I'm a mother of two, work full time and working on my masters degree part-time. Decluttering lowers my stress levels and I get better grades. So I declutter before each semester.
I like to play the game “backwards”. 🙂 On the first day I declutter 30 things, on the second day 29, and so on. I like it better that way. At the beginning you are motivated and it's easier to declutter more, and at the end the number of things to declutter decreases. Perfect! ✨ One question I like to ask myself is: if I were moving house and had the opportunity of leaving everything in my old apartment, if for some reason I no longer needed or wanted it, which things would be worth packing into boxes and taking with me? Another good question is: If my house burned down and I had the opportunity to buy everything I owned again, assuming I had the money to do so, which of my lost items would be worth buying again?
Agreed!! Getting rid of more and more things every day feels way harder to me. Oooo love the "if your house burned down question". I'm going to borrow that one for next time!
What I found that works for me is to watch decluttering videos 😂. Midway in the videos I jump up & declutter a bit, take a break by going back to the video & doing it all over again. I don't get caught up in trying sell anything or limiting the # of what I get rid of. It's strictly trash, recycle, donate, and on the rare occasion take a picture of it for my memories or to ask family if they needed it 😊. If not, out with the donations 😊.
Something that really helps me to not get overwhelmed when I’m decluttering is that I don’t worry about how I’ll get rid of it until the end. During the 30 days just pile or box up everything. Once you are done decluttering then go back through everything and categorize everything between donate, sell, give, trash, etc.
Hmm… that’s a winner idea! When I moved from a larger home to a small apartment I didn’t have time to think clearly. I left things behind I regret and brought boxes of stuff still sitting there. Ive made many attempts but run out of steam before I finish. But hope springs eternal!
It depends for me how much comes in. Sometimes a lot goes out because I am going trough a fase or things just break and need replaced so then I try to get rid of it right away. Lets say a clothing thing doesnt work for me I try to get rid of it as fast as possible.
Try the 1 in 1 out rule. Or if you are adventurous make it 1 in 2 out😂 an other idea is the container concept. Like I have a wooden crate to store my books. It contains them. If I want to get one new book then I need to get rid of one.
@@bullboy How to declutter fast! The only decluttering rule I live by-the only one that works for me anyway-is to instantly put all of your items into a 'get-rid' pile, such as your clothes, jewelry, home accessories, et cetra, with an adamant mindset that you are about to rid of them all, only, you retrieve the items from the pile that you absolutely need or truly want to keep. This technique has helped me to sell or donate my things in great abundance than if I just spooled through my wardrobe and picked out only a couple of items. Another way to rid of your possessions is to look at an item and ask yourself, "If this were displayed in a store today, would I purchase it?" If the answer is no, get rid of it. I hope this helps!
While I was watching this video, I went into my Apple Settings and realized I was indeed paying for WAY too many apps that I no longer use. Thank you for the reminder, I'm going to treat myself to a coffee as a self-thank you :)
Cluttered space = cluttered mind is really a thing for me. After living in our home for 23 years we’ve accumulated a lot. As I’m older now and my health is not great I feel completely overwhelmed. I’ve been on a minimalism journey for a while but at a snail’s pace. When I feel okay I try and attack a drawer or a closet but there’s just so much stuff. If it was up to me most of our things would be gone but as I share our home with my husband and grown son it’s not possible. We’ve also bought a home to downsize to so I don’t want to take all this stuff to the new house. Wish me luck as my family promised to help me in our basement today. I’m so excited.😂😂😂
I hope it’s going well! I recently downsized for a move and it was crazy how much we found we needed to let go of - and now in our new home, after living with the old one staged for viewings, we are discovering that there’s still much too much stuff remaining! It’s tough letting go of things, but the feeling of mental clarity as we live in these emptier, clearer spaces that are more curated to where we are at in life *now*, as opposed to clinging onto who we were when we got those things, has been a wonderful relief. Doing it under a time crunch is hard, but doing it slowly means it can get put off forever! It’s definitely been a struggle for me, so I hope your journey, and your family’s journey, is a fulfilling and productive one!
Debbie, hang in there and don't give up. We moved from a 3 bedroom house with a 400sq ft studio in the back yard to a 2 bedroom apartment. Total chaos. I couldn't get things in order before moving so we moved a ton of crap we didn't need. I have major depression and it makes decluttering hard. It took me three years to declutter entirely. I had to make multiple passes over the same categories. My eldest son lives with me, so like you, I couldn't get rid of all i really wanted to, but he is getting ready to move out so that will be happening soonish. A little at a time adds up to big results down the road so don't get too frustrated if you're filling boxes slowly. In the end I took 17 carloads of stuff to Goodwill, 6 loads to a women's shelter, over 180+ online sales. There was also stuff that just had to be trashed too. So in the end the results were good, but it took forever to get there. Track how much you let go of. It'll help you see progress as you go. Good luck with your decluttering. I wish you the best in the new house. =)
@@lordfreerealestate8302 We are by no means rich, not even middle class, and we've given away vehicles. Just so we didn't have to deal with all the steps that it would require to sell them. Working cars. Not junkers on the lawn😂. Sometimes you have to know your limit and that money isn't always worth it. And blessing others is always it's own reward.
@@Katy_living_simply What perfect timing for me to read this message. I have a lot of high quality, good brand items that I simply don't want to spend time photographing and shipping. After some medical bills, I could definitely use the money. But the couple hundred or thousands won't make a dent in the bills, and will just cause me more stress. Thank you for helping strengthen my choice!
I recently got rid of everything I own that wouldn't fit in the back of my prius and moved cross country. It was very stressful at the time, but now I'm very relieved at how little I own.
Having struggled to let go of items I was essentially hoarding, because I wasn't using them, as much as I loved them, I decided someone should get to enjoy them, instead of it taking up valuable space in my home. When I need something, it'll find me. I met a lovely lady just before I went into the charity shop, who said the pink blazer I was holding was stunning. I asked if she'd like it before the charity shop put a tag on it and she was overjoyed. Genuinely beaming 🤩 It fit like it was tailored just for her 💕
Funny I have a similar story but with a oversized clothes steamer. As I was just about to enter the charity shop, a women asked if she could have it. Of course I said why not & gave it to her. It gave me the comfort of knowing it had a second life with someone else who needed it 😊. Recently I've left stuff in front of my house with a "free" sign. Wouldn't you know it, it was gone when I went back. Happy it went to someone who wanted it & could use it rather than the landfill.
Around 8 months ago when you put this video up, I did the exact same things you did. I realized how much stuff I had around me and how I thought they made me feel happy. Getting rid of the things I never used left everything behind except what I actually need or use. Knowing the exact place where all your stuff is and having only what you need is like an addictive feeling
I am in the process of decluttering , I am planning to do it in 14 months since I signed my lease for that period; I think if you die nobody will care about your stuff and it is going to end in the garbage or donation ; This way of thinking makes me detach myself from things
Thank you for that and I kinda feel that way. Sometimes I get emotionally attached to stuff that was gifted to me or something like that, but I haven’t used in almost 5years at this point, or even talked about it. I’m sure they can go. Ill try posting it for sale online a few things though
@@jessochieng Kind of true yes... I was fan of Notion around 2020 but then I understood that using it is mostly waste of my time which I could use to do actual things
I've lived in the place I'm at now for over a decade, and I'm basically a hoarder, and I've finally hit the point where I need to do a deep declutter. Given winter here usually saps my energy, I decided to use winter as my digital declutter time, so it was nice to see you address this in this video.
I started at the back and worked my way forward. I inherited a lot of stuff from my Mom and Grandma, and most of it is beautiful pottery and art and books, so I do not want to get rid of a lot of it, but I have little room for all of it and I still have all my own stuff. So my method is to ask myself am I keeping this from guilt? or do I truly love it and can find a place for it? I will never be a minimalist, but at least I can truly love everything I bring through life with me.
I recently heard the advice that our loved ones would want their belongings that stay with us to enrich our lives, not to bog us down - so that may help you with some of the guilt; if it’s not serving you or their memory favourably, it may be time to let it go, and perhaps enrich someone else’s life in a new way! Keep what serves you, and what you’re not sure you’re ready to part with, but having a “container method” may help you too - that you can keep as much of their stuff that you love and value, as long as it fits in the prescribed container. That might be a box, a bookcase, a bookshelf, etc. But if it’s too much to fit, then the container is full and you can give yourself permission to pare it down! Whatever you do, I’m wishing you success and comfort in your choices! You can photograph the things you let go of, and remember them that way, and if you decide you’d like to revisit any, say, of the books at a later date, you’ll have a record of what books they were. It might not be the exact same copy, but the lessons within should remain intact! Good luck!
As someone who has difficulty getting rid of stuff I have found that works for me is to get rid of 5 or 10 items for one month. Even just one or two items a month if I don't feel like it. At the end of the year or every 6 month you have actually decluttered quite much and it is better than nothing. You don't have to declutter everything at once, just a couple of items every month. It makes decluttering less stressful and overwhelming.
Decluttering has become easier and easier for me. I've learned a lot about myself. Your tips are also helpful. One just needs to start, and it snowballs, I'm optimistic about this new journey❤
Hi! I’ve been decluttering for a month… so to not get too overwhelmed I take breaks for a few days and rest. I have found places to unload my stuff. A consignment shop for my clothes. She will donate them if they don’t sell so that’s a relief. My stuff like kitchen stuff, knick knacks pictures etc, or good junk to Goodwill, or a Veteran’s Home or Woman’s Shelter. Lastly I’ve thrown stuff out. My kids don’t want my stuff so it’s going bye bye 😂 My hubby and I are in our 70’s and our house is too big so it’s actually 40 years of stuff! I loved watching you and your energy!! I’m definitely going to go thru all my stuff twice. Plus I’m definitely going to keep watching and following you for more tips ❤️
this video came at a perfect time for me! i'm moving next month and have been putting off packing because i desperately need to declutter my life and make sure i'm intentional with the things i'm bringing into my new home. amazing job getting through this challenge even when it got really tough, and thank you for the great tips!
I just found out your channel today, your videos are sooo relatable. Right now I'm on the process of downsizing my stuff. Yesterday I started decluttering my wardrobe.
I’ve been a minimalist before I ever knew it had a name! What I’ve learned is that when you’re feeling overwhelmed and genuinely not wanting to do anything….don’t. Sitting in your emotions for a day, deep breathing, meditating, or doing whatever you need to do to get back to the goal is necessary. It happens to all of us and you’re not alone 🖤🩶🤎
This is informative. I have once started minimalism in 2018 where I slowly reduce my things. In the end of the same year I was forced to reduce my things to less than half (i can't be bothered moving things i don't use, as a reason). In 2020, I applied to study abroad and got accepted. I was glad that time that I have started minimalism to reduce the stress of packing my things. I left for abroad with only 23 kgs of luggage (8kgs which is tech equipments).
I love how you started to change your content a little bit. Actually happy to know you from your WFH diarys. But I love how we start to see your life more and I love that diversity 🙌🏻 keep doing what you're doing
I did the mins game twice and each time in linear order. I‘ll definitely will do it in random order next time. So when I have more time or energy I can do more or if I‘m in a rush I can do a lower number. Good idea.
We're moving soon so I might try the challenge. I think I'll do it backwards because it seems easier to start strong and get rid of more small, cluttery things at first, then be really thoughtful on the last few days and get rid of bigger things like old furniture. Thank you for a motivating video! Your tracker was so clean-looking and nicely designed.
I really love the idea of splitting the decluttering into categories, it is really helpful as I am currently decluttering and I also noticed so many things I never even used. Another thing I personally am inspired by is keeping things I will use for traveling as it helps get into the headspace of letting go of things no longer needed. P.S: I literally love your tattoos
I played the minimalist game last April, managed over 465 items. Since then I have started the monthly challenge every month, but not with the intention of actually doing the whole month, just to keep the momentum going. In 2023, I managed 1246 items, I live in the UK and honestly own far less than the average American. My house is still cluttered having bought up two children and lived in the same house for 31 years. I had a poor start to this year's total due to the loss of someone and a major planned op in April, but have still managed 475 items. Eight weeks post op and my husband has retired and we are going to hit the de-cluttering together ... The weather here is pants, ie very cold and wet, so on these days we are going to blitz a room at a time. I know Marie Kondo does clothes first, then books, paper, kimono (miscellaneous) and then sentimental items, but once you have done one pass around, your decluttering muscles get stronger and you can declutter more and more without worrying about the need to do things in the same order. You are simply refining the technique and I don't think anyone can declutter a lifetime in a week! I didn't miss any of the items I got rid of. If you have a day where you seem to be overwhelmed take the day off and you can always catch up ... also when you begin it is easy to declutter one item on day 1, so if you have plenty of time on day 1, do more than one day. Last April I got to day 12 on the first day, being a Maths nerd, you can work out the number of items you have decluttered using the formula n(n+1)/2 so on day 12(12+1)/2 is 12 x 13 = 156 divided by two = 78 items, I preferred to see the results in numbers, keeping a tally using the formulae. I made no chart or plan, just looked at a draw or cupboard that was cluttered, ie duplicate cooking utensils, mixing bowls too heavy for me to use, ie large china ones and got rid of them. My kitchen is so tidy it is the envy of all my friends. and with few less equipment, I cook meals even more efficiently, as I can find everything in a flash. If you have a hobby you used to do, but it no longer interests you, get rid of the craft stuff or sports gear ... You can also play the game in reverse, so that when you start to run out of things you think you want to get rid of you are decluttering smaller numbers of items. Donate to women's shelters, dog shelters, charity shops (you call them thrift shops), also remember schools, youth groups, community groups, etc ... there are so many places you can give things away to. You will feel amazing and doing something really worthwhile if you can pass the things on to be used by people less fortunate than yourself etc. I am hoping to do the same this year, after a somewhat difficult six months, but no matter how many I do finally pass on, I will feel so much better for it. Hope my thoughts help anyone out there planning to declutter and if an oldie like me can do it then anyone can!
Yeah, I like your approach - I'd declutter as many things as I can find the first day and go from there doing the same thing, then when it gets harder, the single digit choices are easier than having to find 30! And you are right about decluttering getting easier the more you do it. I have been working on downsizing to about 90% over the past 5 years. I was able to move overseas with suitcases (granted it was a lot of trips).
I'm currently wrapping up my first attempt at this challenge (which I meant to start with the new year and then talked myself out of a few times in panic 😅), and it's been going pretty well! Some adjustments that I had to make: -Going in linear order works best for my brain, but I always have a tote bag or box in the corner of my room where I can toss stuff as I go about my day or if I declutter a big category that would put me over the number of the day, then I pull from there if I am struggling to reach the number of items or I'm really busy -I'm not pressuring myself to do a big spring clean right now, but it's mostly because one of my roommates is moving next month and we're going to rearrange the apt so I'm going to have an office space outside of my bedroom, so I'm telling myself it's about making that process easier and the heavy duty cleaning and organizing can wait -Doing multiple passes through a category or whatever really is necessary because it becomes so much easier to let things go when I've had time to sit with it -But in addition to that, I also try to consider if there are ways I can repurpose any items or simply improve my storage so I don't find myself in a position or buying the same thing later down the road and having to deal with it all over again -I have a little notebook that I've designated for this challenge and I write down every single item I'm decluttering so I don't forget what I've done and I can remind myself of why I've let something go -I think part of the original challenge is to clear the stuff out of the house/space immediately like every day, but that feels like an overwhelming amount of work to me and would discourage me from continuing, but I have blocked out some time every week on my calendar so can do a trash or donate drop
10:14 thank you for being honest about that! This is probably the second most daunting task that stresses me out throughout the whole process. There's days when I want to set everything ablaze and other days I struggle over parting with a single item. It's a journey for sure. The advice on the photos is great!
I like 🤩 your idea of jumping around!! I get the idea of easy to hard but doing it this way, I found friction for different reasons, ie: some days I feel more motivated than others or I have more or less time, etc. I am going to try it this way. I am going to still do it as a game to keep me motivated but with slight different rules. Thanks!
It doesn't look like you have loads of stuff to start with so you are doing really well to get rid of more. I have stuff everywhere, all storage is full as well!
Hey Angel, I saw this video on UA-cam Creators discord server, really love this video! You did a great job decluttering even though it was stressful for you. I need to do another one since it's been a couple years since the last one. Thanks for sharing this experience Angel!
Great that you found something that works - that is usually the most important way. :) For me personally, working by numbers or percentages don't really work. Then I either have more I want to toss, that I am not 'allowed' to, or not getting rid of enough, because I reached the limit. So I found my own method: 1) Pick a room, pick a cupboard/dresser, pick a shelf/drawer, and start there. 2) Take everything out. Purge everything that is an obvious 'hell no', and with the remaining items, consider if it brings me joy. 3) Make it pretty - clean the shelf/drawer, and arrange things in a way that brings you joy to open. 4) Consider if you need to get something to improve accessibility - for example some better sized boxes. 5) Continue this clockwise around the room, and see the order 'spread' This is a very easy method, because you can do one or two shelves/drawers a day, and the progress is very visible in a short amount of time, but without the effort being super overwhelming. For me, the 'joy' question helps me tune into what I truly love, and helps me figure out what I truly value, and be more conscious around future shopping. And seeing drawers and shelves as something that needs to be functional - not just a storage place - also helps. That things need to be easy to take out, and easy to put back. For me personally, making it 'pretty' is what keeps my motivation high. It makes me want to keep it that way, and take pride in my space, rather than just 'residing' there. :)
What you said about skipping around really connected with me along with another tip I heard before about "gamifying" the living experience and the two things will help me through my life a lot.
Hi Angel, I really liked this video. Thank you for the tips you gave on things that were challenging for you while you decluterred your environment. It is something that I want to do but since I have always been unsuccessful at decluttering in the past. This motivates me to try once more.
I'm also moving to a foreign country for work and my minimalist lifestyle is seriously the only way I could do it. The last three times I flew out to Thailand I only took a backpack. This last trip I was gone for 4 months and arrived with a backpack, but left with a large suitcase since I had to buy clothes and stuff there for school. Now that I'm heading back in a few months to live there permanently I am going to try to declutter even more since I can only bring one suitcase and one back pack on the plane. Your video was great and I hope you have success in your move.
thank u :) i’ve been in this exact position, country and all, deeply, for extensive months (just the season) i was hoping to find a video instead of making my own. grateful you have the strength i need :*;):’) congrats angel.
Ive done the mins game 2 or 3 times, and UA-cam is a great accountability buddy. I never planned or forced declutter sessions in any particular category. I just kept an eye out and made a pile throughout the day and then decluttered areas that were annoying me to "finish up the day" in the afternoon or evening. Then I'd lay out the stuff on the freezer to record and then sift out the donations and trash to get ready for the next day. If I had finished a shelf or category and had extra items, they went to the prep area for the next day. And since I typically chose January I wound up at 498 so I would typically be pushing just a bit harder to hit 500 by the last day.
I'd love more suggestions on how you did the digital declutter!!! That's where I REALLY need some help and encouragement (and more knowledge of where to even begin!!) Thanks!
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We are planning on moving across the country in a year or 2 and we have a ton of stuff! So much it would cost $7000-$9000 to move it all. I have began asking myself “would I bring this in the move?” If not declutter 😊 also not bringing things that are cheap/easily replaceable.
For me i dont let the declutter pile get more than a bag full before dropping at the donation because having things like sitting around gives me nervous intense energy. And i too skip around days and i bank days too sometimes so it i got rid of 45 things ill cross off 30 and 15 so if i skip tomorrow ill still be on track
Whoa I never heard of this challenge it’s genius!! I get over whelmed and disappointed if I don’t get rid of enough stuff in one sitting. I will def try 🤩🤯🙏🏽
I just moved to a smaller house this week. I had been getting rid of things for six months to prepare and thought I'd done a good job. Now I look around at a mountain of bags and boxes and realize that I have a very long way to go! It's daunting, but this video motivated me to get up and get started. Again. 🙄
Mother of 5 kids. Recently started sorting 15 years of kids accumulated stuff. Found out old toys sell high now as collector items on eBay. Sell it- make some money back and Declutter the stress❤️❤️
at the 11 minute marker is where i get to most of the time. my husband says i don't have to declutter. only excessive thing are plants; they take over outside ehehhehe. truly love plants. love the feeling of jungle in the city. i do want less things though. many things i have already parted with. things i have are last things until replaced.
When I was condescending down and declutterring, I just threw out OR DONATED, what I didn’t want. There was no rule on how much I could/can get rid of per day per category. I think that would help hoarders or beginners, not regular ppl that don’t mind getting rid of things. 😂
- give things away to friends, family or thrift stores - keep a box by the back door all the time ready to hold items that need to go, then schedule the donation or giveaway asap - if you bring a new item into your home, consider getting rid of one or two things
I think it is more satisfying and productive to identify 30 decluttering projects to do in 30 days vs intentionally decluttering only a few items. I don’t think I would stay motivated with seeing just 1 or 2 items go. I’ve moved internationally +5 times and it gets to a point where you just gotta declutter what you gotta declutter to get it in the boxes!
Thank you for this video! I like your methods, and this is super helpful and realistic!! I keep feeling such a weight of having too much stuff, but then really struggle to figure out what to get rid of and/or how to organize what I want to keep.
As a person who doesn’t stay consistent I would probably just do the most I can the days that I can and even skip days if I forget them or am not in the mood for them. I totally freeze if I have to have a certain marker so I would probably just do what I can each day out of a total of /465 and then add them slowly like today I got rid of 47 items out of 465 and the next day I got rid of 5 items and the next day maybe 14 so after those days I would have 66 of 465. And if you not meet 465 at the end it’s okay even getting rid of 200 items!!! Hope this helps some people. I’ll try to be doing this myself too. ♥️
I always wanted to do this. Then we moved for the third time in 4 years. That made me look into decluttering, Swedish Death Cleaning and minimalism. If only I lived alone, this wouldn't be as hard.
Having to make so many decisions while decluttering can cause genuine stress and decision fatigue. Dana K White, has a great method called 'no mess decluttering'. It's a very different take on decluttering and can be great for people who find the process overwhelming, either due to time constraints, amount of stuff, or difficulties with letting stuff go. I agree about a second pass - I've been decluttering for the last week and went back to my craft cupboard 4 times! Because in between the decluttering days, I was still struggling to get to the items I needed, so clearly I still had way too much 🙂 Well done for sticking with it, especially on the digital side - always a nightmare.
I just stumbled across your page and I love your content - I can not explain why, it feels good to watch and listen to it and inspired me to do the same. Just refreshing and beautifully told and shot
Love the idea of playing the decluttering game but jumping around the numbers, I haven’t thought of that before! Makes it feel less overwhelming to not have to stick to an order… almost like a decluttering Yachtzee!
00:00 ☕ The speaker embarked on a 30-day decluttering challenge to simplify their life, from physical spaces to digital clutter. 02:47 📝 Tips for effectively decluttering include creating a personalized tracker, organizing by categories or spaces, and not following a strict linear order. 04:32 🤔 Strategies for deciding what to keep or discard include assessing sentimental value, considering relocation, and questioning usage frequency. 06:58 🖥️ Digital decluttering involved sorting through files, unsubscribing from newsletters, and creating organization systems to streamline workflows. 10:36 🌟 Reflections on the challenge reveal insights into what truly brings value and clarity to life, beyond just physical decluttering.
When you are overwhelmed with it, get the stuff OUT of your space- take that bunch of donations and leave it somewhere today. That will help with the motivation when you see the space cleared!
I don’t do large declutters, like playing the games. I just go little by little every day. But a few tips that help me are keeping (or not keeping) visual queues. So on my closet door, I have post it’s with my closet questions. Does this fit, do I love it, when was the last time I wore it? Also I know you’re filming a video, but as soon as I decide to get rid of something I move it out of my space immediately. I keep a box or bag by the door and as soon as it’s full I get it out, donate or throw away, etc..
Thanks for the insight! Currently renting a studio bedroom as I decided to lease my 5 bedrooms house years ago and I also moved out from my own master bedroom as I am only paid 1/4 for the studio from the money I am getting from renting my master bedroom plus the tenants also would like to rent the garage too so I need to get rid most of the stuffs as I can't move freely in this studio! Also, realizing that I've never touching most of these items for the past years.
This felt so great to watch ☺️!! I’ve felt the urge to declutter, or at least do the one in one out method when I buy something new . Also your couch area/ dining space is so cute 💗Can you share where you got the items from please
best decluttering tip I learn is to get rid of my physical books, and just get a kindle saves up space and I can bring it anywhere! also reading the Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up by marie kondo was life changing for me.
Recently cleared my childhood home, I did it all on my own and it took me 6 months. The amount of stuff was horrifying, the stuff I kept was literally furniture, some clothes, photos and meaningful ornaments and that’s it.
I love your idea of not being linear in the 30 day challenge. It has not at all worked for to be linear. Because day 1 is when im most motivated and have the mental energy to do more. So if I only take out 1 thing and then im forced to wait till the next day for 2 things, it's frustrating. I have never made it past 4 days. I tried to do 10 items a day instead but sometimes i have more sometimes i have less. I love how you do it. I'll try it immediately
one thing I always ask myself, as morbid as it is, is "would I be sad if this was lost in a fire?" if the answer is yes, I usually keep it at least for a little while, or find a way to back it up for safe keeping in the off chance that happened (eg photographing old art and cards so even if the physical version is lost I have a failsafe, or seeing if my favourite books are available as ebooks or readily available at the library). a lot of my clothes and abandoned hobby items have not made the cut, and I'm so glad they're out of my space now!
I didn’t do a challenge or anything but I got rid of a bunch of junk I bought online and suddenly I didn’t have any problems with storage space. I have good bookshelves where the shelves were full and cluttered in my eyes, the same goes for my desk drawers. It sucks when you think about the money you spent, but I chose to see it as a lesson learned. Don’t buy things cheap and spend on proper supplies. I enjoy making art so cheap art supplies aren’t always the best. Choosing a brand that I like and trust is better for me.
its really hard ... iam decluterring, decades, upon decades of accumulated stuff, things, knick knacks, sentimentals, warderobes, and whatnots, all in one go, and its ... time consuming, and mentally exhausting. transitioning from a vintage boho style to zen ambient is my path, and its not easy, and storage space is a life saver in my case, as many of the items, i can not dispose off, at all ...
I am currently in a moving process where i am decluttering my stuff. I first and foremost sell my items, but i have also been giving Tons of stuff away for free, even though i Could have gotten alot of money from selling it.. It sucks to just give it away when i actually Need the money. But, since i am moving and i am storing my items at a family member meanwhile i am looking for a new apartment i actually need to get rid of Alot. I take care of the items i have room for, but not just Any random item. Moving is stressfull..🤯😓 I'm no stranger to getting rid of things, as I've been doing this for several years now, on my journey towards minimalism. I know EXACTLY what it's like to feel overwhelmed and to want to get rid of EVERYTHING. That's when you should pack things away in boxes that you can't see through and put them away, to then get through each and every one of them one at a time. By doing so it wont be so overwhelming, since All the things will not be scattered everywhere.
When I went through a purge, I asked myself "If someone refunded me the full replacement cost for everything I own and I was starting again, would I buy this today?" That helped me confront the sunk cost fears directly. *Getting started with the loose stuff* - I used 15-minute sprints. Pick a category, grab a box, set a timer, and declutter for 15 minutes. No pulling things out or piling it all on the bed; just whatever's accessible. Repeat daily until satisfied. *Tackling boxes* - What overwhelmed me were boxes of things I had stored over the years. For these, I switched tactics slightly. I had room in my home office closet now, so I used that space to have the box I'm sorting plus one each for trash, recycling, donating, and keeping. Once daily I'd make a cup of tea, and then start sorting. When my tea was finished 5-15 minutes later, I was done for the day. Close the closet and repeat tomorrow. *Kitchen* - For the kitchen, I used the technique of packing up everything, and then only keeping it if I unpacked it. I ended up waiting 14 months to make sure I really didn't need something seasonal. After that, no peeking or second-guessing! Donate every box that remains. *About pacing* - I know common advice is to rush the whole project for fear of chasing your tail or losing motivation, but for me, that was not possible. Trying to do it in a rush made it feel way too overwhelming. I would compare myself with others and feel like a failure and quit. I needed to pick a sustainable pace that was a net gain every day, and then keep at it. As long as you're diligent about the things you bring in going forward, slow and steady works too... at least it did for me. Hope that helps someone!
I've always loved traveling light, and as I get older I want to apply this to my life too. I want to travel light through life. My kids won't need my stuff anyway.
Hi! I am a successfully recovered type A and have a suggestion if you're open to it. On the day that you were overwhelmed, that's the day to use the "1 item". It allows you to accomplish a goal set, without forcing your brain and body to submit when it's clearly telling you "no". One of the MOST important things I've learned is to directly ask my body a question. Example: "Do you want to do this today?" At first I didn't hear anything, now I will literally hear the word Yes or No, very clearly, and often before the sentence is even over. When you were in overwhelm, that was your body indicating very loudly that the answer was No. If you're anything like I was, your body is yelling because you aren't listening when it speaks. So, on that overwhelm day, ask yourself - "Hi body, do you want to do this?" You may hear a No. Then you pick up one EASY item, put it in the box, and celebrate that accomplishment (hey, you hit the brief!), close the door on decluttering for the day (actually though, no forcing yourself to do other chores because you don't feel good about 1 item. FULLY close the door and move one to other things with a smile. You listened to your body, that's amazing! You should be proud.) What this practice does is teach your body that you will listen to it. This will create more trust between your brain and body instead of always letting your logic brain run the show and beat your body into submission. There is less frustration, pain, and overwhelm when you repair that bond within yourself. I hope this comment helps other recovering type As :)
i tried this today (but asking my body “what do you want” instead of “do you want to do this”) after reading your comment and i’m mind blown. this is helping me so much with identifying my needs and standards and where to focus my energy, and how to get stuff done naturally and calmly. thank you 💫💫
@@angelsuspiriorum Thank you for following up!! It’s such a powerful tool. I’m so glad my comment could help! I wish you the best on your journey and am so happy for you! 😊
I get very overwhelmed with the amount of stuff my family has. Mostly because my husband is a horder. Not in a gross way, just in excess of stuff. My children are unfortunately following him. I am constantly trying to decrease the number of items and I never seem to be able to make progress. I donated 30 trash bags full of stuff this summer, and I am still feeling like we have too much.
I'm a mother of two, work full time and working on my masters degree part-time. Decluttering lowers my stress levels and I get better grades. So I declutter before each semester.
It really does help with stress! I felt so much lighter after
That’s amazing!!! can’t imagine masters with full time job let alone also kids. Just wanted to say kudos to u and wish u more success😊❤
@@zainahamed3982 Thank you!
Good idea to get rid of things as you go along
Wish you good luck with degree you are so brave
I like to play the game “backwards”. 🙂 On the first day I declutter 30 things, on the second day 29, and so on. I like it better that way. At the beginning you are motivated and it's easier to declutter more, and at the end the number of things to declutter decreases. Perfect! ✨
One question I like to ask myself is: if I were moving house and had the opportunity of leaving everything in my old apartment, if for some reason I no longer needed or wanted it, which things would be worth packing into boxes and taking with me?
Another good question is: If my house burned down and I had the opportunity to buy everything I owned again, assuming I had the money to do so, which of my lost items would be worth buying again?
Agreed!! Getting rid of more and more things every day feels way harder to me.
Oooo love the "if your house burned down question". I'm going to borrow that one for next time!
This makes it far more appealing. Well done.
Doing it backward is a great strategy. Thank you for sharing!!
Yes I've packed up 60 to 70 items for donation and trash just yesterday. Boxes in the car for donation tomorrow! ❤
@@lindaanderson4990 👏🏻✨❤
What I found that works for me is to watch decluttering videos 😂. Midway in the videos I jump up & declutter a bit, take a break by going back to the video & doing it all over again. I don't get caught up in trying sell anything or limiting the # of what I get rid of. It's strictly trash, recycle, donate, and on the rare occasion take a picture of it for my memories or to ask family if they needed it 😊. If not, out with the donations 😊.
I'm 74. I get rid of 20 items each day. Some recycling, some trash, some donations. Three of us are in a 2BR apartment near Chicago. Tina, Al's wife
Something that really helps me to not get overwhelmed when I’m decluttering is that I don’t worry about how I’ll get rid of it until the end. During the 30 days just pile or box up everything. Once you are done decluttering then go back through everything and categorize everything between donate, sell, give, trash, etc.
Hmm… that’s a winner idea! When I moved from a larger home to a small apartment I didn’t have time to think clearly.
I left things behind I regret and brought boxes of stuff still sitting there. Ive made many attempts but run out of steam before I finish. But hope springs eternal!
I'm in a constant state of declutter, It's a never-ending saga, it would seem.
Honestly I feel the same
Might be worth trying a no buy or low buy challenge.
It depends for me how much comes in. Sometimes a lot goes out because I am going trough a fase or things just break and need replaced so then I try to get rid of it right away. Lets say a clothing thing doesnt work for me I try to get rid of it as fast as possible.
Try the 1 in 1 out rule. Or if you are adventurous make it 1 in 2 out😂 an other idea is the container concept. Like I have a wooden crate to store my books. It contains them. If I want to get one new book then I need to get rid of one.
@@bullboy How to declutter fast!
The only decluttering rule I live by-the only one that works for me anyway-is to instantly put all of your items into a 'get-rid' pile, such as your clothes, jewelry, home accessories, et cetra, with an adamant mindset that you are about to rid of them all, only, you retrieve the items from the pile that you absolutely need or truly want to keep. This technique has helped me to sell or donate my things in great abundance than if I just spooled through my wardrobe and picked out only a couple of items.
Another way to rid of your possessions is to look at an item and ask yourself, "If this were displayed in a store today, would I purchase it?" If the answer is no, get rid of it.
I hope this helps!
While I was watching this video, I went into my Apple Settings and realized I was indeed paying for WAY too many apps that I no longer use. Thank you for the reminder, I'm going to treat myself to a coffee as a self-thank you :)
Love it. You deserve that coffee
Cluttered space = cluttered mind is really a thing for me. After living in our home for 23 years we’ve accumulated a lot. As I’m older now and my health is not great I feel completely overwhelmed. I’ve been on a minimalism journey for a while but at a snail’s pace. When I feel okay I try and attack a drawer or a closet but there’s just so much stuff. If it was up to me most of our things would be gone but as I share our home with my husband and grown son it’s not possible. We’ve also bought a home to downsize to so I don’t want to take all this stuff to the new house. Wish me luck as my family promised to help me in our basement today. I’m so excited.😂😂😂
🎉❤
I hope it’s going well! I recently downsized for a move and it was crazy how much we found we needed to let go of - and now in our new home, after living with the old one staged for viewings, we are discovering that there’s still much too much stuff remaining! It’s tough letting go of things, but the feeling of mental clarity as we live in these emptier, clearer spaces that are more curated to where we are at in life *now*, as opposed to clinging onto who we were when we got those things, has been a wonderful relief. Doing it under a time crunch is hard, but doing it slowly means it can get put off forever! It’s definitely been a struggle for me, so I hope your journey, and your family’s journey, is a fulfilling and productive one!
Debbie, hang in there and don't give up. We moved from a 3 bedroom house with a 400sq ft studio in the back yard to a 2 bedroom apartment. Total chaos. I couldn't get things in order before moving so we moved a ton of crap we didn't need. I have major depression and it makes decluttering hard. It took me three years to declutter entirely. I had to make multiple passes over the same categories. My eldest son lives with me, so like you, I couldn't get rid of all i really wanted to, but he is getting ready to move out so that will be happening soonish. A little at a time adds up to big results down the road so don't get too frustrated if you're filling boxes slowly. In the end I took 17 carloads of stuff to Goodwill, 6 loads to a women's shelter, over 180+ online sales. There was also stuff that just had to be trashed too. So in the end the results were good, but it took forever to get there. Track how much you let go of. It'll help you see progress as you go. Good luck with your decluttering. I wish you the best in the new house. =)
Sell if you need the money. Donate if you need yout sanity.❤
Oh that's such a good rule! Selling stresses me out!
It may also depend on the value of the item(s). I donate the stuff that won't sell for much, if it's not worth the hassle.
@@lordfreerealestate8302 We are by no means rich, not even middle class, and we've given away vehicles. Just so we didn't have to deal with all the steps that it would require to sell them. Working cars. Not junkers on the lawn😂. Sometimes you have to know your limit and that money isn't always worth it. And blessing others is always it's own reward.
😮 wow I needed to hear this
@@Katy_living_simply What perfect timing for me to read this message. I have a lot of high quality, good brand items that I simply don't want to spend time photographing and shipping. After some medical bills, I could definitely use the money. But the couple hundred or thousands won't make a dent in the bills, and will just cause me more stress. Thank you for helping strengthen my choice!
I recently got rid of everything I own that wouldn't fit in the back of my prius and moved cross country. It was very stressful at the time, but now I'm very relieved at how little I own.
Having struggled to let go of items I was essentially hoarding, because I wasn't using them, as much as I loved them, I decided someone should get to enjoy them, instead of it taking up valuable space in my home. When I need something, it'll find me. I met a lovely lady just before I went into the charity shop, who said the pink blazer I was holding was stunning. I asked if she'd like it before the charity shop put a tag on it and she was overjoyed. Genuinely beaming 🤩 It fit like it was tailored just for her 💕
Funny I have a similar story but with a oversized clothes steamer. As I was just about to enter the charity shop, a women asked if she could have it. Of course I said why not & gave it to her. It gave me the comfort of knowing it had a second life with someone else who needed it 😊. Recently I've left stuff in front of my house with a "free" sign. Wouldn't you know it, it was gone when I went back. Happy it went to someone who wanted it & could use it rather than the landfill.
Around 8 months ago when you put this video up, I did the exact same things you did. I realized how much stuff I had around me and how I thought they made me feel happy. Getting rid of the things I never used left everything behind except what I actually need or use. Knowing the exact place where all your stuff is and having only what you need is like an addictive feeling
"I just wanna get rid of everything." so relate. decluttering gets so frustrating & overwhelming most of the time
I am in the process of decluttering , I am planning to do it in 14 months since I signed my lease for that period; I think if you die nobody will care about your stuff and it is going to end in the garbage or donation ; This way of thinking makes me detach myself from things
Thank you for that and I kinda feel that way. Sometimes I get emotionally attached to stuff that was gifted to me or something like that, but I haven’t used in almost 5years at this point, or even talked about it. I’m sure they can go. Ill try posting it for sale online a few things though
Read the Swedish death cleaning book. It talks about how to handle this!
Best tip that I can give is forget Notion (Which every youtube try to sell us) and use that time to do the actual decluttering.
Yes, use a calendar
Notion is great, it depends on what you are doing with your life/ career. Most people totally don't need it
@@jessochieng Kind of true yes... I was fan of Notion around 2020 but then I understood that using it is mostly waste of my time which I could use to do actual things
I've lived in the place I'm at now for over a decade, and I'm basically a hoarder, and I've finally hit the point where I need to do a deep declutter. Given winter here usually saps my energy, I decided to use winter as my digital declutter time, so it was nice to see you address this in this video.
I started at the back and worked my way forward. I inherited a lot of stuff from my Mom and Grandma, and most of it is beautiful pottery and art and books, so I do not want to get rid of a lot of it, but I have little room for all of it and I still have all my own stuff. So my method is to ask myself am I keeping this from guilt? or do I truly love it and can find a place for it? I will never be a minimalist, but at least I can truly love everything I bring through life with me.
Ooof. The guilt aspect is huge. I have a lot of stuff I carry with me purely for sentimental / guilt reasons as well. Thanks for sharing that!
I recently heard the advice that our loved ones would want their belongings that stay with us to enrich our lives, not to bog us down - so that may help you with some of the guilt; if it’s not serving you or their memory favourably, it may be time to let it go, and perhaps enrich someone else’s life in a new way! Keep what serves you, and what you’re not sure you’re ready to part with, but having a “container method” may help you too - that you can keep as much of their stuff that you love and value, as long as it fits in the prescribed container. That might be a box, a bookcase, a bookshelf, etc. But if it’s too much to fit, then the container is full and you can give yourself permission to pare it down!
Whatever you do, I’m wishing you success and comfort in your choices! You can photograph the things you let go of, and remember them that way, and if you decide you’d like to revisit any, say, of the books at a later date, you’ll have a record of what books they were. It might not be the exact same copy, but the lessons within should remain intact! Good luck!
As someone who has difficulty getting rid of stuff I have found that works for me is to get rid of 5 or 10 items for one month. Even just one or two items a month if I don't feel like it. At the end of the year or every 6 month you have actually decluttered quite much and it is better than nothing. You don't have to declutter everything at once, just a couple of items every month. It makes decluttering less stressful and overwhelming.
Decluttering has become easier and easier for me. I've learned a lot about myself. Your tips are also helpful. One just needs to start, and it snowballs, I'm optimistic about this new journey❤
I love the idea of skipping around with the number of things to declutter! thanks
Hi! I’ve been decluttering for a month… so to not get too overwhelmed I take breaks for a few days and rest. I have found places to unload my stuff. A consignment shop for my clothes. She will donate them if they don’t sell so that’s a relief. My stuff like kitchen stuff, knick knacks pictures etc, or good junk to Goodwill, or a Veteran’s Home or Woman’s Shelter. Lastly I’ve thrown stuff out. My kids don’t want my stuff so it’s going bye bye 😂 My hubby and I are in our 70’s and our house is too big so it’s actually 40 years of stuff!
I loved watching you and your energy!! I’m definitely going to go thru all my stuff twice. Plus I’m definitely going to keep watching and following you for more tips ❤️
this video came at a perfect time for me! i'm moving next month and have been putting off packing because i desperately need to declutter my life and make sure i'm intentional with the things i'm bringing into my new home. amazing job getting through this challenge even when it got really tough, and thank you for the great tips!
I'm so glad this video found you at the right time! Moving is always the BEST time to do a major declutter. So excited for you!
I really liked your suggestion to do it in reverse! It feels amazing to see a difference in my space, and I'm motivated to keep going.
I am also at that point where I just want to rent a dumpster and get rid of everything 😅
😂😂😂😂😂 right there with you.
Same 😂
Same!
I just found out your channel today, your videos are sooo relatable. Right now I'm on the process of downsizing my stuff. Yesterday I started decluttering my wardrobe.
Thank you for making this video. You have really inspired me to try this. It’s something I’ve been debating for so long.
Come back and let us know how it goes for you!!
I’ve been a minimalist before I ever knew it had a name!
What I’ve learned is that when you’re feeling overwhelmed and genuinely not wanting to do anything….don’t. Sitting in your emotions for a day, deep breathing, meditating, or doing whatever you need to do to get back to the goal is necessary. It happens to all of us and you’re not alone 🖤🩶🤎
I love this, thanks for taking the time to share it with us!
We declutter throughout our lives, there is no certain days only to declutter. Sometimes, we declutter to make ourselves feel good.
This is informative. I have once started minimalism in 2018 where I slowly reduce my things. In the end of the same year I was forced to reduce my things to less than half (i can't be bothered moving things i don't use, as a reason). In 2020, I applied to study abroad and got accepted. I was glad that time that I have started minimalism to reduce the stress of packing my things. I left for abroad with only 23 kgs of luggage (8kgs which is tech equipments).
I love how you started to change your content a little bit. Actually happy to know you from your WFH diarys. But I love how we start to see your life more and I love that diversity 🙌🏻 keep doing what you're doing
WFH diaries will continue but wanted to create some other helpful content as well!
I did the mins game twice and each time in linear order. I‘ll definitely will do it in random order next time. So when I have more time or energy I can do more or if I‘m in a rush I can do a lower number. Good idea.
I love how it's more versatile in the random order! Try it and let me know how it goes!
We're moving soon so I might try the challenge. I think I'll do it backwards because it seems easier to start strong and get rid of more small, cluttery things at first, then be really thoughtful on the last few days and get rid of bigger things like old furniture. Thank you for a motivating video! Your tracker was so clean-looking and nicely designed.
I really love the idea of splitting the decluttering into categories, it is really helpful as I am currently decluttering and I also noticed so many things I never even used. Another thing I personally am inspired by is keeping things I will use for traveling as it helps get into the headspace of letting go of things no longer needed.
P.S: I literally love your tattoos
I played the minimalist game last April, managed over 465 items. Since then I have started the monthly challenge every month, but not with the intention of actually doing the whole month, just to keep the momentum going. In 2023, I managed 1246 items, I live in the UK and honestly own far less than the average American. My house is still cluttered having bought up two children and lived in the same house for 31 years. I had a poor start to this year's total due to the loss of someone and a major planned op in April, but have still managed 475 items. Eight weeks post op and my husband has retired and we are going to hit the de-cluttering together ... The weather here is pants, ie very cold and wet, so on these days we are going to blitz a room at a time. I know Marie Kondo does clothes first, then books, paper, kimono (miscellaneous) and then sentimental items, but once you have done one pass around, your decluttering muscles get stronger and you can declutter more and more without worrying about the need to do things in the same order. You are simply refining the technique and I don't think anyone can declutter a lifetime in a week! I didn't miss any of the items I got rid of. If you have a day where you seem to be overwhelmed take the day off and you can always catch up ... also when you begin it is easy to declutter one item on day 1, so if you have plenty of time on day 1, do more than one day. Last April I got to day 12 on the first day, being a Maths nerd, you can work out the number of items you have decluttered using the formula n(n+1)/2 so on day 12(12+1)/2 is 12 x 13 = 156 divided by two = 78 items, I preferred to see the results in numbers, keeping a tally using the formulae. I made no chart or plan, just looked at a draw or cupboard that was cluttered, ie duplicate cooking utensils, mixing bowls too heavy for me to use, ie large china ones and got rid of them. My kitchen is so tidy it is the envy of all my friends. and with few less equipment, I cook meals even more efficiently, as I can find everything in a flash. If you have a hobby you used to do, but it no longer interests you, get rid of the craft stuff or sports gear ... You can also play the game in reverse, so that when you start to run out of things you think you want to get rid of you are decluttering smaller numbers of items. Donate to women's shelters, dog shelters, charity shops (you call them thrift shops), also remember schools, youth groups, community groups, etc ... there are so many places you can give things away to. You will feel amazing and doing something really worthwhile if you can pass the things on to be used by people less fortunate than yourself etc. I am hoping to do the same this year, after a somewhat difficult six months, but no matter how many I do finally pass on, I will feel so much better for it. Hope my thoughts help anyone out there planning to declutter and if an oldie like me can do it then anyone can!
Yeah, I like your approach - I'd declutter as many things as I can find the first day and go from there doing the same thing, then when it gets harder, the single digit choices are easier than having to find 30! And you are right about decluttering getting easier the more you do it. I have been working on downsizing to about 90% over the past 5 years. I was able to move overseas with suitcases (granted it was a lot of trips).
I'm currently wrapping up my first attempt at this challenge (which I meant to start with the new year and then talked myself out of a few times in panic 😅), and it's been going pretty well! Some adjustments that I had to make:
-Going in linear order works best for my brain, but I always have a tote bag or box in the corner of my room where I can toss stuff as I go about my day or if I declutter a big category that would put me over the number of the day, then I pull from there if I am struggling to reach the number of items or I'm really busy
-I'm not pressuring myself to do a big spring clean right now, but it's mostly because one of my roommates is moving next month and we're going to rearrange the apt so I'm going to have an office space outside of my bedroom, so I'm telling myself it's about making that process easier and the heavy duty cleaning and organizing can wait
-Doing multiple passes through a category or whatever really is necessary because it becomes so much easier to let things go when I've had time to sit with it
-But in addition to that, I also try to consider if there are ways I can repurpose any items or simply improve my storage so I don't find myself in a position or buying the same thing later down the road and having to deal with it all over again
-I have a little notebook that I've designated for this challenge and I write down every single item I'm decluttering so I don't forget what I've done and I can remind myself of why I've let something go
-I think part of the original challenge is to clear the stuff out of the house/space immediately like every day, but that feels like an overwhelming amount of work to me and would discourage me from continuing, but I have blocked out some time every week on my calendar so can do a trash or donate drop
Love the repurposing tip!! Proud of you for doing the challenge though!
10:14 thank you for being honest about that! This is probably the second most daunting task that stresses me out throughout the whole process.
There's days when I want to set everything ablaze and other days I struggle over parting with a single item.
It's a journey for sure.
The advice on the photos is great!
Thanks for taking the time to comment!!
@@angelzheng Gladly! Thank you for making this honest video, it helps to feel less alone and it's really motivational :)
I like 🤩 your idea of jumping around!! I get the idea of easy to hard but doing it this way, I found friction for different reasons, ie: some days I feel more motivated than others or I have more or less time, etc. I am going to try it this way. I am going to still do it as a game to keep me motivated but with slight different rules. Thanks!
It doesn't look like you have loads of stuff to start with so you are doing really well to get rid of more. I have stuff everywhere, all storage is full as well!
Very inspiring! Honestly your content deserves more likes and attention, your content is very high-quality
Thank you!! You’re so sweet
Hey Angel, I saw this video on UA-cam Creators discord server, really love this video! You did a great job decluttering even though it was stressful for you. I need to do another one since it's been a couple years since the last one. Thanks for sharing this experience Angel!
Thanks for stopping by to comment! Really appreciate it. Glad it inspired you to do another big declutter!
Watching this because my mind does feel cluttered. thank you!
Great that you found something that works - that is usually the most important way. :)
For me personally, working by numbers or percentages don't really work. Then I either have more I want to toss, that I am not 'allowed' to, or not getting rid of enough, because I reached the limit. So I found my own method:
1) Pick a room, pick a cupboard/dresser, pick a shelf/drawer, and start there.
2) Take everything out. Purge everything that is an obvious 'hell no', and with the remaining items, consider if it brings me joy.
3) Make it pretty - clean the shelf/drawer, and arrange things in a way that brings you joy to open.
4) Consider if you need to get something to improve accessibility - for example some better sized boxes.
5) Continue this clockwise around the room, and see the order 'spread'
This is a very easy method, because you can do one or two shelves/drawers a day, and the progress is very visible in a short amount of time, but without the effort being super overwhelming. For me, the 'joy' question helps me tune into what I truly love, and helps me figure out what I truly value, and be more conscious around future shopping. And seeing drawers and shelves as something that needs to be functional - not just a storage place - also helps. That things need to be easy to take out, and easy to put back.
For me personally, making it 'pretty' is what keeps my motivation high. It makes me want to keep it that way, and take pride in my space, rather than just 'residing' there. :)
What you said about skipping around really connected with me along with another tip I heard before about "gamifying" the living experience and the two things will help me through my life a lot.
Hi Angel, I really liked this video. Thank you for the tips you gave on things that were challenging for you while you decluterred your environment. It is something that I want to do but since I have always been unsuccessful at decluttering in the past. This motivates me to try once more.
Hope it works for you!!
I'm also moving to a foreign country for work and my minimalist lifestyle is seriously the only way I could do it. The last three times I flew out to Thailand I only took a backpack. This last trip I was gone for 4 months and arrived with a backpack, but left with a large suitcase since I had to buy clothes and stuff there for school. Now that I'm heading back in a few months to live there permanently I am going to try to declutter even more since I can only bring one suitcase and one back pack on the plane. Your video was great and I hope you have success in your move.
thank u :) i’ve been in this exact position, country and all, deeply, for extensive months (just the season) i was hoping to find a video instead of making my own. grateful you have the strength i need :*;):’) congrats angel.
Ive done the mins game 2 or 3 times, and UA-cam is a great accountability buddy. I never planned or forced declutter sessions in any particular category. I just kept an eye out and made a pile throughout the day and then decluttered areas that were annoying me to "finish up the day" in the afternoon or evening. Then I'd lay out the stuff on the freezer to record and then sift out the donations and trash to get ready for the next day. If I had finished a shelf or category and had extra items, they went to the prep area for the next day. And since I typically chose January I wound up at 498 so I would typically be pushing just a bit harder to hit 500 by the last day.
UA-cam is often my best accountability buddy for sure!
I'd love more suggestions on how you did the digital declutter!!! That's where I REALLY need some help and encouragement (and more knowledge of where to even begin!!) Thanks!
I suggest start by decluttering your photos & screenshots. Delete what u can!
Also stop giving out yr email address to everyone who asks for it ❤
@@myaccount9498 thanks- that's a continual process!
Unsubscribe from all social and promotion section emails in your inboxes. Digital flyers, promotion ads, marketing tactic emails etc. except for urgent/realistic emails for purchases you will make. Do not hand out your main email (on your phone) to others. Create secondary for everyone else, junk, advertisements, etc that is not stored on your phone but can be checked on laptop or desktop. :)
We are planning on moving across the country in a year or 2 and we have a ton of stuff! So much it would cost $7000-$9000 to move it all. I have began asking myself “would I bring this in the move?” If not declutter 😊 also not bringing things that are cheap/easily replaceable.
For me i dont let the declutter pile get more than a bag full before dropping at the donation because having things like sitting around gives me nervous intense energy. And i too skip around days and i bank days too sometimes so it i got rid of 45 things ill cross off 30 and 15 so if i skip tomorrow ill still be on track
Banking days is clever!! There are definitely days I get rid of more
Whoa I never heard of this challenge it’s genius!! I get over whelmed and disappointed if I don’t get rid of enough stuff in one sitting. I will def try 🤩🤯🙏🏽
I just moved to a smaller house this week. I had been getting rid of things for six months to prepare and thought I'd done a good job. Now I look around at a mountain of bags and boxes and realize that I have a very long way to go! It's daunting, but this video motivated me to get up and get started. Again. 🙄
Mother of 5 kids. Recently started sorting 15 years of kids accumulated stuff. Found out old toys sell high now as collector items on eBay. Sell it- make some money back and Declutter the stress❤️❤️
I'd never heard of that Mins challenge but watching your video made me want to try it! Thank you!
Good luck!! I hope it helps!
at the 11 minute marker is where i get to most of the time. my husband says i don't have to declutter. only excessive thing are plants; they take over outside ehehhehe. truly love plants. love the feeling of jungle in the city. i do want less things though. many things i have already parted with. things i have are last things until replaced.
When I was condescending down and declutterring, I just threw out OR DONATED, what I didn’t want. There was no rule on how much I could/can get rid of per day per category. I think that would help hoarders or beginners, not regular ppl that don’t mind getting rid of things. 😂
yesss-I do this out of order too & it really made it less challenging & more game-like for me.
- give things away to friends, family or thrift stores
- keep a box by the back door all the time ready to hold items that need to go, then schedule the donation or giveaway asap
- if you bring a new item into your home, consider getting rid of one or two things
I think it is more satisfying and productive to identify 30 decluttering projects to do in 30 days vs intentionally decluttering only a few items. I don’t think I would stay motivated with seeing just 1 or 2 items go. I’ve moved internationally +5 times and it gets to a point where you just gotta declutter what you gotta declutter to get it in the boxes!
Thank you for this video! I like your methods, and this is super helpful and realistic!! I keep feeling such a weight of having too much stuff, but then really struggle to figure out what to get rid of and/or how to organize what I want to keep.
As a person who doesn’t stay consistent I would probably just do the most I can the days that I can and even skip days if I forget them or am not in the mood for them. I totally freeze if I have to have a certain marker so I would probably just do what I can each day out of a total of /465 and then add them slowly like today I got rid of 47 items out of 465 and the next day I got rid of 5 items and the next day maybe 14 so after those days I would have 66 of 465.
And if you not meet 465 at the end it’s okay even getting rid of 200 items!!! Hope this helps some people. I’ll try to be doing this myself too. ♥️
I always wanted to do this. Then we moved for the third time in 4 years. That made me look into decluttering, Swedish Death Cleaning and minimalism. If only I lived alone, this wouldn't be as hard.
4ra having Finch as an ambassador adds a layer of trust and class to their events pure quality
Having to make so many decisions while decluttering can cause genuine stress and decision fatigue. Dana K White, has a great method called 'no mess decluttering'. It's a very different take on decluttering and can be great for people who find the process overwhelming, either due to time constraints, amount of stuff, or difficulties with letting stuff go. I agree about a second pass - I've been decluttering for the last week and went back to my craft cupboard 4 times! Because in between the decluttering days, I was still struggling to get to the items I needed, so clearly I still had way too much 🙂 Well done for sticking with it, especially on the digital side - always a nightmare.
I love how this story starts: Girl misplaces coffee cup... "Unacceptable. Everything standing in the way of me and my coffee MUST GO 😐"
Nothing can come between me and my coffee 😤
I just stumbled across your page and I love your content - I can not explain why, it feels good to watch and listen to it and inspired me to do the same. Just refreshing and beautifully told and shot
This makes me so happy 🥹 I'm super glad you're enjoying the content. And thank you for taking the time to comment!
Love this!!! Definitely going to do this challenge
Taking this one as inspiration!
Glad I could help!
Cleanup 🧼 the home and organize is key to people’s happiness and being focused
Love the idea of playing the decluttering game but jumping around the numbers, I haven’t thought of that before! Makes it feel less overwhelming to not have to stick to an order… almost like a decluttering Yachtzee!
00:00 ☕ The speaker embarked on a 30-day decluttering challenge to simplify their life, from physical spaces to digital clutter.
02:47 📝 Tips for effectively decluttering include creating a personalized tracker, organizing by categories or spaces, and not following a strict linear order.
04:32 🤔 Strategies for deciding what to keep or discard include assessing sentimental value, considering relocation, and questioning usage frequency.
06:58 🖥️ Digital decluttering involved sorting through files, unsubscribing from newsletters, and creating organization systems to streamline workflows.
10:36 🌟 Reflections on the challenge reveal insights into what truly brings value and clarity to life, beyond just physical decluttering.
You're the best!! Thanks for doing that
With Finch as an ambassador 4ra always feels more premium and reliable great vibes every time
When you are overwhelmed with it, get the stuff OUT of your space- take that bunch of donations and leave it somewhere today. That will help with the motivation when you see the space cleared!
I don’t do large declutters, like playing the games. I just go little by little every day. But a few tips that help me are keeping (or not keeping) visual queues. So on my closet door, I have post it’s with my closet questions. Does this fit, do I love it, when was the last time I wore it? Also I know you’re filming a video, but as soon as I decide to get rid of something I move it out of my space immediately. I keep a box or bag by the door and as soon as it’s full I get it out, donate or throw away, etc..
Thanks for the insight! Currently renting a studio bedroom as I decided to lease my 5 bedrooms house years ago and I also moved out from my own master bedroom as I am only paid 1/4 for the studio from the money I am getting from renting my master bedroom plus the tenants also would like to rent the garage too so I need to get rid most of the stuffs as I can't move freely in this studio! Also, realizing that I've never touching most of these items for the past years.
I love watching your videos. You bring about such a calm and relaxing tone to my brain. Appreciate your content and voice 😇
Thanks for watching Hector! And taking the time to comment
This felt so great to watch ☺️!! I’ve felt the urge to declutter, or at least do the one in one out method when I buy something new . Also your couch area/ dining space is so cute 💗Can you share where you got the items from please
best decluttering tip I learn is to get rid of my physical books, and just get a kindle saves up space and I can bring it anywhere! also reading the Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up by marie kondo was life changing for me.
Finch at 4rabet events is like a stamp of excellence always a sign that things are gonna be awesome
Recently cleared my childhood home, I did it all on my own and it took me 6 months. The amount of stuff was horrifying, the stuff I kept was literally furniture, some clothes, photos and meaningful ornaments and that’s it.
I love your idea of not being linear in the 30 day challenge. It has not at all worked for to be linear. Because day 1 is when im most motivated and have the mental energy to do more. So if I only take out 1 thing and then im forced to wait till the next day for 2 things, it's frustrating. I have never made it past 4 days. I tried to do 10 items a day instead but sometimes i have more sometimes i have less. I love how you do it. I'll try it immediately
I hope it works better for you!
one thing I always ask myself, as morbid as it is, is "would I be sad if this was lost in a fire?" if the answer is yes, I usually keep it at least for a little while, or find a way to back it up for safe keeping in the off chance that happened (eg photographing old art and cards so even if the physical version is lost I have a failsafe, or seeing if my favourite books are available as ebooks or readily available at the library). a lot of my clothes and abandoned hobby items have not made the cut, and I'm so glad they're out of my space now!
I didn’t do a challenge or anything but I got rid of a bunch of junk I bought online and suddenly I didn’t have any problems with storage space. I have good bookshelves where the shelves were full and cluttered in my eyes, the same goes for my desk drawers. It sucks when you think about the money you spent, but I chose to see it as a lesson learned. Don’t buy things cheap and spend on proper supplies. I enjoy making art so cheap art supplies aren’t always the best. Choosing a brand that I like and trust is better for me.
its really hard ... iam decluterring, decades, upon decades of accumulated stuff, things, knick knacks, sentimentals, warderobes, and whatnots, all in one go, and its ... time consuming, and mentally exhausting. transitioning from a vintage boho style to zen ambient is my path, and its not easy, and storage space is a life saver in my case, as many of the items, i can not dispose off, at all ...
My major takeaway from this video is to take pictures of sentimental items before getting rid of them. That's a nice way to keep the memory.
I wish I had thought of it sooner cause it does still bring me the same amount of joy
Aaron Finch boosting 4rabet events with his presence means you're in for top-notch quality every time
Thank you for acknowledging the overwhelm! :)
9:34 a strategy I use is ‘if my house burnt to the ground, how soon would I want to replace this? Would I bother at all?’
SUCH a good strategy!
I’ve been needing to do this! This may finally be the inspo I need!
Eeeek! Let me know how it goes!
I am currently in a moving process where i am decluttering my stuff. I first and foremost sell my items, but i have also been giving Tons of stuff away for free, even though i Could have gotten alot of money from selling it.. It sucks to just give it away when i actually Need the money. But, since i am moving and i am storing my items at a family member meanwhile i am looking for a new apartment i actually need to get rid of Alot. I take care of the items i have room for, but not just Any random item. Moving is stressfull..🤯😓 I'm no stranger to getting rid of things, as I've been doing this for several years now, on my journey towards minimalism. I know EXACTLY what it's like to feel overwhelmed and to want to get rid of EVERYTHING. That's when you should pack things away in boxes that you can't see through and put them away, to then get through each and every one of them one at a time. By doing so it wont be so overwhelming, since All the things will not be scattered everywhere.
Moving is SOOO stressful! But it is the perfect time to do a cleanse!
Sharing strategies with friends has really ramped up my betting game. Got any tactics you swear by
Hi! Thank you for the nice video! Could u pls share what type of design you use when decluttering photos, (I liked huge delete button)?
The less I own the better I feel. The process isn’t easy though! It takes a lot of energy. But it’s so worth it.
When I went through a purge, I asked myself "If someone refunded me the full replacement cost for everything I own and I was starting again, would I buy this today?" That helped me confront the sunk cost fears directly.
*Getting started with the loose stuff* - I used 15-minute sprints. Pick a category, grab a box, set a timer, and declutter for 15 minutes. No pulling things out or piling it all on the bed; just whatever's accessible. Repeat daily until satisfied.
*Tackling boxes* - What overwhelmed me were boxes of things I had stored over the years. For these, I switched tactics slightly. I had room in my home office closet now, so I used that space to have the box I'm sorting plus one each for trash, recycling, donating, and keeping. Once daily I'd make a cup of tea, and then start sorting. When my tea was finished 5-15 minutes later, I was done for the day. Close the closet and repeat tomorrow.
*Kitchen* - For the kitchen, I used the technique of packing up everything, and then only keeping it if I unpacked it. I ended up waiting 14 months to make sure I really didn't need something seasonal. After that, no peeking or second-guessing! Donate every box that remains.
*About pacing* - I know common advice is to rush the whole project for fear of chasing your tail or losing motivation, but for me, that was not possible. Trying to do it in a rush made it feel way too overwhelming. I would compare myself with others and feel like a failure and quit. I needed to pick a sustainable pace that was a net gain every day, and then keep at it. As long as you're diligent about the things you bring in going forward, slow and steady works too... at least it did for me.
Hope that helps someone!
I LOVE THIS. Thank you for sharing. The refunded tip is sooo good, I'm definitely going to use that myself!
Hi ! I need to know what keyboard you have in this video and mouse please.
I've always loved traveling light, and as I get older I want to apply this to my life too. I want to travel light through life. My kids won't need my stuff anyway.
Hi! I am a successfully recovered type A and have a suggestion if you're open to it. On the day that you were overwhelmed, that's the day to use the "1 item". It allows you to accomplish a goal set, without forcing your brain and body to submit when it's clearly telling you "no".
One of the MOST important things I've learned is to directly ask my body a question. Example: "Do you want to do this today?" At first I didn't hear anything, now I will literally hear the word Yes or No, very clearly, and often before the sentence is even over. When you were in overwhelm, that was your body indicating very loudly that the answer was No. If you're anything like I was, your body is yelling because you aren't listening when it speaks.
So, on that overwhelm day, ask yourself - "Hi body, do you want to do this?" You may hear a No. Then you pick up one EASY item, put it in the box, and celebrate that accomplishment (hey, you hit the brief!), close the door on decluttering for the day (actually though, no forcing yourself to do other chores because you don't feel good about 1 item. FULLY close the door and move one to other things with a smile. You listened to your body, that's amazing! You should be proud.) What this practice does is teach your body that you will listen to it. This will create more trust between your brain and body instead of always letting your logic brain run the show and beat your body into submission. There is less frustration, pain, and overwhelm when you repair that bond within yourself. I hope this comment helps other recovering type As :)
i tried this today (but asking my body “what do you want” instead of “do you want to do this”) after reading your comment and i’m mind blown. this is helping me so much with identifying my needs and standards and where to focus my energy, and how to get stuff done naturally and calmly. thank you 💫💫
@@angelsuspiriorum Thank you for following up!! It’s such a powerful tool. I’m so glad my comment could help! I wish you the best on your journey and am so happy for you! 😊
My friend suggested trying the crash games for a quick thrill, and wow, were they right! Have you taken a shot at those yet
I get very overwhelmed with the amount of stuff my family has. Mostly because my husband is a horder. Not in a gross way, just in excess of stuff. My children are unfortunately following him. I am constantly trying to decrease the number of items and I never seem to be able to make progress. I donated 30 trash bags full of stuff this summer, and I am still feeling like we have too much.