Hello! I’m Erica Lucas and I share videos to help you simplify your life one day at a time. You will find decluttering inspiration, organization ideas, and real-life videos about slow and simple living.
Obstructive, massive, problem-level clutter overwhelmed me back in 2019. I began a simplicity journey and decluttered thousands of items, created open space in our home, and found free time in our schedule.
I’m a homeschool mom of 3 living a slow and simple life in Maryland. With my Navy husband, we work as a family team of five (plus our dog!) to grow our own vegetables, shop locally, and simplify our life by decluttering and slowing down to appreciate the moments that make life happy.
Featured on Apartment Guide, Medium.com, Mostly Mindful, A to Zen Life, and Get Organized HQ, and more! Website: www.ericalucas.com
As one who has also lost a mother and a brother I can so relate to your grief. I still cry out of the blue sometimes and my mother has been gone 20 years. Grief is a funny thing. Hugs friend
I appreciate your open honesty. I had a dresser full of paperwork and notes from when I went through cancer. It took me a long time to finally tackle it. Emotional paperwork is not easy. I still have a large tote of things that belonged to my mom that I haven’t opened for 20 years. Thank you for this transparent video.
Thank you for leaving the vulnerable clip. My dad passed two years ago and I still have random moments that catch me off guard. But that's grief isn't it? ❤I take the time to cry- feel it, then let it go, and try not to let it consume me.
You are not alone. I just went through 7 totes down to 5. One of them was one with my mom's papers,when she passed away in 2022. My friend's mom just passed June 16th and it brought all the emotions back. Big hugs
Grief is the strangest thing ever. I am not attached to stuff. Except for stuff i made 5 years ago for my son. Not because he came around after 10 years of infertility (A whole world of grief as well) but because my mother helped me. For the first time in my life i actually had a mom. (Childhood grief) Not even a year later i buried my mom while having a 10 months old baby. Grief is still at least a weekly thing. It just hits sometimes a little and sometimes i am swept of my feet completely.
Grief sucks! I’m so sorry about your mom and your brother. I’m sure you’ve already learned this, but for others that haven’t yet; the grief has to be gone through. Even if you push it down and push it away, it will hit you when you aren’t prepared for it. If you can, when it comes, allow it. Lean into it. Experience it. And you will be one step closer to healing. And once we’ve let come, it will be, then it will ease. You are an excellent example of walking through grief. Thank you
Oh grief. I lost my birth mother and paternal grandmother who raised me when she couldn't in the last year and a half. My best friend, mother of 3 young children, is fighting stage 4 cancer. Grief. It can come at unexpected time for sure. God be with us!
Paper cluttercollects faster than any other kind of clutter imo. Open it, put it either in do now, trash, or wait and see pile. As soon as mail comes, go through it and trash what can be trashed.
so cute -- your husband's excitement about you having even vacuumed around/under the dog bed :) + the discovery of the extra pair of shorts! Great work!!
I think the worst about decluttering isn't the decluttering itself, but the relocate items. Those things probably will never get a real home and just wander aimlessly through the house/apartment. So when possible put them in a bag, go through it decide once and for all if you want to declutter it, relocate it (do it at once) or donate it. Not put it back.
The paper declutter follows the same rhythms as a normal declutter - the same roadblocks - then categories becoming clear - then sort sort sort - then take everything back to its home - to do - or trash. You're going through a brutally hard time - and allowing yourself to be vulnerable to maybe help others is a beautiful act of grace - I can only send my love to you and yours.
This was a tough task. I struggle with paper too and I would love, if you could share more of your thoughts and experience. Have you managed your work pile soon? This is the worst for me.
Grief will strike at the strangest times. My beloved sister passed away in 2014. I still find myself in unexpected tears without any particular reason. It's not as often as the first two years, but it still occurs. Great inspiration for cleaning off my desk. Take care, Linda 🦋
Hugs to you, but put the Girl Scouts items in a GREEN bag (I’m sure you have one already - ha!). I use color or bag pictures to help me remember what’s in each one.
Pensive chuckle from me as you shared your mom’s letter . . . second anniv. of my mom’s death is the 6th. Been there many times . . . The out of nowhere, sucker punch ones are the strangest. I’ve been fortunate to be alone when they hit, glad to see you had time to sit and process this one. In the past two yrs I’ve gone from a hoarded 2,300 sf house & garage apt (both of us) to a 390 sf tiny home and 10x10 storage unit. So much to go thru, so many “pause” moments. Don’t forget to breathe . . . “waiting to exhale” has a whole new meaning. Much love and best wishes!
Dear Erica, huge hugs for you. I lost my father this year, he was 96 and was really well for his age but one month before he passed away he had a stroke, it was time for him to met the Lord, but it doesn't make it easy, I still think that he will come home anytime, love from southamerica
I want to turn this on again when I can evaluate what's working for us and what can be added. I only do one load wash a day (six days a week) but others in house responsible for their loads... And some days are not for wash but putting away. Gotta do what works!
Thanks for sharing your moment with your mom’s note. As I go thru papers, books and mentos of my hubby I felt your pain🥲 it hits at odd moments. Liked your taking us thru a process to sort and organize. ❤
Thank you so much for how real your videos are. I am sure you helped a lot of people today by talking about your Mom. It’s funny because I always wonder what it would have been like to have a mother that was nice. My Mom passed away 6 yrs ago and I don’t really feel much about her. I always try to be a better Mom to my sons, than my Mom was to me.
This is excellent. I have paperwork I'm needing to sift through again, another layer of the onion. Thanks for your vulnerability regarding grief and your losses. Heartful appreciation for your work in the world. Blessings to you and your family.
You are not alone Erica. I can relate to keeping handwritten pieces from my Mum and seeing the changes in handwriting. Thanks for keeping that in 💞 Well done sorting through those papers bag lady 🙌 p.s. I'm sure I've said bag lady before and I say it with a smile because watching you I see that bags work for you 😊
I had to smile when I heard what you were doing. I began the day tackling three dresser drawers, then a bit in a closet, and on to my desk to sort through paperwork. I cam to a stopping point at lunch, just short of filing. The job, not finished, but better than things were. Full bag to donate, full trash can to empty. Now, enjoying you, and after loss of my dad and oldest brother, I get it. Big hug to you!
Busy mama. My mother was a war bride (German) and later in life a mean, nasty, demanding woman. She took out all of her life's disappointments on us five children, but you know what? I still miss her anyway but the sorrow is still there. We are all functioning adults now and when we get together we can laugh at it and shake our heads but no tears.
@@limonade2684 we all realize how hard she had it in the war and how all her hopes and dreams were tied up in our dad and our country. We all fall short so we understand and hold no disregard. It was difficult for her too. She had an expectation of her children that only one of us met (not me 🙂). I am the youngest at 63. I feel the worst for my brother. I think she expected the most out of him.
Oh Erica, well done for dealing with your desk and pushing through, both when you hit indecision and when you found the note from your mum. I can really see how much you love her and she is with you in your heart. She must have been such an amazing lady. I know this from the way you have talked about her in your previous video’s. I just wanted to say, I watched your video literally straight after I found out someone I have chatted with online with for over ten years has late stage cancer. Your crying gave me a release to cry for them, their family and what they are going through. Thank you for being so raw and honest in your videos and giving us real genuine emotion. Sending you a big hug. 🤗
