There's great value in binge listening to Dana's podcasts. I listened to 2 to 3 per day and I don't look at anything the same. I don't want to shop unless I have a need and know where it will go and know it will fit. Dana IS funny, and I can't Un-hear her😂👍
Linda Chase Eilersen, hope you read this. My mother used to constantly switch off the lights if we just went to the toilet, or picked up stuff and moved it and we were not finished with it yet. It was maddening; it felt invasive and controlling and like we were being constantly surveilled for transgressions, and were not 'allowed' to have 'space'. Remember that objects represent us and space and our right to take up space (this is why other people's stuff can annoy us so much whilst ignoring our own stuff lying around). When someone continually moves our stuff (I'm not saying you are doing this), it can send the message, "you have lesser rights to space than I do". This can damage relationships. In this circumstance ask politely has he finished with it and does he mind if you put it away as you need to use the dining table (or something like that), or better still, ask would he mind putting it away himself (so that you don't then become teh one to always do it). If you ask, you're not encroaching on his right to space and thus, his right to exist. Very psychological, I know, it all happens at a subconscious level.
This brings back such memories! My mom would do the same! Even having my books and papers on dining room table (where I did my homework) would trigger her anxiety to clean. Good thing I was a quick student! Projects that took more than an hour or two would make her a bit nuts. FYI- We ate at the dining room table only for holidays and Sundays, or if company was coming. We ate at the pass through bar in the den for other meals. Speaking of meals- once in high school, I had left the bar with permission to take a short phone call-basically telling the caller that I would return their call after dinner was over. When I returned to my half-eaten meal, my plate had already been given to the dog! LOL It was annoying, but funny. Her brain saw my space empty for a moment, and she couldn't fight the urge to tidy/clean it.
I’m decluttering my classroom library. I got rid of 50 books! I sent an all school email telling my colleagues there were free books outside of my classroom. My space looks better! Thanks.
My husband helped me the other day. I picked up the bag I take on short trips. He wanted to take it to the basement. I looked at him and said, “It needs to go in my closet because that is where I will look for it.” He noted my conviction and didn’t argue.
I just decided to do the same thing! It also helps me to keep my closet clear of random stuff as the 2 bags I use the most now take up some space in the closet.
Thank you, hope you enjoy your summer. You , dawn and Cass have helped me declutter our house of 4 skips and countless bags of rubbish and donations. After 10 months we are finally seeing the amazing results of less stuff. Your amazing
My interest in minimalism led me to many, many different UA-camrs & their many different ideas about minimalism itself, decluttering, organizing and simplifying. Over time, I've narrowed down those I follow. I initially didn't understand Dana's method....until I listened to a few more videos and began to really see the light. What a Godsend! The fact that she tells us to do what WORKS for us just assures me I'm following the right person/method for me.
Loved the answer to the quarantine box question. Kicking the can down the road is what's kept my house increasingly cluttered over decades. "Make only progress" is gold. One item out is better then five move-around items left in, in the same sliver of time.
We are sure going to miss you Dana. Have a lovely summer. To count down the days I am going to try and declutter at least one item a day until you are back. Hopefully around 112 items gone before we meet again.
Thank you! I hate that people gave you push back about taking time off BUT your explanation was super helpful to think about the container concept for time/energy!! I’m learning this in my 30s now that I can’t just stay up later or plan to do more in a day which was my old strategy. The space is what it is.
I consider myself an experienced diclutterer, if there is such a thing😅, yet still the container concept always helps me in decisions. As a matter a fact I've totally rwdwcluttered and organized my kitchen after I had learned it from Dana. 🎉
Wait 'til you're in your 50s! Then you'll notice (even more!) how your Body/Mind communicates to you, regarding 'when & what' its limitations are. It's not that we have NO energy, in our 50s. It's just that our Body/Mind 'makes clear', that our Physical & Mental energy is LIMITED. I don't know Dana's age, but regardless, I'm glad for her, that she takes the Summer "off", so she can spend quality time with her family; a time to relax/refresh/recharge.
The Minimal Mom had a podcast with Dr John Deloney about the grieving part of decluttering. Main point was his recommendation of grieving with a community. So, tell the stories of the stuff and the memories about your lost loved one in a safe space with close friends to first help you feel supported. This can then allow later the later steps of acknowledging that 'mom isnt in this chinaware set' or 'my relationship with my grandad is not reduced down to whether or not i keep this suit of his that I dont like and would never wear' and then being able to let go of the stuff
Sometimes I can't trust myself and then I just keep too much. A maybe box helps me to put a lot in there and then more easily let it go later & gets more outta my closet, even if it's now in the basement at least it's outta my way.
@@idid138 plus , if it’s in a box, well... there’s now a limit to the amount of ”stuff I’m not sure I want to get rid off” - Container Concept, though I doubt Dana would recommend this, it’s still ”better”.
@@idid138 Dana has said in previous lives that if you have stuff that is a maybe you can leave it where it is. If you have gotten trash out, easy stuff, and duh donations out, the stuff you aren't sure about getting rid of you just aren't ready to decide on can still stay and you have already made the space "better". As you use the space you might find it is annoyingly in the way or that you use it a lot more. Or maybe you realize you look for it somewhere else and move it.
Listening to this video, again.....I'm reminded of coming home after my father's funeral back in the Spring with boxes and boxes of pictures. Having decluttered many times over the years, I felt strong enough to start tackling this project. I quickly went thru pictures feeling I could cull what I truly wanted to keep. I then called our girls in and let them go thru a large remainder...and, gave them boxes to fill which they did. I stayed in another room reading a book while they went thru these....in case they had questions which they also had. They thanked me more than once letting them go thru these photographs. After they were finished....I started back thru again, and decided on the space and containers I had, and filled them accordingly. This is the fall time of year...and have given myself a goal to go thru all of these again....and, cull down even further... it's somewhat manageable....but, needs further decluttering. I love my family, miss my parents....but, truly feel that it would easier to deal with a lesser amount. Thank you so much for your wisdom....years ago, I would not have the courage to go thru 1000's of pictures and keep only a fraction of these. No regrets....I have many to still enjoy....and, have you decluttering coaches to thank. Your work is truly a blessing in the lives of others....thank you for this continuing endeavor. ❤
The advice to not make any big decisions during the first year of a loved one's death is also to help you avoid being scammed. It's amazing how many scammers show up in the weeks following a funeral! Everyone has "your best interest" at heart, sell me X, invest in X, your spouse owed money (without providing proof, just trust me...).
Dana- I used the container concept (put your favorites in first) when planting new summer flowers which gave the window boxes a really unique look. Thanks for everything you do!
Re: the question on "how to create the home for stuff" -- I like to think of it as "discovering" the home for something (based on instinct) rather than "creating" or "making" a home for it.
Thanks, as always, Dana & question askers. I consistently watch or "watch with my ears" (like now...going through my closet, etc.!). 😊❤ I get something applicable from each Q&A video content, no matter how long it was taped!
Creating homes was really hard for me because I was always moving my whole life, so permeance was very weird for me. You helped me through that so much by empowering me not to worry about the optimal place, but where would I look for it. I felt so freed by that.
This is a great question and answer video for me. I love all of them, though. You are the only person who has helped me dig out from my clutter, because my mind thinks like yours does. I am still chipping away though. The clutter just keeps reappearing. I have a small entryway into my livingroom, so every item from shopping trips needs to be put away constantly. When its cleaned up, I feel such relief. I don't want an unexpected visit from someone to embarrass me, if it is messy. I often times don't notice it getting out of hand, as you say you don't.
Re: Tattoos When I turned 18, my mother noticed that a couple of my friends had gotten tattoos. She sat me down right before I went away to college. She asked me (and how I wished I remember what the reference was!) if I remembered liking something when I was 12. I did. Then she asked me if I thought that was kewl at age 18. I didn't. At that point, she connected the dots for me and said that getting a tattoo is similar to parading around the thing I liked at 12 for the rest of my life. The lesson sank in. My daughter has expressed interest in tattoos. I followed the same tact my mother had. Her response is that tattoos can be removed. Yes, she sees it as disposable piece of art. So, I shared a YT video of a former gang banger who is working on having his tattoos removed. In addition to the price of doing so, he stated it was the most painful experience of his life. Thus far that has made a difference for my daughter. :)
As someone that has 8 tattoos I got in my mid twenties. Feel free to let her read my comment if she every starts to sway and want one. I’m an artsy fartsy girl. Was always singing in a band of some kind from 6 years old up to 32. I love paintings, I love seeing people expressing themselves. Be it through music, hair, clothes, tattoos, paintings, etc. It makes me so happy!! I still love most of my tattoos- but I wish I would have got them as a painting, not on my body. Now I’m a mom, and I’ll be the hypocrite that tells my children, yes, I got these when I was young and thought I’d always have a skinny body they would look great on. Yes, you can choose to get some someday, but you will probably be like me at some point- and realize you don’t need* them. People will judge whether they mean to or not. It can mean losing clients, difficulty with a boyfriend’s family accepting you, being turned down for jobs- even though you are more than qualified in all skills needed. And that’s for innocent, happy, inspiring tattoos. All mine are of things like flowers, they’re classy. Still had an issue with this more times than I can count. Also- symbols, no matter how innocent you may think they are- can mean something else to a different group of people. Example: to me, a Jewish star- to people in the occult, it’s a symbol they use as well. It can make it hard to obtain internships or clinical rotations; or you’ll have to wear sleeves, wrist covers, socks, etc. if the rebuttal ever turns to, but I plan on doing ___, so that won’t be a problem. Plans change! I owned my own salon for 10 years, did hair for 15, then decided to go into a healthcare setting for work. That’s when my eyes were really opened. Rant over :)
I said something similar to a college-aged coworker who asked why I didn’t have a tattoo (i was in my early 50s). I said I’m not wearing the same earrings I wore 15 years ago so how could I put something permanent on my skin?
Hey Dana! I finally had one of those moments that you talk about when using the "where would I look for this first, even if I have zero confidence that it will be there"... I had a bunch of seeds and such in my kitchen but it was not where I wanted them to live, so I put them where my reflex told me to... AND THEY WERE THERE!!! Magic!!🎉 Thanks so much for teaching me your process! 😘😘😘
Hi Dana, I wanted to tell you I am reading your books and applying the info here at home as I declutter. I've always been organized, but just have too much stuff, so it's feeling really good to pass things on/get them out of the house. Yesterday I helped my 83 years old mom, at her house, do some decluttering, and I applied your steps/philosophy and it went really well. We're off to a good start, and both of us feel good about the progress. Thank you for sharing so much good info. Have a good summer. :)
Enjoy your summer! I started watching your back videos starting with the ones from 11 years ago. If I run out I will jump back to How to manage my house.... Not sure why I like that one better than the decluttering book, but it is definitely my favorite of the books.
For me, decluttering has been in layers. I find more to declutter each team I go through. For instance, I turn my hangers around after the first of the year and turn the hangers around when I wear them. Then I check in around June to see what I haven't worn and decide what to donate. I do the same at the end of the year.
I do something similar where I always put my clothes away on the right side of the closet. So at the end of the season, whatever is pushed to the left are my least favorites.
Some people use a keep box because if they go to put it away right now they won't come back to the job they are doing now. It cures following rabbit trails. Kathy B
37:00 libraries also have audio books, friends. If you can afford to buy, absolutely do, but there are options for those who don't have as much as well!
Quarantine box is used for testing minimalism. Even for Dawn, Minimal Mom, it’s not for decluttering and initially getting house under control when you’re above your clutter threshold. It’s only one box and it’s to test, can I cook with only 4 pans? Can I get dressed with a capsule wardrobe? Etc.
If a quarantine box keeps the momentum going, then use it. You just have to limit what you put in quarantine. After a while, I found I needed the quarantine less and less. Or, if you are still in the same place, kitchen for example, pull out the quarantine box. Those items now go to the donation box. Now during the next sweep if you still need the quarantine box it will be empty for another round. This may result in a slower pace but at least you are still moving.
Dana, you will be missed! Hope your summer is fabulous! I will be posting in the private fb group, keeping in touch w/my peeps in there. Love you Dana!
There was an open box of disposable masks on our steps for weeks. I knew my husband wanted to keep them because he is a farmer and they are useful in situations here. So finally I picked them up and asked my husband “Where would you look for this first?” He gave two options and I said we had room in the bathroom closet, and there they will live! MUCH easier question to answer than “Where do you want these?” And knowing me, my tone would have sounded ever-so-slightly annoyed at the asking, so this process is PRICELESS. 😊
I have had a broken dishwasher for about a year, I think. Our dishwasher guy came once but it didn’t work still…finally we just said we would take one off the floor of his store in our little bitty town. He put it in yesterday. I don’t like the sink filling up with dirty dishes whether I am hand washing or putting them in the dishwasher. It did add discipline to my routine!
I have just started my decluttering journey as i moved into an apartment from a house. I have a donation box and if i put something in and need that item before the box is full then i give myself permission to use whatever it is and rehome it. However once the box is full i donate it without going through it. i keep the box in my front closet and I feel like this puts a time limit on the items because i only have space for one donation box in the closet. I start a new donation box when i find another item to declutter.
For me, the item that doesn't work in the place where I would look for it first was facial toner. All my face products are in a shallow drawer. The only way to make the toner fit is to store it on its side, which would cause it to leak. But if I did not store the toner on its side in the face products drawer, I would look for it first in the medicine cabinet.
Using your ‘Container Concept’ I’ve eliminated the junk drawer in my kitchen; giving the drawer a purpose to only store office supplies: hole punch, pens, pencils, white out, stapler, ruler, scissors, glue stick, white glue, tape dispenser, paper clips, binder clips, index cards, label maker, staple remover, staples, sharpies and highlighter. In giving my items “room to breathe” it makes finding and putting them away much easier.
What do you think Dana would say about this: So I've made some decent progress in the last 2 months. Which 1/2 way through I was in a car wreck which hit my head really hard. And I just replaced the car yesterday. It's been quite a challenging month & some physical recovery. Yet, stuff has been leaving, been more liberal with calling things trash. What I noticed seems to be working for me... Once I get my entryway consistently cleared (which just happens to be my kitchen 😜) And I get some major progress done, I enjoy it for a few days then I start working on the next visible area, I make more progress, then... I decide to put a few (usually mixed with some harder decisions) things in those already cleared areas from other parts of the house, so that I will actually decide or DO something about it. I have done this a few times and it seems to work for my productivity. But my entryway and especially my living room right next to it, is kinda my work station, so I will get up and do the thing! My dining table is clear, and kids' rooms stay manageble. Does anyone else have a tendency to do this? Do I make zero sense? Yes I am doing the dishes, sweeping the floor, 5min pickup, and decent at laundry day(s). My office/paper/household managing of things is not under control, and something I resist doing.
@Caroline Clunies-Ross Thank you! Yes, I even have a friend who is letting me help at her house, which gives me motivation (and some compensation ❤️) I am still making progress, and still getting in my own way sometimes. I have figured out to apply these concepts to my paperwork. I start with receipts, my purse, and other easy stuff. Email, top 10, search regular contacts, and easy stuff ❤️
I have what feels like a really big job ahead of me right now. We homeschool and the closet we use for school things and art supplies and board games is way too full right now. It's so hard to get anything out of it. I've decided we need to eliminate a shelving unit in it to allow me to put our rolling cart where the shelf is so we can get to the other shelving unit without pulling the cart out of the closet. The problem is that both shelving units are completely full, and the one I'm going to get rid of is the larger one. BUT, I know if I follow your process I'll be able to do it. I'm NOT pulling everything out, even though it's tempting. I'm going to do as much as I can without pulling the cart out even. There WILL be trash in there, I'm sure. And I know there will be things I don't even want anymore. I won't get it done today, and probably not this week, but I can make progress today!
Oh my goodness. I just did it in less than half an hour. I'm sure there still some stuff in there that we don't need, but the shelving unit is gone! I had built that up way too much in my head.
You are inspiring me to do our hall closet! It holds excess toys, books in excess, art and craft supplies. And it is overflowing and makes me feel so anxious. Will set a timer and do 30 minutes today!
LOL! Now I FINALLY know why the name "Dana White" seemed so familiar and yet I had only found you 2 years ago😅 It's because of my husband and Father in Law watching ufc. I had a good laugh about you saying he'll pop up and it's not you.
Great idea!! I hired an organizer to come help me get my butt in gear last year. Decluttering, streamlining, setting up shelving. They were so helpful, and it's not completely undone. We decided that next they would come do the garage space. And help make some things visually easier to look through for that work area.
I use a Quarantine Box to put items in that I have decided to get rid of, but I am not sure if we can manage without it. You put a date on the outside of the box. Then you take it unopened to the donation center. If perchance you need that item before then, you can retrieve it. For example, I'm not baking as much as I used to, can I make my Bisquick Impossible Pumpkin pie in the 8" square dish instead of the round pie plate, so that I can declutter the two round 9" pie plates?
I was watching an old video about the difference between decluttering and organizing. You said for some people decluttering is enough. That leads me to the question that I've always wanted to ask you. What do you think about the concept of a place for everything and everything in its place? What do you think about as long as everything is decluttered and you know where things are, is that good enough ?
Well I'm not Dana, but I might be able to answer. Dana just brought up that saying "a place for everything & everything it it's place". She said this is frustrating for us to hear before we have decluttered. I think she'd say yes, good enough if decluttered til you have a place for everything, and you are able to manage it and easily/quickly clean your house. That's means you're within your clutter threshold!
^ agreed. If you know where it is, I’d say you’re good. It’s all about clutter threshold! What all you can maintain and keep up with. I’m so not there yet 😅
You don’t understand how Dawn uses the quarantine box. Her recommendation is to put things in the quarantine box that you’ve already decided to get rid of. If you don’t take anything out of the box in 6 months, you donate the items. It’s not procrastination because you’ve already decided and you don’t go back through it, the decision has already been made.
So if the decision is already made, then why hang on to it for 6 months? Wouldn’t it be best to just drop it off at a donation place and be done with it right away?
I agree. I believe Dawn only puts items in her box that either she or a family member is about 99% sure she'll get rid of, but is still clinging to a little bit. It's like her "time will tell" paper basket/bin. If no one has gone looking for that item in xyz time period, then she donates it with confidence that it's the right decision at the right time.
I think for some people Dawn’s method on the quarantine box works, and others like me- it’s a trap. I’ve tried doing that before, and ended up looking thru the clothes to see if there were any items I’d want to hold onto for another 6 months. Then ended up putting majority of them back in my closet only to deal with again later on lol. All about what works for you! For me personally, it ends up being a procrastination box. And too much of a temptation.
Do you have any data on how your decluttering coaches are doing? Are they getting referrals via your site? I am interested and would love to help others, but in all honestly I also want to make sure I am not chasing an online course situation that ends up fruitless.
We're planning to do a survey around the six month mark. It's an active group of coaches and so fun. Truthfully, though, we really emphasize that the referrals are one part of building your own business as a decluttering coach. We do a lot of training within the certification on ways to connect with local clients, as that's where the sustainable business will happen.
@@DanaKWhite Thank you for taking the time to respond. I am working on the marketing pieces at this time, to figure out the best way to communicate my why. I enjoyed reading the "Meet the Coaches" quotes on the pages on your website. I appreciate your effort to build a collaborative community rather than simply an online course. Cool!
@@azlizzie My state has 3 coaches listed so far and I called one. She also does cleaning, so this is an expansion of her business. I'm hoping to call her again. Hope this helps a bit.
I agree with you about the keep box or whatever they're called. A quarantine box. I used to do it and it *never* worked. What did work was keeping something in its space. If it was important enough, it stays. If it's not, it goes. If it's outside of its designated storage spot, you're not using the container concept, right? You're using some bastardized container "plus" concept. ?? 😆 Your method seems to take care of "I'm not sure I want this or not," correct? You leave it for last. I was literally choosing among five dresses to get it down to two. If one or more of those was in a box somewhere else, they wouldn't have been part of the choosing process? If you're not sure, take out the trash and the duh stuff. Then see what you're left with. And neve mind that I just no longer want random boxes of shit using up space in my house. I've got enough on my plate. 🤣 I used to call them "mystery boxes." Like who the hell knows what's in there. If it's not in a dedicated storage spot where I'd look for it, then I don't need it. 😆
There's great value in binge listening to Dana's podcasts. I listened to 2 to 3 per day and I don't look at anything the same. I don't want to shop unless I have a need and know where it will go and know it will fit. Dana IS funny, and I can't Un-hear her😂👍
Do you go to her website for those? I can’t find them..
Yes me too!!!!! I can go on forever as long as i hear her voice.. i can tidy and clean and declutter and pack away etcetc😂
@@Angelica_HedgieSpotify is where I found her podcasts but I don't know if she has them elsewhere also
Same!
Ditto 😂❤Her
Linda Chase Eilersen, hope you read this. My mother used to constantly switch off the lights if we just went to the toilet, or picked up stuff and moved it and we were not finished with it yet. It was maddening; it felt invasive and controlling and like we were being constantly surveilled for transgressions, and were not 'allowed' to have 'space'. Remember that objects represent us and space and our right to take up space (this is why other people's stuff can annoy us so much whilst ignoring our own stuff lying around). When someone continually moves our stuff (I'm not saying you are doing this), it can send the message, "you have lesser rights to space than I do". This can damage relationships. In this circumstance ask politely has he finished with it and does he mind if you put it away as you need to use the dining table (or something like that), or better still, ask would he mind putting it away himself (so that you don't then become teh one to always do it). If you ask, you're not encroaching on his right to space and thus, his right to exist. Very psychological, I know, it all happens at a subconscious level.
This brings back such memories! My mom would do the same! Even having my books and papers on dining room table (where I did my homework) would trigger her anxiety to clean. Good thing I was a quick student! Projects that took more than an hour or two would make her a bit nuts. FYI- We ate at the dining room table only for holidays and Sundays, or if company was coming. We ate at the pass through bar in the den for other meals. Speaking of meals- once in high school, I had left the bar with permission to take a short phone call-basically telling the caller that I would return their call after dinner was over. When I returned to my half-eaten meal, my plate had already been given to the dog! LOL It was annoying, but funny. Her brain saw my space empty for a moment, and she couldn't fight the urge to tidy/clean it.
I’m decluttering my classroom library. I got rid of 50 books! I sent an all school email telling my colleagues there were free books outside of my classroom. My space looks better! Thanks.
My husband helped me the other day. I picked up the bag I take on short trips. He wanted to take it to the basement. I looked at him and said, “It needs to go in my closet because that is where I will look for it.” He noted my conviction and didn’t argue.
I just decided to do the same thing! It also helps me to keep my closet clear of random stuff as the 2 bags I use the most now take up some space in the closet.
Thank you, hope you enjoy your summer. You , dawn and Cass have helped me declutter our house of 4 skips and countless bags of rubbish and donations.
After 10 months we are finally seeing the amazing results of less stuff. Your amazing
Well done! 🎉👏
My interest in minimalism led me to many, many different UA-camrs & their many different ideas about minimalism itself, decluttering, organizing and simplifying. Over time, I've narrowed down those I follow. I initially didn't understand Dana's method....until I listened to a few more videos and began to really see the light. What a Godsend! The fact that she tells us to do what WORKS for us just assures me I'm following the right person/method for me.
Dana, I have listened to your audiobooks MANY times.
And will continue to. I need your voice to tell me on rough days, Just do the dishes. 😊
Loved the answer to the quarantine box question. Kicking the can down the road is what's kept my house increasingly cluttered over decades. "Make only progress" is gold. One item out is better then five move-around items left in, in the same sliver of time.
We are sure going to miss you Dana. Have a lovely summer. To count down the days I am going to try and declutter at least one item a day until you are back. Hopefully around 112 items gone before we meet again.
Thank you! I hate that people gave you push back about taking time off BUT your explanation was super helpful to think about the container concept for time/energy!! I’m learning this in my 30s now that I can’t just stay up later or plan to do more in a day which was my old strategy. The space is what it is.
I consider myself an experienced diclutterer, if there is such a thing😅, yet still the container concept always helps me in decisions. As a matter a fact I've totally rwdwcluttered and organized my kitchen after I had learned it from Dana. 🎉
Wait 'til you're in your 50s!
Then you'll notice (even more!) how your Body/Mind communicates to you, regarding 'when & what'
its limitations are.
It's not that we have
NO energy, in our 50s.
It's just that our Body/Mind
'makes clear', that our Physical & Mental energy
is LIMITED.
I don't know Dana's age,
but regardless, I'm glad for her, that she takes the Summer "off", so she can spend quality time with her family; a time to relax/refresh/recharge.
Dana, your "take it there now" method has helped me tremendously. Now, when I get pulled away from the task, it's better than before (not worse).
The Minimal Mom had a podcast with Dr John Deloney about the grieving part of decluttering. Main point was his recommendation of grieving with a community. So, tell the stories of the stuff and the memories about your lost loved one in a safe space with close friends to first help you feel supported. This can then allow later the later steps of acknowledging that 'mom isnt in this chinaware set' or 'my relationship with my grandad is not reduced down to whether or not i keep this suit of his that I dont like and would never wear' and then being able to let go of the stuff
A quarantine box is merely a procrastination box. Trust your gut decisions.
Sometimes I can't trust myself and then I just keep too much. A maybe box helps me to put a lot in there and then more easily let it go later & gets more outta my closet, even if it's now in the basement at least it's outta my way.
@@idid138 plus , if it’s in a box, well... there’s now a limit to the amount of ”stuff I’m not sure I want to get rid off” - Container Concept, though I doubt Dana would recommend this, it’s still ”better”.
@@idid138 I’ve been decluttering for years and I still quarantine stuff. It works for me! ♥️♥️♥️♥️
I think it depends on personality! 😊 Anne
@@idid138 Dana has said in previous lives that if you have stuff that is a maybe you can leave it where it is. If you have gotten trash out, easy stuff, and duh donations out, the stuff you aren't sure about getting rid of you just aren't ready to decide on can still stay and you have already made the space "better". As you use the space you might find it is annoyingly in the way or that you use it a lot more. Or maybe you realize you look for it somewhere else and move it.
Listening to this video, again.....I'm reminded of coming home after my father's funeral back in the Spring with boxes and boxes of pictures.
Having decluttered many times over the years, I felt strong enough to start tackling this project.
I quickly went thru pictures feeling I could cull what I truly wanted to keep.
I then called our girls in and let them go thru a large remainder...and, gave them boxes to fill which they did.
I stayed in another room reading a book while they went thru these....in case they had questions which they also had.
They thanked me more than once letting them go thru these photographs.
After they were finished....I started back thru again, and decided on the space and containers I had, and filled them accordingly.
This is the fall time of year...and have given myself a goal to go thru all of these again....and, cull down even further... it's somewhat manageable....but, needs further decluttering.
I love my family, miss my parents....but, truly feel that it would easier to deal with a lesser amount.
Thank you so much for your wisdom....years ago, I would not have the courage to go thru 1000's of pictures and keep only a fraction of these.
No regrets....I have many to still enjoy....and, have you decluttering coaches to thank.
Your work is truly a blessing in the lives of others....thank you for this continuing endeavor. ❤
The advice to not make any big decisions during the first year of a loved one's death is also to help you avoid being scammed. It's amazing how many scammers show up in the weeks following a funeral! Everyone has "your best interest" at heart, sell me X, invest in X, your spouse owed money (without providing proof, just trust me...).
Awe, did I miss your last live before summer break? Bummer!!! Have an awesome summer Dana and all you live chatters! 😊
Dana- I used the container concept (put your favorites in first) when planting new summer flowers which gave the window boxes a really unique look. Thanks for everything you do!
Re: the question on "how to create the home for stuff" -- I like to think of it as "discovering" the home for something (based on instinct) rather than "creating" or "making" a home for it.
I actually start visualizing myself decluttering areas before I ever start… I visualize using your method, but I start mentally …like the day before
Thanks, as always, Dana & question askers. I consistently watch or "watch with my ears" (like now...going through my closet, etc.!). 😊❤ I get something applicable from each Q&A video content, no matter how long it was taped!
Creating homes was really hard for me because I was always moving my whole life, so permeance was very weird for me. You helped me through that so much by empowering me not to worry about the optimal place, but where would I look for it. I felt so freed by that.
This is a great question and answer video for me. I love all of them, though.
You are the only person who has helped me dig out from my clutter, because my mind thinks like yours does. I am still chipping away though. The clutter just keeps reappearing.
I have a small entryway into my livingroom, so every item from shopping trips needs to be put away constantly. When its cleaned up, I feel such relief. I don't want an unexpected visit from someone to embarrass me, if it is messy. I often times don't notice it getting out of hand, as you say you don't.
Where have you been all my life? Thank you so much for giving me the inspiration to declutter my home! I can do this!
Re: Tattoos
When I turned 18, my mother noticed that a couple of my friends had gotten tattoos. She sat me down right before I went away to college. She asked me (and how I wished I remember what the reference was!) if I remembered liking something when I was 12. I did. Then she asked me if I thought that was kewl at age 18. I didn't. At that point, she connected the dots for me and said that getting a tattoo is similar to parading around the thing I liked at 12 for the rest of my life. The lesson sank in.
My daughter has expressed interest in tattoos. I followed the same tact my mother had. Her response is that tattoos can be removed. Yes, she sees it as disposable piece of art. So, I shared a YT video of a former gang banger who is working on having his tattoos removed. In addition to the price of doing so, he stated it was the most painful experience of his life. Thus far that has made a difference for my daughter. :)
As someone that has 8 tattoos I got in my mid twenties. Feel free to let her read my comment if she every starts to sway and want one. I’m an artsy fartsy girl. Was always singing in a band of some kind from 6 years old up to 32. I love paintings, I love seeing people expressing themselves. Be it through music, hair, clothes, tattoos, paintings, etc. It makes me so happy!! I still love most of my tattoos- but I wish I would have got them as a painting, not on my body. Now I’m a mom, and I’ll be the hypocrite that tells my children, yes, I got these when I was young and thought I’d always have a skinny body they would look great on. Yes, you can choose to get some someday, but you will probably be like me at some point- and realize you don’t need* them. People will judge whether they mean to or not. It can mean losing clients, difficulty with a boyfriend’s family accepting you, being turned down for jobs- even though you are more than qualified in all skills needed. And that’s for innocent, happy, inspiring tattoos. All mine are of things like flowers, they’re classy. Still had an issue with this more times than I can count. Also- symbols, no matter how innocent you may think they are- can mean something else to a different group of people. Example: to me, a Jewish star- to people in the occult, it’s a symbol they use as well. It can make it hard to obtain internships or clinical rotations; or you’ll have to wear sleeves, wrist covers, socks, etc. if the rebuttal ever turns to, but I plan on doing ___, so that won’t be a problem. Plans change! I owned my own salon for 10 years, did hair for 15, then decided to go into a healthcare setting for work. That’s when my eyes were really opened. Rant over :)
I said something similar to a college-aged coworker who asked why I didn’t have a tattoo (i was in my early 50s). I said I’m not wearing the same earrings I wore 15 years ago so how could I put something permanent on my skin?
Thank you! Enjoy summer!
Hey Dana! I finally had one of those moments that you talk about when using the "where would I look for this first, even if I have zero confidence that it will be there"... I had a bunch of seeds and such in my kitchen but it was not where I wanted them to live, so I put them where my reflex told me to... AND THEY WERE THERE!!! Magic!!🎉 Thanks so much for teaching me your process! 😘😘😘
👏SAME! 👏👏👏👏
NO keep box for me and
NO memory box for me.
This works for me just perfectly!!
Hi Dana, I wanted to tell you I am reading your books and applying the info here at home as I declutter. I've always been organized, but just have too much stuff, so it's feeling really good to pass things on/get them out of the house. Yesterday I helped my 83 years old mom, at her house, do some decluttering, and I applied your steps/philosophy and it went really well. We're off to a good start, and both of us feel good about the progress. Thank you for sharing so much good info. Have a good summer. :)
Enjoy your summer! I started watching your back videos starting with the ones from 11 years ago. If I run out I will jump back to How to manage my house.... Not sure why I like that one better than the decluttering book, but it is definitely my favorite of the books.
Dana, thank you so much!
Happy Summer!
Have a great summer - get some R & R! There are lots of videos for us to replay and hold us over…
For me, decluttering has been in layers. I find more to declutter each team I go through. For instance, I turn my hangers around after the first of the year and turn the hangers around when I wear them. Then I check in around June to see what I haven't worn and decide what to donate. I do the same at the end of the year.
Which teams are you working thru. 😄😄 I wouldn't mind "working thru" a pro soccer team. 😅😅
I do something similar where I always put my clothes away on the right side of the closet. So at the end of the season, whatever is pushed to the left are my least favorites.
Thank you for the replay!! ❤🙏🏼 Have a fabulous summer!! ☀️🏊♀️🍉
Enjoy your summer; stay cool! 😎
Thank you for your videos. So helpful to me in my present journey. Enjoying your honesty and helpfulness.
Enjoy your summer, Dana! Thank you for the great videos. G Ire
I love later and super love maybe. Thank you for speaking in a way I understand.
I’m the same way, having a quarantine or keep box will turn into multiple keep boxes then dozens my keep box would have friend keep boxes lol
Some people use a keep box because if they go to put it away right now they won't come back to the job they are doing now. It cures following rabbit trails.
Kathy B
Dana's process worked for me!
37:00 libraries also have audio books, friends. If you can afford to buy, absolutely do, but there are options for those who don't have as much as well!
You changed my life...thank you 😊
Have an awesome summer with your family!!
I love your sass and your "tangents". I always laugh and/or learn something.
Quarantine box is used for testing minimalism. Even for Dawn, Minimal Mom, it’s not for decluttering and initially getting house under control when you’re above your clutter threshold. It’s only one box and it’s to test, can I cook with only 4 pans? Can I get dressed with a capsule wardrobe? Etc.
If a quarantine box keeps the momentum going, then use it. You just have to limit what you put in quarantine. After a while, I found I needed the quarantine less and less. Or, if you are still in the same place, kitchen for example, pull out the quarantine box. Those items now go to the donation box. Now during the next sweep if you still need the quarantine box it will be empty for another round. This may result in a slower pace but at least you are still moving.
Dana, you will be missed! Hope your summer is fabulous! I will be posting in the private fb group, keeping in touch w/my peeps in there. Love you Dana!
Thank you, whoever asked the photos. I have that many plus my parents and grandparents pictures.
👋😊💕🇦🇺Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and thank you so much for your inspiring channel and mindset.....
There was an open box of disposable masks on our steps for weeks. I knew my husband wanted to keep them because he is a farmer and they are useful in situations here. So finally I picked them up and asked my husband “Where would you look for this first?” He gave two options and I said we had room in the bathroom closet, and there they will live! MUCH easier question to answer than “Where do you want these?” And knowing me, my tone would have sounded ever-so-slightly annoyed at the asking, so this process is PRICELESS. 😊
I have had a broken dishwasher for about a year, I think. Our dishwasher guy came once but it didn’t work still…finally we just said we would take one off the floor of his store in our little bitty town. He put it in yesterday. I don’t like the sink filling up with dirty dishes whether I am hand washing or putting them in the dishwasher. It did add discipline to my routine!
I have just started my decluttering journey as i moved into an apartment from a house. I have a donation box and if i put something in and need that item before the box is full then i give myself permission to use whatever it is and rehome it. However once the box is full i donate it without going through it. i keep the box in my front closet and I feel like this puts a time limit on the items because i only have space for one donation box in the closet. I start a new donation box when i find another item to declutter.
I like this - it's almost a quarantine bin depending on how quickly you're filling the box.
Thank you for everything! ❤ Enjoy your summer, Dana!
For me, the item that doesn't work in the place where I would look for it first was facial toner. All my face products are in a shallow drawer. The only way to make the toner fit is to store it on its side, which would cause it to leak. But if I did not store the toner on its side in the face products drawer, I would look for it first in the medicine cabinet.
Using your ‘Container Concept’ I’ve eliminated the junk drawer in my kitchen; giving the drawer a purpose to only store office supplies: hole punch, pens, pencils, white out, stapler, ruler, scissors, glue stick, white glue, tape dispenser, paper clips, binder clips, index cards, label maker, staple remover, staples, sharpies and highlighter. In giving my items “room to breathe” it makes finding and putting them away much easier.
Have a wonderful summer!
Have a great summer! 🥰🌡️🏖️
❤ your haircut! Going to finish listening to your book in a few!!
enjoy summer
Have a lovely summer ☀️🕶❤
❤excellent as always! Thank you 😊
What do you think Dana would say about this:
So I've made some decent progress in the last 2 months. Which 1/2 way through I was in a car wreck which hit my head really hard. And I just replaced the car yesterday. It's been quite a challenging month & some physical recovery.
Yet, stuff has been leaving, been more liberal with calling things trash.
What I noticed seems to be working for me...
Once I get my entryway consistently cleared (which just happens to be my kitchen 😜)
And I get some major progress done, I enjoy it for a few days then I start working on the next visible area, I make more progress, then...
I decide to put a few (usually mixed with some harder decisions) things in those already cleared areas from other parts of the house, so that I will actually decide or DO something about it.
I have done this a few times and it seems to work for my productivity.
But my entryway and especially my living room right next to it, is kinda my work station, so I will get up and do the thing!
My dining table is clear, and kids' rooms stay manageble.
Does anyone else have a tendency to do this?
Do I make zero sense?
Yes I am doing the dishes, sweeping the floor, 5min pickup, and decent at laundry day(s).
My office/paper/household managing of things is not under control, and something I resist doing.
@Caroline Clunies-Ross Thank you!
Yes, I even have a friend who is letting me help at her house, which gives me motivation (and some compensation ❤️)
I am still making progress, and still getting in my own way sometimes.
I have figured out to apply these concepts to my paperwork.
I start with receipts, my purse, and other easy stuff.
Email, top 10, search regular contacts, and easy stuff ❤️
Hair video on how to stop frizz, please.
Now me doesn't appreciate that past me kept all this stuff for future me 😂😂😂
And now my Dana withdrawals begin!
I have what feels like a really big job ahead of me right now. We homeschool and the closet we use for school things and art supplies and board games is way too full right now. It's so hard to get anything out of it. I've decided we need to eliminate a shelving unit in it to allow me to put our rolling cart where the shelf is so we can get to the other shelving unit without pulling the cart out of the closet. The problem is that both shelving units are completely full, and the one I'm going to get rid of is the larger one. BUT, I know if I follow your process I'll be able to do it. I'm NOT pulling everything out, even though it's tempting. I'm going to do as much as I can without pulling the cart out even. There WILL be trash in there, I'm sure. And I know there will be things I don't even want anymore. I won't get it done today, and probably not this week, but I can make progress today!
Oh my goodness. I just did it in less than half an hour. I'm sure there still some stuff in there that we don't need, but the shelving unit is gone! I had built that up way too much in my head.
You are inspiring me to do our hall closet! It holds excess toys, books in excess, art and craft supplies. And it is overflowing and makes me feel so anxious. Will set a timer and do 30 minutes today!
I like pictures of sky, clouds, trees, flowers
I’ve gotten LOTS better at not bringing a bunch of new stuff into the house but am still bad at getting rid of stuff. BUT I’m getting BETTER. 🏆
LOL! Now I FINALLY know why the name "Dana White" seemed so familiar and yet I had only found you 2 years ago😅
It's because of my husband and Father in Law watching ufc. I had a good laugh about you saying he'll pop up and it's not you.
My library had the ebook available and copies of the audiobook had a waitlist. :-)
A men’s workshop that starts in the garage is not a terrible idea!
Great idea!!
I hired an organizer to come help me get my butt in gear last year.
Decluttering, streamlining, setting up shelving.
They were so helpful, and it's not completely undone.
We decided that next they would come do the garage space.
And help make some things visually easier to look through for that work area.
@@cheerfulmouse that sounds amazing!
I use a Quarantine Box to put items in that I have decided to get rid of, but I am not sure if we can manage without it. You put a date on the outside of the box. Then you take it unopened to the donation center. If perchance you need that item before then, you can retrieve it. For example, I'm not baking as much as I used to, can I make my Bisquick Impossible Pumpkin pie in the 8" square dish instead of the round pie plate, so that I can declutter the two round 9" pie plates?
I have a quarantine box and still have not gotten it out of my house…. Lol nor have I looked at it. I can’t seem to just drop i off at good will. 😮
This is why I don’t do quarantine boxes!
🌾🌱 Wish I had caught this live. Maybe a “five minute weed pulling” when you have time will help with the garden. 😁
I was watching an old video about the difference between decluttering and organizing. You said for some people decluttering is enough. That leads me to the question that I've always wanted to ask you. What do you think about the concept of a place for everything and everything in its place? What do you think about as long as everything is decluttered and you know where things are, is that good enough ?
Well I'm not Dana, but I might be able to answer. Dana just brought up that saying "a place for everything & everything it it's place". She said this is frustrating for us to hear before we have decluttered. I think she'd say yes, good enough if decluttered til you have a place for everything, and you are able to manage it and easily/quickly clean your house. That's means you're within your clutter threshold!
@@idid138 Thank you🙂
^ agreed. If you know where it is, I’d say you’re good. It’s all about clutter threshold! What all you can maintain and keep up with. I’m so not there yet 😅
How much a month do you need to pay to be a patreon? I can't afford a lot but would love more help.
You don’t understand how Dawn uses the quarantine box. Her recommendation is to put things in the quarantine box that you’ve already decided to get rid of. If you don’t take anything out of the box in 6 months, you donate the items. It’s not procrastination because you’ve already decided and you don’t go back through it, the decision has already been made.
So if the decision is already made, then why hang on to it for 6 months? Wouldn’t it be best to just drop it off at a donation place and be done with it right away?
I agree. I believe Dawn only puts items in her box that either she or a family member is about 99% sure she'll get rid of, but is still clinging to a little bit. It's like her "time will tell" paper basket/bin. If no one has gone looking for that item in xyz time period, then she donates it with confidence that it's the right decision at the right time.
I think for some people Dawn’s method on the quarantine box works, and others like me- it’s a trap. I’ve tried doing that before, and ended up looking thru the clothes to see if there were any items I’d want to hold onto for another 6 months. Then ended up putting majority of them back in my closet only to deal with again later on lol. All about what works for you! For me personally, it ends up being a procrastination box. And too much of a temptation.
Do you have any data on how your decluttering coaches are doing? Are they getting referrals via your site? I am interested and would love to help others, but in all honestly I also want to make sure I am not chasing an online course situation that ends up fruitless.
We're planning to do a survey around the six month mark. It's an active group of coaches and so fun. Truthfully, though, we really emphasize that the referrals are one part of building your own business as a decluttering coach. We do a lot of training within the certification on ways to connect with local clients, as that's where the sustainable business will happen.
@@DanaKWhite Thank you for taking the time to respond. I am working on the marketing pieces at this time, to figure out the best way to communicate my why. I enjoyed reading the "Meet the Coaches" quotes on the pages on your website. I appreciate your effort to build a collaborative community rather than simply an online course. Cool!
@@azlizzie My state has 3 coaches listed so far and I called one. She also does cleaning, so this is an expansion of her business. I'm hoping to call her again. Hope this helps a bit.
To me, a "keep" box sounds like a procrastibox.
😊😊😊
I agree with you about the keep box or whatever they're called. A quarantine box. I used to do it and it *never* worked. What did work was keeping something in its space. If it was important enough, it stays. If it's not, it goes. If it's outside of its designated storage spot, you're not using the container concept, right? You're using some bastardized container "plus" concept. ?? 😆
Your method seems to take care of "I'm not sure I want this or not," correct? You leave it for last. I was literally choosing among five dresses to get it down to two. If one or more of those was in a box somewhere else, they wouldn't have been part of the choosing process? If you're not sure, take out the trash and the duh stuff. Then see what you're left with. And neve mind that I just no longer want random boxes of shit using up space in my house. I've got enough on my plate. 🤣 I used to call them "mystery boxes." Like who the hell knows what's in there. If it's not in a dedicated storage spot where I'd look for it, then I don't need it. 😆
Re: "creating homes for stuff" -- White's response means you'll NEVER own too much stuff. 👍 My stuff can never be > the amount of storage I have.