FREE TICKET HERE: thegetorganizedhq.com/gohqv2023-freeticket-dawnmadsen/#a_aid=MinimalMom&a_bid=2dc49882 I'll look forward to seeing you there!!! Have a great day and THANK YOU for watching!!! - Dawn
I went to get my free ticket and then just ended up buying the access to it with all of the free goodies so I could start watching early and have the notes so I could listen while cleaning and decluttering and not have to take my own notes while homeschooling 5 kiddos. 🤪 Love it so far! 🥰🥰
I went to the donation center a few days back. There was a young couple preparing for their first home, and they were so, so happy to find matching picture frames and a nice vase. Why this was special to me? Because those items have been donated by myself. Decluttering does not only make me happier, but also has the potential to make others happy, too ❤❤❤
I love 💚 ur story.. I used to have a hard time getting rid of things, but now, knowing that someone can make good use of them, is a great help in making me get some decluttering done.. Another thing someone in the town is doing with a spare unit space is collecting unused paint & older style wardrobe pieces & then a person / family in need can get them 4 free.. I recently needed just a small tin - 1 litre of gloss, for a front door, which cost £25.. So I can't even imagine the price of several 10L tins..so that's a win win, in my book..
Hello My name is Ruth Annabelle Helpless. I’m currently homeless Many of my friends and family have given up on me But a couple of friends that I went to high school Or middle school with. I hitchhiked to a nother state. That was to start life over I grew up in the state of Wisconsin. I also had ties to the state of Iowa. Sad news came about one day. I had heard that my mother had died. No one like my brother or sister ever called or come to find
I do best letting go of items when I believe that I'm blessing or helping someone else in need by sharing those items with someone who needs it. If I don't have that mindset, I'll hold on to things till the end of time because: "they're too pretty" or "I know I don't use it, but I still like it" or "I spent too much money on it to get rid of it". Imagining I'm blessing someone in need gives my heart permission to let go.
I live in Africa so we dont have donation centers or dollar stores or even thrift stores.😢 So the last 2 weeks I have decided to declutter and go minimalist. I am 50 and my kids are grown. My husband loves to leave stuff around like putting laundry next to the laundry basket. Everyday he would give me these big eyes and said what if we needed this or that, you know. So when he is at work I put stuff in black garbage bags and take it to our church. Its been 2 weeks since I started and already I gave a truckload full of stuff. Someone else can litterally refurnish and restock their house. This feels AMAZING!!!!!
😂😂Yes. He has noticed BUT no more dirty dishes stacked to the ceiling because we are both too busy to wash them. 3 plates, 1 pot and 1 pan. No more opening our closets and saying, I have nothing to wear (maybe nothing new), ha ha. And best of all we have more time to relax and chat. No more searching through loads of stuff just to find scissors (and after decluttering, I found 20). My husband is actually very pleased that we don't have *dust collectors* anymore.
I work outside of the home and my closet hack is that I have 5 pairs of black pants and put my money/energy into beautiful tops, sweaters, jackets, etc. much easier to only have to decide which top I’m going to wear each day with my black pants. Makes laundry easier as well. Wash all the pants together…DONE!
My tip for storing the one youre using with "backstock" elsewhere (fridge items that you can keep on the shelf before theyre open, bathroom items like toothpaste and shampoo, medicine, decanted pantry items, and more) is to mark the top of the item that youre usung with a check mark ✅️ when you have a back-up already. That way, when you run out of it, you can remember to go to your backstock stockpile (top of a closet, bottom of a cabinet, wherever) for it, rather than adding it to your shopping list and buying even more when you already had some.
I have been minimizing my home ruthlessly since 2021. I did the Minimalist Game every month of 2021, and then in 2022 and 2023 - I've continued on with my own decluttering challenges. I have minimized my home by almost 8000 items. The more I decluttered and minimized - the more effortless my home became. Once you're working with a simplified home - its so much easier to figure out the little shortcuts to help you keep it tidy. Great tips Dawn! 💖
I feel inspired! But I don't live alone. How do I get my kids and especially my husband to get I to the decluttering? Or at least get them to allow me to do the work.
@@SuperMsPharmacy Maybe you don't need their permission to get rid of things. Try starting with your stuff then once they see how easy it is to manage your new amount of inventory, they might want to get rid of their things! (Sorry for the quick response. I was just randomly scrolling :)
Since following you my house has become more minimal and much easier to manage. The laundry tip-one load a day is an absolute game changer. Also minimizing daily plates, glasses and utensils and keeping counters clean are HUGE time savers! Thanks for all you do!!
We made a decision to live a simpler life when our kids were young. Limiting activities, and finding ones that meet just once a week. Our kids did great in high school, and both received scholarships for college. Now that our kids are grown and have their own families, they have adopted the same philosophy. It has been scientifically proven that free play time is vital to the emotional well being of children. Over scheduling children can be damaging to childhood development. I just had to share this, as both my husband and I are retired teachers, and we have seen this trend grow. I fiercely protected our dinner time, so we could sit together and talk about our day!
What has helped me with anxiety and being minimal at the same time was to stop shopping, I used up all the stuff I had, saved a ton of money which I invested, post 3 years anxiety gone, financially all sorted out and have a minimal full functioning home. A daily 15 min cleaning was what I started out with. And knowing that my clutter did not end up in a landfill has brought in a lot of gratitude and peace.
I'm getting there! Thank you for sharing this. My emotional well-being regarding stuff is very important to me. So, I'm looking forward to having this absolute peace of mind for my home!
I have a very small kitchen, and clearing everything off the counters has been an absolute game changer. I can see my kitchen from my couch so being able to see only clear space is lovely. So calming.
I’m working on this too myself, but I’m confused about how to do dishes, are you drying them by hand, or just using a dish drying mat that gets put away? I am constantly washing dishes I just can’t figure out how to clear those
My kitchen sink and counters are visible straight-ahead from my front door!😬 It wasn't practical to add a door to block off the kitchen, so I hung a curtain. Now, when someone comes to the door unexpectedly, I just slide the curtain closed (except on the rare occasion my counters are clear, like yours; then I leave it open to show off 😂).
I watched this video for less than two minutes. I ran to my kitchen and I organized all my containers and water bottles. I threw away 5 tops for water bottles that had no match. That made so much space then the tops on was so easy to organize. My cabinets look great and it took me twenty minutes and that’s only because I needed to wake up a tall person to help me get all the stuff, lol. Thanks for the motivation. Go8ng back and watching the entire video. Hopefully I get more tips. Enjoy the day.
When it comes to laundry… I find it overwhelming to do a load of laundry a day (I have 2 little kids and work full time outside the home) but a week worth of laundry to WAY to much for one day… instead I break laundry into 2 days Wednesday and Sunday and this works really well for our house ❤
Same! We have a smaller family (5) so we don't have a ton of clothes and when the hampers are full, it's laundry day. I do like the feeling of getting it all "done" and not having to think about laundry until the next week.
I do it twice ish a week as well. When the hamper is full I know it is time. But I have a community laundry room where I need to use quarters. So I'm definitely waiting till I have enough clothing. A load a day might not cut it. I think either way, it's finding a routine that you can commit to.
I have made a game out of meal planning. We call it The hunger games. Every Sunday we pick six meal from a container that has about 25 meals in it. These are our meals for the week. One day over for leftovers or takeaways.
I've listened to so many organization tips that haven't worked for me. I've started watching your videos and am slowly decluttering. It feels so good to see the little steps we're making and that they're sticking. I still have a long ways to go, but I'm so encouraged. THANK YOU! And meal planning is probably the most stressful thing for me. I go back to work in the fall and am soo encouraged after hearing to tip to stick to the same meals each week. Those premade bulk meals are not my thing and I thought it was just me. I thought I was crazy! So happy to hear I'm not alone. Also, I caught myself saying "love you too" at the end of the video. It must be because you're saving my sanity. Haha! Thank you!
KITCHEN 1) Store food storage containers with the lids on 1:03 2) Store water bottles etc. with the lids on 1:32 3) Store stuff where you use it 1:50 4) Move everything off of you kitchen counters 2:12 5) Make your own 'drawers' 2:53 6) Match your kitchen to your season of life 4:01 CLOSET 7) Highly simplify your wardrobe 5:33 8) Decide once what you're going to wear for the week 6:11 9) Add a donation bin to all closets 7:11 10) Add a "Time-Will-Tell" bin for testing a simplified wardrobe 7:47 BATHROOM 11) Bathroom "Time-Will-Tell" bin 8:27 12) Use the "Container Concept" 9:20 13) Create a hair styling tool caddy 9:58 14) Create a "Getting Ready" 10:20 LAUNDRY ROOM 15) Order things on subscription 11:10 16) A load a day keeps the Laundry Monster away 11:30 17) Add bins/basket to laundry room 12:04 18) Keep socks where it makes sense in your house 12:51 ENTRYWAY 19) 2 pairs or shoes per person by the door 13:13 KITCHEN 20) Have a regular, simple meal plan 13:38 21) Have a"Hectic Week" meal plan 13:51 22) One go-to dish for a meal or dessert 14:44 23) Decide once 16:18 24) Add expiration dates to your calender 16:33 25) Know how you like to catch cook 17:45 26) Don't keep any paper 17:55 27) Keep a vital documents folder 18:22 28) Velcro cord organisers 18:32 29) Lable things 19:25 30) "A place for everything and everything in its place" 20:21 31) Few kid activities 20:57 32) Family Marriage Staff Meeting 21:18 33) 5 Minutes Matters 21:54 34) Background music 22:22 35) Outdoor breaks during the day 22:40
Dawn! THANK YOU, THANK YOU THANK YOU! Hubby & I have decluttered 67 boxes of "stuff" in the last week!!! I NEVER could have done it without your encouragement. The encouragement to let it go & really realize that I was looking through clouded eyes. My fantasy self had to be exposed. I have a long way to go, but it's ok. It will be like an onion. Thank you again Dawn!
2 hacks to share: *For all meals, I clean up as I go, no food is left out. No second helpings temptation. When the meal is done, load the dishwasher. Done. *No dirty dishes in the sink-use the dishwasher! Never ever go between meals or overnight with dirty dishes in the sink. Starting fresh in a clean kitchen is a game-changer for motivation!
Thank you SO MUCH for your channel and what you do. You are a joy to watch and you've helped me so much. You make decluttering seem doable when I thought it was impossible! I've been holding on to things from 15 years ago that I thought I would get to, but now I feel like it's ok to get rid of them and I have closet space and I feel so much better! I felt like such a slob and horrible home keeper because it was impossible to have a clean house with as much stuff as I had. But now I see the light! Thank you, thank you, thank you! You bring glory to the Lord with what you do.
Labeling made a HUGE difference in my home. I felt very much like I was fighting a losing battle against my family, but I used labels in the kitchen and now they put things back in the correct spot. It's like magic.
Thank you Dawn for another great video!! I am always telling everyone I know to watch your videos for ideas, hacks and mostly importantly motivation and inspiration!! Recently my brother called me to help him clean out his garage as they are moving after living in their home for 40 years. He was a saver of everything. He actually told me he needed my emotional support to help him part with the things he thinks he needs to keep. I have told him many times about you. We accomplished a great deal and he was SO thankful that I was beside him telling him to donate, throw away and create a "time will tell" box. To him his garage was overwhelming to tackle but with so many of your ideas we got the job done! I keep a donate box on a bed in our spare bedroom and I am constantly putting something in the box. Once a week I take the donation to our local thrift store. You are my inspiration!!! Thank you thank you!!
I am so glad she mentions that it might feel strange to see an empty countertop. One of the things that triggers my anxiety is not seeing the clutter that’s “lived” somewhere for a long time. No many people seem to talk about it, so I’m happy she mentioned it 😊
One more thing… Dawn, you are the best! As I try slowly but surely to declutter my home, I am finding more peace and joy in my life. Now at the end of the day I am able to study scriptures and read from a novel a bit each night. That had been HUGE!! All from decluttering my closet and bedroom. This is cheesy but I so wish I could meet you in person to tell you myself. You and Cas are basically my best friends 😂💕
Yes i geel the same. Im still great to Marie Kondo who started the ball rolling for us westerners who have be brainwashed with consumerism capitalism ! Thankyou Dawn and Cass!
One thing I like about this channel is Dawn doesn't expect all of us to be minimalists. She's fine with us using tips we like and pass on the other stuff.
My Grandmother perfected two specialty recipes, both of which she could make ahead, one a pickeled side dish and one a melt-in-your-mouth candy. She always brought them to family gatherings, and we were always excited to see her arrive with her delicious dishes. Dawn is so right, do one thing well and relax!
I can’t wrap my head around the 7 outfits in my closet. I HATE shopping but I need dressy clothes for work. When I get home I change to my home job, preparing dinner,
Like you, Dawn, one of the things that has highly simplified meal prep is cooking the protein en masse and freezing it in portions I use in recipes. I dislike shopping and go grocery shopping once, maybe twice, a month. I buy meats in family packs and cook them when I get home, then vacuum seal them in usable portions. I take the package of cooked meat out of the freezer the night before, and let it thaw in the fridge. It makes dinner prep soooo easy. It gives us options for healthy, quick meals that I usually have on the table in less than 15 mins!
Cooking protein in large quantities is something I've always done to save time,but I can't wait to get started on the bin ideas. It's what I've wanted to do for a long time but never had the courage to get rid of things. Thanks for the encouragement !
Hi Dawn, I just want to thank you. I watched so many minimalist youtubers in the past but you are the one that inspired me to declutter. I started with my closet, I had clothes from decades ago and doesn't fit me anymore but I can't seem to let go. I don't want to accept that I gained 2 sizes up, thinking that one day I will lose weight and will use it again. But everytime I opened my closet I felt bad about myself not having clothes that fits. I always wanted to live a minimal life bacause I don't want to be like my mom who is a hoarder. I don't blame her, she grew up poor and she has a hard time letting go. But now that I have my own family I decided to try a minimal lifestyle. My kitchen is veryyy minimal now and I love it. I declutter daily now.
My go to dish for family events is caprese salad. Most people don't make it for themselves, so it's a welcome repeat. Except that for the longest time my dad thought the tiny Mozella balls were mini marshmallows and refused to eat it.
If your trash bag always falls in the trash can when it's full, put command hooks upside down on each side to hold the handles, just low enough to keep it tight when it's full. This has been a quality of life improvement for me and I highly recommend it if you struggle with this at all.
I put a piece of elastic around the bin, holding the bag in place. I started with just a large rubber band but other people thought it should be thrown out with the bag. My current piece elastic with a knot in it has lasted over a year.
Good morning - Funny story to share, We have one of those weird L cabinets. We replaced our dishwasher and that is the cabinet next to it, so I was doing my best to get things cleaned out for the plumber. I wish I could share pictures of the shear volume of stuff that had fallen over and crammed in the corner - it was funny and embarrassing at the same time. (So glad I did it before the installer professional came). I mean a trash bag full of water bottles and pet bowls and you get the idea. So far we still have not used it again, but I like the basket idea to make it a drawer. Great video, have a great day everyone.
The storage container hack really changed the game for our kitchen. Being able to grab a container and know you have everything lid and base relieved some kitchen tension. And we have yet to run out of containers to use.
In addition to a getting ready bin/drawer in my bathroom, I have a getting ready for bed bin/drawer. Works great for me and these two containers have improved my medication compliance, my AM and PM routines and given me so much peace of mind that I have remembered to do what I need to do every single day.
I was tearing up when you asked if I’m tired or anxious. Thank you for seeing us busy anxious moms. I love the 7 outfit hack. I’ve been doing this for the week some weeks and I can plan out gym days and more. This does sound like a big stress relief.
Thanks for another good video. I enjoyed how you shared the suggestions from other viewers. Gentle reminder: There are ladybugs, crickets, bees and butterflies, and it doesn't work for everyone to hide everything in their cabinets and keep countertops 100% clear. I'm glad you found your style. Things I use everyday need to be visible. Keeping it minimal means that my space doesn't look a mess. If I don't see it, I don't have it!
Ahh, yay!! So honoured some of my ideas made the cut!!! The membership group is such a blessing… made my day to be of use as been laid flat out poorly all day, smiling my name was mentioned!! Thank you, love Emily
An idea I like, is using masking tape and a sharpie marker to label leftover foods for the fridge. I mark the date so food can be eaten up before it spoils! Love The Minimal Mom!!!
The small amount of time spent labeling saves me from opening containers to figure out what's in them and sniffing to figure out if it is spoiled (gross!). I mark with the contents and the day of the week and date (ie. (Chicken soup Mon 28) The rule is leftovers are eaten by Sunday (exception: something for Monday lunch) so the fridge is empty and clean for Monday grocery shopping. I also pack the leftovers as ready to eat plates -- meat, vege, and starch in one or two square dishes -- just grab and reheat .
dining table hack: I keep mine set. . .my dining table used to a be a dumping ground because it is the first flat surface coming in from the garage. With the table being set, it doesn't accumulate my purse, mail, my husband's food tote from the office, groceries, etc.
As a rather tired person, I pack my groceries with the perishables all together. They are put away first, then I can rest before putting away the rest. When cleaning out the car, I take one big bag with me, put everything in it, and go inside. Then I can sit down and sort things in minutes. Because I cook for one, I divide the casseroles into 2 cup containers with some in the frig and some in the freezer. Take out one every morning, and it is ready to heat for dinner. I make batches of spaghetti sauce to freeze, then give to neighbors who have helped me or when someone has lost a loved one. I keep various plastic containers in my "takeout" cupboard for potlucks. That way, the dish doesn't have to come home.
I make one-person portions of meals I like as well. I have physical limitations also and this process allows me to eat more healthy and more easily each day. (I keep a list on my phone also with what I've put in the freezer.) I also portion out serving size ziplocs of handy snacks, like dried fruits, sliced cheese, carrots, nuts, etc. to be easy to grab when I need to eat but can't move much. So helpful to prepare ahead.
Such good ideas, Karen and Stef. I am a rather tired and sometimes easily overwhelmed person too, and your tips are encouraging! Thank you for sharing! ❤
I have been following you for years now, but I still get excited every time You load up a new video. It's like listening to a friend, coach and psicologist at the same time. You comfort, entertain and guide me in so many ways, it's incredible, Dawn! PD. And my house looks and feels great ❤
It took me a long time to accept that I didn't have to batch cook like many others, and that's okay. I tried making freezer meals or crock pot freezer meals, etc. It was overwhelming, I couldn't often remember all that was in my freezer, and it took a long time to do. I finally understood that I needed to do it differently for my brain. Like you, I batch cook meat and portion it out for family meals and then freeze it. I also batch cook other ingredients instead of full meals: peppers/onions for pizza, soup base veggies, meat broths, etc. Then I can just pull out what we need and mix it with other things I want and it cuts down on dinner cooking time. It's awesome! Thanks for the other tips! :)
I have been cooking with designated recipe days for years. Fridays are hamburger night, Saturday steak night, Sunday is usually a soup/stew/casserole that can last 2 days, Tuesday is either chicken or fish, Wednesday is an "On your own night" - my husband and I take care of our own meals, and Thursday is take-out night. So much less stress. Of course we change things up on special occasions. We work full-time with long hours, so it's great to rely on a game plan.
I agree with having donation bins in each closet, but I agree with Dana that it should be a donatable donation bin so I don't have to go through it again to transfer it to a donation box or bag... and second-guess myself.
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Hello Dawn I never really realized that I was a hoarder until I watched your video. You gave some excellent advice and ideas to make my room clutter free. I now have 2 giant bags of clothes that I am donating to a second hand store. It felt so so good to put the donations in the bag and driving to the second hand store. You said if I haven’t worn it in a year I’ll probably never wear it plus you said if I don’t feel fantastic in my clothes or I’m waiting to lose weight so I can fit into my stuff really resonated with me. I’ve never declutterred any of my stuff before and I have wasted so much money on buying online stuff I don’t really need. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your videos. I’m slowly becoming a minimalist. 🥳☺️👍
I have downsized my wardrobe and I LOVE it! I wear scrubs all week and I kept just a few weekend outfits. I realized I don’t even miss anything I got rid of!
Last year I turned my spare bedroom (temporarily) into a massive time will tell space ….a semi organised junk room (!)…this summer I am rewatching your videos and on Monday everything remaining in the room is being removed (removal van booked, all bagged in colour coordinated trash/textiles/paper/books/ charity shop and they drop it all off to the correct place!) Furniture no longer needed (has sat empty for the year) is also going….thank you so much for all your videos!
Getting my closet down to a few things that fit me and I liked wearing was the best thing I've done in a long time! So much easier now and the things I never wore...gone. Thanks Dawn for that idea!
I love your videos and started years ago with gentle and sometimes not so gentle decluttering😊 it releaves stress so profoundly not to have to search for items. Your hacks are gold! And I find it more and mire easy with every year. My attitude towards things has changed very much .
I have (had) a bottle of Stress Away lotion in pretty green glass jar that I bought years ago. I liked the look, but hated the scent and it has moved from the bedroom, bathroom, basement, kitchen, and then back to the bedroom. Last week I threw it away and it finally lived up to its name!
I have been storing with the lids on for a year after hearing Cass talk about it forever. Dawn and Cass are completely right. It works. So much less stress and less wasted space.
Your words too much inventory just resonate with me. I have more being hauled away tomorrow. My life is more free and my stress has been reduced. Thank you Dawn.
I can’t even explain how much I love your channel Dawn, I’ve been a sahm for 7 years and the whole time I’ve been following you and watching your channel you’ve helped me out so much with being a homemaker and organizing our things. Listening to your voice in the background while I’m cleaning is so soothing and relaxing. I don’t normally think of people as aspirational but you are one of the few that I admire and look up to.
Had to look up SAHM. "STAY-AT-HOME-MOM". Never heard that before, but I am old, 70 yrs., so don't know these things. I too was a SAHM. Then had a career as the CFO, Chief Financial Officer of a corporation. I believe that motherhood is the greatest of careers! You are impacting the future!!!!❤
My favorite meal planning hack is to streamline by making a monthly calendar. I had my family to pick out 28 dinners they like and I fill in 4 weeks of the calendar. Whatever week we are going to be in is the groceries I buy. When week 1 rolls around at the beginning of a month it has been an entire month since we have had those meals since nothing is repeated for a full month. Also I know what I'm cooking. I don't always follow day by day, but when I'm trying to decided what to cook, I only have 7 meals to choose from not an entire pinterest board! I cook extra so we can have leftovers for lunches as well. I also have made a shopping list that coordinates with each week so when I need to put in a grocery order I know what to buy to make that weeks meals. Occasionally I'll take out something we are getting tired of and put in a new meal to try. I always try to put in a few easy meals ( like a frozen lasagna or crockpot meal) in case of busy days each week. I have the cooking down, it's the "reduce the inventory" where I am struggling. Thanks for all of your help!
I like your style of minimalism because its liveable. Your empty kitchen counters are so relaxing, there is just something luxurious about some empty spaces in a home.
I did a lot of these ideas when I was raising my children, and homeschooling. Now, I'm a grandma and widow, living alone. Bet you don't have lots of women like me watching your videos! Anyhow, here's my tip: I batch-cook for myself. I cook a chicken casserole or hamburger dish, like Italian casserole, then freeze portions in those glass bowls with lids, labeled of course. After eating at night, I take food out of the freezer and transfer into the fridge to thaw out and I'm ready for the next day. If I decide to go out to eat, that food will keep just fine until the following day.
I do a load of laundry a day and I never have issues with laundry. I'm trying to clean my kitchen counters daily...this is something I struggle with, but waking up to a clean counter is so nice.
I just realized one stress thing I never realized was TOO MUCH FOOD! I have a habit of deriving comfort by having a full fridge and full food storage. BUT it’s only hubby and me…so waste, big money, more inventory and always running to the store to keep it all FULL. I also have bulk storage in the basement. I hate to say how much toilet paper I have!!!! So this is an area where I need to rethink…is it a possibility that we will starve? No. So I will do a little thinking to find some simplicity and free up some bandwidth.
We always have grocery "backstock" as we have the space to purchase multiples when things are on sale. Whoever takes the last one, or sees we're getting low adds that item to the grocery list. I find that grocery sales are cyclic so try to keep track of what comes on sale regularly or seasonally. My kids used to "shop" from my pantry when visiting from college so I stocked up ahead for what they liked. Also, I found eating the same lunch simplifies my morning (and grocery) routine.
I was a Couponer for many years and still buy on sale seasonally for shelf items we regularly use. It helps me to have painters tape on a nail and marker on a string to mark multiples of a thing. I know when I get to 1 in the pantry (like mustard) to add it to the grocery list.
Also I LOVE The emphasis on being mindful of what season you're in! Perfect advice. And thank you for a normalizing having a go-to specialty meal or item that you always bring to a party. I know a lot of us feel self-conscious about our food. We feel like we have to live up to some kind of hype of a potluck and having the best dish. So thanks for reminding us that we can pick one item to "perfect" and we don't have to be perfect to cooks. Plus I know a lot of people who just bring like a veggie tray or the cutlery 🤷
Other than pre-cooking meat before freezing it, I like to cut my chicken and marinade/season it. I store my saver bags as flat as I can so that they thaw faster. The marinade soaks in while freezing and thawing. Since it's already cut, it is ready to cook as soon as it thaws.
We do this with chicken thighs and BBQ sauce -- we call it "camping chicken" because the frozen vacuum pack of chicken works like an ice pack in the cooler and the next day it's ready to grill over the campfire 😊 My husband is often a genius ❤
I can't wait for it to cool off so we have spend more time outside. I need that break from the house lol 107 with a real feel of 116 is not okay! 🤣 I am not a summer person!
I SO love and appreciate this video! I'm battling 3 chronic health issues, so these tips are just super helpful and yes, encouraging too! It's wonderful to see a video in which suggested ideas are doable for me. I've decluttered over 1,000 things since June, but oops...I didn't think I "needed" labels. Oh my goodness, now, I'm labeling everything because we're gradually getting more organized but were honestly having trouble remembering our "homes" for things...ha ha. Thanks for the inspiration. I'll keep going one step at a time!
One fact that overwhelms me is that now I live in a large two story home, whereas when I was single, I lived in a smaller home that was easier to manage and maintain. I haven’t been able to clean the upstairs AND downstairs on the same day….
If the weather changes even a little bit or I decide Im playing outside with my kids or staying in all day my clothes have to change. Also I wear the same thing every morning cause its my workout clothes and then I change later into my day outfit. I wish I could plan ahead what I wear. I also dont have 7 shirts and 7 pairs of pants that can all reliably be worn. I cant afford to go clothing shopping but I cycle through a few shirts and pants that Ill wear in public. The rest are rags I wear at home or under winter coats for going outside.
Not storage but simplifying: I lose my phone often so I set a permanent alarm for 9 pm which I call curfew so every evening my phone tells me where it is. Also 15 minutes before I need to leave the house in the morning.
Hi. I'm a mom of 5 adult kids, and 9 grandchildren. A few years ago, my empty nest season began. One by one the children flew the nest for a season, only to return later to get their finances in order. When they returned, they came back with more stuff than they left with. Renting storage was not an option, since they were seeking to save. This spurred me to tackle my own clutter even more. I am so grateful for all the hacks and ideas shared here. They have been a big help over the years and continue to be so. 😊
I organized my kitchen cabinets. Instead of bins for "drawers," I used a tray I already had and a baking sheet. Everything now is like-with-like and has its own space, and I think it'll be easier to put things back where they belong. Thank you, Dawn, for helping me get my kitchen even more functional!
Who knew 5 minutes can change lives?! 😊 it turns into 10 mins then 15mins next thing you know the task is done... and all it took was 20 mins. Thank you Dawn!
Meal prepping the protein for meals has been the BIGGEST time saver for us! Also helps us eat a little healthier, when there’s always a protein ready to eat
My cooking hack: I purchase a large quantity of ground beef. I then measure out 5 ounces of meat and make patties out of them. I then wrap them in clear wrap and put all of them into a plastic freezer bag. I label the freezer bag as to what it is and date. When making a dish with ground beef, I can use the defrost setting for one pound of meat on my microwave. I only defrost for 2 to 3 minutes. The pattie is then ready for me to crumble to use or cook the pattie whole.
Almost daily laundry has been my goal for the last several months. So proud of myself for tossing in a load when our communal family basket gets full. My husband has even noticed that he's not doing laundry on the weekends anymore!
One thing I found that really helped me was getting all my household supplies in bulk at the beginning of the year: toilet paper, bathroom cleaners, trash bags, hand soap, dish soap, laundry detergent, toothpaste, deodorant, face wash, and shampoo. It took two years to figure out how much I needed of everything and organize the storage in the spare bathroom closet, but I never have to worry about running out of anything or have to worry about fitting the cost of a bunch of things that just ran out into the household budget. Also, your advice on how to store Tupperware has worked amazingly well for me!
I only have 3 styling tools for my hair and a dollar store magazine holder works perfect! I have a shelf under my sink and it works perfect! I love how you shared input from your viewers!
My daughter just turned 35. Her dad was great, but lived two hours away. My mom lived four hours away. I was in graduate school and worked full-time. I let her know she could do 2 activities (e.g., soccer and dance) at a time. I was able to do work, homework, or just relax at practices and games. We didn't eat out because we weren't overextended. As adults, we can't do everything....we have to make choices and live with them. We have to do things that are affordable and make us happy. Oh and one rule her dad and I enforced, if she picked an activity she would need to stick with it for a reasonable amount of time. This teaches commitment, respect, and loyalty. I am not a perfect parent, but this worked for us.🥰
I can't even tell you how much I love you for addressing the weird L-shaped cabinet issue. It has been the bane of my existence!!! 😂 I'll be picking up some baskets, thank you!
I found having plastic containers in the fridge labelled really helped me keep track of stuff ie sausage and bacon spot, raw meat, cooked meat, yoghurt drinks, extra fruit, top shelf has three .. jams, pickles and sauces. I don’t scour the fridge wondering what we have now, I know the spot for protein and for veg/ salad. Thanks so much for your content. We are still in construction mode so seeing you reminds me it will all be sorted soon!
I agree with the comment section.. the first tip , storing containers with lid on is a game changer. The moment when you pull out a container and you don’t hve to ask ‘ has anyone seen the lid for this container’. THAT is gold
For documents a handy idea is to have the front file labelled "to be filed". This way you don't lose things because you don't have time to file them straight away -you put everything straight away in "to be filed" & when you have time go back & file logically. So much time saved from looking for docs that you know you put/filed 'somewhere '!
It works for me. I also got rid of all the containers I didn't like, mostly because the tops were difficult for me to open and close. Bought a nice set of snapware at Costco and love the simplicity.
I'm glad you talked about cooking extra protein to keep on hand instead of batch cooking. I've been doing this for a long time, but also I ingredient prep. If, for example, onions are on sale, I'll chop them and package them in one cup quantities. For ground beef, I cook 5 pounds at a time and freeze in 2 cup quantities (which equal one pound)...I have way to many recipes that say you need 1 pound of ground beef, cooked and crumbled.😀 This way I only have to clean up the mess once. Thank you for the great video and ideas. I always need to reduce stress. ♥️♥️♥️
Dawn I might of gone too far, 2007 I hired a organizer and she came out and helped me at that point. I was hoarding. I had boxes in my basement to the ceilings and just a pass to go through. The rest of the house wasn’t much better. I learned a lot and it got me over the hoarding part, and then I Marie Kondo to my house and narrow things down a little bit more this time I was ruthless. I feel a little empty. And that’s OK I’ll get used to it. I’m not missing anything in particular and it feels good to see the space. Vacuuming was easy, hardly anything to move, my house is lighter, I feel vaguely uncomfortable, I am trying to adjust it’s been two weeks . Tky for all you do
No hack here but I am going to try to figure out how to put this on a weekly reminder replay until it’s stuck in my head😉 great tips as usual. Thank you!
FREE TICKET HERE: thegetorganizedhq.com/gohqv2023-freeticket-dawnmadsen/#a_aid=MinimalMom&a_bid=2dc49882 I'll look forward to seeing you there!!! Have a great day and THANK YOU for watching!!! - Dawn
Hi Dawn. Where did you pick up your bathroom Time Will Tell tall, slim lidded container? That is awesome, as are your tips/videos. Thanks!
🤑
Dawn, I got my free ticket and can't wait!!
I went to get my free ticket and then just ended up buying the access to it with all of the free goodies so I could start watching early and have the notes so I could listen while cleaning and decluttering and not have to take my own notes while homeschooling 5 kiddos. 🤪 Love it so far! 🥰🥰
@@mai_world good question! That is from Target, it’s actually supposed to be a file holder box :)
I went to the donation center a few days back. There was a young couple preparing for their first home, and they were so, so happy to find matching picture frames and a nice vase. Why this was special to me? Because those items have been donated by myself. Decluttering does not only make me happier, but also has the potential to make others happy, too ❤❤❤
Great perspective! Love it!
I love 💚 ur story..
I used to have a hard time getting rid of things, but now, knowing that someone can make good use of them, is a great help in making me get some decluttering done..
Another thing someone in the town is doing with a spare unit space is collecting unused paint & older style
wardrobe pieces & then a person / family in need can get them 4 free..
I recently needed just a small tin
- 1 litre of gloss, for a front door, which cost £25..
So I can't even imagine the price of several 10L tins..so that's a win win, in my book..
Love it thinking of others first is what the Bible teaches Jesus did!
Hello My name is Ruth Annabelle Helpless. I’m currently homeless Many of my friends and family have given up on me But a couple of friends that I went to high school Or middle school with. I hitchhiked to a nother state. That was to start life over I grew up in the state of Wisconsin. I also had ties to the state of Iowa. Sad news came about one day. I had heard that my mother had died. No one like my brother or sister ever called or come to find
I do best letting go of items when I believe that I'm blessing or helping someone else in need by sharing those items with someone who needs it. If I don't have that mindset, I'll hold on to things till the end of time because: "they're too pretty" or "I know I don't use it, but I still like it" or "I spent too much money on it to get rid of it". Imagining I'm blessing someone in need gives my heart permission to let go.
I live in Africa so we dont have donation centers or dollar stores or even thrift stores.😢 So the last 2 weeks I have decided to declutter and go minimalist. I am 50 and my kids are grown. My husband loves to leave stuff around like putting laundry next to the laundry basket. Everyday he would give me these big eyes and said what if we needed this or that, you know. So when he is at work I put stuff in black garbage bags and take it to our church. Its been 2 weeks since I started and already I gave a truckload full of stuff. Someone else can litterally refurnish and restock their house. This feels AMAZING!!!!!
Bless your heart! I love the black bag tip even for just me. I'm 65 and it's often hard to let go of old life... It's awesome once its gone 😂
Maybe you should start a thrift shop in your community
Has your husband noticed?
😂😂Yes. He has noticed BUT no more dirty dishes stacked to the ceiling because we are both too busy to wash them. 3 plates, 1 pot and 1 pan. No more opening our closets and saying, I have nothing to wear (maybe nothing new), ha ha. And best of all we have more time to relax and chat. No more searching through loads of stuff just to find scissors (and after decluttering, I found 20). My husband is actually very pleased that we don't have *dust collectors* anymore.
@@yolandiemuller4690 That's awesome!
"It's easier to take back a no than a yes". That is GOLD.
I work outside of the home and my closet hack is that I have 5 pairs of black pants and put my money/energy into beautiful tops, sweaters, jackets, etc. much easier to only have to decide which top I’m going to wear each day with my black pants. Makes laundry easier as well. Wash all the pants together…DONE!
Thanks for sharing this idea!!! I love that!!!
My tip for storing the one youre using with "backstock" elsewhere (fridge items that you can keep on the shelf before theyre open, bathroom items like toothpaste and shampoo, medicine, decanted pantry items, and more) is to mark the top of the item that youre usung with a check mark ✅️ when you have a back-up already. That way, when you run out of it, you can remember to go to your backstock stockpile (top of a closet, bottom of a cabinet, wherever) for it, rather than adding it to your shopping list and buying even more when you already had some.
Oh I love this!
That’s genius!
Great idea!!
That’s a great idea!!!
Awesome idea!!!
I am slowly working through my clothing…. This summer I have donated 367 items so far…. Not counting shoes!
I have been minimizing my home ruthlessly since 2021. I did the Minimalist Game every month of 2021, and then in 2022 and 2023 - I've continued on with my own decluttering challenges. I have minimized my home by almost 8000 items. The more I decluttered and minimized - the more effortless my home became. Once you're working with a simplified home - its so much easier to figure out the little shortcuts to help you keep it tidy. Great tips Dawn! 💖
WOW! This is SO awesome!!! (I hope others see this and feel inspired, too!!!!!)
I feel inspired! But I don't live alone. How do I get my kids and especially my husband to get I to the decluttering? Or at least get them to allow me to do the work.
@@SuperMsPharmacy Maybe you don't need their permission to get rid of things. Try starting with your stuff then once they see how easy it is to manage your new amount of inventory, they might want to get rid of their things! (Sorry for the quick response. I was just randomly scrolling :)
@@TheMinimalMom Thank you ! I was an early follower of yours (on my private account 😊)
Since following you my house has become more minimal and much easier to manage. The laundry tip-one load a day is an absolute game changer. Also minimizing daily plates, glasses and utensils and keeping counters clean are HUGE time savers! Thanks for all you do!!
We made a decision to live a simpler life when our kids were young. Limiting activities, and finding ones that meet just once a week. Our kids did great in high school, and both received scholarships for college. Now that our kids are grown and have their own families, they have adopted the same philosophy. It has been scientifically proven that free play time is vital to the emotional well being of children. Over scheduling children can be damaging to childhood development. I just had to share this, as both my husband and I are retired teachers, and we have seen this trend grow. I fiercely protected our dinner time, so we could sit together and talk about our day!
What has helped me with anxiety and being minimal at the same time was to stop shopping, I used up all the stuff I had, saved a ton of money which I invested, post 3 years anxiety gone, financially all sorted out and have a minimal full functioning home.
A daily 15 min cleaning was what I started out with.
And knowing that my clutter did not end up in a landfill has brought in a lot of gratitude and peace.
This is the best tip. I did the same and it brings so much peace.
Me too
I'm getting there! Thank you for sharing this. My emotional well-being regarding stuff is very important to me. So, I'm looking forward to having this absolute peace of mind for my home!
I have a very small kitchen, and clearing everything off the counters has been an absolute game changer. I can see my kitchen from my couch so being able to see only clear space is lovely. So calming.
I’m working on this too myself, but I’m confused about how to do dishes, are you drying them by hand, or just using a dish drying mat that gets put away? I am constantly washing dishes I just can’t figure out how to clear those
@@rainbomg after every meal stuff gets washed and dried and put away. That is how I do it at least.
My kitchen sink and counters are visible straight-ahead from my front door!😬 It wasn't practical to add a door to block off the kitchen, so I hung a curtain. Now, when someone comes to the door unexpectedly, I just slide the curtain closed (except on the rare occasion my counters are clear, like yours; then I leave it open to show off 😂).
I watched this video for less than two minutes. I ran to my kitchen and I organized all my containers and water bottles. I threw away 5 tops for water bottles that had no match. That made so much space then the tops on was so easy to organize. My cabinets look great and it took me twenty minutes and that’s only because I needed to wake up a tall person to help me get all the stuff, lol. Thanks for the motivation. Go8ng back and watching the entire video. Hopefully I get more tips. Enjoy the day.
Same!!!! 😄
me too!😅
I did my Tupperware and my baking cabinets!!
I did the same thing with my office! lol
I often find I'm pausing to run off and do something too!
When it comes to laundry… I find it overwhelming to do a load of laundry a day (I have 2 little kids and work full time outside the home) but a week worth of laundry to WAY to much for one day… instead I break laundry into 2 days Wednesday and Sunday and this works really well for our house ❤
Same! We have a smaller family (5) so we don't have a ton of clothes and when the hampers are full, it's laundry day. I do like the feeling of getting it all "done" and not having to think about laundry until the next week.
I do it twice ish a week as well. When the hamper is full I know it is time. But I have a community laundry room where I need to use quarters. So I'm definitely waiting till I have enough clothing. A load a day might not cut it.
I think either way, it's finding a routine that you can commit to.
I have made a game out of meal planning. We call it The hunger games. Every Sunday we pick six meal from a container that has about 25 meals in it. These are our meals for the week. One day over for leftovers or takeaways.
😂 that is amazing
Fun idea!!!!
Smart
I've listened to so many organization tips that haven't worked for me. I've started watching your videos and am slowly decluttering. It feels so good to see the little steps we're making and that they're sticking. I still have a long ways to go, but I'm so encouraged. THANK YOU! And meal planning is probably the most stressful thing for me. I go back to work in the fall and am soo encouraged after hearing to tip to stick to the same meals each week. Those premade bulk meals are not my thing and I thought it was just me. I thought I was crazy! So happy to hear I'm not alone.
Also, I caught myself saying "love you too" at the end of the video. It must be because you're saving my sanity. Haha!
Thank you!
We all love Dawn & her family!!❤😂
3:33 Surprisingly, the best hack for my L-cabinet was adding a small motion-activated LED light! Cheap, and it made a HUGE difference!
KITCHEN
1) Store food storage containers with the lids on 1:03
2) Store water bottles etc. with the lids on 1:32
3) Store stuff where you use it 1:50
4) Move everything off of you kitchen counters 2:12
5) Make your own 'drawers' 2:53
6) Match your kitchen to your season of life 4:01
CLOSET
7) Highly simplify your wardrobe 5:33
8) Decide once what you're going to wear for the week 6:11
9) Add a donation bin to all closets 7:11
10) Add a "Time-Will-Tell" bin for testing a simplified wardrobe 7:47
BATHROOM
11) Bathroom "Time-Will-Tell" bin 8:27
12) Use the "Container Concept" 9:20
13) Create a hair styling tool caddy 9:58
14) Create a "Getting Ready" 10:20
LAUNDRY ROOM
15) Order things on subscription 11:10
16) A load a day keeps the Laundry Monster away 11:30
17) Add bins/basket to laundry room 12:04
18) Keep socks where it makes sense in your house 12:51
ENTRYWAY
19) 2 pairs or shoes per person by the door 13:13
KITCHEN
20) Have a regular, simple meal plan 13:38
21) Have a"Hectic Week" meal plan 13:51
22) One go-to dish for a meal or dessert 14:44
23) Decide once 16:18
24) Add expiration dates to your calender 16:33
25) Know how you like to catch cook 17:45
26) Don't keep any paper 17:55
27) Keep a vital documents folder 18:22
28) Velcro cord organisers 18:32
29) Lable things 19:25
30) "A place for everything and everything in its place" 20:21
31) Few kid activities 20:57
32) Family Marriage Staff Meeting 21:18
33) 5 Minutes Matters 21:54
34) Background music 22:22
35) Outdoor breaks during the day 22:40
Dawn! THANK YOU, THANK YOU THANK YOU! Hubby & I have decluttered 67 boxes of "stuff" in the last week!!! I NEVER could have done it without your encouragement. The encouragement to let it go & really realize that I was looking through clouded eyes. My fantasy self had to be exposed. I have a long way to go, but it's ok. It will be like an onion. Thank you again Dawn!
Cheryl! That is amazing!!!!
2 hacks to share:
*For all meals, I clean up as I go, no food is left out. No second helpings temptation.
When the meal is done, load the dishwasher. Done.
*No dirty dishes in the sink-use the dishwasher! Never ever go between meals or overnight with dirty dishes in the sink.
Starting fresh in a clean kitchen is a game-changer for motivation!
If I didn't have seconds growing up I'd go hungry.
Thank you SO MUCH for your channel and what you do. You are a joy to watch and you've helped me so much. You make decluttering seem doable when I thought it was impossible! I've been holding on to things from 15 years ago that I thought I would get to, but now I feel like it's ok to get rid of them and I have closet space and I feel so much better! I felt like such a slob and horrible home keeper because it was impossible to have a clean house with as much stuff as I had. But now I see the light! Thank you, thank you, thank you! You bring glory to the Lord with what you do.
Labeling made a HUGE difference in my home. I felt very much like I was fighting a losing battle against my family, but I used labels in the kitchen and now they put things back in the correct spot. It's like magic.
Thank you Dawn for another great video!! I am always telling everyone I know to watch your videos for ideas, hacks and mostly importantly motivation and inspiration!! Recently my brother called me to help him clean out his garage as they are moving after living in their home for 40 years. He was a saver of everything. He actually told me he needed my emotional support to help him part with the things he thinks he needs to keep. I have told him many times about you. We accomplished a great deal and he was SO thankful that I was beside him telling him to donate, throw away and create a "time will tell" box. To him his garage was overwhelming to tackle but with so many of your ideas we got the job done! I keep a donate box on a bed in our spare bedroom and I am constantly putting something in the box. Once a week I take the donation to our local thrift store. You are my inspiration!!! Thank you thank you!!
😅 YT foodu YT
I am so glad she mentions that it might feel strange to see an empty countertop. One of the things that triggers my anxiety is not seeing the clutter that’s “lived” somewhere for a long time. No many people seem to talk about it, so I’m happy she mentioned it 😊
One more thing… Dawn, you are the best! As I try slowly but surely to declutter my home, I am finding more peace and joy in my life. Now at the end of the day I am able to study scriptures and read from a novel a bit each night. That had been HUGE!! All from decluttering my closet and bedroom. This is cheesy but I so wish I could meet you in person to tell you myself. You and Cas are basically my best friends 😂💕
It might be cheesy, but I feel the same way! 😂🧀
So sweet!
Yes i geel the same. Im still great to Marie Kondo who started the ball rolling for us westerners who have be brainwashed with consumerism capitalism ! Thankyou Dawn and Cass!
@clairedubery1056 yes, I love Konmarie too. She's my hero!
One thing I like about this channel is Dawn doesn't expect all of us to be minimalists. She's fine with us using tips we like and pass on the other stuff.
My Grandmother perfected two specialty recipes, both of which she could make ahead, one a pickeled side dish and one a melt-in-your-mouth candy. She always brought them to family gatherings, and we were always excited to see her arrive with her delicious dishes. Dawn is so right, do one thing well and relax!
My daughter calls it her signature dish.
My signature dish is a cake that never fails. Everyone is requesting it when I offer to bring cake 😅
@
I can’t wrap my head around the 7 outfits in my closet. I HATE shopping but I need dressy clothes for work. When I get home I change to my home job, preparing dinner,
@@budoneof15 so what would work? What if your comfy at home clothes were on a hook or different coloured hanger ready and waiting?
Like you, Dawn, one of the things that has highly simplified meal prep is cooking the protein en masse and freezing it in portions I use in recipes. I dislike shopping and go grocery shopping once, maybe twice, a month. I buy meats in family packs and cook them when I get home, then vacuum seal them in usable portions. I take the package of cooked meat out of the freezer the night before, and let it thaw in the fridge. It makes dinner prep soooo easy. It gives us options for healthy, quick meals that I usually have on the table in less than 15 mins!
Cooking protein in large quantities is something I've always done to save time,but I can't wait to get started on the bin ideas. It's what I've wanted to do for a long time but never had the courage to get rid of things. Thanks for the encouragement !
Hi Dawn, I just want to thank you. I watched so many minimalist youtubers in the past but you are the one that inspired me to declutter. I started with my closet, I had clothes from decades ago and doesn't fit me anymore but I can't seem to let go. I don't want to accept that I gained 2 sizes up, thinking that one day I will lose weight and will use it again. But everytime I opened my closet I felt bad about myself not having clothes that fits. I always wanted to live a minimal life bacause I don't want to be like my mom who is a hoarder. I don't blame her, she grew up poor and she has a hard time letting go. But now that I have my own family I decided to try a minimal lifestyle. My kitchen is veryyy minimal now and I love it. I declutter daily now.
Hahaha I need an “out grown” bin for my own closet too!
😂me too!
My go to dish for family events is caprese salad. Most people don't make it for themselves, so it's a welcome repeat. Except that for the longest time my dad thought the tiny Mozella balls were mini marshmallows and refused to eat it.
Ha ha
😅😂
If your trash bag always falls in the trash can when it's full, put command hooks upside down on each side to hold the handles, just low enough to keep it tight when it's full. This has been a quality of life improvement for me and I highly recommend it if you struggle with this at all.
I put a piece of elastic around the bin, holding the bag in place. I started with just a large rubber band but other people thought it should be thrown out with the bag. My current piece elastic with a knot in it has lasted over a year.
Good morning - Funny story to share, We have one of those weird L cabinets. We replaced our dishwasher and that is the cabinet next to it, so I was doing my best to get things cleaned out for the plumber. I wish I could share pictures of the shear volume of stuff that had fallen over and crammed in the corner - it was funny and embarrassing at the same time. (So glad I did it before the installer professional came). I mean a trash bag full of water bottles and pet bowls and you get the idea. So far we still have not used it again, but I like the basket idea to make it a drawer. Great video, have a great day everyone.
I use nice dishes EVERYDAY! I don’t have nice dishes just for “special occasions.” I have 1 set of beautiful dishes I use for everything.
As you should!!! Beautiful dishes should be used for YOU! :) you deserve it!
The storage container hack really changed the game for our kitchen. Being able to grab a container and know you have everything lid and base relieved some kitchen tension. And we have yet to run out of containers to use.
Putting newspaper,paper towel or a silica packet in the container before you put the lid on will prevent all smells.
In addition to a getting ready bin/drawer in my bathroom, I have a getting ready for bed bin/drawer. Works great for me and these two containers have improved my medication compliance, my AM and PM routines and given me so much peace of mind that I have remembered to do what I need to do every single day.
I was tearing up when you asked if I’m tired or anxious. Thank you for seeing us busy anxious moms. I love the 7 outfit hack. I’ve been doing this for the week some weeks and I can plan out gym days and more. This does sound like a big stress relief.
Thanks for another good video. I enjoyed how you shared the suggestions from other viewers. Gentle reminder: There are ladybugs, crickets, bees and butterflies, and it doesn't work for everyone to hide everything in their cabinets and keep countertops 100% clear. I'm glad you found your style. Things I use everyday need to be visible. Keeping it minimal means that my space doesn't look a mess. If I don't see it, I don't have it!
Yes! I'm definitely an "if I don't see it, it's not there" person.
Ahh, yay!! So honoured some of my ideas made the cut!!! The membership group is such a blessing… made my day to be of use as been laid flat out poorly all day, smiling my name was mentioned!! Thank you, love Emily
An idea I like, is using masking tape and a sharpie marker to label leftover foods for the fridge. I mark the date so food can be eaten up before it spoils! Love
The Minimal Mom!!!
Or you can use chalk markers comes right off
I do the same! It's so helpful. The hardest part is convincing hubby to do the same when he puts leftovers away. LOL
The small amount of time spent labeling saves me from opening containers to figure out what's in them and sniffing to figure out if it is spoiled (gross!). I mark with the contents and the day of the week and date (ie. (Chicken soup Mon 28) The rule is leftovers are eaten by Sunday (exception: something for Monday lunch) so the fridge is empty and clean for Monday grocery shopping. I also pack the leftovers as ready to eat plates -- meat, vege, and starch in one or two square dishes -- just grab and reheat .
I do the same but use painters tape, because it’s easier to remove without leaving residue.
dining table hack: I keep mine set. . .my dining table used to a be a dumping ground because it is the first flat surface coming in from the garage. With the table being set, it doesn't accumulate my purse, mail, my husband's food tote from the office, groceries, etc.
As a rather tired person, I pack my groceries with the perishables all together. They are put away first, then I can rest before putting away the rest. When cleaning out the car, I take one big bag with me, put everything in it, and go inside. Then I can sit down and sort things in minutes. Because I cook for one, I divide the casseroles into 2 cup containers with some in the frig and some in the freezer. Take out one every morning, and it is ready to heat for dinner. I make batches of spaghetti sauce to freeze, then give to neighbors who have helped me or when someone has lost a loved one. I keep various plastic containers in my "takeout" cupboard for potlucks. That way, the dish doesn't have to come home.
I make one-person portions of meals I like as well. I have physical limitations also and this process allows me to eat more healthy and more easily each day. (I keep a list on my phone also with what I've put in the freezer.) I also portion out serving size ziplocs of handy snacks, like dried fruits, sliced cheese, carrots, nuts, etc. to be easy to grab when I need to eat but can't move much. So helpful to prepare ahead.
Such good ideas, Karen and Stef. I am a rather tired and sometimes easily overwhelmed person too, and your tips are encouraging! Thank you for sharing! ❤
@@emmelia-6068 👍💗
"It's easier to take back a 'no' than a 'yes'"
So true!!
I have been following you for years now, but I still get excited every time You load up a new video. It's like listening to a friend, coach and psicologist at the same time. You comfort, entertain and guide me in so many ways, it's incredible, Dawn! PD. And my house looks and feels great ❤
It took me a long time to accept that I didn't have to batch cook like many others, and that's okay. I tried making freezer meals or crock pot freezer meals, etc. It was overwhelming, I couldn't often remember all that was in my freezer, and it took a long time to do. I finally understood that I needed to do it differently for my brain. Like you, I batch cook meat and portion it out for family meals and then freeze it. I also batch cook other ingredients instead of full meals: peppers/onions for pizza, soup base veggies, meat broths, etc. Then I can just pull out what we need and mix it with other things I want and it cuts down on dinner cooking time. It's awesome! Thanks for the other tips! :)
I have been cooking with designated recipe days for years. Fridays are hamburger night, Saturday steak night, Sunday is usually a soup/stew/casserole that can last 2 days, Tuesday is either chicken or fish, Wednesday is an "On your own night" - my husband and I take care of our own meals, and Thursday is take-out night. So much less stress. Of course we change things up on special occasions. We work full-time with long hours, so it's great to rely on a game plan.
I agree with having donation bins in each closet, but I agree with Dana that it should be a donatable donation bin so I don't have to go through it again to transfer it to a donation box or bag... and second-guess myself.
Yes, a donateable box has been a game changer for me. It makes it much easier!
You could line the bin with a bag that you just tie off and donate.
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Hello Dawn
I never really realized that I was a hoarder until I watched your video.
You gave some excellent advice and ideas to make my room clutter free.
I now have 2 giant bags of clothes that I am donating to a second hand store. It felt so so good to put the donations in the bag and driving to the second hand store. You said if I haven’t worn it in a year I’ll probably never wear it plus you said if I don’t feel fantastic in my clothes or I’m waiting to lose weight so I can fit into my stuff really resonated with me. I’ve never declutterred any of my stuff before and I have wasted so much money on buying online stuff I don’t really need. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your videos. I’m slowly becoming a minimalist. 🥳☺️👍
I have downsized my wardrobe and I LOVE it! I wear scrubs all week and I kept just a few weekend outfits. I realized I don’t even miss anything I got rid of!
Last year I turned my spare bedroom (temporarily) into a massive time will tell space ….a semi organised junk room (!)…this summer I am rewatching your videos and on Monday everything remaining in the room is being removed (removal van booked, all bagged in colour coordinated trash/textiles/paper/books/ charity shop and they drop it all off to the correct place!) Furniture no longer needed (has sat empty for the year) is also going….thank you so much for all your videos!
Amazing😁
I started putting the pots/pans with their lid on it and that has been a game changer. ♡
Getting my closet down to a few things that fit me and I liked wearing was the best thing I've done in a long time! So much easier now and the things I never wore...gone. Thanks Dawn for that idea!
Dawn you are definitely not a loser. You are a winner!
I love your videos and started years ago with gentle and sometimes not so gentle decluttering😊 it releaves stress so profoundly not to have to search for items. Your hacks are gold! And I find it more and mire easy with every year. My attitude towards things has changed very much .
I have (had) a bottle of Stress Away lotion in pretty green glass jar that I bought years ago. I liked the look, but hated the scent and it has moved from the bedroom, bathroom, basement, kitchen, and then back to the bedroom. Last week I threw it away and it finally lived up to its name!
This actually made me laugh out loud! I have a candle like that. I'm going more stress-free right now!
I have been storing with the lids on for a year after hearing Cass talk about it forever. Dawn and Cass are completely right. It works. So much less stress and less wasted space.
Keeping the lids on the storage containers; GENIUS!!!
I’ve used this tip for the past year and it works so well. ❤❤❤
It just makes sense! 😊
I believe, way back a few years, Dawn credits Dana K White for this most incredible idea. This idea completely transformed my kitchen cabinets.
@@onalee5726 Dana has been a key person for many 😊
Your words too much inventory just resonate with me. I have more being hauled away tomorrow. My life is more free and my stress has been reduced. Thank you Dawn.
I can’t even explain how much I love your channel Dawn, I’ve been a sahm for 7 years and the whole time I’ve been following you and watching your channel you’ve helped me out so much with being a homemaker and organizing our things. Listening to your voice in the background while I’m cleaning is so soothing and relaxing. I don’t normally think of people as aspirational but you are one of the few that I admire and look up to.
Had to look up SAHM. "STAY-AT-HOME-MOM". Never heard that before, but I am old, 70 yrs., so don't know these things. I too was a SAHM. Then had a career as the CFO, Chief Financial Officer of a corporation. I believe that motherhood is the greatest of careers! You are impacting the future!!!!❤
Love your white top! Brings a lovely brightness to your face! Good for the summer! 😊
My favorite meal planning hack is to streamline by making a monthly calendar. I had my family to pick out 28 dinners they like and I fill in 4 weeks of the calendar. Whatever week we are going to be in is the groceries I buy. When week 1 rolls around at the beginning of a month it has been an entire month since we have had those meals since nothing is repeated for a full month. Also I know what I'm cooking. I don't always follow day by day, but when I'm trying to decided what to cook, I only have 7 meals to choose from not an entire pinterest board! I cook extra so we can have leftovers for lunches as well. I also have made a shopping list that coordinates with each week so when I need to put in a grocery order I know what to buy to make that weeks meals. Occasionally I'll take out something we are getting tired of and put in a new meal to try. I always try to put in a few easy meals ( like a frozen lasagna or crockpot meal) in case of busy days each week. I have the cooking down, it's the "reduce the inventory" where I am struggling. Thanks for all of your help!
I like your style of minimalism because its liveable. Your empty kitchen counters are so relaxing, there is just something luxurious about some empty spaces in a home.
I did a lot of these ideas when I was raising my children, and homeschooling. Now, I'm a grandma and widow, living alone. Bet you don't have lots of women like me watching your videos! Anyhow, here's my tip: I batch-cook for myself. I cook a chicken casserole or hamburger dish, like Italian casserole, then freeze portions in those glass bowls with lids, labeled of course. After eating at night, I take food out of the freezer and transfer into the fridge to thaw out and I'm ready for the next day. If I decide to go out to eat, that food will keep just fine until the following day.
That is a great idea!! I lived alone for a year at different times (husband jobs) I ate garbage and felt awful.
I do a load of laundry a day and I never have issues with laundry. I'm trying to clean my kitchen counters daily...this is something I struggle with, but waking up to a clean counter is so nice.
I just realized one stress thing I never realized was TOO MUCH FOOD! I have a habit of deriving comfort by having a full fridge and full food storage. BUT it’s only hubby and me…so waste, big money, more inventory and always running to the store to keep it all FULL. I also have bulk storage in the basement. I hate to say how much toilet paper I have!!!! So this is an area where I need to rethink…is it a possibility that we will starve? No. So I will do a little thinking to find some simplicity and free up some bandwidth.
These are strategies, not hacks. Hacks are shortcuts. These are great.
Thank God for SIMPLE ideas! Simple is my new best friend!!!
We always have grocery "backstock" as we have the space to purchase multiples when things are on sale. Whoever takes the last one, or sees we're getting low adds that item to the grocery list. I find that grocery sales are cyclic so try to keep track of what comes on sale regularly or seasonally. My kids used to "shop" from my pantry when visiting from college so I stocked up ahead for what they liked. Also, I found eating the same lunch simplifies my morning (and grocery) routine.
I was a Couponer for many years and still buy on sale seasonally for shelf items we regularly use. It helps me to have painters tape on a nail and marker on a string to mark multiples of a thing. I know when I get to 1 in the pantry (like mustard) to add it to the grocery list.
Also never have I thought about batch cooking like you mentioned! I hate batch cooking full meals but just the proteins…..Brilliant!!
Also I LOVE The emphasis on being mindful of what season you're in! Perfect advice. And thank you for a normalizing having a go-to specialty meal or item that you always bring to a party. I know a lot of us feel self-conscious about our food. We feel like we have to live up to some kind of hype of a potluck and having the best dish. So thanks for reminding us that we can pick one item to "perfect" and we don't have to be perfect to cooks. Plus I know a lot of people who just bring like a veggie tray or the cutlery 🤷
Other than pre-cooking meat before freezing it, I like to cut my chicken and marinade/season it. I store my saver bags as flat as I can so that they thaw faster. The marinade soaks in while freezing and thawing. Since it's already cut, it is ready to cook as soon as it thaws.
We do this with chicken thighs and BBQ sauce -- we call it "camping chicken" because the frozen vacuum pack of chicken works like an ice pack in the cooler and the next day it's ready to grill over the campfire 😊 My husband is often a genius ❤
I can't wait for it to cool off so we have spend more time outside. I need that break from the house lol 107 with a real feel of 116 is not okay! 🤣 I am not a summer person!
I've just been sitting out in it with my dog (not quite 116 real feel at this moment but def over 100). 😂😂😂
@@dianasimplifies I just heard next week will cool off for my state. I hope yours does too 😊
I SO love and appreciate this video! I'm battling 3 chronic health issues, so these tips are just super helpful and yes, encouraging too! It's wonderful to see a video in which suggested ideas are doable for me. I've decluttered over 1,000 things since June, but oops...I didn't think I "needed" labels. Oh my goodness, now, I'm labeling everything because we're gradually getting more organized but were honestly having trouble remembering our "homes" for things...ha ha. Thanks for the inspiration. I'll keep going one step at a time!
Keeping the things you use daily in one bin in the bathroom makes it easier to pack for trips!
One fact that overwhelms me is that now I live in a large two story home, whereas when I was single, I lived in a smaller home that was easier to manage and maintain. I haven’t been able to clean the upstairs AND downstairs on the same day….
If the weather changes even a little bit or I decide Im playing outside with my kids or staying in all day my clothes have to change. Also I wear the same thing every morning cause its my workout clothes and then I change later into my day outfit. I wish I could plan ahead what I wear. I also dont have 7 shirts and 7 pairs of pants that can all reliably be worn. I cant afford to go clothing shopping but I cycle through a few shirts and pants that Ill wear in public. The rest are rags I wear at home or under winter coats for going outside.
Just did my whole house and don't miss any thing I trashed,give away, or donated.
Not storage but simplifying: I lose my phone often so I set a permanent alarm for 9 pm which I call curfew so every evening my phone tells me where it is. Also 15 minutes before I need to leave the house in the morning.
I too have this "issue" 😉 that's an absolutely brilliant idea, thank you so much for sharing it! This is why I read the comment section, YAY! 🎉
My kitchen is 10x10 - wall to wall. If I want to eat in there, I stand up at the counter. Now, THAT’S SMALL!!!!! 😂
All the advice from these women is spot on and so essential to teach the younger generation.
I started keeping lids on containers and allowing a specific storage size for them and way better for me.
Hi. I'm a mom of 5 adult kids, and 9 grandchildren.
A few years ago, my empty nest season began. One by one the children flew the nest for a season, only to return later to get their finances in order. When they returned, they came back with more stuff than they left with. Renting storage was not an option, since they were seeking to save. This spurred me to tackle my own clutter even more.
I am so grateful for all the hacks and ideas shared here. They have been a big help over the years and continue to be so. 😊
I organized my kitchen cabinets. Instead of bins for "drawers," I used a tray I already had and a baking sheet. Everything now is like-with-like and has its own space, and I think it'll be easier to put things back where they belong. Thank you, Dawn, for helping me get my kitchen even more functional!
Who knew 5 minutes can change lives?! 😊 it turns into 10 mins then 15mins next thing you know the task is done... and all it took was 20 mins. Thank you Dawn!
Meal prepping the protein for meals has been the BIGGEST time saver for us! Also helps us eat a little healthier, when there’s always a protein ready to eat
My cooking hack: I purchase a large quantity of ground beef. I then measure out 5 ounces of meat and make patties out of them. I then wrap them in clear wrap and put all of them into a plastic freezer bag. I label the freezer bag as to what it is and date. When making a dish with ground beef, I can use the defrost setting for one pound of meat on my microwave. I only defrost for 2 to 3 minutes. The pattie is then ready for me to crumble to use or cook the pattie whole.
Almost daily laundry has been my goal for the last several months. So proud of myself for tossing in a load when our communal family basket gets full. My husband has even noticed that he's not doing laundry on the weekends anymore!
One thing I found that really helped me was getting all my household supplies in bulk at the beginning of the year: toilet paper, bathroom cleaners, trash bags, hand soap, dish soap, laundry detergent, toothpaste, deodorant, face wash, and shampoo. It took two years to figure out how much I needed of everything and organize the storage in the spare bathroom closet, but I never have to worry about running out of anything or have to worry about fitting the cost of a bunch of things that just ran out into the household budget. Also, your advice on how to store Tupperware has worked amazingly well for me!
I only have 3 styling tools for my hair and a dollar store magazine holder works perfect! I have a shelf under my sink and it works perfect! I love how you shared input from your viewers!
My daughter just turned 35. Her dad was great, but lived two hours away. My mom lived four hours away. I was in graduate school and worked full-time. I let her know she could do 2 activities (e.g., soccer and dance) at a time. I was able to do work, homework, or just relax at practices and games. We didn't eat out because we weren't overextended. As adults, we can't do everything....we have to make choices and live with them. We have to do things that are affordable and make us happy. Oh and one rule her dad and I enforced, if she picked an activity she would need to stick with it for a reasonable amount of time. This teaches commitment, respect, and loyalty. I am not a perfect parent, but this worked for us.🥰
Food storage w/lids on is the BEST! We now store anything that has a lid, w/it's lid!!😁
I can't even tell you how much I love you for addressing the weird L-shaped cabinet issue. It has been the bane of my existence!!! 😂 I'll be picking up some baskets, thank you!
I found having plastic containers in the fridge labelled really helped me keep track of stuff ie sausage and bacon spot, raw meat, cooked meat, yoghurt drinks, extra fruit, top shelf has three .. jams, pickles and sauces. I don’t scour the fridge wondering what we have now, I know the spot for protein and for veg/ salad. Thanks so much for your content. We are still in construction mode so seeing you reminds me it will all be sorted soon!
I agree with the comment section.. the first tip , storing containers with lid on is a game changer. The moment when you pull out a container and you don’t hve to ask ‘ has anyone seen the lid for this container’. THAT is gold
Clear kitchen counters is my happy space 😍
Dawn I have never been a messy person but always frustrated if things were a mess. You have really changed my life. Love you so much❤️
For documents a handy idea is to have the front file labelled "to be filed". This way you don't lose things because you don't have time to file them straight away -you put everything straight away in "to be filed" & when you have time go back & file logically. So much time saved from looking for docs that you know you put/filed 'somewhere '!
I love the reinforcement of the basics! I have been resisting the idea of keeping the lids on the food storage bins. Time to see if it works for us!
Yes it does! I am 70 and old dogs are hard to retrain. But I have found this to be one of the best simplifications in my kitchen. Good luck!
It works for me. I also got rid of all the containers I didn't like, mostly because the tops were difficult for me to open and close. Bought a nice set of snapware at Costco and love the simplicity.
I fought this idea for so long.........Do it now!! You will not regret it.
I'm glad you talked about cooking extra protein to keep on hand instead of batch cooking. I've been doing this for a long time, but also I ingredient prep. If, for example, onions are on sale, I'll chop them and package them in one cup quantities. For ground beef, I cook 5 pounds at a time and freeze in 2 cup quantities (which equal one pound)...I have way to many recipes that say you need 1 pound of ground beef, cooked and crumbled.😀 This way I only have to clean up the mess once. Thank you for the great video and ideas. I always need to reduce stress. ♥️♥️♥️
Dawn I might of gone too far, 2007 I hired a organizer and she came out and helped me at that point. I was hoarding. I had boxes in my basement to the ceilings and just a pass to go through. The rest of the house wasn’t much better. I learned a lot and it got me over the hoarding part, and then I Marie Kondo to my house and narrow things down a little bit more this time I was ruthless. I feel a little empty. And that’s OK I’ll get used to it. I’m not missing anything in particular and it feels good to see the space. Vacuuming was easy, hardly anything to move, my house is lighter, I feel vaguely uncomfortable, I am trying to adjust it’s been two weeks . Tky for all you do
No hack here but I am going to try to figure out how to put this on a weekly reminder replay until it’s stuck in my head😉 great tips as usual. Thank you!