All of your concepts are so helpful, but I think if I had to pick my Top 3, they would be: 1. Start withTrash and only trash. 2. Don't pull everthing out. 3. Take it there now. My ex-boyfriend used to hate when I said I was going to "clean". I would end up with a bigger mess than when I started because I would pull out items and put them in piles everywhere. Then, when my energy ran out, or an unexpected distraction happened, I would have crap everywhere.
Using the method of asking “where would I look for this” helps me clean clutter so much faster than usual. I shared this with my kids too and they cleaned their bedrooms in record time. One of them has ADHD and making decisions is so hard for him. It helped him a lot because it wasn’t about making decisions anymore. Way less frustrating for him.
"Progress & only progress." is a great mantra for life in general. I'm in need of a full pedicure, but have only found a few minutes lately to remove the polish, cut my toenails and give my calluses a once-over. It's not a full pretty pedi, but my feet are better off than they were before! Doing SOMETHING is almost always better than doing NOTHING! 😊
I thought I was the only one who did this! Seriously, such a game changer!! And HONESTLY, who made the rule that you have to do everything all in one sitting for it to count!?
I took “Take it there now” to a new level today. In addition to TITN I also did a job in any room that needed it for a few hours e.g. attached the keyboard tray to the computer desk, glueing a shoe and a cabinet in the kitchen. It was a great way to get to those jobs that I see every time I enter a room. It was all random so that didn’t put any pressure on me or make get me feeling low for not doing the jobs a week ago.
Knowing that the decision-making is what's so exhausting is key for me. Having the "easy stuff" steps that can be done so casually is kind of exhilarating.
I was thinking about some other thing you mentioned, that we we regularly find certain items in certain wrong places (happens here too, yes), and for a moment, I wondered, why isn't THAT the right place for it, why don't I look THERE first? Then it hit me that looking for things is a mindful activity, and so is putting things away, but dropping things is totally mindless. And we easily forget things we do mindlessly. But we also can't think about everything all the time.
removing the "why" and the emotions from the process has been so helpful for me. i'm still working on retraining myself to think things through with the 5-step process but the more i do it, the easier it gets.
Hi Dana - I wrote down your quote about “Why”, and this was what I needed to hear and apply in a totally different area of my life: “I want to be clear that we never ask ‘Why?’ in my process. ‘Why’ is not a helpful word in the (decluttering) process. It is not useful and doesn’t help you move forward…. I decided for myself I’m not going to worry about why, and I started making so much more progress.”
I agree with you! no decision to be made vs making that decision. better is good. sometimes just getting decisive decisions made is the victory...and able to feel good about acting on it. BTW, Dana, I love your haircut style and accents.😊
I've been on easy stuff from my bedroom couch for a week because of the procrastination clutter as you said, each little time i get to do more, and as you say, it only gets better with your method
Finally! Finally something I can handle. Layers. I have a bed so full of a MK attempt I can't sleep there! Giant piles here there and everywhere! I'm really not exactly a hoarder. If people were standing here with their hands out for my art supplies...tons would go...same with clothes...same with everything. I DO have a physical impairment but that's only part of it. I am overwhelmed. Lots of stuff has places, but I am buried with the big picture. I sort of got a feeling for your method...like throw away trash, put stuff where it belongs...even one piece at a time. But then I found you! There you were...telling me that would work! I NEEDED that. I've been bingeing on videos. I ordered books. I'm staring at a HUGE pile of clean laundry. I don't know how long it been there. I have a hard time folding and hanging....so I don't! Maybe if I do 10 pieces at a time, it will finally go away😄 Right now I feel hopeful. Trash first. I can't say I'll donate much...too hard to transport. Some stuff really is too good to toss, I'd feel guilty, so I'll give myself permission to toss some and donate what I can manage. Thank you for the hope❤
You have a way of teaching that I can relate to. I e tried following other decluttering or minimalist channels and I just cannot “connect” with the person. No shade to them, I’m sure they are very good at what they do, but I need the connection. I found that with you and that’s why I can follow your teachings and get results. Thank you
As always, you give clarity to what would be overwhelming. Thank you Dana, all of your content... books, videos and course lessons have been invaluable to me.
So extremely helpful, especially for someone like myself who is AuDHD. Done not perfect is something I'm still working on, and I think this is a breakdown of what that can mean and look like. I'm literally going through my house right now and doing my "daily" stuff. Normally I would go down a rabbit hole and get hyper focused on one specific thing. But right now I'm doing daily maintenance and "easy stuff". Honestly hasn't been super long yet since I watched your video about cleaning and "daily stuff". I've heard some other ways it's been explained but for whatever reason, your videos are clicking in ways other advice hasn't. Very disability friendly, very nurodivergent friendly and I can't thank you enough for sharing this kind of information.
That's what done it for me.. the idea of having 3 sets of small organizing containers in my top desk drawer, I have to limit. And I don't mean fill it to where its rounded on top. I have to see at least an inch above
Look up a video dana did recently with 'miss teacher' who is suffering from long covid and tires easily for an example of using Dana's method with disabilities
Great video, once again. I find it generally doesn't help to ask why in most areas of life and work. But please, would you let us meet your son/editor Reid one day? His comments at the end are just priceless and make me laugh out loud!
Liz.... Reid is in some of Dana's earlier videos. Maybe try a couple years back. Last one I recall is when they had just moved into the new house and were discussing which cups to declutter...hope that helps with timeline and a possible thumbnail pic.
This is great because easy can be such a loaded word. What’s easy for someone else might not be easy for me. Good luck everyone! Today I decluttered a few holiday decorations, a few throw pillows and some kitchen utensils. Small wins will get us there! 😊🧡🍀🐦
I've discovered that when I'm working on the easy stuff, and I see something I don't know what to do with, my brain will continue to think about that thing and eventually I'll go, oh I know exactly what to do with it, or ,I really don't want it anymore .
I love the little comments from the editor so much! Of course, the advice is solid and useful and so so helpful, but those additions make my day every single time.
Wow! You are amazing! I have watched a number of decluttering videos, but this one totally clicked with me. I have a large home and because it doesn’t look cluttered in the living areas, I have a tendency to keep things I don’t really even want, let alone need, simply because there’s little motivation to do anything about it, since I have space for things. The only problem is, I would like to be in a position to downsize in the next few years (actually I’d like to be in that position right now) because as a senior, I never know when my life circumstances could change in a heartbeat. Having so much stuff feels heavy and overwhelming, but if I simply start with removing things I already know I don’t even want, that makes so much sense to me. Thank you so much!
I am enjoying decluttering using using your method! And the added bonus with "put it there now" is how many steps it adds to my goal without even trying. My procrasticlutter and drop zone clutter is decreasing also because I'm conscience of put it there now.
A good place for "easy stuff" for seniors like me with sometimes low energy is in the kitchen. For instance, I have items on my kitchen table right now that belong in the pantry or in a cabinet, that are on only 3 feet away, lol. I can do that as soon as I send this comment. Thanks, Dana for your 5-step process, especially the first 3 steps that my senior brain doesn't have to think about at all!
Love you Dana- you are such a gift. Thank you for making it SIMPLE and non-emotional. I just cleaned my nightstand which had all kinds of procrasticlutter /trash on it and i feel so much better!❤
I found that my goal has become to give each room a purpose (or 2 if need be, but 1 priority) and only have items that fulfill the need for that space. Even If a space has more items but they are only to function for that space in a way that is practical and necessary FOR ME, I find that is what makes my mind relax in a space, anything extra makes it feel cluttered. Btw you are my declutterring guru and your cleaning and declutterring rules have become biblical to me, thank you for your books and videos :)
Hi lovely lady, Please do a video about all the people (especially in the TBYH class who keep posting photos where they're) TAKING EVERYTHING OUT TO DECLUTTER AND MADE A HUGE PILES OF MESS... and are OBVIOUSLY not following your steps. Where taking everything out of a cabinet isn't part of the steps but no one in the TBYH class seems to know that.
Maybe meet a neighbor or two. Take them something you make for them. After you become more acuainted you will feel safe to ask them to help you. Maybe? Plus...more friends are usually always wonderful. And not just for lifting heavy objects. They can also lift our spirits.
I'm always amazed that there is almost always trash when I go to declutter. I think I'm pretty good at throwing things away promptly, but I always find things that really should have been thrown away instead of put away.
the answer is easy in my case: it is my subconcious mind which puts pencils in kitchen drawers, a kitchen towel in the cupboard and an empty glass in the fridge. When I find these things I found it very funny. I comment to myself- oh this was actually close. Well done! You just missed it by 30cm 😅
I love your tips. Just commenting to say that pencil you noticed on the floor cracked me up,XD. I am handwriting a novel andmam struggling to find my pens.,But I tend to find them when tidying up. I got a pen holder but the problem is I need to lie in bed to write and like to write to do lists etc or take a pen in my bag for notes writing, so they move around. Anyway...relatable lol.
Get your favorite vase or cup and use it for pens and pencils…the cute cup you keep on the shelf but never use…the cute small sentimental vase or jelly jar you want to keep special…give it a useful purpose.
@@scara1859 I have a penholder. It's not that I have nowhere to put them. I was really only just explaining above to explain that her delight at finding a pencil on the floor was relatable. 😊
WHY!!!!???!!! Is what causes great anger which can be passed down from another person putting pressure you. It's time to break those bondages! Listen to Dana!
Procrasticlutter is a big one for me. Things get piled into to do lists because I don't have time but then never get done. Thinking of this as part pf decluttering is such a mindset shift. I guess the extension is that if procrasticlutter is really not worth the time to deal with then it is also not worth the space its taking up.
Great video, Dana. I got stuck on "take it to its home" because it's home is another cluttered mess with no space for it. What do you do then?? This is a big problem for me! I'm sure open to suggestions as to 🙃🙄how to deal with this.
Dana talks about this situation a lot! Here's a little summary: when you get to the other cluttered place, have a quick look and see if there's any trash or 'duh' donation there that can be removed to make space for the thing you have brought. Then leave the thing there and carry the trash or donation back to your original decluttering spot and stick them in the black trash bag or donatable donate box that are there waiting for you. If you find it a bit difficult to instantly identify something that can go from the second cluttered place, ask yourself if there's anything there that is less 'container worthy' than the thing you brought. Dana says that sometimes we'll realize that the thing we brought over is the one we are actually ready to donate, because we don't want to let go of anything that's there in the 'where would I look first' place.
There are a lot of things that shouldn't have only one home. Some things should be in every room. You should put a pen and pencil in a bathroom drawer, the nitestand, kitchen, garage, car, purse, etc. Any place you might want to write down a thought. And scissors, flyswatters, long handled grabbers can be hidden away in every room so that they're handy. You can hang them on a wall in a closet.
Try tackling an area and move hard things to one side and then deal with the easy things. Then move to another area and do the same. You'll free up space as you go and get better at identifying what you can get rid of. After a point it all gets more doable.
Do you have a friend/neighbor who could drop by occasionally to relocate the blockade for you? Or maybe someone who could introduce you to a young person who would do this for a small fee?
Is the heavy thing, something that you need? Maybe it's time for it to go or find a better spot elsewhere. Maybe you need a dolly (not to be confused with a doololly).
I tell my son or a neighbor that I could use some muscle. Men usually want to help with that. I heard of an app called LUGG. I haven’t used it myself, but I think you can get someone the same day. This happened to me when my dad died and I needed engine hoists, air compressors, and other machines moved. My neighbor showed up with friends and they had a ball moving it! 😄
We have these furniture slider things that are wonderful at helping me move large, heavy things. They are flat and go under whatever you’re moving. Usually I can manage to get them in place (50+ female here) on my own with a bit of effort. Then you can just push the furniture around the room. We got a variety pack, which has slick plastic ones for carpet and felt ones for hard floors. Maybe something like that could help get things out of the way?
It took me an embarrassingly long moment to realize that ‘easy-Steph’ is not, in fact, an appliance or tool Europeans are not familiar with😂 Like lazy Susan, whatever that is!
A lazy Susan is a circular tray that you can manually spin so you don't need to climb to the back of the cupboard or reach across the table to get things on the other side
I’m cleaning out my mother’s house (she passed away) and it’s overwhelming. She was a Baby Boomer and there’s something about that generation and acquiring. Every room with shelves, side tables, knickknacks, extra chairs (that don’t fold up or tuck away)-it’s crazy. And the closets as well as the garage stuffed to the ceiling. I think the Boomers definitely have hoarder tendencies. To be clear, my mom wasn’t a hoarder-the house is relatively clean and you can walk through all the rooms and tell what the rooms are for. But definitely totally overstuffed without permanent homes for a lot of things. I’m embracing Essentialism once I move out of here.
Because we were raised by parents who went through the Great Depression and taught to hang onto everything for fear it would not be replaceable-either affordable or available.
@@joannlessner1551 I agree. I'm 59 & my Mom had hoarding tendencies. I hated it. Over the last 15 years, there has been so much information available about living with less, decluttering, etc. that wasn't a thing back in their days.
Baby boomers don't have hoarder tendencies. Instead, it's about that time period in history. For instance, living with less is important today, but the baby boomers generation was about acquiring and having things. Once you have items for 20 plus years it's harder to get rid of because they become sentimental with memories attached. My parents' generation were the ones who lived through the great depression and they didn't like getting rid of things because it was costly to replace plus they might be able to use it someday. I'm so sorry for the passing of your mom ((hugs))
This probably isn’t the place to ask but, I want all of your books. Can you please recommend which order I should read them. This should be easy but it’s not easy for me to decide. 🧠😵💫😊
They were written in this order and do have a logical flow this way. Good luck deciding! 1. How to manage your home... 2. Decluttering at the speed of life 3. Organizing for the rest of us
Okay but here is the problem I have. Say there’s 5 things that need to go to different areas, when I take them to that area, I get distracted in that room 🤦🏼♀️
Ah, but that first area, which is the one you were working on, that one is better than before. If you also use her visibility premise and start with the areas that are most visible, then you will return to the same area as you were when you go back to declutter again. I like to set a 5 minute timer for each session to keep the momentum going and to stay on track when I get distracted. It reminds me that, oh yeah, I was doing something else earlier. Do I want to go back to that, at least to clean up the donation box and the trash bag? And when I get back to the area sometimes I can see that it is better and that I can do more. Sometimes I just clear up the things that are there because of the decluttering process.
My husband is a "just in case..." man, how do I explain to him that just because we may need a cord in the next 10 years, it costs less to buy one when we need it than to find a place and a home for the ones we are hoarding for that time...
Dana points out in another video that another way to look at it is how much you are willing to pay to have empty space and easy access to everything you need for your right-now life. Electric cords for future use might be $20. Is the empty space and ease of use right now worth $20?
I’m new here and struggling with this step because I’ll put something away, then start something new where I put it away. I usually keep a paper grocery bag for “put away “ so I don’t get sidetracked in the new space, but then I don’t want to rethink where it needs to go again so I have bags everywhere 😣 How do you stay on task and remember to go back where you started? ❤
Keep watching Dana - she's the best. One of her mottos is "Take it there now". That means It's better to put one item all the way where it actually goes, then 10 items in a paper bag. If you get sidetracked, the one item is all done and in its home and you have made progress.
In addition to the answer you already had, a trick Dana gives to help going back to where one was decluttering instead of being side-tracked ’there’ is: - take it there now - grab either trash or something you instantly know needs to be donated (the trash bag and donation box are where you started, so you’ll be back to where you started).
Dana invented her 'Take it there now' step literally because of this problem. She decided to assume she will ALWAYS get distracted, and to make sure she never leaves anything to put away 'later'. (She does, however, look for anything else to go to the other place at the same time, so she can carry that, too.) This is also why she recommends not taking everything out - assuming you will get distracted halfway through, it's better to make a space better one item at a time, knowing that if you don't finish, you will have only made progress and that the space WILL be better. And next time, you can just continue where you left off! If you look at her blog, she's written posts like, 'How not to get distracted from a decluttering project by other decluttering projects.' She's fun and sooo helpful. :)
I think what's hard is something easy may live somewhere else but when that place is also cluttered and a mess then dealing with that item is not easy.
"Why" is why you are decluttering- to not be anxious about your surroundings, to feel good about your home and open the door to guests, to be able to clean easier, etc. NOT why am I such a slob. It is forward-thinking.
She's mentioned before that you clear out just enough space in the correct home for that item to be placed. Ideally you could just grab some trash and maybe an easy item or two and you're done. Hope that made sense!
Sometimes "Why is this here?" leads to a new different home for stuff. The mail is there because Person B always drops it there ... Okay! Accommodation is often more effective than arguing 😂
For me it’s about taking a little bit from every YT creator. I love Dana for her, you can start and stop, put things where you look for them first, etc. But I also love Cas from Clutterbug and I’m a cricket so I also ask the “why” question because I like to plan everything out. I think most people the “why” question would slow them down or cause them to stop because they would get overwhelmed, but I agree for me, it’s very helpful and part of my process.
If you keep finding the same "easy stuff" in a place you don't think it should be, stop and ask yourself why it's there. It might be a better spot for it. I fill a box or basket with the "easy stuff" and the last thing I do is go around the house restoring it to where it should be.
All of your concepts are so helpful, but I think if I had to pick my Top 3, they would be:
1. Start withTrash and only trash.
2. Don't pull everthing out.
3. Take it there now.
My ex-boyfriend used to hate when I said I was going to "clean". I would end up with a bigger mess than when I started because I would pull out items and put them in piles everywhere. Then, when my energy ran out, or an unexpected distraction happened, I would have crap everywhere.
Using the method of asking “where would I look for this” helps me clean clutter so much faster than usual. I shared this with my kids too and they cleaned their bedrooms in record time. One of them has ADHD and making decisions is so hard for him. It helped him a lot because it wasn’t about making decisions anymore. Way less frustrating for him.
"Progress & only progress." is a great mantra for life in general. I'm in need of a full pedicure, but have only found a few minutes lately to remove the polish, cut my toenails and give my calluses a once-over. It's not a full pretty pedi, but my feet are better off than they were before! Doing SOMETHING is almost always better than doing NOTHING! 😊
I thought I was the only one who did this! Seriously, such a game changer!! And HONESTLY, who made the rule that you have to do everything all in one sitting for it to count!?
Brilliant, thank you. Applying this to my perfectionist list of steps to detail my car. Step 1 is better than nothing. Thank you!
👏👏👏 I love that if I only do steps 1 & 2, I will have made real progress 😊
I took “Take it there now” to a new level today. In addition to TITN I also did a job in any room that needed it for a few hours e.g. attached the keyboard tray to the computer desk, glueing a shoe and a cabinet in the kitchen. It was a great way to get to those jobs that I see every time I enter a room. It was all random so that didn’t put any pressure on me or make get me feeling low for not doing the jobs a week ago.
Knowing that the decision-making is what's so exhausting is key for me. Having the "easy stuff" steps that can be done so casually is kind of exhilarating.
Cleaned basement ataircase today. Sweeping it tomorrow. Made some small thing better today.
I was thinking about some other thing you mentioned, that we we regularly find certain items in certain wrong places (happens here too, yes), and for a moment, I wondered, why isn't THAT the right place for it, why don't I look THERE first? Then it hit me that looking for things is a mindful activity, and so is putting things away, but dropping things is totally mindless. And we easily forget things we do mindlessly. But we also can't think about everything all the time.
removing the "why" and the emotions from the process has been so helpful for me. i'm still working on retraining myself to think things through with the 5-step process but the more i do it, the easier it gets.
What a natural born, gifted teacher you are, dear Dana. You speak our language. Wowwww. 🥹
And what a beautiful BLESSING.
Thank you!!! ❤
Hi Dana - I wrote down your quote about “Why”, and this was what I needed to hear and apply in a totally different area of my life:
“I want to be clear that we never ask ‘Why?’ in my process. ‘Why’ is not a helpful word in the (decluttering) process. It is not useful and doesn’t help you move forward…. I decided for myself I’m not going to worry about why, and I started making so much more progress.”
Dana is the best! 😊
No ‘why’ is a great relief for me. I’m going to practice that and get good at it. TY ☺️
"Where would I look for it first" has made such a huge difference for me!
This is one of your best videos. It’s concise, simple, and can lead to life changing habits.
I agree with you! no decision to be made vs making that decision. better is good. sometimes just getting decisive decisions made is the victory...and able to feel good about acting on it. BTW, Dana, I love your haircut style and accents.😊
Inventory management is my motivation. The more stuff, the more expense, cleaning, maintenance and storage.
It’s so helpful to me to decide what I most want to spend my energy and time doing. That makes it easier to let things go. 😊
I've been on easy stuff from my bedroom couch for a week because of the procrastination clutter as you said, each little time i get to do more, and as you say, it only gets better with your method
Finally! Finally something I can handle. Layers. I have a bed so full of a MK attempt I can't sleep there! Giant piles here there and everywhere! I'm really not exactly a hoarder. If people were standing here with their hands out for my art supplies...tons would go...same with clothes...same with everything. I DO have a physical impairment but that's only part of it. I am overwhelmed. Lots of stuff has places, but I am buried with the big picture. I sort of got a feeling for your method...like throw away trash, put stuff where it belongs...even one piece at a time. But then I found you! There you were...telling me that would work! I NEEDED that. I've been bingeing on videos. I ordered books. I'm staring at a HUGE pile of clean laundry. I don't know how long it been there. I have a hard time folding and hanging....so I don't! Maybe if I do 10 pieces at a time, it will finally go away😄 Right now I feel hopeful. Trash first. I can't say I'll donate much...too hard to transport. Some stuff really is too good to toss, I'd feel guilty, so I'll give myself permission to toss some and donate what I can manage. Thank you for the hope❤
Hope is priceless. You can do it!
10 pieces or even one piece at a time!
I love the editors note at the end they always make me 😂
You have a way of teaching that I can relate to. I e tried following other decluttering or minimalist channels and I just cannot “connect” with the person.
No shade to them, I’m sure they are very good at what they do, but I need the connection. I found that with you and that’s why I can follow your teachings and get results.
Thank you
Agree. Dana speaks my language ❤😊
Amen!!! Dana is my mentor…pretty, pleasant, kind and merciful. And a great and authentic teacher.
As always, you give clarity to what would be overwhelming. Thank you Dana, all of your content... books, videos and course lessons have been invaluable to me.
Thank you! And thank you Reid for the hilarious notes at the end!!!!
So extremely helpful, especially for someone like myself who is AuDHD. Done not perfect is something I'm still working on, and I think this is a breakdown of what that can mean and look like. I'm literally going through my house right now and doing my "daily" stuff. Normally I would go down a rabbit hole and get hyper focused on one specific thing. But right now I'm doing daily maintenance and "easy stuff". Honestly hasn't been super long yet since I watched your video about cleaning and "daily stuff". I've heard some other ways it's been explained but for whatever reason, your videos are clicking in ways other advice hasn't. Very disability friendly, very nurodivergent friendly and I can't thank you enough for sharing this kind of information.
You explain this so well! Thank you! The step of 'Taking the (kept item) to it's established home ' is great for adding good movement to a day .
Oh, I NEED to move around, but I can’t because of the clutter on my floor.
I love container concept you and dawn talk about
That's what done it for me.. the idea of having 3 sets of small organizing containers in my top desk drawer, I have to limit. And I don't mean fill it to where its rounded on top. I have to see at least an inch above
Ohhh, this is so helpful. Going through a massive declutter & downsize for an unexpected move. With ADHD & fibro. 😂
I'm having such a flare-up of pain right now, and ADHD too... I feel for ya. I hope you rise like a Phoenix from the ashes, when you move!
Look up a video dana did recently with 'miss teacher' who is suffering from long covid and tires easily for an example of using Dana's method with disabilities
Great video, once again. I find it generally doesn't help to ask why in most areas of life and work. But please, would you let us meet your son/editor Reid one day? His comments at the end are just priceless and make me laugh out loud!
Liz.... Reid is in some of Dana's earlier videos. Maybe try a couple years back. Last one I recall is when they had just moved into the new house and were discussing which cups to declutter...hope that helps with timeline and a possible thumbnail pic.
LMAO with the pens and pencils! I love you!
One week that I found your channel, and I made significat progress in my home. thank you!
This is great because easy can be such a loaded word. What’s easy for someone else might not be easy for me. Good luck everyone! Today I decluttered a few holiday decorations, a few throw pillows and some kitchen utensils. Small wins will get us there! 😊🧡🍀🐦
I just love the editors notes 😂😂😂
Thank you for making everything make sense. I love it!🎉
I've discovered that when I'm working on the easy stuff, and I see something I don't know what to do with, my brain will continue to think about that thing and eventually I'll go, oh I know exactly what to do with it, or ,I really don't want it anymore .
That's cool.
This. THIS.
Dana’s videos are great, and I love the postscripts from her and Reid!
I love the little comments from the editor so much! Of course, the advice is solid and useful and so so helpful, but those additions make my day every single time.
Thank You Dana & Reid ❤️
Wow! You are amazing! I have watched a number of decluttering videos, but this one totally clicked with me. I have a large home and because it doesn’t look cluttered in the living areas, I have a tendency to keep things I don’t really even want, let alone need, simply because there’s little motivation to do anything about it, since I have space for things. The only problem is, I would like to be in a position to downsize in the next few years (actually I’d like to be in that position right now) because as a senior, I never know when my life circumstances could change in a heartbeat. Having so much stuff feels heavy and overwhelming, but if I simply start with removing things I already know I don’t even want, that makes so much sense to me. Thank you so much!
You are so good at explaining concepts; at articulating ideas.
You are too funny Reid! I bet you even hear her talking in your sleep😂
Your books & videos have changed my life in so many lovely ways. Thank you! ❤
I love your videos and I love your system!
When I've slid back into old bad habits, nobody else gets me off my behind like you do for resetting lol. Thanks so much!
Dana, you are the best!
I am enjoying decluttering using using your method! And the added bonus with "put it there now" is how many steps it adds to my goal without even trying. My procrasticlutter and drop zone clutter is decreasing also because I'm conscience of put it there now.
Your blouse complements your eyes so beautifully 🥰
Dana, you look beautiful and your curls are gorgeous! 😍
A good place for "easy stuff" for seniors like me with sometimes low energy is in the kitchen. For instance, I have items on my kitchen table right now that belong in the pantry or in a cabinet, that are on only 3 feet away, lol. I can do that as soon as I send this comment. Thanks, Dana for your 5-step process, especially the first 3 steps that my senior brain doesn't have to think about at all!
Dana! I need to know that wall color! It's so beautiful and relaxing! Thank you!
You changed my life
Love you Dana- you are such a gift. Thank you for making it SIMPLE and non-emotional. I just cleaned my nightstand which had all kinds of procrasticlutter /trash on it and i feel so much better!❤
Procrasticlutter is my new favorite word !!!!😂😂😂😂
I found that my goal has become to give each room a purpose (or 2 if need be, but 1 priority) and only have items that fulfill the need for that space. Even If a space has more items but they are only to function for that space in a way that is practical and necessary FOR ME, I find that is what makes my mind relax in a space, anything extra makes it feel cluttered. Btw you are my declutterring guru and your cleaning and declutterring rules have become biblical to me, thank you for your books and videos :)
So love your decluttering method Dana, it makes so much sense, not to mention, helps immensely - thank you!
Thanks for the information …. Again. This is aawesome information some times we need to be reminded..
Hi lovely lady, Please do a video about all the people (especially in the TBYH class who keep posting photos where they're) TAKING EVERYTHING OUT TO DECLUTTER AND MADE A HUGE PILES OF MESS... and are OBVIOUSLY not following your steps. Where taking everything out of a cabinet isn't part of the steps but no one in the TBYH class seems to know that.
Maybe meet a neighbor or two. Take them something you make for them. After you become more acuainted you will feel safe to ask them to help you. Maybe?
Plus...more friends are usually always wonderful. And not just for lifting heavy objects. They can also lift our spirits.
Of course I ALWAYS love your videos....😁
But, your comments afterwards are so cute!😄
Thank you thank you thank you🌻🌺 continued blessings always🌲🌲🌲
I'm always amazed that there is almost always trash when I go to declutter. I think I'm pretty good at throwing things away promptly, but I always find things that really should have been thrown away instead of put away.
End notes killed me on this one 😂
Thankyou ❤❤❤ from Australia
Great video and great point! And I love the end text as well!
Nicely done.
the answer is easy in my case: it is my subconcious mind which puts pencils in kitchen drawers, a kitchen towel in the cupboard and an empty glass in the fridge. When I find these things I found it very funny. I comment to myself- oh this was actually close. Well done! You just missed it by 30cm 😅
Helpful video, thanks
if I had no other need or interest in your videos (which I totally do), I would still watch your videos to see Reid's credit notes. 😂😂😂
Hi Dana ! Enjoyed the video, thanks. I noticed that no linked video appeared when you pointed up to the corner of the screen. Just a heads up 😊
I love your tips. Just commenting to say that pencil you noticed on the floor cracked me up,XD. I am handwriting a novel andmam struggling to find my pens.,But I tend to find them when tidying up. I got a pen holder but the problem is I need to lie in bed to write and like to write to do lists etc or take a pen in my bag for notes writing, so they move around. Anyway...relatable lol.
Get your favorite vase or cup and use it for pens and pencils…the cute cup you keep on the shelf but never use…the cute small sentimental vase or jelly jar you want to keep special…give it a useful purpose.
@@scara1859 I have a penholder. It's not that I have nowhere to put them. I was really only just explaining above to explain that her delight at finding a pencil on the floor was relatable. 😊
So helpful thank you Dana ❤🙏
I love that wall color also. Beautiful. ❤
awesome ❤
WHY!!!!???!!! Is what causes great anger which can be passed down from another person putting pressure you. It's time to break those bondages! Listen to Dana!
thanks so much
Procrasticlutter is a big one for me. Things get piled into to do lists because I don't have time but then never get done. Thinking of this as part pf decluttering is such a mindset shift. I guess the extension is that if procrasticlutter is really not worth the time to deal with then it is also not worth the space its taking up.
Great video, Dana. I got stuck on "take it to its home" because it's home is another cluttered mess with no space for it. What do you do then?? This is a big problem for me! I'm sure open to suggestions as to 🙃🙄how to deal with this.
Dana talks about this situation a lot! Here's a little summary: when you get to the other cluttered place, have a quick look and see if there's any trash or 'duh' donation there that can be removed to make space for the thing you have brought. Then leave the thing there and carry the trash or donation back to your original decluttering spot and stick them in the black trash bag or donatable donate box that are there waiting for you.
If you find it a bit difficult to instantly identify something that can go from the second cluttered place, ask yourself if there's anything there that is less 'container worthy' than the thing you brought. Dana says that sometimes we'll realize that the thing we brought over is the one we are actually ready to donate, because we don't want to let go of anything that's there in the 'where would I look first' place.
I think most of my clutter is procrastaclutter 😂
There’s a saying that clutter is deferred decisions, so, yeah, most of mine is too. 🤣
There are a lot of things that shouldn't have only one home. Some things should be in every room. You should put a pen and pencil in a bathroom drawer, the nitestand, kitchen, garage, car, purse, etc. Any place you might want to write down a thought. And scissors, flyswatters, long handled grabbers can be hidden away in every room so that they're handy. You can hang them on a wall in a closet.
My question: what do you do when you live alone and the easy stuff is buried behind really heavy stuff? That stops me so often.
Try tackling an area and move hard things to one side and then deal with the easy things. Then move to another area and do the same. You'll free up space as you go and get better at identifying what you can get rid of. After a point it all gets more doable.
Do you have a friend/neighbor who could drop by occasionally to relocate the blockade for you? Or maybe someone who could introduce you to a young person who would do this for a small fee?
Is the heavy thing, something that you need? Maybe it's time for it to go or find a better spot elsewhere. Maybe you need a dolly (not to be confused with a doololly).
I tell my son or a neighbor that I could use some muscle. Men usually want to help with that. I heard of an app called LUGG. I haven’t used it myself, but I think you can get someone the same day. This happened to me when my dad died and I needed engine hoists, air compressors, and other machines moved. My neighbor showed up with friends and they had a ball moving it! 😄
We have these furniture slider things that are wonderful at helping me move large, heavy things. They are flat and go under whatever you’re moving. Usually I can manage to get them in place (50+ female here) on my own with a bit of effort. Then you can just push the furniture around the room. We got a variety pack, which has slick plastic ones for carpet and felt ones for hard floors. Maybe something like that could help get things out of the way?
It took me an embarrassingly long moment to realize that ‘easy-Steph’ is not, in fact, an appliance or tool Europeans are not familiar with😂 Like lazy Susan, whatever that is!
😂 😅
😅 love it
A lazy Susan is a circular tray that you can manually spin so you don't need to climb to the back of the cupboard or reach across the table to get things on the other side
I’m cleaning out my mother’s house (she passed away) and it’s overwhelming. She was a Baby Boomer and there’s something about that generation and acquiring. Every room with shelves, side tables, knickknacks, extra chairs (that don’t fold up or tuck away)-it’s crazy. And the closets as well as the garage stuffed to the ceiling. I think the Boomers definitely have hoarder tendencies. To be clear, my mom wasn’t a hoarder-the house is relatively clean and you can walk through all the rooms and tell what the rooms are for. But definitely totally overstuffed without permanent homes for a lot of things. I’m embracing Essentialism once I move out of here.
Because we were raised by parents who went through the Great Depression and taught to hang onto everything for fear it would not be replaceable-either affordable or available.
@@joannlessner1551
I agree. I'm 59 & my Mom had hoarding tendencies. I hated it. Over the last 15 years, there has been so much information available about living with less, decluttering, etc. that wasn't a thing back in their days.
No ... the Boomers inherited the clutter from their parents ... and we'll pass it on to our kids.
Baby boomers don't have hoarder tendencies. Instead, it's about that time period in history. For instance, living with less is important today, but the baby boomers generation was about acquiring and having things. Once you have items for 20 plus years it's harder to get rid of because they become sentimental with memories attached. My parents' generation were the ones who lived through the great depression and they didn't like getting rid of things because it was costly to replace plus they might be able to use it someday. I'm so sorry for the passing of your mom ((hugs))
I am a baby boomer and I do not have stuff everywhere. However, a trip to the store is 60 mile trip; therefore my pantry is very stocked.
❤ Easy Stuff ❤
This probably isn’t the place to ask but, I want all of your books. Can you please recommend which order I should read them. This should be easy but it’s not easy for me to decide. 🧠😵💫😊
They were written in this order and do have a logical flow this way. Good luck deciding!
1. How to manage your home...
2. Decluttering at the speed of life
3. Organizing for the rest of us
Okay but here is the problem I have. Say there’s 5 things that need to go to different areas, when I take them to that area, I get distracted in that room 🤦🏼♀️
Ah, but that first area, which is the one you were working on, that one is better than before. If you also use her visibility premise and start with the areas that are most visible, then you will return to the same area as you were when you go back to declutter again.
I like to set a 5 minute timer for each session to keep the momentum going and to stay on track when I get distracted. It reminds me that, oh yeah, I was doing something else earlier. Do I want to go back to that, at least to clean up the donation box and the trash bag? And when I get back to the area sometimes I can see that it is better and that I can do more. Sometimes I just clear up the things that are there because of the decluttering process.
My husband is a "just in case..." man, how do I explain to him that just because we may need a cord in the next 10 years, it costs less to buy one when we need it than to find a place and a home for the ones we are hoarding for that time...
Dana points out in another video that another way to look at it is how much you are willing to pay to have empty space and easy access to everything you need for your right-now life. Electric cords for future use might be $20. Is the empty space and ease of use right now worth $20?
I think the best video for a person decluttering a place would be: HOW TO SELL ALL THAT VALUABLE STUFF. WHAT IF IT'S NOT JUNK?
You have to take the time to research and find a buyer; some people don't want to do that, other people don't mind, personal preference!
She does have a video or two about making the decision to try to sell vs the decision to donate. I found it pretty helpful.
I’m new here and struggling with this step because I’ll put something away, then start something new where I put it away. I usually keep a paper grocery bag for “put away “ so I don’t get sidetracked in the new space, but then I don’t want to rethink where it needs to go again so I have bags everywhere 😣 How do you stay on task and remember to go back where you started? ❤
Keep watching Dana - she's the best. One of her mottos is "Take it there now". That means It's better to put one item all the way where it actually goes, then 10 items in a paper bag. If you get sidetracked, the one item is all done and in its home and you have made progress.
@@grutarg2938 I never thought of it that way! Thank you so much ♥️
In addition to the answer you already had, a trick Dana gives to help going back to where one was decluttering instead of being side-tracked ’there’ is:
- take it there now
- grab either trash or something you instantly know needs to be donated (the trash bag and donation box are where you started, so you’ll be back to where you started).
@@Cecily-Pimprenelle that’s a fantastic suggestion too! Thank you so much ♥️
Dana invented her 'Take it there now' step literally because of this problem. She decided to assume she will ALWAYS get distracted, and to make sure she never leaves anything to put away 'later'.
(She does, however, look for anything else to go to the other place at the same time, so she can carry that, too.)
This is also why she recommends not taking everything out - assuming you will get distracted halfway through, it's better to make a space better one item at a time, knowing that if you don't finish, you will have only made progress and that the space WILL be better. And next time, you can just continue where you left off!
If you look at her blog, she's written posts like, 'How not to get distracted from a decluttering project by other decluttering projects.' She's fun and sooo helpful. :)
😂 Reid!
He has a cute sense of humor. 🤍
Just letting you know… Most of the “links” in the description are not clickable links due to minor typos.
I think what's hard is something easy may live somewhere else but when that place is also cluttered and a mess then dealing with that item is not easy.
That's when you only remove something in the space you took it to so that item will fit. Then go back to where you were decluttering.
I just found you 🎉😊
Procrasti-clutter! Yes, I have a huge problem with this.
Add links. ❤
"Why" is why you are decluttering- to not be anxious about your surroundings, to feel good about your home and open the door to guests, to be able to clean easier, etc. NOT why am I such a slob. It is forward-thinking.
What happens if you have things with a home but you can't put them there because the home place has been overrun with stuff that is homeless?
She's mentioned before that you clear out just enough space in the correct home for that item to be placed. Ideally you could just grab some trash and maybe an easy item or two and you're done. Hope that made sense!
"Why" is actually helpful for me when decluttering - but then it's "why do I have this", and not "why am I so stupid".
🫶🏾
I love the ‘Why do I have this?’ question!
Sometimes "Why is this here?" leads to a new different home for stuff. The mail is there because Person B always drops it there ... Okay! Accommodation is often more effective than arguing 😂
For me it’s about taking a little bit from every YT creator. I love Dana for her, you can start and stop, put things where you look for them first, etc. But I also love Cas from Clutterbug and I’m a cricket so I also ask the “why” question because I like to plan everything out. I think most people the “why” question would slow them down or cause them to stop because they would get overwhelmed, but I agree for me, it’s very helpful and part of my process.
@@Alexandra11090 Well put!
just throw it away. After two weeks you wont even remember what it was.
BAHAHAHA Reid. 🙂
You point like you have a card but it isn't there at 1:43.
It was there for me, and the video she's referring to pops up at the bottom when I hit the card
(“Don’t pull everything out” isn’t a step)
If you keep finding the same "easy stuff" in a place you don't think it should be, stop and ask yourself why it's there. It might be a better spot for it.
I fill a box or basket with the "easy stuff" and the last thing I do is go around the house restoring it to where it should be.
FYI…Your pop ups aren’t! You point to the air, and nothing shows up.