I'm on a mission to help families like yours find freedom from clutter and transform their homes from stressful to restful. On this channel, I'm going to help you build that bridge between that unchecked dream life you put on the cluttered shelf… to you living it out, starting now!
Hi! My name is Katy Wells and I'm a declutter expert and Top-50 Podcast host. But I didn't start that way. I, like so many other mamas, found myself struggling with clutter-induced stress and anxiety. I was drowning in a sea of baby gear, piles of random stuff, and kids toys. I tried everything and along the way, created practical, effective strategies to get the job done.
It’s my mission to uncover the root cause of people’s clutter problems and guide them through practical and sustainable solutions to simplify their lives and move past what’s holding them back in life.
While I'm on a break from my YT Channel, I air new Maximized Minimalist podcast episodes each Wednesday! Cheers!
We sold a much larger item - a camper. Facing that our grown college age kids weren't going to be going on long family camps with us. It was so hard - until the family that bought it came to pick it up and their young children ran through it. The little girl exclaiming over how many stuffed animals she could fit in "her" bunk made it all fine. ❤
This is what has been bothering me so much since my daughter was born. We do toy rotation and her toys and books are jept in the basement. She has so many people who love her and they buy her sooooo much and she gets hand me downs. Im so grateful, but also sooooooo overhwlemed. I literally have no idea what to do.
Hi Katy - A lot of your comments are right on, I can relate as I am starting to tackle paper item clutter, the worst kind for me as I have many different categories of info saved over a number of years that had meaning. Thanks for approaching this area with graciousness!
Did you make a video using the acronym SPACE? It said to decide to have a certain place for certain items. Like this is where my clothes go. This is where my papers go. I tried it and it helped do much. But I can’t find that particular video. Can you direct me to it?
I wanted to pass down some things to a future child. After a medical treatment, I cant even have children. I am not ready to let go because it is sort of letting go an accepting that I will never be a mother
I’m a mom of four. My husband and I stored “favorites” of our children’s stuff like; clothing, toys, athletic equipment, trophies, school papers, artwork, etc. One day a flood hit, all the drains in our neighborhood were jammed and backed up into our basement! Mud and water up to our ankles! 90% of our basement was wiped out. We were forced to downsize and throw out most of it. At that point I realized this stuff was wasting away and just taking up space! Our kids are older now. When our oldest son moved out, he wanted nothing! lol 😝 Great video thank you for the motivation!
I am in my early 60s, and over my lifetime I have owned between 1,200 and 1,500 books, if you count all the books i had to buy for my degree programs. I am now down to about 200-250 books and 150 journals/magazines. My goal is to get down to 20 cookbooks, 70 other books, and 30 journals.
I really like people who tackle this harder part of minimalism, I think I have gone a fairly common and practical way towards minimalism, which was to first get rid of trash, then junk, then old stuff that I knew I did not want anymore. Those first steps were not easy, but I do believe for me and for most are probably a good order of operation for getting rid of stuff, but then there is still stuff that is hard to get rid of, and for good reasons. These things do require some emotional coming to terms with a fact, and it is not always easy but I think very important for growth. I feel I have grown in the process of getting rid of stuff. I wish it was easier, but some of the best things to go after in life are not easy. Also, in science there is a concept that the simplest explanation that fits all of the data (facts) is often the correct one, but finding that simple solution is not always easy. I think often minimalism done right often aligns with that one premise of science. I try to find the simplest path through life that fits all of my truest goals, wants, desires, and aspirations with an emphasis on the word "truest".
I do Project 333 every 3-4 months and find I naturally declutter during and after a season using this method. It’s amazing how creating this capsule wardrobe demonstrates to you what you no longer enjoy or, indeed, what doesn’t go with the other items you own. ❤️❤️
I agree, washing is so handy. Poland Airbnbs in 4 days, all have washing machines. Taking only one underseat bag. Pockets for iPad, tech and toiletries. Small day bag fits inside until the destination. Don’t we love packing. 💼 👋🏻🇦🇺
Thank you for this :’) I struggle with letting go of clothing that I think I’ll someday pass off to my future kids; you’re so right though, the recipient might not receive the gift how you *expect*, and that could be a really upsetting situation. I don’t need to harbor so much stuff with me from place to place. decluttering is an ongoing process for me, so pretty much daily I go through my closet and pull out things I’ve finally released an attachment from. I’ll definitely be able to donate some more clothing after this video. thanks again!
This is a very helpful video. As a 53 year old man who has a lot of clutter related to hobbies that were tied to identity, the emotions I have been feeling while declutterring have been overwhelming at times, and I get snippy with my wife. This video helped me understand why. Thanks for the video and wisdom!
I am becoming a first-time-mom in 4 weeks and I am so happy I got to borrow almost every little thing from friends and family and it frees me because I know I can use these things and can give them back to their original owner afterwards so it is not cluttering up our small apartment
What do you do if your friends and family don’t respect that you are on minimalism journey, and they keep bringing you things and gifts, despite you politely asking them not to? (And get upset if you get rid of them)
My books are my friends. Lots are collectors editions. You cannot get them again. So no, they are going no where. I do have duplicates and some I'm not attached to, but as long as I can store them in boxes in my garage, that is where they will stay.
All your suggestions are based on having everyone in the family complying with the system , however that’s not the reality in my home! Over 20 years later and still no change
During every trip I make 3 lists: 1) What I NEEDED/Forgot, 2) What I had TOO much of, 3) What SAVED me/Glad I had... Everything I did NOT wear/use goes into a packable tote bag when I pack to leave the hotel... Before every trip, I review my previous 3 lists and the tote bag of unused items. But guess what? I STILL over pack! 🙂 tfs! [fyi, holding the mic is distracting....]
I came across your video when I'm looking for strength to declutter my university stuff. My handwritten notes, test papers, quizzes, etc are still there inside my cabinet and I've been dreading to let them go. I don't even consider them my accomplishment because I was a struggling student, acdemically. So I consider those papers as proof of my struggle, my sweat and tears just to get that degree eventhough now I'm not even working in the industry that I painfully studied for. Even after watching your video, I still struggle to start going through it but hopefully I could throw away atleast some of it.
Excellent advice... thank you from a chronic overpacker! And you're SO right.. it does all start with your head! The first thing is to change tour mindset... get rid of the 'just in case' thinking! I'm embarrassed to say that I have been known to pack more outfits than days away!!
