I watched this, watched Hoarders, and reread Marie Kondo. We filled our truck and ended up doing ten trips to donation centre! Donated books & unopened art supplies to a hospital with art therapy. My clothes & baby clothes to a Women’s centre. Now my home feels so much better and so do we!
I'm gonna take this tip. I'm gonna just flood myself with the content that inspired me to get started in the first place and get this shit done. My biggest hurdle is allowing myself to throw things away. I'm moving on!
@@peachesandpoets i feel you, i am like you, not allowing myself to throw things away, but I try to understand why and find a solution to liberate those things and myself, because hoarding is also hard.
Watching Hoarders has 2 effects on me. Sometimes I think, wow at least my house isn't anywhere near that bad, and other times it motivates me to be an extreme minimalist.
Summary: 1.Declutter your car 2.Clear off your bathroom counter (use 90/90 rule for this) 3.Remove 10 items from your wardrobe (ask: would I buy this again?) 4.Declutter the visible areas of your entertainment centre 5.Clear off your night stand 6.Walk around your home and fill one box with items to donate 7.Walk around your home and fill one bag for trash pick up 8.Remove old or expired food from your pantry and/or fridge 9.Declutter old or unused coats from your coat closet 10.Clear off the top of your refrigerator 11.Recycle old magazines or newspapers that are piled up 12.Declutter your underwear and sock drawer 13.Clear 5 items from your kitchen counter 14.Remove excess towels and sheets/linnen from your linnen closet 15.Declutter your laundry space 16.Clear off the tops of your living room side tables 17.Minimise your tupperware 18.Declutter your shower 19.Clear out your medicine chest 20.For kids: return toys to the toy room or bedroom where they belong
Thank you for providing a summary of the 20 first steps outlined in the video. It was very helpful. I appreciate having the list available to refer back to as I begin my decluttering journey.
I do not remember when I first watched the movie Minimalism, but I saw it about 10 times before it disappeared from Netflix. Luckily, Less is Now was released and I watch every time I feel overwhelmed by life. My first thought when I learned that the first Minimalism-movie would not continue to be on Netflix, was: I want to buy it on DVD! Yes, this movie is worth having in my house. Ryan says something like this: if you like your books and they give you value, keep your books. My DVDs (and my books) do add value to me. Final comment: I have run out of clutter in my own house, and I have moved on to my father’s place. We have great fun together in the process. Keep up the great work, Joshua and Ryan. Best regards from Norway.
I love the podcast and these videos. I am hitting the 3 year mark listening to Joshua and Ryan and their experiences deeply resonate in me. While I am still work in progress (I love my 6 pairs of Dr. Martens boots and have this thing for sunglasses and fountain pens), I am enjoying my tiny apartment, plain and simple bedroom and wardrobe. During the pandemic I sold my car, I kept my bike and walk everywhere I can. It is 10 years since I do not own a TV, I do great watching my fave horror movies on my Ipad. My diet is also simple: lots of veggies, fresh fruit, grains and chicken, fish. On the weekends I love a nice glass of Chilean red wine paired with a nice chat with my best friend. I am currently working to declutter my work schedule, set clear boundaries and be more assertive with my boss as I want to have more time for myyself. Thank you guys from the bottom of my heart, your daily advice is a gift. Sending you lots of love from Mexico City!
I didn't know that I am a minimalist by heart in the most extremist way. I thought I am mentally sick or totally wrong, but I could not stand many things, colours, shapes, corners, stuff to clean, to re-arrange, etc. around me. Afterwards, this concept started and I absolutely love the validation that I am not quite mentally sick. At least, not in this way. 😂 Thank you, guys. I really enjoy your podcast. 🤗 All the very best.
We purposely installed pedestal sinks in our bathrooms so there are no counters. All five of us have baskets in a nearby closet where we keep toiletries, shampoo, razor, etc. You pick up your basket, use it in the bathroom, and return it to the closet. No arguing over whose shampoo got used, no clutter in the bathroom.
Great video. I am new to your channel I heard about you from dawn the minimal mom I am part of her course. She talks about you all the time and I am learning a lot of new things so I am very grateful. I don't know if I can totally live as a minimalist right now but I sure don't need all the stuff that I have. Several years ago I got rid of a whole bunch of stuff that was my grandmother's even things that my mom is giving me cuz I thought I had to hold on to everything. I realized it was overwhelming so when the donation truck came to get the stuff they thought we were moving. I said oh no just learning this is overwhelming and I need to let it go. And now I'm going through another layer. I'm hoping my one family member will jump on board cuz they hold on way too many items it's overtaking my basement. I'm hoping they jump on board here soon as I get my stuff organized my oldest will do their stuff. I can keep my bathroom cleared off I can keep a car clean I can keep my dishes done my laundry done. It's my closets and the many sheets and blankets I thought I had to have. Also I just got rid of all my sewing stuff over 40 years worth of patterns and an extra sewing machine and different things like that I so want to get to the bottom of all this and be done so I can just be free
I miss this format of just the two of you going back and forth with a lot of laughter. You guys are so perfect together on our favorite subject Minimalism!
"Go commando! It's the only way to be a true minimalist!" I am still laughing at that! And the to of the fridge... My ex was 6'6", I'm 5'5". He'd walk up to the fridge and say "it's really dusty and dirty up here. You need to clean this." I would walk up to it, stare at the freezer door and say "looks fine to me. If it's bothering you, then YOU clean it!". 🤣
I've been meaning to do an inverted 30 days minimalist game: start with 30/31 items and decrease. Seems like a good solution for my living situation, and how my brain works.
No ten, on top of the fridge, could easily be on top of the wardrobe as well, in fact the top of any cupboard. I have nothing on top of any of these, my minimalist journey is going great guns. I don't own any tuff crates or what you would call clutter coffins, any more. I had loads of toys and resources and sold some on ebay, but donated loads to schools in deprived areas. As Joshua Becker says donate to a cause that aligns with your core values. Just love listening to all you guys. Minimalism is one way to help save the planet, by buying less we consume less of the world's natural resources and cut our carbon footprint!
Generally speaking I Declutter only my room and space since I live with 3 other people. I did recycled small containers to keep everyday cosmetics ( bathroom)on the counter so they wont falls. Basically at least once a month I Declutter all my things. Compare to 2 years ago my room feels so much better and the energy is lighter without any unnessesary visual clutter. Wish my sister could do that cuz if I have to go to her room all the mess makes me sick and uncofortable.😅
🥰 Hi guys, When you said “declutter your car”, I had a physical reaction. I’m certain that if I went back and watched videos of yours that I haven’t seen or new ones I’d see a path. Is there anyway that you could address the people who are in situations, either after COVID and the fallout of losing jobs, older people on a fixed income, etc, . Who find themselves renting a room and their car is a storage unit. I think that you could address so well (because you experienced a lack of income in younger years) the psychological impact of being forced to pack the last of your things into a bedroom, a closet, and your car. When you feel/believe/or accept the label that you are poor and you might need these things, to me you give up-on hope of a better future, and that getting rid of some things could open something wonderful. For example, during COVID (I’m 72, on a fixed income), trying to isolate, I would give myself little shopping binges online. So I am looking at a lip color that doesn’t look good on me-why am I not throwing it out? Or three bottles of whatever that are taking up space? The answer is probably fear-I know that you have the answer, but what about people in my position. It’s kind of deep, but you guys do “deep” so well and with great compassion. I am so thankful for you 🥰
I can relate to what your saying. It takes a leap of faith that I will be okay even if I let go of stuff. When I was a new mother and ended up divorced with a child with health problems I even kept all the broken stuff people gave me. Now, decades later, I'm much more able to shop what I own and know if its worth keeping, even if its just because I still love looking at it. Now its a balance between making sure I don't let go of what might be a hardship to replace (a good winter coat can be expensive!) and recognizing when I have stuff that causes sad clutter is just keeping me from using and enjoying the happy good stuff. I like having a place for everything and everything in its place and knowing I still have what I need and where I can easily find it. To me, its a better quality of life.
having health issues and needing support in my home was an eye opener, helpers need to find your medications and be accurate, getting rid of things you no longer need simplifies it and might save your life
Replace your tupperware with a small selection with pyrex food storage dishes that have plastic lids. I do keep some cheap plastic disposables for go boxes.
I love all your free resources online. My basement and spare bedroom are a nightmare and I don't know where to begin. So I'm sure your resources will help me get started to declutter that. Thank you guys for your tips to lead a more free enjoyable decluttered home.
I love you guys I just discovered you ❤I think you have a great friend in one another and you both are excellent at really listening to what the other is saying .So many people hear but don't listen ya know? And then there's your total transparency about growing up impoverished that stole my heart you are genuine so informative,and funny as well .I've been in a rut feelin down feeling overwhelmed just by discovering you and listening to you guys I see a light now that wasn't there so I thank you for cheering me up making sense out of life and inspiring me. I'm going to implore many of the lessons I learned from watching you guys.You both are so amazing and awesome I love you!!!
#3 (ask: would I buy this again) this is a good one. I’m in the process of using EVERYTHING in my bathroom. Like lotion, lipsticks & cleaning products. The cabinet under the bathroom is looking really roomy now I love it.
I did the same. You can use sample face soaps as body wash, for example. I used all of the gift soaps is been saving for some reason. A great way to save money and it’s really gratifying to see the cabinet get emptier over time.
I'm so glad I've discovered you guys. I've been on a decluttering journey for a while with the intention to practice minamalism (although my husband is quite a collector of things and creates clutter everywhere but recently he seems more on board with this minamalist philosophy and I've shown him a few of your videos). I've enjoyed listening to your videos and podcasts and it is giving me lots more inspiration and motivation to keep going. I have certain relatives who like collecting things and gifting people with overwhelming hauls. It can be a bit of a conundrum when someone feels good gifting others these massive hauls and constantly piling stuff on you but yet the effect is to cause you anxiety and unease...I know from some of the content I've watched of you it is suggested to set the expectation and if boundaries keep being crossed then it's fine to reiterate I don't have the space for it so I found it another home...but for those times where people don't listen and are willful, to have grace and gratitude. I feel torn on that one because I agree it's important to show grace and gratitude but I also wonder if we should have to say a sincere thank you for something that brings you anxiety or stress and in a way reward certain personality types to think it means do more of that? This might seem off topic but I feel it's somewhat related - not sure if you've done content on it before but people nowadays talk a lot about the red flags of people who suffer from narcissistic personality disorder and apparently one common trait among them can be things like "love bombing" and inappropriate gift giving whether giving passive aggressive gifts meant to cause intentional pain or a grandiose sense of extravagant gift giving even if causes debt for the gift giver so that they can show off a persona of wealth, status, or make you feel obligated. The strings attached kind of gifts. I know obviously not all excessive gift givers are narcissists but I (and I'm sure many others) have experience of having had people in my life display these traits of narcissism coupled with strange and inappropriate gifting patterns. If you haven't already I'd be interested to hear your take on how to handle those types of gift givers. Great content and I must add you are both so funny and the videos although very practical and helpful also make me laugh and smile, thank you! 💛
This would be a GREAT question for a future podcast episode. Would you be willing to send a voice memo to podcast@theminimalists.com so that Joshua and Ryan can answer your question live on the show? In the voice memo, just state your name and city (or use a fake name if you want to be anonymous) followed by your concise question (write it down first); also mention if you are a Patreon subscriber, so we can prioritize your question. (And if you have more than one question, that's great-just send separate voice memos.)
This has gone to my head, my fridge is empty, unplugged and polished on top, it’s been almost 40% this week in UK, how am I doing - great, French beans and spuds from my garden, eggs, spinach tomorrow and I don’t ever have to clean a fridge out again, do I ??
To avoid being wasteful with shampoo/soap/cleansers I don’t like or that are the dregs of a bottle, samples, etc., I pour all of it in a pump bottle and put it in the shower to shave my legs. I have another bottle of it I use for hand washing in the utility room. Zero waste, zero guilt, fewer bottles, works great for the purpose. Smells good, too.
I’m going back to bar soap, mainly for how much I am bothered by having to recycle the plastic body wash bottles at the rate of about once a month. And secondarily for the cost savings. Body wash is convenient! But how much longer does it *really* take to lather up bar soap on a washcloth? 30 seconds per shower, maybe. Plus I can stop buying plastic loofahs. Mine (hopefully!) isn’t the last generation that’s going to need the earth. So easy to forget as we rush around in our consumerist lives!
#1 ..I don’t have a car , check … , and I love Marie Kondos idea of in the shower , she takes everything out when she is done showering and put those things in a cupboard
As you declutter, you have to be very mindful what is coming back in. I have seen many people declutter, only to refill the space with new items. Living with empty space is something you have to practice doing, it isn't intuitive.
I checked my donations dashboard from Pickup Please supporting Vietnam vets. I donated 12 times this year, and I still have a lot to go. I love them because they pickup right from my house. Thanks for the inspiration.
I’ve only just discovered you guys!! And LOVE what I’m hearing so far. This is like music to my ears. And I can’t wait to watch your other videos and learn more. Do you have any advice on how to declutter the desktop on my computer 😳 or how to clear photos on my camera roll! 😅 I feel there is so much freedom in decluttering and I have so many things and areas of my life I want to declutter. If you already have a video on this please let me know xx Thank you for the amazing work you do 🙌🏽
Moving soon so doing a REAL packing party. I’m so excited to get rid of things that way. ❤️ but I’ve already done some massive steps at decluttering thanks to you guys. Thank you!
I heard of Swedish death cleaning. It's going through your entire house and deciding what you would want your loved ones to have to deal with after you die. Basically what Joshua had to do when his mom passed.
You had me laughing about the top of the fridge. I’m 5’3 and I completely forget about that area. Then one day I’ll deep clean the whole kitchen and get up on a stool and….so dusty 😅
I love the message here, but the discussion around having to throw some stuff out because recycling isn't a good option was... lacking. First, that 9% number is intensely unhelpful, and has nothing to do with the recycling rates of a local program that is currently accepting those plastics. If someone has access to recycling it is better to correctly contribute to that secondary market than assuming it won't work. If there are no plastics to divert to the secondary market, the recycling rate certainly does not go up. Second, just for general knowledge - some big chain stores will take back household lightbulbs as part of their own recycling program. Home Depot & Batteries+ are two that usually do (check with a local store for availability). Third, again general knowledge- landfills (at least the ones built in the US) are anaerobic environments, nothing "breaks down" in them. Even food and organics do not decompose naturally, although they can deteriorate enough to create methane. Your trash is not slowly decomposing and becoming less trash, it is squished into a new piece of trash substrate that is not fit for future use.
When shopping your closet, if you're on the fence about getting rid of it or keeping it, TRY IT ON! If it's too big or too small, let it go. You don't want to gain weight to make something fit properly and you don't want it hanging around if it's too small because that's just depressing if you haven't been able to lose the weight to fit into it. You can always replace it with something even cuter that fits right when you do lose weight.
The key to my nightstand is missing. It's such a good thing as I can't load it with stuff. On top is a fan to help with hot stuffy nights. But then we have loadshedding for electricity. It still helps.
Shampoos i dont love i use to refill hand soap pump bottles. Sample sizes of face creams can be used as stocking stuffers or keep to use as cuticle cream. But no matter what is it, it has to have a use. And a place to store it. Otherwise no.
I had a hoard in my car because my parents moved into a new house and I have to clear out my bedroom and I packed my car full of shit and moved it into my group home bedroom and my car still has residual stuff in it!! I did do a huge deciliter of all of my stuff because I had two bedrooms full, I had my room at my moms and a room at my dads and then I moved everything into my room at my moms and then I just got rid of 90% of stuff through out the past year and now I only own a trunk and quarter of a bedroom of stuff!! Yay!! Feels so good to just live lighter!!
Yes, I have the same problem. Having no car means it's not easy for me to get stuff to the charity shops, etc. I have quite a pile of stuff near the front door right now that I want rid of ...but I need to find a way to get it where it needs to go. Throwing away trash is easy, but the stuff that somebody else can use isn't so easy.
I have a slight issue with my minimalist journey- five years ago I managed to declutter quite a lot and was living quite small but over the years I accumulated a lot more without realising it- still not tonnes but a lot more than I would like. My issue now is that I have also become very involved with the conservation/recycling side of things too- so just binning things is bringing me stress, im trying my best to sell where I can and recycling what I can but some items are just bound to end up in landfill and I dont know what to do here- any advice from someone so I can get past the guilt?
I greatly enjoyed a major de-cluttering event a few days back. My soon-to-be (ex) husband, who is so cheap he’s been living in our 27 yr olds house for the last 6 months. She at least put him in a cubby hole sized room with a small already stuffed closet. I de-cluttered the entire house by packing all of his clothing and personal property into his precious car. That fool will be riding around looking like a hoarder or homeless. That should do wonders for his ego.
I think a person can make great strides just getting rid of stuff they actually don't want. Instead of agonising over getting rid of things you want to keep for sentimental reasons, just start getting rid of the stuff you KNOW you don't want. The stuff you can't remember why you got it in the first place, have never used it, the circumstances for using it are long past, or you've always hated it, but good old Aunt Whatever gave it to you, etc.... I think that quite a few of us start by thinking about the stuff we don't want to get rid of, and getting into a bit of a fluster because we think we OUGHT to. Because it fails the 90 day test, or something like that. I also think it's a good idea if the just-in-case pile is thought through. I mean, you're hoping you never have a fire, right ...but you still have a fire extinguisher in your kitchen? This kind of thing. Think about the consequences if you do need it and don't have it. So yes, keep the fire extinguisher, the torches and candles in case of a power cut, etc. Keep the super glue ...if something breaks and needs fixing, you've got it. You're hoping that doesn't happen, but if it does, it's nice to be able to fix it without having to run to the store ...to buy glue you're probably only going to use once ...right? I think you need to keep this kind of thing in perspective. But do you really need a cupboard full of old yogurt containers, neatly stacked? Or a bag full of pocket mirrors in case you break one? Or a shelf full of cleaning products you tried out, but found they didn't work all that well? I also like to think in terms of size. Get rid of the biggest 'junk' first. 😛 The biggest tip that has helped me turn the clutter ship around? Stop. Buying. Stuff. Especially on impulse. And tell people you don't want any more 'stuff' for Christmas, birthdays, etc. A bouquet of flowers, a lunch or dinner date ...these are great presents. Another set of china mugs is NOT. Nor is a magazine subscription.
It's depressing thinking that most of what we donate or recycle ends up in the landfill. But, the money has already been spent and the stuff is already on the planet - whether it's stressing me out in my house or in the landfill.
Plastic packaging gets my vote for the most useless waste. It ends up in the oceans as plastic microfiber probably. We should use paper packaging much more. ❤
Making room for new stuff is NOT the way to go! Look at the film ”The True Cost”. To donate does not mean recykle but landfill most of the time!! So try to teach kids to use and then give to someone that would like it. A cousin or friends of the family with younger children. Organize something at scool/daycare where the kids can come with their stuff and then just give to someone that wants it. If no one does want it, that thing will probably end up in landfill! Give to a secondhand store for toys wher your kid then can pick up something from the same store new to her/him but not new stuff. See their old stuff on display in the store and then sold! 😊
This is funny. Just yesterday I decided to clean my car and get rid of stuff. And today I see this video. Lol I have to say that my bathroom is the only room that stays clean and uncluttered at all times, unlike the rest of my home. Weird
My bus is used also for recycling! So I recycle the cans & bottles in y bus when it is very full! I get money for the bottles & cans too! So it refills again & again!
I haven’t gone through my precious photos in 90 days. I am not tossing anything. I have my dead sister’s artwork, and it may be more than three months until I look at her artwork. I am not tossing these precious things.
I learned the 'flat surfaces' lesson when I had a wife. I would clean a space so there was a balance between stuff and space and she would go behind me and 'claim' any flat surface by putting her stuff there. It was a joke of mine that if I cleared an flat surface she would clutter it. Notice I said 'had' a wife.
I get stuck because I can t get things out of my house . I’m disabled, so I can’t carry heavy things to my car and to the donation centers. I wish there was someone who could come an d pick all this stuff for me
Flat surfaces...oy! I think, of all of the flat surfaces in my home, there's only one that's clear (the ottoman in the living room). Every other flat surface in our house has crap on it...well the Entertainment Center in the Family Room isn't too bad because I've been cleaning that off... Entertainment Centers do exist. Kind of became obsolete when CRT TVs became obsolete. Donation places won't take them. Don't really want to cut it up and throw it out, but that's becoming my only option. About laundry space...I haven't rented since 1985, but I/we got sick and tired of cleaning up after others who shared the laundry space/machines. Wasn't a real fan of doing our laundry in other people's filth.
I’m trying to ditch all my flat spaces that didn’t come with the apt. I’ve worked on decluttering for…at least 5 years. It’s a whole evolution. Before it would stay “clean” HOWEVER….I’d bring home more stuff. Now…..I have that….throw away (donate) as much as possible desire. I’m keeping a “permanent library” at home of Stephen king and Joe hill books; because I’ll read them over and over. Rest of the books I want to read….library.
I watched this, watched Hoarders, and reread Marie Kondo. We filled our truck and ended up doing ten trips to donation centre! Donated books & unopened art supplies to a hospital with art therapy. My clothes & baby clothes to a Women’s centre. Now my home feels so much better and so do we!
Marie Kondo technique r o c k s 🙌 And in combination with these entertaining guys... oh man - don't they just change your life? 👏
I'm gonna take this tip. I'm gonna just flood myself with the content that inspired me to get started in the first place and get this shit done. My biggest hurdle is allowing myself to throw things away. I'm moving on!
@@peachesandpoets i feel you, i am like you, not allowing myself to throw things away, but I try to understand why and find a solution to liberate those things and myself, because hoarding is also hard.
God you could have made some money if you actually sold them why on earth would you donate all of it boggles my mind
Watching Hoarders has 2 effects on me. Sometimes I think, wow at least my house isn't anywhere near that bad, and other times it motivates me to be an extreme minimalist.
Summary:
1.Declutter your car
2.Clear off your bathroom counter (use 90/90 rule for this)
3.Remove 10 items from your wardrobe (ask: would I buy this again?)
4.Declutter the visible areas of your entertainment centre
5.Clear off your night stand
6.Walk around your home and fill one box with items to donate
7.Walk around your home and fill one bag for trash pick up
8.Remove old or expired food from your pantry and/or fridge
9.Declutter old or unused coats from your coat closet
10.Clear off the top of your refrigerator
11.Recycle old magazines or newspapers that are piled up
12.Declutter your underwear and sock drawer
13.Clear 5 items from your kitchen counter
14.Remove excess towels and sheets/linnen from your linnen closet
15.Declutter your laundry space
16.Clear off the tops of your living room side tables
17.Minimise your tupperware
18.Declutter your shower
19.Clear out your medicine chest
20.For kids: return toys to the toy room or bedroom where they belong
I’m glad to see I’m on the right track. I’ve done most of these things!
♥️♥️♥️🌻🕊
Thank you for providing a summary of the 20 first steps outlined in the video. It was very helpful. I appreciate having the list available to refer back to as I begin my decluttering journey.
Thank you very much. Summary helps.
Thank you
I do not remember when I first watched the movie Minimalism, but I saw it about 10 times before it disappeared from Netflix. Luckily, Less is Now was released and I watch every time I feel overwhelmed by life. My first thought when I learned that the first Minimalism-movie would not continue to be on Netflix, was: I want to buy it on DVD! Yes, this movie is worth having in my house. Ryan says something like this: if you like your books and they give you value, keep your books. My DVDs (and my books) do add value to me. Final comment: I have run out of clutter in my own house, and I have moved on to my father’s place. We have great fun together in the process. Keep up the great work, Joshua and Ryan. Best regards from Norway.
150 items sent to Goodwill today. Feels amazing.
I love the podcast and these videos. I am hitting the 3 year mark listening to Joshua and Ryan and their experiences deeply resonate in me. While I am still work in progress (I love my 6 pairs of Dr. Martens boots and have this thing for sunglasses and fountain pens), I am enjoying my tiny apartment, plain and simple bedroom and wardrobe. During the pandemic I sold my car, I kept my bike and walk everywhere I can. It is 10 years since I do not own a TV, I do great watching my fave horror movies on my Ipad. My diet is also simple: lots of veggies, fresh fruit, grains and chicken, fish. On the weekends I love a nice glass of Chilean red wine paired with a nice chat with my best friend. I am currently working to declutter my work schedule, set clear boundaries and be more assertive with my boss as I want to have more time for myyself. Thank you guys from the bottom of my heart, your daily advice is a gift. Sending you lots of love from Mexico City!
❤
Also putting things back where you got theme from after using them! 😊
Your philosophies have changed my life in such a remarkable way...Thanks for all you do....LOVE you guys so much!
I threw away some stuff right after listening to this.
me too
Threw away all my wife's stuff after listening to this.
Even though I’ve been decluttering for 2 years, these are still great spots for me to declutter again! Going to do one each day. 😀
I would add “declutter your phone”. ✨.
great video 💯.
I didn't know that I am a minimalist by heart in the most extremist way. I thought I am mentally sick or totally wrong, but I could not stand many things, colours, shapes, corners, stuff to clean, to re-arrange, etc. around me. Afterwards, this concept started and I absolutely love the validation that I am not quite mentally sick. At least, not in this way. 😂 Thank you, guys. I really enjoy your podcast. 🤗 All the very best.
I love the idea of shopping your closet. I bet most of us would not repurchase many of the items in there! It’s a fun way to get rid of the excess.
For me, a lot of my tshirts were free from events I attended or participated in, and I have to consider if I would buy it in the first place.
I'd buy .out everything again, hmmmm
We purposely installed pedestal sinks in our bathrooms so there are no counters. All five of us have baskets in a nearby closet where we keep toiletries, shampoo, razor, etc. You pick up your basket, use it in the bathroom, and return it to the closet. No arguing over whose shampoo got used, no clutter in the bathroom.
Great idea!!
Great video. I am new to your channel I heard about you from dawn the minimal mom I am part of her course. She talks about you all the time and I am learning a lot of new things so I am very grateful. I don't know if I can totally live as a minimalist right now but I sure don't need all the stuff that I have. Several years ago I got rid of a whole bunch of stuff that was my grandmother's even things that my mom is giving me cuz I thought I had to hold on to everything. I realized it was overwhelming so when the donation truck came to get the stuff they thought we were moving. I said oh no just learning this is overwhelming and I need to let it go. And now I'm going through another layer. I'm hoping my one family member will jump on board cuz they hold on way too many items it's overtaking my basement. I'm hoping they jump on board here soon as I get my stuff organized my oldest will do their stuff. I can keep my bathroom cleared off I can keep a car clean I can keep my dishes done my laundry done. It's my closets and the many sheets and blankets I thought I had to have. Also I just got rid of all my sewing stuff over 40 years worth of patterns and an extra sewing machine and different things like that I so want to get to the bottom of all this and be done so I can just be free
I miss this format of just the two of you going back and forth with a lot of laughter. You guys are so perfect together on our favorite subject Minimalism!
"Go commando! It's the only way to be a true minimalist!" I am still laughing at that!
And the to of the fridge... My ex was 6'6", I'm 5'5". He'd walk up to the fridge and say "it's really dusty and dirty up here. You need to clean this." I would walk up to it, stare at the freezer door and say "looks fine to me. If it's bothering you, then YOU clean it!". 🤣
There's a reason he is an x
I like this an amusing story. It’s a matter of perception.
The energy of this episode is the best.
I've been meaning to do an inverted 30 days minimalist game: start with 30/31 items and decrease. Seems like a good solution for my living situation, and how my brain works.
Love the reverse idea...it gets easier not harder...brilliant!! Thanks!
What a great idea! Thx!! Val
Omg, brilliant hearing about your decluttering tips but what really caught my attention was the pure chemistry between you guys!
I always watched your videos since I started my minimalism journey, but now it's my first time to comment because I love your laughter guys 😊
No ten, on top of the fridge, could easily be on top of the wardrobe as well, in fact the top of any cupboard. I have nothing on top of any of these, my minimalist journey is going great guns. I don't own any tuff crates or what you would call clutter coffins, any more. I had loads of toys and resources and sold some on ebay, but donated loads to schools in deprived areas. As Joshua Becker says donate to a cause that aligns with your core values. Just love listening to all you guys. Minimalism is one way to help save the planet, by buying less we consume less of the world's natural resources and cut our carbon footprint!
I love all your laughter and the comradery between you two.
Camaraderie is heart-warming!
Generally speaking I Declutter only my room and space since I live with 3 other people. I did recycled small containers to keep everyday cosmetics ( bathroom)on the counter so they wont falls. Basically at least once a month I Declutter all my things. Compare to 2 years ago my room feels so much better and the energy is lighter without any unnessesary visual clutter. Wish my sister could do that cuz if I have to go to her room all the mess makes me sick and uncofortable.😅
I really like the new studio design!! Great use of light, shadows, shapes, colors and textures 🙂
🥰 Hi guys,
When you said “declutter your car”, I had a physical reaction.
I’m certain that if I went back and watched videos of yours that I haven’t seen or new ones I’d see a path.
Is there anyway that you could address the people who are in situations, either after COVID and the fallout of losing jobs, older people on a fixed income, etc, . Who find themselves renting a room and their car is a storage unit.
I think that you could address so well (because you experienced a lack of income in younger years) the psychological impact of being forced to pack the last of your things into a bedroom, a closet, and your car.
When you feel/believe/or accept the label that you are poor and you might need these things, to me you give up-on hope of a better future, and that getting rid of some things could open something wonderful.
For example, during COVID (I’m 72, on a fixed income), trying to isolate, I would give myself little shopping binges online. So I am looking at a lip color that doesn’t look good on me-why am I not throwing it out? Or three bottles of whatever that are taking up space?
The answer is probably fear-I know that you have the answer, but what about people in my position.
It’s kind of deep, but you guys do “deep” so well and with great compassion.
I am so thankful for you 🥰
I can relate to what your saying. It takes a leap of faith that I will be okay even if I let go of stuff. When I was a new mother and ended up divorced with a child with health problems I even kept all the broken stuff people gave me. Now, decades later, I'm much more able to shop what I own and know if its worth keeping, even if its just because I still love looking at it. Now its a balance between making sure I don't let go of what might be a hardship to replace (a good winter coat can be expensive!) and recognizing when I have stuff that causes sad clutter is just keeping me from using and enjoying the happy good stuff. I like having a place for everything and everything in its place and knowing I still have what I need and where I can easily find it. To me, its a better quality of life.
having health issues and needing support in my home was an eye opener, helpers need to find your medications and be accurate, getting rid of things you no longer need simplifies it and might save your life
Love your ideas. Going to tackle guest bedroom, and then hall closet. It's time and your ideas gave me motivation! Ty
You guys are hilarious. I thoroughly enjoyed this. I love Joshua Becker a lot and have learned so much from him. Thank you all.
Replace your tupperware with a small selection with pyrex food storage dishes that have plastic lids. I do keep some cheap plastic disposables for go boxes.
We mostly use washcloths as bath towels. Towels take up a huge amount of space.
One way I actually simplify my life is to actually have enough underwear and socks and clothes to last 2 weeks, so I only do laundry twice a month.
I love all your free resources online.
My basement and spare bedroom are a nightmare and I don't know where to begin. So I'm sure your resources will help me get started to declutter that.
Thank you guys for your tips to lead a more free enjoyable decluttered home.
I love you guys I just discovered you ❤I think you have a great friend in one another and you both are excellent at really listening to what the other is saying .So many people hear but don't listen ya know? And then there's your total transparency about growing up impoverished that stole my heart you are genuine so informative,and funny as well .I've been in a rut feelin down feeling overwhelmed just by discovering you and listening to you guys I see a light now that wasn't there so I thank you for cheering me up making sense out of life and inspiring me. I'm going to implore many of the lessons I learned from watching you guys.You both are so amazing and awesome I love you!!!
#3 (ask: would I buy this again) this is a good one. I’m in the process of using EVERYTHING in my bathroom. Like lotion, lipsticks & cleaning products. The cabinet under the bathroom is looking really roomy now I love it.
I did the same. You can use sample face soaps as body wash, for example. I used all of the gift soaps is been saving for some reason. A great way to save money and it’s really gratifying to see the cabinet get emptier over time.
@@loriloucks-loricanhelp2771 Sure is gratifying…I have so much room under the bathroom sink now lol 😂
I'm so glad I've discovered you guys. I've been on a decluttering journey for a while with the intention to practice minamalism (although my husband is quite a collector of things and creates clutter everywhere but recently he seems more on board with this minamalist philosophy and I've shown him a few of your videos). I've enjoyed listening to your videos and podcasts and it is giving me lots more inspiration and motivation to keep going. I have certain relatives who like collecting things and gifting people with overwhelming hauls. It can be a bit of a conundrum when someone feels good gifting others these massive hauls and constantly piling stuff on you but yet the effect is to cause you anxiety and unease...I know from some of the content I've watched of you it is suggested to set the expectation and if boundaries keep being crossed then it's fine to reiterate I don't have the space for it so I found it another home...but for those times where people don't listen and are willful, to have grace and gratitude. I feel torn on that one because I agree it's important to show grace and gratitude but I also wonder if we should have to say a sincere thank you for something that brings you anxiety or stress and in a way reward certain personality types to think it means do more of that?
This might seem off topic but I feel it's somewhat related - not sure if you've done content on it before but people nowadays talk a lot about the red flags of people who suffer from narcissistic personality disorder and apparently one common trait among them can be things like "love bombing" and inappropriate gift giving whether giving passive aggressive gifts meant to cause intentional pain or a grandiose sense of extravagant gift giving even if causes debt for the gift giver so that they can show off a persona of wealth, status, or make you feel obligated. The strings attached kind of gifts. I know obviously not all excessive gift givers are narcissists but I (and I'm sure many others) have experience of having had people in my life display these traits of narcissism coupled with strange and inappropriate gifting patterns. If you haven't already I'd be interested to hear your take on how to handle those types of gift givers.
Great content and I must add you are both so funny and the videos although very practical and helpful also make me laugh and smile, thank you! 💛
This would be a GREAT question for a future podcast episode. Would you be willing to send a voice memo to podcast@theminimalists.com so that Joshua and Ryan can answer your question live on the show? In the voice memo, just state your name and city (or use a fake name if you want to be anonymous) followed by your concise question (write it down first); also mention if you are a Patreon subscriber, so we can prioritize your question. (And if you have more than one question, that's great-just send separate voice memos.)
@@TheMinimalists thanks for the response and of course, I can send this as a concise question to your team as a voice memo. Cheers
This has gone to my head, my fridge is empty, unplugged and polished on top, it’s been almost 40% this week in UK, how am I doing - great, French beans and spuds from my garden, eggs, spinach tomorrow and I don’t ever have to clean a fridge out again, do I ??
To avoid being wasteful with shampoo/soap/cleansers I don’t like or that are the dregs of a bottle, samples, etc., I pour all of it in a pump bottle and put it in the shower to shave my legs. I have another bottle of it I use for hand washing in the utility room. Zero waste, zero guilt, fewer bottles, works great for the purpose. Smells good, too.
I’m going back to bar soap, mainly for how much I am bothered by having to recycle the plastic body wash bottles at the rate of about once a month. And secondarily for the cost savings. Body wash is convenient! But how much longer does it *really* take to lather up bar soap on a washcloth? 30 seconds per shower, maybe. Plus I can stop buying plastic loofahs. Mine (hopefully!) isn’t the last generation that’s going to need the earth. So easy to forget as we rush around in our consumerist lives!
Cracked up listening to this One! Love your sense of humor.
#1 ..I don’t have a car , check … , and I love Marie Kondos idea of in the shower , she takes everything out when she is done showering and put those things in a cupboard
As you declutter, you have to be very mindful what is coming back in. I have seen many people declutter, only to refill the space with new items. Living with empty space is something you have to practice doing, it isn't intuitive.
“ Depends on how pretentious you are.” 🤣😂
Our Church Sermon today was about Minimalism! It’s in the Bible People 😀
I checked my donations dashboard from Pickup Please supporting Vietnam vets. I donated 12 times this year, and I still have a lot to go. I love them because they pickup right from my house.
Thanks for the inspiration.
Hi! Would you mind sharing more info about this? I would love to donate to this organization. TIA.
Ryan is on fire today 😆
I’ve only just discovered you guys!! And LOVE what I’m hearing so far. This is like music to my ears. And I can’t wait to watch your other videos and learn more. Do you have any advice on how to declutter the desktop on my computer 😳 or how to clear photos on my camera roll! 😅 I feel there is so much freedom in decluttering and I have so many things and areas of my life I want to declutter. If you already have a video on this please let me know xx Thank you for the amazing work you do 🙌🏽
Moving soon so doing a REAL packing party. I’m so excited to get rid of things that way. ❤️ but I’ve already done some massive steps at decluttering thanks to you guys. Thank you!
These are great ideas! I have part of them checked off already, but I have more to go!!!! Love you guys!!!❤
I heard of Swedish death cleaning. It's going through your entire house and deciding what you would want your loved ones to have to deal with after you die. Basically what Joshua had to do when his mom passed.
Thank you.
You had me laughing about the top of the fridge. I’m 5’3 and I completely forget about that area. Then one day I’ll deep clean the whole kitchen and get up on a stool and….so dusty 😅
I love the message here, but the discussion around having to throw some stuff out because recycling isn't a good option was... lacking.
First, that 9% number is intensely unhelpful, and has nothing to do with the recycling rates of a local program that is currently accepting those plastics. If someone has access to recycling it is better to correctly contribute to that secondary market than assuming it won't work. If there are no plastics to divert to the secondary market, the recycling rate certainly does not go up.
Second, just for general knowledge - some big chain stores will take back household lightbulbs as part of their own recycling program. Home Depot & Batteries+ are two that usually do (check with a local store for availability).
Third, again general knowledge- landfills (at least the ones built in the US) are anaerobic environments, nothing "breaks down" in them. Even food and organics do not decompose naturally, although they can deteriorate enough to create methane. Your trash is not slowly decomposing and becoming less trash, it is squished into a new piece of trash substrate that is not fit for future use.
When shopping your closet, if you're on the fence about getting rid of it or keeping it, TRY IT ON! If it's too big or too small, let it go. You don't want to gain weight to make something fit properly and you don't want it hanging around if it's too small because that's just depressing if you haven't been able to lose the weight to fit into it. You can always replace it with something even cuter that fits right when you do lose weight.
Yes, I add to that ...would I still want to wear this if I lose weight? So many of my 'small' clothes would make me look like mutton dressed as lamb.
The key to my nightstand is missing. It's such a good thing as I can't load it with stuff. On top is a fan to help with hot stuffy nights. But then we have loadshedding for electricity. It still helps.
Shampoos i dont love i use to refill hand soap pump bottles. Sample sizes of face creams can be used as stocking stuffers or keep to use as cuticle cream. But no matter what is it, it has to have a use. And a place to store it. Otherwise no.
Shampoo idea great
Can’t wait to get home and follow this!
You guys helped me change my perspective
Really enjoyed the levity between you two on this video.
they both have great hair
This list is fantastic, I have decluttered with it at least six times! 🎉 I hope to make it right one day. 😂 😅
THANK YOU!
I had a hoard in my car because my parents moved into a new house and I have to clear out my bedroom and I packed my car full of shit and moved it into my group home bedroom and my car still has residual stuff in it!! I did do a huge deciliter of all of my stuff because I had two bedrooms full, I had my room at my moms and a room at my dads and then I moved everything into my room at my moms and then I just got rid of 90% of stuff through out the past year and now I only own a trunk and quarter of a bedroom of stuff!! Yay!! Feels so good to just live lighter!!
I do all these things at least twice a year. Its amazing how much junk we hold onto. It's time for me to do another round, maybe today.
I'm so amazed by you guys, you embodies Beavis and Butthead perfectly,( only by laugh and appearance)... funny and now minimalists
Thanks for this video .
My biggest issue is to actually get rid of stuff, decluttering is fine, but selling is harder because it takes a lot of time
Yes, I have the same problem. Having no car means it's not easy for me to get stuff to the charity shops, etc. I have quite a pile of stuff near the front door right now that I want rid of ...but I need to find a way to get it where it needs to go. Throwing away trash is easy, but the stuff that somebody else can use isn't so easy.
"Return toys to the Toys Room"
Guys, you’ve just made my day.
I have a slight issue with my minimalist journey- five years ago I managed to declutter quite a lot and was living quite small but over the years I accumulated a lot more without realising it- still not tonnes but a lot more than I would like. My issue now is that I have also become very involved with the conservation/recycling side of things too- so just binning things is bringing me stress, im trying my best to sell where I can and recycling what I can but some items are just bound to end up in landfill and I dont know what to do here- any advice from someone so I can get past the guilt?
I greatly enjoyed a major de-cluttering event a few days back. My soon-to-be (ex) husband, who is so cheap he’s been living in our 27 yr olds house for the last 6 months. She at least put him in a cubby hole sized room with a small already stuffed closet. I de-cluttered the entire house by packing all of his clothing and personal property into his precious car. That fool will be riding around looking like a hoarder or homeless. That should do wonders for his ego.
I think a person can make great strides just getting rid of stuff they actually don't want. Instead of agonising over getting rid of things you want to keep for sentimental reasons, just start getting rid of the stuff you KNOW you don't want. The stuff you can't remember why you got it in the first place, have never used it, the circumstances for using it are long past, or you've always hated it, but good old Aunt Whatever gave it to you, etc....
I think that quite a few of us start by thinking about the stuff we don't want to get rid of, and getting into a bit of a fluster because we think we OUGHT to. Because it fails the 90 day test, or something like that.
I also think it's a good idea if the just-in-case pile is thought through. I mean, you're hoping you never have a fire, right ...but you still have a fire extinguisher in your kitchen? This kind of thing. Think about the consequences if you do need it and don't have it. So yes, keep the fire extinguisher, the torches and candles in case of a power cut, etc. Keep the super glue ...if something breaks and needs fixing, you've got it. You're hoping that doesn't happen, but if it does, it's nice to be able to fix it without having to run to the store ...to buy glue you're probably only going to use once ...right? I think you need to keep this kind of thing in perspective. But do you really need a cupboard full of old yogurt containers, neatly stacked? Or a bag full of pocket mirrors in case you break one? Or a shelf full of cleaning products you tried out, but found they didn't work all that well?
I also like to think in terms of size. Get rid of the biggest 'junk' first. 😛
The biggest tip that has helped me turn the clutter ship around? Stop. Buying. Stuff. Especially on impulse. And tell people you don't want any more 'stuff' for Christmas, birthdays, etc. A bouquet of flowers, a lunch or dinner date ...these are great presents. Another set of china mugs is NOT. Nor is a magazine subscription.
Gratidão. Obrigado.. Moro no Brasil e sei como é importamte colocar em ação o Minimalismo.
In New Zealand we pronounce vase, "vaahs" not "vays," no matter the size.
Love that 90/90 rule
You guys are a lot of fun.
The vase conversation was hilarious.....Ryan, "if you're being pretentious". ha ha ha
I have to drag out a 3-step step ladder to clean the top of my frig. I'm not very strong so it's a major task for me.
It's depressing thinking that most of what we donate or recycle ends up in the landfill. But, the money has already been spent and the stuff is already on the planet - whether it's stressing me out in my house or in the landfill.
Plastic packaging gets my vote for the most useless waste. It ends up in the oceans as plastic microfiber probably. We should use paper packaging much more. ❤
This was great! Very helpful
Making room for new stuff is NOT the way to go! Look at the film ”The True Cost”. To donate does not mean recykle but landfill most of the time!! So try to teach kids to use and then give to someone that would like it. A cousin or friends of the family with younger children. Organize something at scool/daycare where the kids can come with their stuff and then just give to someone that wants it. If no one does want it, that thing will probably end up in landfill! Give to a secondhand store for toys wher your kid then can pick up something from the same store new to her/him but not new stuff. See their old stuff on display in the store and then sold! 😊
Spectacular ❤ 8n some respects thhis lifestyle can also be axgieved through the same theory as, "Swedish Death Cleaning"
Careful on the expired items - wasting a couple items beats food poisoning which is what I got ignoring expiry dates
This is funny. Just yesterday I decided to clean my car and get rid of stuff. And today I see this video. Lol
I have to say that my bathroom is the only room that stays clean and uncluttered at all times, unlike the rest of my home. Weird
I started packing my thing right away😂
Nightstand junk drawers!🤣 So true!
Such great tips! Thank you : )
Bathroom step up: 1 Bar of soap for the body, one bar of soap/shampoo for the hair! No plastics!!!
My bus is used also for recycling! So I recycle the cans & bottles in y bus when it is very full! I get money for the bottles & cans too!
So it refills again & again!
I’m determined to use all the bubble baths and lotions etc from Xmas before I buy anymore
I haven’t gone through my precious photos in 90 days. I am not tossing anything. I have my dead sister’s artwork, and it may be more than three months until I look at her artwork. I am not tossing these precious things.
I learned the 'flat surfaces' lesson when I had a wife. I would clean a space so there was a balance between stuff and space and she would go behind me and 'claim' any flat surface by putting her stuff there. It was a joke of mine that if I cleared an flat surface she would clutter it. Notice I said 'had' a wife.
I get stuck because I can t get things out of my house . I’m disabled, so I can’t carry heavy things to my car and to the donation centers. I wish there was someone who could come an d pick all this stuff for me
I decluttered my car so much that it no longer has a radio or speakers.
Good podcast! Helpful. What happened to the studio? Havent seen you in a little and the paintings are gone?
Flat surfaces...oy! I think, of all of the flat surfaces in my home, there's only one that's clear (the ottoman in the living room). Every other flat surface in our house has crap on it...well the Entertainment Center in the Family Room isn't too bad because I've been cleaning that off...
Entertainment Centers do exist. Kind of became obsolete when CRT TVs became obsolete. Donation places won't take them. Don't really want to cut it up and throw it out, but that's becoming my only option.
About laundry space...I haven't rented since 1985, but I/we got sick and tired of cleaning up after others who shared the laundry space/machines. Wasn't a real fan of doing our laundry in other people's filth.
Repurposed mine for sewing stuff
OMG we have a credenza for our entertainment center and plants. 🤣🤣
I’m trying to ditch all my flat spaces that didn’t come with the apt. I’ve worked on decluttering for…at least 5 years. It’s a whole evolution. Before it would stay “clean” HOWEVER….I’d bring home more stuff. Now…..I have that….throw away (donate) as much as possible desire. I’m keeping a “permanent library” at home of Stephen king and Joe hill books; because I’ll read them over and over. Rest of the books I want to read….library.
You, The Ramsey’s, Minimal Mom, FlyLady, Angela Brown, and the Minimalists, Clean My Space, et Al. The people I hope to meet in Heaven!
Are you two coming to Glendale or Phoenix, Arizona? I do paperless billing nowadays.
Toy room, next to the war room. 😄
I think you guys have degrees in psychology or people-cology! I love your podcasts not just for minimalism but all the great inner help.