10 years ago I went thru a very tragic situation. During that time, my husband and I were full time youth pastor/associate pastor. We had 3 children who were 6 and younger. The tragedy knocked me off of my feet. For 10 years I have struggled with severe depression and anxiety. I basically isolated myself from the world. Thru God's grace and faithfulness I was able to overcome the depression. I feel like myself again for the first time in 10 years. I have checked back into life. However, I was feeling so overwhelmed with everything that I had pushed aside for 10 years. My home being out of control was the most overwhelming. About a month ago I happened to come across one of your videos. It was life changing and I was instantly motivated. Every single day, I watch your videos and work on minimizing every single thing in my home. The Lord has used you big time in helping me get my life and home together. I am so blessed and grateful. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. It has brought a new joy, energy, hope, security and many many more things into my life! I am just astonished at how this has changed my heart in a million different ways!!
God bless you. I too have depression plus severe anxiety and it is exhausting as anything. That is when and why I either but unnecessary things or let things pile. Today, though tired, I will tackle a bit. If tragedy struck... I also do not want to leave this for others to deal with for or with me.
It's so hard to check back into life after tragedy. So glad God has given you beauty for ashes. I'm in that season myself. Always struggled keeping a clean home with 3 boys, my youngest passed in an accident and I'm pregnant with our promise and on a crazy cleaning bender this time around. Can't wait to enjoy my new baby in my fresh clean home. 🥰
Jenny, I’m thinking of you and your family. I’m so happy you found Dawn’s channel. She really is a breath of fresh air and I hope you get to a point where your home is an absolute joyful haven that you find you love to be in again. One space and one day...or even one hour at a time. Big hugs to you. 🙏🏼❤️😊
I had a win today. Was at Costco with my aunt who wanted to look at everything. Well she decided she wanted to buy a big snapware set. I had done the suggestion you had made before about putting the lids in the containerS and letting the space limit how much you have. I was easily able to resist and told her my cabinet space for containers was already full and it seems silly to buy more when I would then just have to donate my perfectly fine containers. Yay me
I so enjoy living in a simplified house - but I think it happened in "layers." I would get rid of a bunch of things from a drawer, a closet, a room - and then in a few weeks, I'd realize I was staring at something else in the space that I didn't use, love, or even want. Then another layer would go. It gets easier and easier over time. Thanks for another great video, Dawn! You really are inspiring!
It definitely wasn't an overnight process for me either.... You build up decluttering muscles and get rid of more and more as time goes on. Keeping a few donate bags/boxes around the house makes this process easier and setting reminders seasonally to declutter things such as clothes & toys helps me. X
Totally Agree! I'll skim off a layer and when I see how much better it looks, feels, and it's easier to find what I want and the space just works better, I go back for another round. I haven't missed anything yet and like to think of others who are being blessed with something they needed that would have just collected dust in my house. Thanks, Dawn!!
Dearest Dawn, this is a brilliant idea! Isn't it funny that we think, about pretty much anything, that it has to be all or nothing. Case in point, I'd had a pretty significant amount of weight to lose, like 100 pounds 20-plus years ago. My doctor said, "Y'know (since this was gonna be such a big change in my life physically and emotionally/psychologically) you don't have to do it all at once, you can lose, 20, stay there for a bit, then lose 20 more, then again, until you feel like you're where you want to be". Can I just say, "Duh!". How had that never occurred to me? I mean, looking ahead to losing 100 pounds was beyond daunting, but 20 pounds, THAT I could do (and did, five times over!). Starting one room at a time, one closet at a time, THAT I can do too! Now, while I'd love to stay and chat, there's a kitchen (recently re-done I might add, so the timing is perfect) calling me. With love from the Southern California desert, MK. ❤️☀️🌵
Hi Dawn....I just turned 70 and I am a retired art teacher. I have spent my life collecting beautiful things I was drawn to and also many art supplies. My sister always tells me everything I have is so cool. At this time in my life, I feel like I am drowning in stuff. After a lifetime of collecting, I yearn for more peace in my space. Most of my friends are also feeling the same way and want to get rid of so much stuff. I relate so much to your videos and hope that I can make a difference in my living space. I am such a visual person and always enjoyed living with all my treasures, but I think those same treasures are keeping my anxiety level up and I need to reach a better balance. Thanks for you inspiration.....I am learning!
Have you thought about making a photo Journal of your Treasures before you start deciding which few you want to keep, what you would like to gift out, what you might like to donate to some worthy organizations, Etc? If you were to do a photo Journal you could write a short description or story about each treasure. Then, when you really are feeling nostalgic you can flip through the pages and enjoy them all over again, while still enjoying your Serene home.
@@laurahudson8210 What a great idea! I had heard the advice about photographing sentimental items in order to part with the physical objects before, but not about making a journal with notes/stories. One of the recent iOS updates has made it easy to caption a photo (granted, I don’t know the character limit on captions). It would be really easy when decluttering to photograph each object before disposing of it and caption it “From Jen, Mother’s Day 2003”, put the pics into a dedicated album in the photo app, and later on send all the photos to an online company like Shutterfly to have a nice book made, if desired, perhaps with a little longer story for each pic.
I just read your text and wondering how you are managing these days. I am about to turn 75. 3 1/2 yrs ago I moved to a much smaller place and thought I was downsizing. Wrong. I am still buying "stuff" I think I need and no longer have the room. Every day is a struggle for me. Dawn has the right idea about so many things. Are you still with her?
@@PR-ir5ni yes, I am still a faithful follower of Dawns. I get inspired by her videos but many times just still overwhelmed by the task of decluttering. I have made progress and vow to continue even if at a snail’s pace!
Agreeing. I'm on this journey but taking it slow. I have a husband that is sentimental about just about everything, right down to old clothes and coffee mugs.
Just recently , I went to Niagara Falls , and in Niagara Falls , there is a little town called Niagara on the Lake . It’s full of cozy stores that have anything and everything you want . BUT I am 13 , have found Dawn ( minimal mom ) and have been living out minimalism , and sharing it with my family . It’s changed me and slowly I have been seeing signs of changes in the way my parents have been talking about the house . It’s been them talking about how we need to get rid of stuff . SO when we were in Niagara Falls , I started hearing the “tips” I’ve been preaching to them . Such as , my mom said “ Brielle ,today I almost bought a coat that wasn’t warm enough but was cute yet I didn’t get it “ so she bought one that was warm enough ! And I hear my dad say , “-we don’t need this ! - we have too much stuff “ or my mom said “- I don’t love it so I won’t get it” . Yesterday we REALLY decluttered the cellar . I’ve been seeing change ! It’s working ! Thanks Dawn !!!!!!
It sounds like such a beautiful place to visit I have a 14 year old granddaughter it would be a blessing if she thought like you I'm trying to set an example for her You can have cozy with a candle and soft music you just don't need all the frills I've learned that it's taken me 60 some years but how awesome of you to be teaching your parents I never even thought that possible I always thought it should be the other way around but God bless your heart. I'm sure your parents are very proud of you to already adopt a lifestyle at 13🍃
Watching this again because as soon as you said take things off counter I said out loud ok and cleaned my bathroom. My son saw it after it was clean and said mom the bathroom looks so nice when it’s clean. Even though I clean it it looked cluttered. So out with the junk. I don’t know what it is about you but I am always motivated. And I have also gotten help from your followers. With their help I got rid of a trunk load of linens. Have a great day. And thank you.
Don’t worry Dawn , it didn’t come off as bragging , it came off as a proof that when mean people say “ your just getting rid of everything ?” NO! It’s changing how life doesn’t have to be hectic , and shows how minimalism spreads to every area of your life in the best way possible ! Love you ❤️ keep doing what your doing ! We need you !
You do a great job ...I’m trying hard to get going on this I’m 72 and I don’t want my kids To think my a pack rat after I go ...Thanks for helping me us old people need help too 👍👍👍😍😍😍
I’m also 72. You Mentioned Swedish Death Cleaning and I loved it!! I’m doing a first pass through 3,200 sq ft. I don’t want my stuff to burden my kids. I gave away my punch bowl…hadn’t used it in 40 years! Bye Felicia! Once I got started I loved the feeling of seeing empty drawers and cabinets with space. I have no desire to replace anything. Just didn’t need to Test Drive Minimalism. I’m looking forward to the second pass. Thanks for keeping me inspired to keep going.❤️
When we started to simplify our house I stopped asking my husband to move. I wasn’t happy because the house was “too small for all my stuff “ after the de clutter we felt happier and satisfied with our home. We are spending less money because we buy things that has a purpose not because they are on sale. I love the feeling of organization ( and my husband now is feeling the same way) . Thank you
I was thinking about buying an extra cabinet for my kitchen and then I realized that if I just get rid of the things I do not use in the kitchen, I won't need to buy it at all!!!
@@svetlanamorozova - I agree that limiting what you purchase is always better than continually purchasing new stuff. Donating and also selling unused items will also work for many. What everyone should be most concerned about is donating instead of disposing which becomes an environmental issue.
What a great community of friends we have here ! If you’re reading this right now , I hope your having an amazing Tuesday , or whichever day it is for you❤️ happy minimalizing , friend !
I started the minimalism journey a year ago. My niece was critically ill so I we to to Colorado to help since it was a long term situation .( Praise God she is fine now) While I was there, the bedroom I stayed in was just a low bed. Nothing else but a beautiful window. There was a nice walk in closet , that had a small trunk in it. I kept my stuff in that closet, but the room was empty. I have never rested so well, even through that very difficult time. I truly believe that minimalistic room helped me sleep at night. There was nothing to distract me. I have gotten rid of the excess and I do not miss it. Thanks for your channel. Your family is so sweet !
I’ve been working on minimalism for about 6 weeks. This is the best thing I have done for our family home to date. The only thing I can say is better late than never. My kids are all in college but I can’t wait for them to experience the house when they come home at Thanksgiving. I send them pictures of my progress and they are excited for me. 🥰 I never thought I could do it, but am proving myself wrong.😊 Thank you Dawn for all your encouragement.🌻
“If you simplify just one room, I think you will find the people in your family gravitating to that room.” TRUE! I’ve only done my walk in closet so far, but I’ve spent like 3 hours sitting in there today, I think. It’s so nice 😂
So what I'm taking away from this is -- i should FINALLY get rid of the before kids clothing, that other job clothing, the in case I get invited to the Kardashians clothing, the once I lose 10 lbs clothing and the I spent alot on this clothing? I really need to downsize my closet! 🤪
So my sister says that my house looks like we've been burgled because I hAve simplified my house. For me it's calm, homely and so un stressful. I moved towards minimalism nearly 5 years ago now.
Your peaceful home has raised discomfort in her, so she finds a dig to make it seem you’re the one who is “wrong” (which is a silly distinction anyway).
I minimized my counter and my mother came over and said where’s all your stuff and it felt like a criticism so I put a lot more back out. SHe said it was cozy. Now I’m thinking yes it’s cozy but it’s hard to clean so perhaps I can find a spot to put a few decorative items hidden away and pull them out for company... because I agree home looks more inviting when there’s a few things out that are cute.
@@Oceangirl1234 don't make your life stressful to fit other people's versions of calm. We're 20 years into this century with internet and more info overload than ever, I feel like minimalism is a way to help people unwind and declutter not just their spaces but their minds. We've never in history been bombarded with so much info so we need reprieve somewhere.
@@bellemusecore you are so right. I admit I do like to see a few things out here in the air I wouldn’t want to see completely bare counters. BUT We use our kitchen a lot I mean a lot a lot it is definitely where we cook and clean.
I started purging about a year ago in anticipation of our move coming up. I absolutely LOVE how my house looks & feels right now. I’m looking forward to keeping it this way at our new home. Thank you for your inspiration 💞
I’ve been on the minimalistic journey for a couple of years now and I still find SO MUCH VALUE in your videos like this - such a good refresher and also inspiring me to be MORE ruthless in my decluttering! I really enjoyed this!
Tip for coffeemakers and stuff like that. We keep our coffeemachine in a cupboard on a pullout-shelf. Theres is a plug in the back wall where it is plugged in. We planned that with our kitchen and it is just great! No machine on the counter but it is always ready to use just by opening up the cupboard and pull the drawer out.
I did something similar when we remodeled. I had an electrical outlet installed in my pull-on pantry (which the electrician thought was odd), and I keep the toaster and vacuum sealer (the appliances we use most often) on a roll-out shelf in there, ready to go. The stand mixer is in an "appliance lift" cabinet, so it can be easily lifted up to countertop height when I need it and lowered back into the cabinet when I'm done. And, the garbage can is in a special rollout cabinet. It's so much easier to keep floors and countertops clean if you aren't having to sweep/mop/wipe around stuff that's in the way.
I love these videos! The topic of kids toys: My daughter is almost 6 now and is SO much happier without so much "stuff"!!! We had to downsize some things with a surprise pregnancy. We had to eliminate our play room (extra bedroom) when finding out baby #2 was coming. My daughter was so excited to give her toys to other kids who may not be has fortunate as herself. Now she volunteers to go through her room from time to time and wants to do a "deep" re organization and asks for my help!! I couldn't be prouder of her! She THRIVES now where as before she seemed a little overwhelmed perhaps at all the options of toys. Now she has her favorites and she is happier having more space to play in than toys to play with! - Seeing another real life Mom living minimally is super helpful and inspiring!!!
I thought I had really simplified, but I am finding that I am inspired to simplify even more!!!😀. It really is calming and peaceful to live in a simplified home ❤️
When I retired a few short years ago, I was tired, mentally and physically exhausted really, after working in a really demanding field for the last 25 years. I really wanted to simplify my life. Had I known at the time about your videos and a couple others on de-cluttering, it might have gone faster! 😅 My home certainly is not as totally tidy as yours is Dawn, but what I have within view are things that are really important to me. It's not a lot, and I love that. I am way less anxious, and can totally clean my home from one end to the other in about an hour - because I don't have a bunch of stuff to pick up and put away, dust, clean, etc. The minimizing or de-cluttering or whatever you want to call it has been a game changer in my life. Thank you Dawn for all the inspiration!
I’ve been decluttering for more than a year and now feeling real peace at having lightened the load here. Less furniture, linens, books, clothes, kitchen items, decorations make it easier to keep up with housework too.
I like the gift-giving rule that goes like this: something they want, something they need, something to wear, and/or something to read. Sometimes the “something they want” is an experience, not an item.
@@tomjones2157 😊There are other things to read....My mil's birthday is today. She's 83 and we sent her a handwritten letter tucked inside a card, talking about some of the things we love about her and a favorite memory of being with her. On my 50th birthday my mom wrote a letter like that for me. I keep it in my nightstand and it's one of the best gifts I ever got. She's in heaven now and I treasure it more each year.
My parents on a few Birthday's woke me up singing "Happy Birthday." Bringing in a tray with my breakfast. Yes, I did get one or two items I needed. But those mornings showed how much they loved me. They both passed away in my early 20's. Memories I will never forget.
I was hooked!! I minimized our home little by little and my family never complained. We even started washing our dishes by hand with no whining! Haha It’s so nice when friends pop in unexpectedly, you aren’t frazzled and can actually enjoy their company ❤️
We painted our bedroom this last weekend and also decked it out with a nice headboard and footboard (we’ve never had one in 10 yrs of marriage 😆) Our bedroom used to be latte brown with big leopard spots on the walls (thanks, previous owners). Highly motivated by your channel and the way you phrase things, I ATTACKED the visual clutter and closets. It’s the one space besides the basement storage that I have been dreading making minimal, I knew it would be more mentally exhausting than other places. Our living room is usually a place of peace and is minimal but because of the bedroom redo, that space hasn’t been as tidy. (Heading to fix that right after I leave this comment 😉) All week I have found my 3 kids just sitting in the newly simple and peaceful bedroom, or quietly playing on the floor 😍 so funny that you mentioned it!
I lost the battle over the coffee mug tree staying on the counter, but I did win keeping a minimum of utensils in the jar and drawer. Hubby actually said, "I like being able to find what I need" !!!
I lost the battle over the coffee mug tree staying on the counter, but I did win keeping a minimum of utensils in the jar and drawer. Hubby actually said, "I like being able to find what I need" !!!
I have severe fibromyalgia and completely clear counters didn't work for me. It's too painful to constantly move things and I found myself spending extra money to avoid lifting my stand mixer. Now I go by the real estate idea I learned from Cass the Clutterbug. I have made 1 small space dedicated to the appliances I need everyday or at least several times a week: my coffee pot, microwave, stand mixer, blender, and small toaster oven. The rest of my counter space is clear. The crockpot, instant pot, griddle, waffle maker, dehydrator, ice cream maker, etc can be lived without if I'm having a fibromyalgia flare but those 5 things deserve important real estate in my kitchen because I use them regularly to make my life easier and my family's lives more enjoyable. I don't regret the effort I put into clearing my counters because I learned from it. Condensing what I need to 1 small space IS better than having it all spread out, but everyone's minimal is different and we each have to find what works for us and not feel guilty if the traditional advice doesn't fit our lives. P.S. - I know I listed off a lot of normally unnecessary appliances but making amazing food is one of my favorite hobbies, and with lots of mouths to fill, I need to make it easy on myself to enjoy it. I would rather have less in other areas than part with those handy appliances.
I have fibromyalgia too and for me is the same. I want to try to declutter some cabinets and see if I can eliminate something from the counters and instead put a tea station. In winter and fall I make it every day and it will easy for me to have it on the counter
Yes, fibromyalgia and autoimmune joint issues are why my stand mixer is still out. I can't lift that monster in and out of anywhere! And my knife block is still out because I'm constantly using them, and the toaster is out because my husband objected a LOT to clearing it off, lol. Other than that, I love my clear counters! Oh, and I have a utensil crock too because I only have a couple of drawers in my whole kitchen. Smaller kitchens with no pantry and weird layouts can confound your efforts also.
Krystle Poulin I had my husband install a shelf in the cupboard for my stand mixer that pulls out and up easily so I don’t have to lift it. It’s awesome because I use it a lot but don’t have the counter space to leave it out. It does take up most of one cupboard though.
Fibromyalgia friend over here too. I actually just ordered a little baker’s rack/island to make a coffee/tea bar to help create more counter space so I can leave my most used appliances out.
We were in the process of packing for a move when the lockdown stalled things. I started watching your videos about the same time. It has really changed how I think of decorating. All my decor has been packed up for months and nothing is hanging on our walls. It's pretty much just the furniture and some plants. Recently, I watched a decorator give a tour of her beautiful home on UA-cam. What was once a look I would have admired, I was newly struck by how much inventory I was looking at in each room. After living in the minimized look, I no longer want to be surrounded by so many things, no matter how pretty. The feeling is lighter, more relaxing to me to be simplified and I no longer feel compelled to buy more stuff to like my surroundings. I do look forward to getting to put out a few pretty things in our next house, but I will be scaling way back. Thank you, Dawn! It has been so great to learn from you!
I'm still at the very beginning of my minimalism journey but you are so right, I just crave more simplicity! If you're unsure, do one room. It's amazing how you resist getting that room dirty again. It's basically turned into a game. What else could I simplify? My mother in law asked if she could come to the house and I didn't immediately feel a wave of anxiety thinking "I have to get out of work as fast as I can. Oh my gosh the house is a mess! I should tell her to come at 6:30pm so I can get home and have 30 minutes to speed clean!" I tidied up when I got home, but it was already presentable. First thing she said was "whoa, your kitchen is really clean! Your counters are so shiny! What did you do in here?" My husband said "She is simplifying!" Then in the living room she said "Mama's got this room really clean too. Did you take something out? It feels so much bigger." I wanted to kiss her feet!!! Ironically, I had my car detailed at the same time I decided to start this journey and 3 weeks later, it's still clean! It's amazing the way it makes you feel too. I've actually felt good in the mornings and wasn't greeted by a messy bathroom and kitchen. I even put makeup on every morning and that really boosts my self esteem. I wash my face every evening now and my 2yr old daughter has caught on and says "Face!" because she wants to put lotion on her face too. This is going to sound crazy but I remember things easier too. My to-do list isn't a constant thing I forget. I just do it right then, and it's done.
What an uplifting and encouraging testimony, Edna! Sounds like you're really getting things simplifyied! So awesome for your little one to be able to grow up in that environment and learn from you. And GO supportive hubby! That always feels terrific when they brag on you to others! Proud of you!
I took my eight year old son to the dentist today as well. His molar coming in caused an infection. He's fine now and it's good to hear that Corbin is doing good to. Although it took a good part of my morning, I wasn't stressed about getting everything done. When we got home I just had to put a few things away that the kids had gotten out. Thank you for showing me how to get to this point. It is awesome.
Your channel is so dangerous to me because every time I watch I start cleaning and then I gather a ton of stuff to take to the consignment store and it would be scary to know how much we have brought to the consignment store. 😂
I quarantined some kitchen stuff after watching Becker’s kitchen counter video ( again🤦🏻♀️). It clicked with me in a new way and now I want to quarantine all the things!! So I had a conversation with hubby and got his permission to quarantine some of his stuff ( that’s in common areas of our mud room/ laundry room). So stuff is going in lots of boxes!!!
I've been de-cluttering for a long time and I don't see the effects sometimes because I'm so used to living in a beautiful, clean, open space. Our house is just under 1000 sq feet and we are a family of 4 with 3 cats. My husband had his friend and his wife come over and the wife looked around with huge eyes and said, "WHERE IS YOUR CLUTTER?" Ha! We literally got rid of all the clutter and she was expecting it because it is "normal" to have clutter. I had another friend come over who said, "Where is all the stuff?" She then laughingly looked under my bed and nothing was there. I think it kind of scared her! Dawn, we are more alike then different. Thank you for the videos that show how a regular family can go on this lovely journey of minimalism. You have helped keep me inspired in my personal journey.
Oh Stephanie I can only pray to have that same experience at my house! I am trying but not setting an actual time limit, so I don't get discouraged, but already seeing a few ripples have room to spread, and my goal is to move objects out of the way so as not to interfere with their path! I will have a relaxing home to enjoy!
I’m sooo trying to go minimal but it is taking me so long! I feel like I have zero time to make it thru everything. I’ve made a pretty good dent but I can’t seem to catch up. The days are only so long and I have a lot of stuff. But I have faith that I’ll make it thru someday. Hopefully sooner than later!
I did actually entirely clear counters and hated it. . I can’t tolerate clutter. But I have some decor on my counter tops. I got rid of it all and hated how bare it was. Again... hate clutter and don’t have it But do have decor. And we don’t pile dishes either. We have a DW. I will say when you are home all day, it’s probably easier to wash dishes after each meal! We run the DW at night and empty in the morning. No dishes sit in the sink. I think decor equals cozy. I think barre is kind of cold... to me. I thought about stepping down a room and I would not like it. Again no clutter just my decor.
Started out really good! Or rather my husband and son did! The garage really was cleaned out to get another car in! One part is still needing treatment! But ... hurricanes keep coming to side line me! We were not hit ... Praise the Lord ... poor Lake Charles was again. But this one took out our power! I was already sick and no air, etc. made it worst! So now I am on the road to recovery! I have things in boxes to put out but need sunny weather ... hopefully this next week! I will make it but I have huge clutter in my walk in closet and office! YOU WOULD GASP! LOL I am positive I will achieve my goal!🌹
Dawn I just love you!!! Since I started watching you our lives have completely changed. I always knew deep down I like things simplified and minimal but every time you speak I find myself shaking my head agreeing with you! Thank you for your videos and sharing what minimalism can look like. It does not have to be extreme but once you start it’s just feels so good your whole mindset changes. Xo
I have watched this video a lot. I thought that way about keeping my stand mixer on the counter and other things. I put it all away in a cabinet. That makes me happy. The bathroom counter also. I love being a minimalist. I am having a heart Cath on Thursday. A friend of mine is going to stay at my apartment with my dog. Usually I would stress constantly. I am not because my home is clutter free. I watched your video and said that’s what I want and I started decluttering. Thank you.
Hands down, minimizing is the best decision we have made. So much less stress, resentment and guilt. Chores take minutes to complete because there is less of it and it actually gets completed because chores aren’t the mountain they used to be. We spend less money because we don’t want these “things” in our house to manage. We are more intentional about food too. Thank you for your content - it’s been life changing and with simple methods.
When we moved 2 yrs ago. I got rid of over 1/2 our daughters toys. I've probably cut them by more than 1/2 again over the last 2yrs. Trust me, it is life changing!!! I used to spend an hour or more picking up her toys every single night. Now with a little guidance, she can pick it all up herself in around 10min. And she actually plays with everything she has now. I have simplified my wardrobe. Still working on it, but I no longer buy things unless I LOVE them in the dressing room. If there is even a hint of question, it goes back on the rack. I wear everything in my closet now. And except for a few dressy pieces. Everything goes with everything else. Makes getting dressed so easy! I have gotten rid of about 3/4 of the kitchen stuff. Would like to pare down more, but hubby cooks at least 1/2 the time, and he doesnt want to get rid of anything else. (He also doesnt have to do the dishes....). We got rid of all our cheap flimsy furniture before we moved. And committed to really taking the time to consider how something will be used and how it will fit the space before we buy it now. Which means we have yet to buy any new furniture. I am working on the bathrooms now. We have 3, so have to find the right balance where each is stocked but we dont have a ton of excess. I would love to just wholesale clear out/minimize the entire house at once. But I have to consider my husband and daughters feelings as well. But everytime we simplify an area, it take loads off my shoulders!!!!
Yes! I realized that I was stressed out with the bookcases in our living room. I thought the solution was to get a different case with doors that could close and hide the visual clutter. But my husband suggested we just move them out of the living room-so we did! We took out two bookcases, two end tables, one wingback chair, and an art easel. We ended up selling the easel and the guest futon. The bookcases are in the “library” with a door that closes! It’s so nice!
Thank you Dawn. You are an inspiration. My kitchen is so much better with limited things. True about the groove. Automatically wash dishes after each meal. My kitchen always look clean.
I am so glad I found this channel! For nearly the first 10 years of my marriage I lived in a 1200 sq.ft. home and on a single teaching salary. I was a minimalist out of necessity without even thinking about it. We lived there until we had our 3rd child. Over the last 6 years we have moved twice, had another baby and currently live in 1800 square feet with 2.5X the income. Lately I've been feeling like I have nothing to show for it and I hanker for the days I could clean my entire house in a matter of hours. Funny enough, my mother-in-law calls me a minimalist. I know we are not in the worst position but now is the time to turn it around before we are completely out of control. I am looking forward to what the end of this year and next will bring, with your help.
I highly simplified my bedroom a month or two ago (probably after seeing your bedroom) and, you’re right, everyone is always hanging out in there.. Also, quarantined everyone’s clothes and a lot of the kitchenware ...now to clear the counters...
For me I got really sick and couldn't do anything. I was walking around the house thinking to myself "that don't belong to me" over and over again. Every thing I was looking at was things that belonged to family members that past away. I started watching stuff on UA-cam and found your channel and read a lot of books. Then when I was better and able to do stuff again I started throwing things out. Still working on it but I love throwing thing things out and not caring.
I have been giving my grandchildren an experience gift for the last several years… We decide what we’re going to do and then we spend the day together making memories… Rather than collecting stuff. Believe it or not these are some of their favourite gifts they perceived over the years. The other thing that we do as a family is gather our money together and purchase one gift for these children… Typically it’s when it’s a very expensive item they have asked for.
I love your content! I have highly simplified my home over the past few years and it makes a world of difference! Mostly with the time it takes to clean up. Soooo much faster! Like a few minutes compared to many hours.
I find that I've got rid of loads and still going, we do have to do seasonal clothes but this tsar there so much less. I now have shelves and cupboards with are empty. It feels so good
Your home is beautiful. I have been minimalistic for 9 yrs i love it. When people give you stuff you just don't want it or need it. I don't even want to buy anything. Going in a store actually just getting what you need food personal toiletries saves time and money. For any gifts for others I give gift cards or physically help them in there home or yard. Even cleaning products and cosmetics toiletries ect are simplified. The money you save is just absolutley amazing. Your time after work to relax read think or spend quality with family and friends is so great. It's so amazing what you can live with out. My home is like yours. People are so relaxed in my space but just can't fathom less. We all work so hard why wouldn't you want to just have peace and a clean home.
I laughed so hard...they haven’t spoken up yet. 😂😂😂 I’m speaking up. The stand mixer, coffee pot, and knife block are left on the counters. I had them put away, but did find I preferred them out. The rest of the stuff, I LOVE having out of sight. Here’s the thing, though...I tried it out! If I hadn’t tried several things, I would have missed out on this beautiful way to live!
I'm trying it out now. The knife block stays out because I use it all the time, but I'm realizing that the stuff I only use a few minutes a day, it can get put away
I keep trying to find a spot for my knife block and mixer. I love them but they are so bulky, I may have to move everything around in the kitchen! I really would love them off the counter. We use the knives every day but not the mixer, but the mixer is really tall so it's a pretty big challenge to find a place for it, it is also super heavy.
@@rawcurls1 I found a wooden knife tray that fits in a drawer, which works great. I have reduced the number of knives we have so didn't really need the whole block anymore anyway.
Yay! I’m having the best week! My favorite you-tubers keep posting. ☺️ Just watched clutterbug, a hoarder’s heart yesterday, and the minimal mom and she’s in her apron Sunday. You ladies just make my week. I appreciate you all.
@@tgayer1 Do It On A Dime is great! And her videos are usually short. I can watch her videos in a few minutes. I haven't watched Hoarder's Heart, but the others mentioned are on my daily list. Also Jamie's Journey.
I recently went through our entire house room by room following much of your advice. Your comment about finding family members (including active kids) just sitting in a clutter free room enjoying the peace it brings is SOOOO true. THANK YOU for all of your great insight. We are LOVING less inventory to manage and more time and mental capacity for what is important!
Relearning what we once knew, but was easy to forget we knew, because we had nothing to compare it to. The Industrial Revolution made acquiring things cheaper, easier, and a social signal of moving up in the world. Have you ever seen a middle class Victorian Era living room? Extremely visually busy, and so cluttered, even a modern non-minimalist would feel anxious and claustrophobic. And they did it on purpose, as a show of their new level of wealth. It made sense to them, because poor people didn't have rows of trinkets on their mantles. But since then, said trinkets have gotten cheaper and progressively more accessible, aesthetics have changed, and we're discovering that showing off with shiny things is far less valuable than the relaxing atmosphere that comes from only having what you need, something our pre-Industrial ancestors knew, but didn't have access to the means of comparison, to know they knew it.
I've been simplifying for a while now and I've found it happens in layers. I thought I did a ruthless purge then a couple months go by and I have a dream about a top I kept and questioned then I would start again. I've gotten better at it each time but I'm constantly reassured that you and other organizers and minimalists still find things to purge after simple living for some time. It gives me the confidence to keep going on this journey. Thank you, Dawn!
* Yes to all five ideas! If you are new, just try one, maybe the easiest one for you to do. If you find it doesn't make life better for you, then you can go on living your life like you have. Or look at Dawn's other videos about conquering mounds of paper, remodeling, art, finding peace in a troubled world, cooking, traveling, etc. There's a good chance you'll find something you can learn or will enjoy =) * Dawn, you are so not weird! You are super fun, logical, and loving! You have found a great way to live your life so you do more than shuffle possessions from one place to another. Thanks for sharing your wisdom with the rest of us!
I told my daughter in law how excited I am about moving into a bigger house. She said "but it's going to be so empty. It'll take forever to fill it up". Nope: I'll just have more space for my girls and when my family comes to visit. Same furniture, more square footage. We shouldn't have to explain our lack of things. Marketing has ingrained it into everyone! Thank you for making simple living normal. Glad to hear the dental visit went smoothly and didn't create havoc on your finances or schedules. Simple living at its best.
I haven’t been able to get our collection of stuff as low as true “minimalist“ would but I have simplified our townhouse so much that when somebody pops by to visit (although rare), all I might have to do is just vacuum and dust. I don’t think it’s focusing on minimalism for me per se, I think it’s more about developing systems/areas for our stuff. For example, my kids (5&8 years old) know toys are not allowed in the family room. We also have minimalized toys out in their play area so they can clean it up and have space to play. I feel more relaxed about the house, even with the virtual learning and not be having extra time to tidy/clean. Thank you for all the tips and tricks! The “onion method” has really worked for us!
@@Dulce-cm2kx You go room by room taking a little stuff out. For example, in my living room, I might take out all the shoes and put them back on the shoe rack (where they belong). Then go off and do something on my to-do list. Then later on (in the day, week, etc. ) I might gather my kids’ toys, sort them into stuff we’re keeping and what can be given away, putting the keep pile away in the playroom. Then later on, going through the living room again, I might decide that we don’t need as many throw pillows and blankets, so I would either pack them up in the garage or take them to donate. I hope this makes sense. Basically don’t feel like you have to get rid of excess stuff all at once. As you take some away, your perspective of how the room looks changes and you can tweak it by removing stuff a little at a time.
I think minimalism means different things for different people. My definition is that you live with the least amount of stuff you are comfortable with, so that daily life isn't so overwhelming. Sounds like you do have your own little version of minimalism through the boundaries you set with certain rooms of your house! The beauty is that there's no pressure to have any X number of items. Just a way of living simply so you can focus on what's most important.
It was a big thing when I bought a huge doormat, the kind you buy from a roll so I could cut a piece adapted to the width of the hall. The cats loved to claw at it whereupon I could throw out ugly cat trees etc. Loved it!
I have loved simplifying our house. The less toys around, the more my toddler normally plays. I keep the coffee maker, knife block and deep fryer on my counter(it's to heavy to move easily) and made space to put my toaster and kettle in the cupboard. I told myself to just try it out and see, if I don't like it I can always put it back. And it's okay to start small, and I find the quarantine method really helps. As for clothes I love them simplified, but I have to keep more around now because I'm in the maternity, nursing phase and it wouldn't be wise to get rid of them in the meantime
I went into retirement a few years ago and had great plans to declutter my home...mostly closets and cabinets where I could hide and stash just about anything. The garrets were ideal for jamming unused items, but then I had to pull stuff out to get to my Christmas decorations, deep within, not an ideal situation . Well, thank you for accidentally coming into my world, via UA-cam while I was in search of a recipe. I have now started to declutter and organize like never before, and it will take me a few months on this new journey. I’m on a roll though, and my husband is amazed. Thank you , and I love your channel. Also, I love your bedspread/cover and shams. Any chance you could direct me on where I could find that set for our home?! 😊
EmLeigh thank you so much. I will do an online search and hopefully I’ll get lucky and find that set. I’ll also have to look for that bedroom remodel video. Thanks, again, EmLeigh!
Simplify the toys was the best thing! In April while everyone was home all the time all the toys everywhere and constantly picking them up pushed me to really get rid of them. I determined an area in the boys room for toys and if the toys didn't fit there then they were donated. I put them all in the garage for awhile and they didn't ask for any of them! We got rid of 80% of the toys in our house.
In April/May I put away a few boxes of toys. I was planning to rotate them every month or so. Now 5 months later, they have never been rotated, kids have not asked about any of it. So the toys might disappear soon to a charity shop.
When my kids were little we didn’t have a playroom, we had an open plan house and so I had a large cupboard and wicker chest in that room and all the toys fit in those two pieces, except the play kitchen. Best decision !
I wonder if the “tipping point” is overcoming our ingrained human scarcity complex. We worry about getting rid of something we need and having to buy it again (and maybe not being able to afford it), and stew on the money we’ve spent on an item in the first place. But we waste so much by things getting buried and going unused. It reminds me of your clothing purge comments, where we hold on to clothes because we feel like we don’t have anything to wear... but we also feel guilty buying more clothes because we have so much. Those unwearable clothes are like a security blanket. Once we purge enough, we can use more of what we have, and can let go of the scarcity fears.
As the oldest of 5 I appreciated the way my parents handled toys. Each fall we were to go through our toys to select toys to pass on to kids less fortunate than we were. This taught us to think of others and reduce clutter. Of course we could do this any time throughout the year but the emphasis on giving near the holidays was important.
I started to minimize my own things in the house, and the items we CLEARLY had too much of. Little by little I would encourage my husband to let go of clothes that too small, old, etc. My husband now appreciates how clean the house is, and actually helps clean up because there’s not much to clean! AND we are both on board with our kids not having any small cluttering toys that mess the house up. We have a toy “limit” and we stick to it to keep the mess under control!
Does he do the housework and/or prep for entertaining? If so, he has some say. If not, start in the kitchen and empty one cabinet at time. Donate what is not used. Replace the kept items in the same cabinet. Over a few months the kitchen will be done. You’ll end up replacing shelf paper, buying something that has worn out, but you still use. Take it slow - It is amazing.
yep, start with your stuff only, that's what I did and after a year and a half now my husband is cleaning out his stuff, even tossed out all his old model cars he put together as a kid, what purpose does it have sitting in a box in the garage for the last 15 years??
Another vote for just starting on your stuff and areas in your home you take care of. My husband wasn't opposed but it took him a good 18 months before he purged his wardrobe; let's just say he had 3x the clothes as I did even before I simplified.
I have been enjoying your channel for over a year and I love it. The nice thing about the “becoming a minimalist” process is it can happen at your own pace. You don’t have to declutter or change your lifestyle all at once. You have total control over what happens in the process. I have been working on my minimalist goals at a slow pace because I have a job and I babysit my grandchildren. Some days I can pick out a few items of clothing to donate and feel good about the accomplishment. Other days I may not have time to do any decluttering and that’s okay too. Just last week, we packed up our entire household to prepare for a remodel. Needless to say it was the perfect opportunity for simplifying my stuff and I made three truckloads of donations and many trips to the trash. It felt so freeing. I am already thinking about what I put in storage that will not come back in my house 😂. Keep up the encouragement Dawn! You are helping so many people.
Find Erica Lucas on youtube haha. I don't know that I'd consider her an extreme hoarder, but she had a lotttttttttt of still and is working on her journey towards minimalism now.
The one thing about this that surprised me is the first room reached a "tipping point" very quickly. It seemed that all of a sudden it.stayed.clean. Onward to more rooms! I have been minimalizing my wardrobe for 8 years now. Every year I find I can get by with less. Really worthwhile effort. And I am always getting compliments on my clothes...i.e. you have SO many clothes. lol, not really. Everything just goes with everything else...mix and match.
I think Marie Kondo used the term "clicked" for that point where suddenly everything fits, and is easy to manage, or so much easier to manage after that.
I am getting ready to move and staging the house made me realize how great it is having cleaned off counters, great tip if you want to see the benefit of minimalism, going forward I cant wait to do even more! Thanks, I love your channel!
Several years ago, we were moving. I packed a few large boxes of things and put them down in the basement for staging purposes. We didn’t move. I never brought them back upstairs. I quarantined them and never even knew it. 😉
I found you in simple homes and homeschoolers ❤️ every time I watch your video I instantly feel relieved ! I want to try to take this journey of minimalism! I can’t stand clutter and I do get massive anxiety from it 😫 can’t wait to change my lifestyle and my life!
Loving minimalism slowly been working for past year. Christmas will be a year putting all that stuff up last year made me finally start small with the hallway closed! Just that tiny closed had 2 full trash bags of expired meds, towels with holes, etc. It was mortifying to see all mess! But its been game on since! We actually just tore down 2 walls to make our house open concept because we now have then space to not need those walls to hide stuff! So excited this will be our 1st thanksgiving consumer debt free, with a 6 month emergency fund and a minimized house! We have the smallest hoise of my family but its clean and clutter free and everyone is coming here this year because of it! Thank you so much!! This is becuase o found your channel!!! You have been a blessing to me!!!
#1 is so so true! The boys/men in my house (and there are four) could care less about that but clean counters give me so much peace! They argue with me about leaving things out and I remind them that I am the one who cleans up the kitchen so I get to decide! 🤣
I too have fibro. I'm also finding it harder to lift things. Really the only appliance I use besides the coffee maker and a crockpot so I don't have to hard a time.
Recently I was planning on making a purchase- Cultivate Your Life Goal Planner. They came out w different money-saving bundles. I was tempted because “look at all the great stuff you get if you bundle!”, Since I’m trying to pay down debt & minimize our house,, I looked again at the bundle, asked myself if I really needed more washi tape etc. When I totaled up what I really need it was a lot less! But what really got me wins your words came into my head & I thought, “but do I really want to have tho keep up with these extras?” I couldn’t believe how it just popped into my head! You have helped me greatly! That was it! Decision made easily!!! Thank you!
I was sold on minimalism right away too, now I'm just struggling because i cant find anything else to get rid of and my house still feels cluttered. We are a family of 5 in a 1,000 sq. ft. house with no garage or attic, is it possible that it's just that way because our house is "too small"?
My sister lived in about a 700 ft trailer until she was due with her fifth child. She bought some plastic barrels that had water tight lids and put them behind her house for her hand me down storage. This way she was able to keep things in her house to a minimum but yet still have clothing to switch out when the children needed it. I don't know if that would help or not. 😃
It's much harder to be tidy in a small space. We are a family of 3, but our tiny home is often cluttered even on the floor. 1 backpack full of stuff is enough to make our floor look awful. I feel you. It is easier with less stuff no matter the size of our space. But still, I don't always have energy to put things away each time we get home 💓 And sometimes I just need to feel at home and be able to drop the stuff and see it on the floor and not feel guilt for that. I get to remind myself that everything that we have, is something that we need. And I can feel accomplished about that. Even when there is stuff all over the floor :)
@@mintbutterfly10 Those are good reminders! I do find solace in that I actually use everything we have, I dont hold on to things just in case. Part of the problem is that I have several toddlers who are always scattering things around the house and they're not that great at picking up after themselves yet....
We cleared our kitchen counters- BEST FEELING EVER! I LOVE IT!!!!!! I sooooooooooo bad want to do my bathroom counter....BUT............. I have not "minimalized " my make up stuff YET.....I don't know where to store it!!!!!!!!! Love you and your videos! Thank You!!!!!
This was a very creative and inspiring video. Hey, I just finished “Atomic Habits” and really enjoyed it. There were so many good tips for adding good habits and subtracting unwanted ones. Thanks for the recommendation!!💗
Daaaaaawn! Your videos just keep getting better and better! Your so real and honest and relatable! I know I'm a broken record always saying that... but I've never watched another UA-cam channel that has changed my life CONSISTENTLY for the better! It's actually catching on with my brother-in-law and his wife, now!!!! I re-watch your videos all the time. For inspiration, for company, even for a happy chuckle! Can't spread the word enough!
Hi love and enjoy the way you teach us that need help, I’ve been trying for so long to do this and just can’t or Couldn’t till I found you, lm starting to simplify my space , I’m in my 80s so not an easy task 🤪but with you I’m going to get there , thanks so very much keep up the good work love you 🤗 Veronica from England’s green and pleasant land 🤣😂🤣
My magic bullet was a three-week period of couch-surfing with my extended family. I packed 6 days' worth of clothes and a dress (which I knew I'd need), hygiene stuff, some library books and a laptop (no phone, or I wouldn't have brought the computer). I did so well! It was so nice! I didn't even do it to test minimalism I just wanted not to miss my aunt's funeral and Christmas was so close that it was easier to stick around and offer a helping hand. I literally lived out of a bag (I had to store all of my toiletries in the bag when I wasn't using them because the bathroom was so tiny) on someone's couch for three weeks and was more put together than I ever had been (and it all stopped the moment I got back to my stuff). I had a thought around the middle of my stay "WAIT! I'm living out of a bag and I'm happy about it! I should look into this more..." It taught me that not only COULD I live without my hoard, but that it was actually less stressful and more joy came from life without the things I love than from all the items that brought me joy combined. I hadn't really gotten anywhere with that until today because it hadn't clicked into place in my head, but the way you explain your stuff and the ideas you have made it click and for the first time in my life I got rid of a bunch of things that I liked (but did not love). Thank you!
This is soooo true when I redid our bathroom and cleared the counter it’s so peaceful to walk in! So I did the same when simplifying our bedroom!!!! Love it! 🥰
I used to live highly simplified when I was in college and my first apartment out. Then my boyfriend and I bought our first house and combined all our things. For the life of me I am trying so hard to get back to that place but have just struggled so hard for the last 5 years. This is the year. I am so tired of trying to simplify, I just want it done.
I took out a cabinet above my toilet yesterday because I cleaned out my cabinet above the sink and said, I don't need that cabinet anymore. So I filled the holes last night and sanded this morning. I ended up painting the whole bathroom and trim. I was done by 2pm today and have a nice refresh bathroom. I already had the paint and supplies so it cost me nothing.
Your content is super, Your speaking abilities are superb to be concise, on point, no ahhhs, ummmms. Love the type A vibe. Your one of the few that i only speed up to 1.25 instead of 2x. Great job
10 years ago I went thru a very tragic situation. During that time, my husband and I were full time youth pastor/associate pastor. We had 3 children who were 6 and younger. The tragedy knocked me off of my feet. For 10 years I have struggled with severe depression and anxiety. I basically isolated myself from the world. Thru God's grace and faithfulness I was able to overcome the depression. I feel like myself again for the first time in 10 years. I have checked back into life. However, I was feeling so overwhelmed with everything that I had pushed aside for 10 years. My home being out of control was the most overwhelming. About a month ago I happened to come across one of your videos. It was life changing and I was instantly motivated. Every single day, I watch your videos and work on minimizing every single thing in my home. The Lord has used you big time in helping me get my life and home together. I am so blessed and grateful. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. It has brought a new joy, energy, hope, security and many many more things into my life! I am just astonished at how this has changed my heart in a million different ways!!
God Bless you and your Family. God is good.
God bless you. I too have depression plus severe anxiety and it is exhausting as anything. That is when and why I either but unnecessary things or let things pile. Today, though tired, I will tackle a bit. If tragedy struck... I also do not want to leave this for others to deal with for or with me.
Praise the Lord. I’m so happy for you and your family.
It's so hard to check back into life after tragedy. So glad God has given you beauty for ashes. I'm in that season myself. Always struggled keeping a clean home with 3 boys, my youngest passed in an accident and I'm pregnant with our promise and on a crazy cleaning bender this time around. Can't wait to enjoy my new baby in my fresh clean home. 🥰
Jenny, I’m thinking of you and your family. I’m so happy you found Dawn’s channel. She really is a breath of fresh air and I hope you get to a point where your home is an absolute joyful haven that you find you love to be in again. One space and one day...or even one hour at a time. Big hugs to you. 🙏🏼❤️😊
I had a win today. Was at Costco with my aunt who wanted to look at everything. Well she decided she wanted to buy a big snapware set. I had done the suggestion you had made before about putting the lids in the containerS and letting the space limit how much you have. I was easily able to resist and told her my cabinet space for containers was already full and it seems silly to buy more when I would then just have to donate my perfectly fine containers. Yay me
I so enjoy living in a simplified house - but I think it happened in "layers." I would get rid of a bunch of things from a drawer, a closet, a room - and then in a few weeks, I'd realize I was staring at something else in the space that I didn't use, love, or even want. Then another layer would go. It gets easier and easier over time. Thanks for another great video, Dawn! You really are inspiring!
Sounds like the onion method she taught us. Wtg!
@@littleblondemop onions have lay-yers 🐛😉😆
It definitely wasn't an overnight process for me either.... You build up decluttering muscles and get rid of more and more as time goes on. Keeping a few donate bags/boxes around the house makes this process easier and setting reminders seasonally to declutter things such as clothes & toys helps me. X
Totally Agree! I'll skim off a layer and when I see how much better it looks, feels, and it's easier to find what I want and the space just works better, I go back for another round. I haven't missed anything yet and like to think of others who are being blessed with something they needed that would have just collected dust in my house. Thanks, Dawn!!
Agree, so many layers, in getting really close though to getting it the way I need it for more minimalistic home!
Dearest Dawn, this is a brilliant idea! Isn't it funny that we think, about pretty much anything, that it has to be all or nothing. Case in point, I'd had a pretty significant amount of weight to lose, like 100 pounds 20-plus years ago. My doctor said, "Y'know (since this was gonna be such a big change in my life physically and emotionally/psychologically) you don't have to do it all at once, you can lose, 20, stay there for a bit, then lose 20 more, then again, until you feel like you're where you want to be". Can I just say, "Duh!". How had that never occurred to me? I mean, looking ahead to losing 100 pounds was beyond daunting, but 20 pounds, THAT I could do (and did, five times over!). Starting one room at a time, one closet at a time, THAT I can do too! Now, while I'd love to stay and chat, there's a kitchen (recently re-done I might add, so the timing is perfect) calling me. With love from the Southern California desert, MK. ❤️☀️🌵
Thats great point, thank you, never thought of it , loosing 20 pounds 5 times .
Hi Dawn....I just turned 70 and I am a retired art teacher. I have spent my life collecting beautiful things I was drawn to and also many art supplies. My sister always tells me everything I have is so cool. At this time in my life, I feel like I am drowning in stuff. After a lifetime of collecting, I yearn for more peace in my space. Most of my friends are also feeling the same way and want to get rid of so much stuff. I relate so much to your videos and hope that I can make a difference in my living space. I am such a visual person and always enjoyed living with all my treasures, but I think those same treasures are keeping my anxiety level up and I need to reach a better balance. Thanks for you inspiration.....I am learning!
Have you thought about making a photo Journal of your Treasures before you start deciding which few you want to keep, what you would like to gift out, what you might like to donate to some worthy organizations, Etc? If you were to do a photo Journal you could write a short description or story about each treasure. Then, when you really are feeling nostalgic you can flip through the pages and enjoy them all over again, while still enjoying your Serene home.
@@laurahudson8210 What a great idea! I had heard the advice about photographing sentimental items in order to part with the physical objects before, but not about making a journal with notes/stories. One of the recent iOS updates has made it easy to caption a photo (granted, I don’t know the character limit on captions).
It would be really easy when decluttering to photograph each object before disposing of it and caption it “From Jen, Mother’s Day 2003”, put the pics into a dedicated album in the photo app, and later on send all the photos to an online company like Shutterfly to have a nice book made, if desired, perhaps with a little longer story for each pic.
I just read your text and wondering how you are managing these days. I am about to turn 75. 3 1/2 yrs ago I moved to a much smaller place and thought I was downsizing. Wrong. I am still buying "stuff" I think I need and no longer have the room. Every day is a struggle for me. Dawn has the right idea about so many things. Are you still with her?
@@PR-ir5ni yes, I am still a faithful follower of Dawns. I get inspired by her videos but many times just still overwhelmed by the task of decluttering. I have made progress and vow to continue even if at a snail’s pace!
Think of finding an up and coming artist or more who might benefit from your supplies! A win/win situation!
I go around the house looking for things to donate. I am determined to slowly but surely be " lessened by stuff".
Agreeing. I'm on this journey but taking it slow. I have a husband that is sentimental about just about everything, right down to old clothes and coffee mugs.
Me too Jilly Girl!
That's been my approach, including a drawer at a time. My husband borders on being a hoarder and resists getting rid of just about anything.
Me too. We should start another movement.
@@janetfuller1900 Slowly and Surely Moving Toward Freedom ? :)
Just recently , I went to Niagara Falls , and in Niagara Falls , there is a little town called Niagara on the Lake . It’s full of cozy stores that have anything and everything you want . BUT I am 13 , have found Dawn ( minimal mom ) and have been living out minimalism , and sharing it with my family . It’s changed me and slowly I have been seeing signs of changes in the way my parents have been talking about the house . It’s been them talking about how we need to get rid of stuff . SO when we were in Niagara Falls , I started hearing the “tips” I’ve been preaching to them . Such as , my mom said “ Brielle ,today I almost bought a coat that wasn’t warm enough but was cute yet I didn’t get it “ so she bought one that was warm enough ! And I hear my dad say , “-we don’t need this ! - we have too much stuff “ or my mom said “- I don’t love it so I won’t get it” . Yesterday we REALLY decluttered the cellar . I’ve been seeing change ! It’s working ! Thanks Dawn !!!!!!
Great leadership, Brielle!
I am super happy for you!!!!! Good job!!!!
That's great 👍
Brielle, you sound like a very mature 13 yr. old.
It sounds like such a beautiful place to visit
I have a 14 year old granddaughter it would be a blessing if she thought like you I'm trying to set an example for her You can have cozy with a candle and soft music you just don't need all the frills I've learned that it's taken me 60 some years but how awesome of you to be teaching your parents
I never even thought that possible I always thought it should be the other way around but God bless your heart. I'm sure your parents are very proud of you to already adopt a lifestyle at 13🍃
"I think were more alike than different"....a quote for the ages 😊
I wish everyone thought this way
Watching this again because as soon as you said take things off counter I said out loud ok and cleaned my bathroom. My son saw it after it was clean and said mom the bathroom looks so nice when it’s clean. Even though I clean it it looked cluttered. So out with the junk.
I don’t know what it is about you but I am always motivated. And I have also gotten help from your followers. With their help I got rid of a trunk load of linens. Have a great day. And thank you.
what a wonderful confirmation from your son
@@sj6728 I think what it is about her is this: her peaceful way and her easy smile.
Don’t worry Dawn , it didn’t come off as bragging , it came off as a proof that when mean people say “ your just getting rid of everything ?” NO! It’s changing how life doesn’t have to be hectic , and shows how minimalism spreads to every area of your life in the best way possible ! Love you ❤️ keep doing what your doing ! We need you !
You do a great job ...I’m trying hard to get going on this I’m 72 and I don’t want my kids
To think my a pack rat after I go ...Thanks for helping me us old people need help too 👍👍👍😍😍😍
I am simplifying for the same reason. I know the children will appreciate my effort later on.
I’m also 72. You Mentioned Swedish Death Cleaning and I loved it!! I’m doing a first pass through 3,200 sq ft. I don’t want my stuff to burden my kids. I gave away my punch bowl…hadn’t used it in 40 years! Bye Felicia! Once I got started I loved the feeling of seeing empty drawers and cabinets with space. I have no desire to replace anything. Just didn’t need to Test Drive Minimalism. I’m looking forward to the second pass. Thanks for keeping me inspired to keep going.❤️
When we started to simplify our house I stopped asking my husband to move. I wasn’t happy because the house was “too small for all my stuff “ after the de clutter we felt happier and satisfied with our home. We are spending less money because we buy things that has a purpose not because they are on sale. I love the feeling of organization ( and my husband now is feeling the same way) . Thank you
I was thinking about buying an extra cabinet for my kitchen and then I realized that if I just get rid of the things I do not use in the kitchen, I won't need to buy it at all!!!
Great to hear
@@svetlanamorozova - I agree that limiting what you purchase is always better than continually purchasing new stuff. Donating and also selling unused items will also work for many. What everyone should be most concerned about is donating instead of disposing which becomes an environmental issue.
Highly simplify one room. That’s a great way to trial run!!
Happy Tuesday friend!
Erica, did you and Dawn ever think you'd be the role models you both are??!!😄
What a great community of friends we have here ! If you’re reading this right now , I hope your having an amazing Tuesday , or whichever day it is for you❤️ happy minimalizing , friend !
@@briellejoysmids3132 Truth Brielle. I hope you also have an amazing day.❤️
@@minimalzebra you too Jo!!
I started the minimalism journey a year ago. My niece was critically ill so I we to to Colorado to help since it was a long term situation .( Praise God she is fine now)
While I was there, the bedroom I stayed in was just a low bed. Nothing else but a beautiful window. There was a nice walk in closet , that had a small trunk in it. I kept my stuff in that closet, but the room was empty.
I have never rested so well, even through that very difficult time.
I truly believe that minimalistic room helped me sleep at night. There was nothing to distract me.
I have gotten rid of the excess and I do not miss it.
Thanks for your channel.
Your family is so sweet !
That was soo sweet!! Glad to hear of your niece's recovery! :)
What an amazing gift to receive that insight during such a difficult time.
I’ve been working on minimalism for about 6 weeks. This is the best thing I have done for our family home to date. The only thing I can say is better late than never. My kids are all in college but I can’t wait for them to experience the house when they come home at Thanksgiving. I send them pictures of my progress and they are excited for me. 🥰
I never thought I could do it, but am proving myself wrong.😊
Thank you Dawn for all your encouragement.🌻
Way to go! Taking pictures is great for you to track your progress as well!
This was my plan when they went off to school. But I'm finding it difficult to make the time or have the energy. Thank you for the motivation!
Way to go!!!!!!!Sounds like so much fun!!!!
“If you simplify just one room, I think you will find the people in your family gravitating to that room.” TRUE! I’ve only done my walk in closet so far, but I’ve spent like 3 hours sitting in there today, I think. It’s so nice 😂
So what I'm taking away from this is -- i should FINALLY get rid of the before kids clothing, that other job clothing, the in case I get invited to the Kardashians clothing, the once I lose 10 lbs clothing and the I spent alot on this clothing? I really need to downsize my closet! 🤪
You got it... I need to do exactly the same 🙈😂
This is a riot...and so true!😊
🤣True! ... and love your sense of humor!
Which leaves you with just things I love and wear. It's all good!
So well said, Rosa!
So my sister says that my house looks like we've been burgled because I hAve simplified my house. For me it's calm, homely and so un stressful. I moved towards minimalism nearly 5 years ago now.
Your peaceful home has raised discomfort in her, so she finds a dig to make it seem you’re the one who is “wrong” (which is a silly distinction anyway).
a lot of folks think that about my house. lol. But I love it. 😉
I minimized my counter and my mother came over and said where’s all your stuff and it felt like a criticism so I put a lot more back out. SHe said it was cozy. Now I’m thinking yes it’s cozy but it’s hard to clean so perhaps I can find a spot to put a few decorative items hidden away and pull them out for company... because I agree home looks more inviting when there’s a few things out that are cute.
@@Oceangirl1234 don't make your life stressful to fit other people's versions of calm. We're 20 years into this century with internet and more info overload than ever, I feel like minimalism is a way to help people unwind and declutter not just their spaces but their minds. We've never in history been bombarded with so much info so we need reprieve somewhere.
@@bellemusecore you are so right. I admit I do like to see a few things out here in the air I wouldn’t want to see completely bare counters. BUT We use our kitchen a lot I mean a lot a lot it is definitely where we cook and clean.
I started purging about a year ago in anticipation of our move coming up. I absolutely LOVE how my house looks & feels right now. I’m looking forward to keeping it this way at our new home. Thank you for your inspiration 💞
I’ve been on the minimalistic journey for a couple of years now and I still find SO MUCH VALUE in your videos like this - such a good refresher and also inspiring me to be MORE ruthless in my decluttering! I really enjoyed this!
Tip for coffeemakers and stuff like that. We keep our coffeemachine in a cupboard on a pullout-shelf. Theres is a plug in the back wall where it is plugged in. We planned that with our kitchen and it is just great! No machine on the counter but it is always ready to use just by opening up the cupboard and pull the drawer out.
Fantastic idea!!!!!
I did something similar when we remodeled. I had an electrical outlet installed in my pull-on pantry (which the electrician thought was odd), and I keep the toaster and vacuum sealer (the appliances we use most often) on a roll-out shelf in there, ready to go. The stand mixer is in an "appliance lift" cabinet, so it can be easily lifted up to countertop height when I need it and lowered back into the cabinet when I'm done. And, the garbage can is in a special rollout cabinet. It's so much easier to keep floors and countertops clean if you aren't having to sweep/mop/wipe around stuff that's in the way.
Wow. We will be building a house soon and I've been looking for ways to build in functionality. This is great. Thank you!
I love these videos! The topic of kids toys: My daughter is almost 6 now and is SO much happier without so much "stuff"!!! We had to downsize some things with a surprise pregnancy. We had to eliminate our play room (extra bedroom) when finding out baby #2 was coming. My daughter was so excited to give her toys to other kids who may not be has fortunate as herself. Now she volunteers to go through her room from time to time and wants to do a "deep" re organization and asks for my help!! I couldn't be prouder of her! She THRIVES now where as before she seemed a little overwhelmed perhaps at all the options of toys. Now she has her favorites and she is happier having more space to play in than toys to play with! - Seeing another real life Mom living minimally is super helpful and inspiring!!!
Love the video and I agree 100%!
That was a lot of commercials for a 16 min video-just fyi
I thought I had really simplified, but I am finding that I am inspired to simplify even more!!!😀. It really is calming and peaceful to live in a simplified home ❤️
When I retired a few short years ago, I was tired, mentally and physically exhausted really, after working in a really demanding field for the last 25 years. I really wanted to simplify my life. Had I known at the time about your videos and a couple others on de-cluttering, it might have gone faster! 😅 My home certainly is not as totally tidy as yours is Dawn, but what I have within view are things that are really important to me. It's not a lot, and I love that. I am way less anxious, and can totally clean my home from one end to the other in about an hour - because I don't have a bunch of stuff to pick up and put away, dust, clean, etc. The minimizing or de-cluttering or whatever you want to call it has been a game changer in my life. Thank you Dawn for all the inspiration!
I am so happy for you!!! I am retiring in 62 days!!!!!!!!!
@@sj6728 You will love it!!!
I’ve been decluttering for more than a year and now feeling real peace at having lightened the load here. Less furniture, linens, books, clothes, kitchen items, decorations make it easier to keep up with housework too.
I like the gift-giving rule that goes like this: something they want, something they need, something to wear, and/or something to read. Sometimes the “something they want” is an experience, not an item.
I enjoy giving an experience.
@@tomjones2157 😊There are other things to read....My mil's birthday is today. She's 83 and we sent her a handwritten letter tucked inside a card, talking about some of the things we love about her and a favorite memory of being with her.
On my 50th birthday my mom wrote a letter like that for me. I keep it in my nightstand and it's one of the best gifts I ever got. She's in heaven now and I treasure it more each year.
@@Julie-rc7wl that’s beautiful!
@@ksharpe8137 Thank you for your kind words! 😘
My parents on a few Birthday's woke me up singing "Happy Birthday." Bringing in a tray with my breakfast. Yes, I did get one or two items I needed. But those mornings showed how much they loved me. They both passed away in my early 20's. Memories I will never forget.
I was hooked!! I minimized our home little by little and my family never complained. We even started washing our dishes by hand with no whining! Haha It’s so nice when friends pop in unexpectedly, you aren’t frazzled and can actually enjoy their company ❤️
We painted our bedroom this last weekend and also decked it out with a nice headboard and footboard (we’ve never had one in 10 yrs of marriage 😆) Our bedroom used to be latte brown with big leopard spots on the walls (thanks, previous owners). Highly motivated by your channel and the way you phrase things, I ATTACKED the visual clutter and closets. It’s the one space besides the basement storage that I have been dreading making minimal, I knew it would be more mentally exhausting than other places. Our living room is usually a place of peace and is minimal but because of the bedroom redo, that space hasn’t been as tidy. (Heading to fix that right after I leave this comment 😉) All week I have found my 3 kids just sitting in the newly simple and peaceful bedroom, or quietly playing on the floor 😍 so funny that you mentioned it!
I lost the battle over the coffee mug tree staying on the counter, but I did win keeping a minimum of utensils in the jar and drawer. Hubby actually said, "I like being able to find what I need" !!!
I hope you don't accidentally knock it over and break it. Then it wouldn't live on your countertop.
What if you added a couple hooks under the cabinet and hung the mugs? It is a win win...easy access and off the counter😀
@@annieheath986 🤣🤣🤣🤣
I lost the battle over the coffee mug tree staying on the counter, but I did win keeping a minimum of utensils in the jar and drawer. Hubby actually said, "I like being able to find what I need" !!!
I have severe fibromyalgia and completely clear counters didn't work for me. It's too painful to constantly move things and I found myself spending extra money to avoid lifting my stand mixer. Now I go by the real estate idea I learned from Cass the Clutterbug. I have made 1 small space dedicated to the appliances I need everyday or at least several times a week: my coffee pot, microwave, stand mixer, blender, and small toaster oven. The rest of my counter space is clear. The crockpot, instant pot, griddle, waffle maker, dehydrator, ice cream maker, etc can be lived without if I'm having a fibromyalgia flare but those 5 things deserve important real estate in my kitchen because I use them regularly to make my life easier and my family's lives more enjoyable. I don't regret the effort I put into clearing my counters because I learned from it. Condensing what I need to 1 small space IS better than having it all spread out, but everyone's minimal is different and we each have to find what works for us and not feel guilty if the traditional advice doesn't fit our lives. P.S. - I know I listed off a lot of normally unnecessary appliances but making amazing food is one of my favorite hobbies, and with lots of mouths to fill, I need to make it easy on myself to enjoy it. I would rather have less in other areas than part with those handy appliances.
I have fibromyalgia too and for me is the same. I want to try to declutter some cabinets and see if I can eliminate something from the counters and instead put a tea station. In winter and fall I make it every day and it will easy for me to have it on the counter
Yes, fibromyalgia and autoimmune joint issues are why my stand mixer is still out. I can't lift that monster in and out of anywhere! And my knife block is still out because I'm constantly using them, and the toaster is out because my husband objected a LOT to clearing it off, lol. Other than that, I love my clear counters! Oh, and I have a utensil crock too because I only have a couple of drawers in my whole kitchen. Smaller kitchens with no pantry and weird layouts can confound your efforts also.
Krystle Poulin I had my husband install a shelf in the cupboard for my stand mixer that pulls out and up easily so I don’t have to lift it. It’s awesome because I use it a lot but don’t have the counter space to leave it out. It does take up most of one cupboard though.
I started taking kelp tablets and my fibro pain disappeared.
Fibromyalgia friend over here too. I actually just ordered a little baker’s rack/island to make a coffee/tea bar to help create more counter space so I can leave my most used appliances out.
We were in the process of packing for a move when the lockdown stalled things. I started watching your videos about the same time. It has really changed how I think of decorating. All my decor has been packed up for months and nothing is hanging on our walls. It's pretty much just the furniture and some plants.
Recently, I watched a decorator give a tour of her beautiful home on UA-cam. What was once a look I would have admired, I was newly struck by how much inventory I was looking at in each room. After living in the minimized look, I no longer want to be surrounded by so many things, no matter how pretty. The feeling is lighter, more relaxing to me to be simplified and I no longer feel compelled to buy more stuff to like my surroundings. I do look forward to getting to put out a few pretty things in our next house, but I will be scaling way back.
Thank you, Dawn! It has been so great to learn from you!
I totally get it. Some of the decorating channels I used to love, I now watch and think it's just too much.
Hello!! A video from you really brightens my day! :)
I'm still at the very beginning of my minimalism journey but you are so right, I just crave more simplicity! If you're unsure, do one room. It's amazing how you resist getting that room dirty again. It's basically turned into a game. What else could I simplify?
My mother in law asked if she could come to the house and I didn't immediately feel a wave of anxiety thinking "I have to get out of work as fast as I can. Oh my gosh the house is a mess! I should tell her to come at 6:30pm so I can get home and have 30 minutes to speed clean!" I tidied up when I got home, but it was already presentable. First thing she said was "whoa, your kitchen is really clean! Your counters are so shiny! What did you do in here?" My husband said "She is simplifying!" Then in the living room she said "Mama's got this room really clean too. Did you take something out? It feels so much bigger." I wanted to kiss her feet!!! Ironically, I had my car detailed at the same time I decided to start this journey and 3 weeks later, it's still clean! It's amazing the way it makes you feel too. I've actually felt good in the mornings and wasn't greeted by a messy bathroom and kitchen. I even put makeup on every morning and that really boosts my self esteem. I wash my face every evening now and my 2yr old daughter has caught on and says "Face!" because she wants to put lotion on her face too. This is going to sound crazy but I remember things easier too. My to-do list isn't a constant thing I forget. I just do it right then, and it's done.
What an uplifting and encouraging testimony, Edna! Sounds like you're really getting things simplifyied! So awesome for your little one to be able to grow up in that environment and learn from you. And GO supportive hubby! That always feels terrific when they brag on you to others! Proud of you!
Way to go! Your story is so inspiring!
Way to go!!! 🎉😊👍
Happy for you, What a great place to be! Keep on:-)
Wow great thanks for sharing its great
I took my eight year old son to the dentist today as well. His molar coming in caused an infection. He's fine now and it's good to hear that Corbin is doing good to. Although it took a good part of my morning, I wasn't stressed about getting everything done. When we got home I just had to put a few things away that the kids had gotten out. Thank you for showing me how to get to this point. It is awesome.
Hahhaaaa! I was in the garage, in my car watching this. :))
Your channel is so dangerous to me because every time I watch I start cleaning and then I gather a ton of stuff to take to the consignment store and it would be scary to know how much we have brought to the consignment store. 😂
That is hysterical! 😂😂
Ha! I would be except I’ve so much stuff I can’t get my car in the garage.
I quarantined some kitchen stuff after watching Becker’s kitchen counter video ( again🤦🏻♀️). It clicked with me in a new way and now I want to quarantine all the things!! So I had a conversation with hubby and got his permission to quarantine some of his stuff ( that’s in common areas of our mud room/ laundry room). So stuff is going in lots of boxes!!!
No, it didn't come across as bragging. It was eye opening. I never thought about it that way
My mom doesn't want me to declutter my clothes, so the ones I don't like live in an other drawer for now😅😂
I've been de-cluttering for a long time and I don't see the effects sometimes because I'm so used to living in a beautiful, clean, open space. Our house is just under 1000 sq feet and we are a family of 4 with 3 cats. My husband had his friend and his wife come over and the wife looked around with huge eyes and said, "WHERE IS YOUR CLUTTER?" Ha! We literally got rid of all the clutter and she was expecting it because it is "normal" to have clutter. I had another friend come over who said, "Where is all the stuff?" She then laughingly looked under my bed and nothing was there. I think it kind of scared her!
Dawn, we are more alike then different.
Thank you for the videos that show how a regular family can go on this lovely journey of minimalism. You have helped keep me inspired in my personal journey.
Oh Stephanie I can only pray to have that same experience at my house! I am trying but not setting an actual time limit, so I don't get discouraged, but already seeing a few ripples have room to spread, and my goal is to move objects out of the way so as not to interfere with their path! I will have a relaxing home to enjoy!
My husband couldn't care less about clutter. Me, on the other hand, makes me crazy!
I’m sooo trying to go minimal but it is taking me so long! I feel like I have zero time to make it thru everything. I’ve made a pretty good dent but I can’t seem to catch up. The days are only so long and I have a lot of stuff. But I have faith that I’ll make it thru someday. Hopefully sooner than later!
A little at a time becomes a lot over time!!!!! You can do it.
I was the same way I litterally starting just throwing everything out of my house lol
I did actually entirely clear counters and hated it. . I can’t tolerate clutter. But I have some decor on my counter tops. I got rid of it all and hated how bare it was. Again... hate clutter and don’t have it But do have decor. And we don’t pile dishes either. We have a DW. I will say when you are home all day, it’s probably easier to wash dishes after each meal! We run the DW at night and empty in the morning. No dishes sit in the sink. I think decor equals cozy. I think barre is kind of cold... to me. I thought about stepping down a room and I would not like it. Again no clutter just my decor.
Started out really good! Or rather my husband and son did! The garage really was cleaned out to get another car in! One part is still needing treatment!
But ... hurricanes keep coming to side line me! We were not hit ... Praise the Lord ... poor Lake Charles was again. But this one took out our power!
I was already sick and no air, etc. made it worst! So now I am on the road to recovery! I have things in boxes to put out but need sunny weather ... hopefully this next week!
I will make it but I have huge clutter in my walk in closet and office!
YOU WOULD GASP! LOL
I am positive I will achieve my goal!🌹
I believe you will. Give an update in the near future
Dawn I just love you!!! Since I started watching you our lives have completely changed. I always knew deep down I like things simplified and minimal but every time you speak I find myself shaking my head agreeing with you! Thank you for your videos and sharing what minimalism can look like. It does not have to be extreme but once you start it’s just feels so good your whole mindset changes. Xo
I have watched this video a lot. I thought that way about keeping my stand mixer on the counter and other things. I put it all away in a cabinet. That makes me happy. The bathroom counter also. I love being a minimalist. I am having a heart Cath on Thursday. A friend of mine is going to stay at my apartment with my dog. Usually I would stress constantly. I am not because my home is clutter free. I watched your video and said that’s what I want and I started decluttering. Thank you.
Hands down, minimizing is the best decision we have made. So much less stress, resentment and guilt. Chores take minutes to complete because there is less of it and it actually gets completed because chores aren’t the mountain they used to be. We spend less money because we don’t want these “things” in our house to manage. We are more intentional about food too. Thank you for your content - it’s been life changing and with simple methods.
So freeing to be out from under the weight of material possessions. I value relationship/experiences over things. Thank you for the great information!
When we moved 2 yrs ago. I got rid of over 1/2 our daughters toys. I've probably cut them by more than 1/2 again over the last 2yrs. Trust me, it is life changing!!! I used to spend an hour or more picking up her toys every single night. Now with a little guidance, she can pick it all up herself in around 10min. And she actually plays with everything she has now.
I have simplified my wardrobe. Still working on it, but I no longer buy things unless I LOVE them in the dressing room. If there is even a hint of question, it goes back on the rack. I wear everything in my closet now. And except for a few dressy pieces. Everything goes with everything else. Makes getting dressed so easy!
I have gotten rid of about 3/4 of the kitchen stuff. Would like to pare down more, but hubby cooks at least 1/2 the time, and he doesnt want to get rid of anything else. (He also doesnt have to do the dishes....).
We got rid of all our cheap flimsy furniture before we moved. And committed to really taking the time to consider how something will be used and how it will fit the space before we buy it now. Which means we have yet to buy any new furniture.
I am working on the bathrooms now. We have 3, so have to find the right balance where each is stocked but we dont have a ton of excess.
I would love to just wholesale clear out/minimize the entire house at once. But I have to consider my husband and daughters feelings as well. But everytime we simplify an area, it take loads off my shoulders!!!!
You are doing this really well and making good progress. You are very thoughtful.
Yes! I realized that I was stressed out with the bookcases in our living room. I thought the solution was to get a different case with doors that could close and hide the visual clutter. But my husband suggested we just move them out of the living room-so we did! We took out two bookcases, two end tables, one wingback chair, and an art easel. We ended up selling the easel and the guest futon. The bookcases are in the “library” with a door that closes! It’s so nice!
Thank you Dawn. You are an inspiration. My kitchen is so much better with limited things. True about the groove. Automatically wash dishes after each meal. My kitchen always look clean.
I am so glad I found this channel! For nearly the first 10 years of my marriage I lived in a 1200 sq.ft. home and on a single teaching salary. I was a minimalist out of necessity without even thinking about it. We lived there until we had our 3rd child. Over the last 6 years we have moved twice, had another baby and currently live in 1800 square feet with 2.5X the income. Lately I've been feeling like I have nothing to show for it and I hanker for the days I could clean my entire house in a matter of hours. Funny enough, my mother-in-law calls me a minimalist. I know we are not in the worst position but now is the time to turn it around before we are completely out of control. I am looking forward to what the end of this year and next will bring, with your help.
I highly simplified my bedroom a month or two ago (probably after seeing your bedroom) and, you’re right, everyone is always hanging out in there.. Also, quarantined everyone’s clothes and a lot of the kitchenware ...now to clear the counters...
For me I got really sick and couldn't do anything. I was walking around the house thinking to myself "that don't belong to me" over and over again. Every thing I was looking at was things that belonged to family members that past away. I started watching stuff on UA-cam and found your channel and read a lot of books. Then when I was better and able to do stuff again I started throwing things out. Still working on it but I love throwing thing things out and not caring.
Feel better :)
I have been giving my grandchildren an experience gift for the last several years… We decide what we’re going to do and then we spend the day together making memories… Rather than collecting stuff. Believe it or not these are some of their favourite gifts they perceived over the years. The other thing that we do as a family is gather our money together and purchase one gift for these children… Typically it’s when it’s a very expensive item they have asked for.
Thank you Grandma! I wish I had this.
Thanks for all you do, Dawn!!
I love your content! I have highly simplified my home over the past few years and it makes a world of difference! Mostly with the time it takes to clean up. Soooo much faster! Like a few minutes compared to many hours.
I find that I've got rid of loads and still going, we do have to do seasonal clothes but this tsar there so much less. I now have shelves and cupboards with are empty. It feels so good
I love having every thing paired down and simplified. It’s awesome.
Amen.
Your home is beautiful. I have been minimalistic for 9 yrs i love it. When people give you stuff you just don't want it or need it. I don't even want to buy anything. Going in a store actually just getting what you need food personal toiletries saves time and money. For any gifts for others I give gift cards or physically help them in there home or yard. Even cleaning products and cosmetics toiletries ect are simplified. The money you save is just absolutley amazing. Your time after work to relax read think or spend quality with family and friends is so great. It's so amazing what you can live with out. My home is like yours. People are so relaxed in my space but just can't fathom less. We all work so hard why wouldn't you want to just have peace and a clean home.
This is awesome, I'm a new mom and I'm so glad I found this going in and not a couple years after the chaos gets out of hand. Loving your channel**
I laughed so hard...they haven’t spoken up yet. 😂😂😂 I’m speaking up. The stand mixer, coffee pot, and knife block are left on the counters. I had them put away, but did find I preferred them out. The rest of the stuff, I LOVE having out of sight. Here’s the thing, though...I tried it out! If I hadn’t tried several things, I would have missed out on this beautiful way to live!
I'm trying it out now.
The knife block stays out because I use it all the time, but I'm realizing that the stuff I only use a few minutes a day, it can get put away
It's the knife block, toaster, and coffee machine for me. The stuff we are continually using every day.
I keep trying to find a spot for my knife block and mixer. I love them but they are so bulky, I may have to move everything around in the kitchen! I really would love them off the counter. We use the knives every day but not the mixer, but the mixer is really tall so it's a pretty big challenge to find a place for it, it is also super heavy.
@@rawcurls1 I found a wooden knife tray that fits in a drawer, which works great. I have reduced the number of knives we have so didn't really need the whole block anymore anyway.
I have my knives on a magnet strip on the wall. Works great!
Yay! I’m having the best week! My favorite you-tubers keep posting. ☺️ Just watched clutterbug, a hoarder’s heart yesterday, and the minimal mom and she’s in her apron Sunday. You ladies just make my week. I appreciate you all.
My favorite group of you tubers too :)))
I’ll have to check out Hoarder’s Heart and Apron. Never heard of them. Do you watch Do It on a Dime?
@@tgayer1 Do It On A Dime is great! And her videos are usually short. I can watch her videos in a few minutes. I haven't watched Hoarder's Heart, but the others mentioned are on my daily list. Also Jamie's Journey.
@@tgayer1 I have watched do it on a dime. Good stuff there too. 😁
I recently went through our entire house room by room following much of your advice. Your comment about finding family members (including active kids) just sitting in a clutter free room enjoying the peace it brings is SOOOO true. THANK YOU for all of your great insight. We are LOVING less inventory to manage and more time and mental capacity for what is important!
Simple living and minimalism makes me think of the monasteries of old. They understood these principles we are only just now learning in the world.
Relearning what we once knew, but was easy to forget we knew, because we had nothing to compare it to.
The Industrial Revolution made acquiring things cheaper, easier, and a social signal of moving up in the world. Have you ever seen a middle class Victorian Era living room? Extremely visually busy, and so cluttered, even a modern non-minimalist would feel anxious and claustrophobic. And they did it on purpose, as a show of their new level of wealth. It made sense to them, because poor people didn't have rows of trinkets on their mantles. But since then, said trinkets have gotten cheaper and progressively more accessible, aesthetics have changed, and we're discovering that showing off with shiny things is far less valuable than the relaxing atmosphere that comes from only having what you need, something our pre-Industrial ancestors knew, but didn't have access to the means of comparison, to know they knew it.
I've been simplifying for a while now and I've found it happens in layers. I thought I did a ruthless purge then a couple months go by and I have a dream about a top I kept and questioned then I would start again. I've gotten better at it each time but I'm constantly reassured that you and other organizers and minimalists still find things to purge after simple living for some time. It gives me the confidence to keep going on this journey. Thank you, Dawn!
* Yes to all five ideas! If you are new, just try one, maybe the easiest one for you to do. If you find it doesn't make life better for you, then you can go on living your life like you have. Or look at Dawn's other videos about conquering mounds of paper, remodeling, art, finding peace in a troubled world, cooking, traveling, etc. There's a good chance you'll find something you can learn or will enjoy =)
* Dawn, you are so not weird! You are super fun, logical, and loving! You have found a great way to live your life so you do more than shuffle possessions from one place to another. Thanks for sharing your wisdom with the rest of us!
I told my daughter in law how excited I am about moving into a bigger house. She said "but it's going to be so empty. It'll take forever to fill it up". Nope: I'll just have more space for my girls and when my family comes to visit. Same furniture, more square footage.
We shouldn't have to explain our lack of things. Marketing has ingrained it into everyone! Thank you for making simple living normal.
Glad to hear the dental visit went smoothly and didn't create havoc on your finances or schedules. Simple living at its best.
I haven’t been able to get our collection of stuff as low as true “minimalist“ would but I have simplified our townhouse so much that when somebody pops by to visit (although rare), all I might have to do is just vacuum and dust. I don’t think it’s focusing on minimalism for me per se, I think it’s more about developing systems/areas for our stuff.
For example, my kids (5&8 years old) know toys are not allowed in the family room. We also have minimalized toys out in their play area so they can clean it up and have space to play. I feel more relaxed about the house, even with the virtual learning and not be having extra time to tidy/clean. Thank you for all the tips and tricks! The “onion method” has really worked for us!
What's the onion method?
@@Dulce-cm2kx You go room by room taking a little stuff out. For example, in my living room, I might take out all the shoes and put them back on the shoe rack (where they belong). Then go off and do something on my to-do list. Then later on (in the day, week, etc. ) I might gather my kids’ toys, sort them into stuff we’re keeping and what can be given away, putting the keep pile away in the playroom. Then later on, going through the living room again, I might decide that we don’t need as many throw pillows and blankets, so I would either pack them up in the garage or take them to donate. I hope this makes sense. Basically don’t feel like you have to get rid of excess stuff all at once. As you take some away, your perspective of how the room looks changes and you can tweak it by removing stuff a little at a time.
@@kymmarye Yes. It makes sense. Thank you! 😊
@@Dulce-cm2kx You’re welcome! Glad I could help!
I think minimalism means different things for different people. My definition is that you live with the least amount of stuff you are comfortable with, so that daily life isn't so overwhelming. Sounds like you do have your own little version of minimalism through the boundaries you set with certain rooms of your house! The beauty is that there's no pressure to have any X number of items. Just a way of living simply so you can focus on what's most important.
We don’t have kids so we simplified cat toys and quarantined a bunch of larger cat items 🤣🤣🤣
😊
We have cats and kids, I swear the cats had more stuff to simplify!
🤣🤣🤣 I love it!!
@@clairepfeifer5991 🤣🤣🤣
It was a big thing when I bought a huge doormat, the kind you buy from a roll so I could cut a piece adapted to the width of the hall. The cats loved to claw at it whereupon I could throw out ugly cat trees etc. Loved it!
I have loved simplifying our house. The less toys around, the more my toddler normally plays. I keep the coffee maker, knife block and deep fryer on my counter(it's to heavy to move easily) and made space to put my toaster and kettle in the cupboard. I told myself to just try it out and see, if I don't like it I can always put it back. And it's okay to start small, and I find the quarantine method really helps. As for clothes I love them simplified, but I have to keep more around now because I'm in the maternity, nursing phase and it wouldn't be wise to get rid of them in the meantime
Get the knife drawer organizer on amazon ! Then u dont have to keep a block on the counter l.
I went into retirement a few years ago and had great plans to declutter my home...mostly closets and cabinets where I could hide and stash just about anything. The garrets were ideal for jamming unused items, but then I had to pull stuff out to get to my Christmas decorations, deep within, not an ideal situation . Well, thank you for accidentally coming into my world, via UA-cam while I was in search of a recipe. I have now started to declutter and organize like never before, and it will take me a few months on this new journey. I’m on a roll though, and my husband is amazed. Thank you , and I love your channel. Also, I love your bedspread/cover and shams. Any chance you could direct me on where I could find that set for our home?! 😊
Hannah Osswald Dawn did a bedroom remodel video over the summer. The comforter is from Target and part of the Hearth & Hand with Magnolia line.
Keep up the great work!
EmLeigh thank you so much. I will do an online search and hopefully I’ll get lucky and find that set. I’ll also have to look for that bedroom remodel video. Thanks, again, EmLeigh!
tgayer1 thanks! 😁
@@hannahosswald5274 You’re very welcome. :) I admired the set as well so it stuck with me.
Simplify the toys was the best thing! In April while everyone was home all the time all the toys everywhere and constantly picking them up pushed me to really get rid of them. I determined an area in the boys room for toys and if the toys didn't fit there then they were donated. I put them all in the garage for awhile and they didn't ask for any of them! We got rid of 80% of the toys in our house.
In April/May I put away a few boxes of toys. I was planning to rotate them every month or so. Now 5 months later, they have never been rotated, kids have not asked about any of it. So the toys might disappear soon to a charity shop.
When my kids were little we didn’t have a playroom, we had an open plan house and so I had a large cupboard and wicker chest in that room and all the toys fit in those two pieces, except the play kitchen. Best decision !
Dawn, how long did it take you to get your whole house "simplified?"
Wow, l think there is a minimalist living inside of me -- deep down. Your place looks great to me!
I wonder if the “tipping point” is overcoming our ingrained human scarcity complex. We worry about getting rid of something we need and having to buy it again (and maybe not being able to afford it), and stew on the money we’ve spent on an item in the first place. But we waste so much by things getting buried and going unused. It reminds me of your clothing purge comments, where we hold on to clothes because we feel like we don’t have anything to wear... but we also feel guilty buying more clothes because we have so much. Those unwearable clothes are like a security blanket. Once we purge enough, we can use more of what we have, and can let go of the scarcity fears.
I got rid of my coffee maker and have a French press and electric tea kettle.
As the oldest of 5 I appreciated the way my parents handled toys. Each fall we were to go through our toys to select toys to pass on to kids less fortunate than we were. This taught us to think of others and reduce clutter. Of course we could do this any time throughout the year but the emphasis on giving near the holidays was important.
I want that so bad, but my husband adamantly DOES NOT. 😔
Just get rid of some of your own stuff. He may decide to follow along?
I started to minimize my own things in the house, and the items we CLEARLY had too much of. Little by little I would encourage my husband to let go of clothes that too small, old, etc. My husband now appreciates how clean the house is, and actually helps clean up because there’s not much to clean! AND we are both on board with our kids not having any small cluttering toys that mess the house up. We have a toy “limit” and we stick to it to keep the mess under control!
Does he do the housework and/or prep for entertaining? If so, he has some say. If not, start in the kitchen and empty one cabinet at time. Donate what is not used. Replace the kept items in the same cabinet. Over a few months the kitchen will be done. You’ll end up replacing shelf paper, buying something that has worn out, but you still use. Take it slow - It is amazing.
yep, start with your stuff only, that's what I did and after a year and a half now my husband is cleaning out his stuff, even tossed out all his old model cars he put together as a kid, what purpose does it have sitting in a box in the garage for the last 15 years??
Another vote for just starting on your stuff and areas in your home you take care of. My husband wasn't opposed but it took him a good 18 months before he purged his wardrobe; let's just say he had 3x the clothes as I did even before I simplified.
I have been enjoying your channel for over a year and I love it. The nice thing about the “becoming a minimalist” process is it can happen at your own pace. You don’t have to declutter or change your lifestyle all at once. You have total control over what happens in the process. I have been working on my minimalist goals at a slow pace because I have a job and I babysit my grandchildren. Some days I can pick out a few items of clothing to donate and feel good about the accomplishment. Other days I may not have time to do any decluttering and that’s okay too. Just last week, we packed up our entire household to prepare for a remodel. Needless to say it was the perfect opportunity for simplifying my stuff and I made three truckloads of donations and many trips to the trash. It felt so freeing. I am already thinking about what I put in storage that will not come back in my house 😂. Keep up the encouragement Dawn! You are helping so many people.
Can a hoarder be a minimalist 🤔🤔🤔 Well, if there’s a will there’s a way ❤️🙏🏻❤️
Find Erica Lucas on youtube haha. I don't know that I'd consider her an extreme hoarder, but she had a lotttttttttt of still and is working on her journey towards minimalism now.
I feel your pain.
Mrs. Heart, You're here too! I know you can be! You're already halfway there! Especially your living spaces are coming along!
Lizzie, I think Erica was for sure on her way to being a hoarder! that basement scared me straight and it made me clean up mine! 🤣🤣
I love Erica Lucas!! I’m not sure if she has hoarding disorder...maybe a level 1 if anything!! But she did amazing 🌟🌟🌟
The one thing about this that surprised me is the first room reached a "tipping point" very quickly. It seemed that all of a sudden it.stayed.clean. Onward to more rooms!
I have been minimalizing my wardrobe for 8 years now. Every year I find I can get by with less. Really worthwhile effort. And I am always getting compliments on my clothes...i.e. you have SO many clothes. lol, not really. Everything just goes with everything else...mix and match.
I think Marie Kondo used the term "clicked" for that point where suddenly everything fits, and is easy to manage, or so much easier to manage after that.
I am getting ready to move and staging the house made me realize how great it is having cleaned off counters, great tip if you want to see the benefit of minimalism, going forward I cant wait to do even more! Thanks, I love your channel!
Shalena Wright See Joshua Becker on staging your (new) home to live in.
Several years ago, we were moving. I packed a few large boxes of things and put them down in the basement for staging purposes. We didn’t move. I never brought them back upstairs. I quarantined them and never even knew it. 😉
I found you in simple homes and homeschoolers ❤️ every time I watch your video I instantly feel relieved ! I want to try to take this journey of minimalism! I can’t stand clutter and I do get massive anxiety from it 😫 can’t wait to change my lifestyle and my life!
Loving minimalism slowly been working for past year. Christmas will be a year putting all that stuff up last year made me finally start small with the hallway closed! Just that tiny closed had 2 full trash bags of expired meds, towels with holes, etc. It was mortifying to see all mess! But its been game on since! We actually just tore down 2 walls to make our house open concept because we now have then space to not need those walls to hide stuff! So excited this will be our 1st thanksgiving consumer debt free, with a 6 month emergency fund and a minimized house! We have the smallest hoise of my family but its clean and clutter free and everyone is coming here this year because of it! Thank you so much!! This is becuase o found your channel!!! You have been a blessing to me!!!
what a great story - its not the size of the house, it's how welcoming it is, and part of that is being clean and organized. Congratulations!
Congratulations! Hard work pays off.
#1 is so so true! The boys/men in my house (and there are four) could care less about that but clean counters give me so much peace! They argue with me about leaving things out and I remind them that I am the one who cleans up the kitchen so I get to decide! 🤣
I too have fibro. I'm also finding it harder to lift things. Really the only appliance I use besides the coffee maker and a crockpot so I don't have to hard a time.
Recently I was planning on making a purchase- Cultivate Your Life Goal Planner. They came out w different money-saving bundles. I was tempted because “look at all the great stuff you get if you bundle!”, Since I’m trying to pay down debt & minimize our house,, I looked again at the bundle, asked myself if I really needed more washi tape etc. When I totaled up what I really need it was a lot less! But what really got me wins your words came into my head & I thought, “but do I really want to have tho keep up with these extras?” I couldn’t believe how it just popped into my head! You have helped me greatly! That was it! Decision made easily!!! Thank you!
I was sold on minimalism right away too, now I'm just struggling because i cant find anything else to get rid of and my house still feels cluttered. We are a family of 5 in a 1,000 sq. ft. house with no garage or attic, is it possible that it's just that way because our house is "too small"?
My sister lived in about a 700 ft trailer until she was due with her fifth child. She bought some plastic barrels that had water tight lids and put them behind her house for her hand me down storage. This way she was able to keep things in her house to a minimum but yet still have clothing to switch out when the children needed it. I don't know if that would help or not. 😃
It's much harder to be tidy in a small space. We are a family of 3, but our tiny home is often cluttered even on the floor. 1 backpack full of stuff is enough to make our floor look awful. I feel you.
It is easier with less stuff no matter the size of our space. But still, I don't always have energy to put things away each time we get home 💓 And sometimes I just need to feel at home and be able to drop the stuff and see it on the floor and not feel guilt for that.
I get to remind myself that everything that we have, is something that we need. And I can feel accomplished about that. Even when there is stuff all over the floor :)
Do you have the option to get rid of some of the pieces of furniture, to make more room?
@Jac B I used to store stuff under beds too, but our frame was too squeaky and all our mattresses are on the ground now.
@@mintbutterfly10 Those are good reminders! I do find solace in that I actually use everything we have, I dont hold on to things just in case. Part of the problem is that I have several toddlers who are always scattering things around the house and they're not that great at picking up after themselves yet....
We cleared our kitchen counters- BEST FEELING EVER! I LOVE IT!!!!!! I sooooooooooo bad want to do my bathroom counter....BUT............. I have not "minimalized " my make up stuff YET.....I don't know where to store it!!!!!!!!! Love you and your videos! Thank You!!!!!
This was a very creative and inspiring video. Hey, I just finished “Atomic Habits” and really enjoyed it. There were so many good tips for adding good habits and subtracting unwanted ones. Thanks for the recommendation!!💗
Daaaaaawn! Your videos just keep getting better and better! Your so real and honest and relatable! I know I'm a broken record always saying that... but I've never watched another UA-cam channel that has changed my life CONSISTENTLY for the better! It's actually catching on with my brother-in-law and his wife, now!!!! I re-watch your videos all the time. For inspiration, for company, even for a happy chuckle! Can't spread the word enough!
Kids definitely have too many toys. When they have so much, it just becomes clutter to them too. It ends up stuff on the floor that gets walked on.
Hi love and enjoy the way you teach us that need help, I’ve been trying for so long to do this and just can’t or
Couldn’t till I found you, lm starting to simplify my space , I’m in my 80s so not an easy task 🤪but with you
I’m going to get there , thanks so very much keep up the good work love you 🤗 Veronica from England’s
green and pleasant land 🤣😂🤣
This video is extraordinarily valuable and well-thought out in my opinion. And all the comments are gems. Thanks everybody💕
My magic bullet was a three-week period of couch-surfing with my extended family. I packed 6 days' worth of clothes and a dress (which I knew I'd need), hygiene stuff, some library books and a laptop (no phone, or I wouldn't have brought the computer). I did so well! It was so nice! I didn't even do it to test minimalism I just wanted not to miss my aunt's funeral and Christmas was so close that it was easier to stick around and offer a helping hand. I literally lived out of a bag (I had to store all of my toiletries in the bag when I wasn't using them because the bathroom was so tiny) on someone's couch for three weeks and was more put together than I ever had been (and it all stopped the moment I got back to my stuff). I had a thought around the middle of my stay "WAIT! I'm living out of a bag and I'm happy about it! I should look into this more..." It taught me that not only COULD I live without my hoard, but that it was actually less stressful and more joy came from life without the things I love than from all the items that brought me joy combined. I hadn't really gotten anywhere with that until today because it hadn't clicked into place in my head, but the way you explain your stuff and the ideas you have made it click and for the first time in my life I got rid of a bunch of things that I liked (but did not love). Thank you!
This is soooo true when I redid our bathroom and cleared the counter it’s so peaceful to walk in! So I did the same when simplifying our bedroom!!!! Love it! 🥰
I used to live highly simplified when I was in college and my first apartment out. Then my boyfriend and I bought our first house and combined all our things. For the life of me I am trying so hard to get back to that place but have just struggled so hard for the last 5 years. This is the year. I am so tired of trying to simplify, I just want it done.
I took out a cabinet above my toilet yesterday because I cleaned out my cabinet above the sink and said, I don't need that cabinet anymore. So I filled the holes last night and sanded this morning. I ended up painting the whole bathroom and trim. I was done by 2pm today and have a nice refresh bathroom. I already had the paint and supplies so it cost me nothing.
Your content is super,
Your speaking abilities are superb to be concise, on point, no ahhhs, ummmms.
Love the type A vibe. Your one of the few that i only speed up to 1.25 instead of 2x. Great job