🎉💪🏼
In the Netherlands there still are a lot of shops, most smaller ones, that don't accept creditcards!
I now have my first creditcard for 3 years and only for buying courses and ebooks in your country😇
Wow. That’s great. Glad you have one for those special purposes!!!’ 🌟
In the area where I live in Michigan many small shops are cash only. Some even allow payment on the honor system by putting cash into box on counter. Imagine such a world!!!
Thank you for a wonderful conversation ❤
You’re very welcome! 💛🙏🏼
I ended up decluttering one of my cube shelves while listening to your video lol.
My clutter is the semi-organized kind. When I finally put everything away (clothes are the worst and sit in a basket clean lol) I have tucked away pockets of clutter that doesn’t look bad. I have cut down on the clutter a bunch but still have more so another round is immanent.
I will be moving out and setting up a house soon and I have gathered the necessities but will figure out what else I need after that.
100% agree on the “but I can think in clutter.” I actually am mildly disturbed with the clean space right after cleaning up. This is why as a reader and book collector I started consciously limiting which and how many books I brought in because I like having “my things” around me (I may be part dragon lol). My fiancé commented that when I start moving my things in the month before the wedding I could start with books and I was like “nope, those stay with me” 😂
☺️🙏🏼💕
Take it there now and where would I look for it first? Those are what I needed!!
Absolutely!!
Great interview. I love Dana’s method!
This was amazing! So much good information.
Glad it was helpful! 👌🏼
I just started declitter journey. Only remove trash donate leave what i want to keep is where im at. i find the decisions arent hard yet Not worrying about organizing much. also find its easier to put stuff aside to put where it belongs after declutter session. I lose mementum if i start walking back and forth across the house. Your advice is truly appreciated. Thank you!
Wonderful! Keep at it! Have you joined my Facebook group or signed up for my newsletter? Lots of fun stuff coming this Fall! 🍁
And take-it-there-now is free exercise!
Right! 🏃🏻♀️
You are fabulously motivating, whenever I’m feeling overwhelmed, I turn to your channel. Thank you!
Awesome! Thank you!🙏🏼 🌟
ha! My most fun kid was the messy one when he was little, definitely! Now, he's married and they just bought a house, it is neat as a pin.
Good to hear!!
Dana has been God sent Angel for helping me on decluttering journey. Thank you so much, Dana. Got all your books . When is your next book coming out.
💕 Check Dana’s website for book information! 🎉
Great interview - I appreciate that you let the guest share.
Glad you enjoyed it! 💐
Wonderful, Robyn! Dana, Decluttering at the Speed of Life was such a gamechanger for me! Huge! You have improved my life! Thank you!
Wonderful! 🌺
whoopie what a pleasant suprise ..glad to see another video..thanks again
Hooray! 🦋
It feels like I can do this process.
The No Mess aspect attracts me. Because I get completely overwhelmed by the Mess during the decluttering.
Thank you for this video.
Love and Light to all of us.
Wonderful! 🩵🩵🩵
@@MinimalistHome Yes, I thought of you yesterday. I threw out A Black Trash Bag of Trash. It felt so good.
A bag full of recycled containers that I thought I would use for storage
. All gone.
Inspired by your video.
Thank you.
I love Dana! She cracks me up. I can relate to her so much. I need to get back to her method again.
That’s my issue….i keep putting it off and saying on this day-this week-this time frame, I’m gonna start declutterring and it never happens. It’s a vicious cycle of running on a hamster wheel
A coach can be a great help.
There are so many resources out there and yet sometimes the research becomes its own form of procrastination… if you haven’t already, please sign up for my newsletter and join my Facebook group! For many of us, having a community of people working together makes all the difference! 🤞🏼💪🏼✅
5 minutes better....
@@jenforbes661 such a great way to look at it "better" maybe not done but better. 5 minutes can make a difference and if done consistently, watch out :)
Thanks!! Where do I sign up for your newsletter?
This was so great!
Thank you!
Great interview ❤
Thanks so much 🙏🏼
Oh, I love Dana! Our brains are so alike! I chuckled when I noticed the cabinet door open behind her...
Love Dana! Have been following her since she shared her struggles to get her own house in order. She was so brave to post her own photos of her home as she was perfecting her method. I bought her very first ebook of that process. Admire her so much! She is about the age of my own children.
Thanks so much!
Take it there really works! I have some ADD, officially diagnosed by coworkers and my husband! I love the feeling of finishing then if i find something more important to do I can do that with no guilt or mess. It really reinforces the whole "a place for everything" concept, too. And I tend to toss some junk to make that item fit better to boot, when it's easy, not an elaborate organizational task.
Wonderful! 💛
My clutter is the semi-organized kind. When I finally put everything away (clothes are the worst and sit in a basket clean lol) I have tucked away pockets of clutter that doesn’t look bad. I have cut down on the clutter a bunch but still have more so another round is immanent.
I will be moving out and setting up a house soon and I have gathered the necessities but will figure out what else I need after that.
👍🏼🌟💛
Wow, there were so many great nuggets of info here.
Glad it was helpful! 💕
Great interview. I love you both 🤗
Thanks so much! 💕💕
Ah yes, garage sales. Fabulous stuff that filled up my downstairs.
Scanning paper clutter seems like a good idea, but unless you have a system for naming digital files and/or sorting them so you can find them when you need them, you're really just converting it into digital clutter. Same goes for photos.
Good point!
If toi go through the effort, it basically needs to be only the most important items and with a plan to organize them.
👍🏼🦋
I relate to her so much. My whole life and how I was raised in complete clutter, it’s such a challenge 🥲
💪🏼🌺🤞🏼
@MinimalistHome please check out my blog and other resources!
I owe so much to "Noni" (AKA Dana K White). Her process has just clicked with me more than anything else. My home is MANAGEABLE at last!
🙏🏼💕🌟
Listening to this while decluttering at 11.30 pm. While you were talking about how you just end up shuffling clutter around after you throw it in a random box I found a skein of cotton yarn from my sock drawer. Why is it there? Because I don't have a place for it because my craft boxed are behind boxes of random stuff so I just threw it in my sock drawer when I had people coming over.
Sounds like an A-ha moment! Glad you enjoyed the interview! 🥳
Dana is sooo smart!!!
Yes!!!! 🎉
Love your book, Decluttering at the Speed of Life!!! Need to get the others now...
Random side note, what is the color of red nail polish you are wearing in the interview? Love it!
I don’t know the name of it. Thanks! 🙏🏼
I so identify with the garage sales. I used to go to them and hold them, too. Now, I wonder why, just why, did I need to buy all that stuff??? I do still own a few useful garage sale pieces to this day, but much prefer quality over quantity.
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I love Dana! Take it there now has been awesome for me as well I've also been told I have ADHD, but never interested in getting diagnosed. I love being asked why! It makes me feel like someone is interested in me. 😊
Interesting! I totally get it. Asking WHY can be done in so many different ways and feels different to different people. I like to help people (who are ready and curious about this) to ask why they are in a situation of having clutter and this CAN usually help them to let it go faster. They need to want to dig into this though, so it’s not the same as asking “OMG, WHY do you have all this clutter?” 🌺
Totally! Asking why can sound like a challenge when it's asked in a certain way! Maybe I like to be challenged LOL
The more I listen to this, the more it makes me think of really good Boundaries❤
Yes! Great point! With ourselves, our space and our family! (And stores… and people who want to give us stuff…. Etc.). 👌🏼
Really appreciate this conversation. Thanks!
Thanks so much! 🌺
I love the fact that Dana is so real - she often talks about cupboard doors and I spotted an open cupboard door behind her. 😂 x The display is beautiful though and one day I WILL achieve that. X
Yes! 🥰
Ninja creami is a great appliance. Make your own simple ice cream or sorbet. Can do add ins with dark chocolate chips or put some mint flavoring or fresh fruit. It's super good. Try it. My fav treat without all the additives/preservatives.
Exciting!🩵
Love this video!!
So glad!🙂
Dana's book started me on my decluttering journey years ago and it's so funny, you will laugh out loud!
🤣💪🏼👍🏼
so very true thanks again
Thanks for watching! 🦋
💜
I put my kids least used toys in a black trash bag in the shed. If they ask for them I will give them back. I keep the bags for about 3 months. They have never asked for toys back. I have decluttered over 20 yard bags this way. Both my sons are neurodivergent. We are now moving into the container concept now that we can actually get into their rooms.
Sneaky and respectful and apparently effective! 💪🏼
Exactly that. My AuDHD son will never even part with a scrap of paper unless he's forgotten it exists. The "limbo" / "time will tell" boxes are the only way that works for him!
... Sure kiddo has the memory of an elephant and names half the items (and gets them back) BUT the net result is half a box still leaves 🥳
Dana, you just get me. Thank you.
I find this funny about credit cards 😅 in Canada credit card can be use EVERYWHERE 😆 Even Dollorama take credit card now. Very nice podcast I love it 💛
Yes! We were maltât comparing how they are used more these days than 20-30 years ago, but I think you might be right about them being even more common here in Canada! 🇨🇦 🤪
@@MinimalistHome If you use your credit card smartly you can make money with it, or travel point, but need self control and pay each month.
My favorite recent quote I found of Dana's, while going through the blog 'backwards' is ... "Dana, Salutatorian, total disaster"
Referring to how well you can function when focused on a goal you love ❤
Love that! 🌟
Have you tried this was a hoarder? I'm curious if this would work with people like that. It helps me a lot
Oh yes! Definitely! Especially the idea to always do the dishes before starting anything else and then straying with the trash in any area (including the kitchen / dishes). 🥰🥰🥰
ADHD *and* OCD (and severe back pain and bi-polar) are killing me, and I honestly believe it's contributing to the breakdown of my marriage. I think these ideas may, no, *will* help, though it may take longer than I'd like.
Edited to fix spelling.
Simplifying your home as much as you possibly can will definitely help you along the way! Don’t be afraid to ask for extra help from a coach, if needed. 🤞🏼💪🏼💕
I so understand that part I am the person that can't do what I want to do because I have too much stuss to do to get to the stuff, that I want to do.
Also it takes me a week or 2 to get ready for an event.
Now got a leek in the kitchen and the company packed 140 + boxes of stem ware and dishes ect & & &... Now what HELP!!!😢
Oh no! Just work through it as you can, you will get there. Bit by bit
As I’m listening I’m going through each kitchen drawer. Yeah, don’t need 7 wooden spoons and only really reach for 3 of them. Boom!
Yes! That’s the thing… we end up tuning things out and then we wonder why nothing fits! Congratulations! 🎉
Don't ask why because often people may not even know why. It is anxiety provoking to try to figure out why to answer that question. They may know why and feel embarrassed or they may just be unable to verbalize it.
Very good point! My coaching style includes a lot of why as I’m all about getting at the underlying issues, but I recognize that this works for people at a certain point in their journey. 🙏🏼
I am a mom of 5. My primary thing I did was teach my 3 youngest at home. My two oldest were taught in public school because I though that was what everyone did and I had no other alternative. I went to Catholic School till 8th grade. After doing research I learned giving your children a lot of one on one learning was better for them to retain what they learn. Also I found out in regular school each child only gets 15 minutes of actual ‘learning’ in a 5 hour day. The rest of the time is in discipline, handing out finished test papers, and keeping order in the classroom. Plus you know who your children hang out with and today, what they are teaching. Today
schools can be dangerous when we hear about the fights, shootings and violence that goes on today, it is not your fathers school. Things were so different back then.
What happened? I taught my 3 youngest and my 2 oldest were jealous! Yes actually jealous they weren’t taught at home. They told me “Mom you have no idea what goes on in public schools.” My 3 youngest I taught all 12 years of schooling and found out through the resting we had to do twice a year, my kids were 3 years ahead of public schooled kids. They tested 2nd year college. level by the time they finished school.
What a wonderful gift you’ve your family.
Most shocking revelations from this video is that Dana is 50?! She looks 32ish. ❤