Hi, my name is Sarah! I was diagnosed with multiple autoimmune diseases in my 20s but kept speeding onward, determined that nothing would change about my lifestyle. After fifteen years of perfectionism, I hit a wall and realized I needed to make serious changes in how I treated myself. I began correcting my mindset around productivity, particularly as it pertains to house-care tasks. That work transformed my life and became the Adaptive Cleaning system. I now advocate for those of us with chronic physical and mental health conditions via video and written content, as well as digital products.
These. Words! These are the words on decluttering that I needed but have never heard. I obsessively watch/listen to decluttering and minimalist content knowing it’s mostly aspirational for me - often far from my ability to execute, just adding to my feelings of discouragement and frustration (with myself.) I too feel the fear of scarcity and live thinking of the “what ifs” and therefore hold onto things that are not useful to me in the present. Your honest and compassionate words were just what I needed today! TY! ❤
I'm so glad to hear that!! I spent yearssss trying to intake enough aspirational content that it would become an inspiration. But facing the fact that my body/mind just doesn't work like that has been so helpful. I am far more effective when I'm realistic!
Hi Sarah, I am now 75 and just can’t keep up anymore with cleaning, cooking and taking care of everything that needs to be done. I appreciate your suggestions and hope to learn how to deal with things at my age and not feel bad about not being able to do the things I could do when I was younger. I’m trying my best to declutter my home and keep it looking neat. It’s challenging so I look forward to learning your system. Thank you for helping me feel hopeful!
It's so hard to change what you expect of yourself. I was diagnosed with several autoimmune diseases in my late 20s, and it took me over a decade to realize I didn't have to be ashamed that I couldn't be as productive. I hope that you can transition to being so proud of what you're doing and compassionate about what you can't do. Decluttering has helped me a ton because there isn't as much to caretake when you have less belongings. I have a Home Reset guide on my shop, but also a free playlist of 30 days of videos on my RU-vid page. The first part is about catching up on essentials, like laundry, dishes, bathrooms. But later, I work on decluttering. Sometimes it helps to have direction and company whilst doing tasks like decluttering! Feel free to email me if you ever need anything or have questions! sarah@adaptive-living.com
It's my Adaptive Cleaning system! You can print it or use it with a PDF annotation app on your devices (I'm using GoodNotes.) Here's the system: www.sarahmcglory.com/product-page/adaptivecleaningsystem
Sarah, I want to thank you for showing me how to put that wire gasket on. I found your screw placement. You needed to unscrew the last 2 two screws in your video and remove the cover and you will see that a screw is needed to attach the last part of your washing machine before you screw in your last two screws. You did a wonderful job. I just didn’t want you to think that you were having a senior moment. 😉
You are doing an excellent job Sarah. Countless loving seeds going into the heart of your children… if we don’t faint and lose sight, we will reap a beautiful harvest! I love you precious. 🦋
Ok, found you through the Minimal Mom podcast, didn’t even finish watching it and headed over to your channel. This was my first video….I’m thinking, where have you been this whole time?? I get sicker and sicker and my caretaking for many is outside of my house so the drain is real. Thanks for REAL solutions that resonate! I’ve always struggled (ADD dx @ 25 y.o.), but perimenopause and 4.5 years of shingles on top of lupus that all came together in March of 2020 really changed things. 5 surgeries and subsequent recovery caretaking among 3 women we care for in our family within 8 months this year almost took me out. I’m starting to see some hope in my health, so this is right on time instead of the shame spiral I’ve been on. 🎉 🙌 ❤
I'm so glad you're here! Wow, you've had a lot on your plate. I'm so glad that you're seeing hope for your health! I'm post-menopause, and wow, it changes everything! I hope you're able to kick shame out. I lived with it for so long and it makes life so dreary.
@@SarahMcGloryHomecompletely! My sister has been to Ecola state park and also has been to La push just a couple ago and I am jealous that she forgot to take me lol:) also forks
Thank you, this is so helpful! I have been using the "bit by bit" approach for a couple years now, and it definitely is working, but I still get overwhelmed sometimes and that's when the negative self-talk starts up. Your video is such a grounding reminder that, yes, it takes longer than we want, but slow progress is still progress.
You're so right! I've come really far with more positive self-talk, but when I'm tired, dysregulated, etc., the negative voice comes through. Love that we can encourage each other!
❤ thank you for giving me the words to explain living with chronic illness 🙏 thank you for helping me talk to friends and family honestly about my “ bad” days and stop hiding the conditions I have been diagnosed with. Just a sick day not “bad” ! Proud of your work ❤
@SarahMcGloryHome To me, it's not being able to quite my mom in my mind. I live with a "ghost" in my mind. 🤪🙄🙃🤔With everything. I also have a scarcity mindset that doesn't allow room for new things. Trowing anything away or not cleaning well enough, keeps me frozen.
Man, I can watch this video and follow everything you say and do to the letter and STILL have a pile of loose machine parts and pieces at the end of the day. 😢 Oh, and a s/*+ ton of dirty laundry that I wasn’t smart enough to do before ‘cleaning’ my washer…
Thank you. I needed this today. I am in the middle of the worst disorganized mess that I've had in a long time, feeling so overwhelmed. One chunk at a time, I'll get out of this.
I have an accordion file for each of my kids where they can keep school papers or art that feels very special to them, and we look through it together when it can't hold anymore. Some stuff they'll let go of, some we take pictures of, and the rest they keep. I also have a file for each kid where I keep special things they've made. I have all the unfinished projects going on over here, too! I have a big bin of the random projects and artwork, and when the kids can't decide what to do (and I have the bandwidth for pulling out the messy stuff), they can get in the bin and pick up on projects where they left off. We often find old slime, clay, oobleck, and if it's crusty, that's our cue to toss.
Thank you so much Sarah, you have given me "permission" to put things in areas where they are not typically kept, to make my life easier and tidier. Kim. xxx🥰
I'm so glad! I felt so much pressure lifted off when I stopped thinking I had to keep my home aesthetic or keep items where I see other people keeping them.
One of my problems with my Category 3- stuff that doesn't have a home is that it has often outgrown its usual home or its usual home is so messy I don't want to bring it back into the normal space until it is more cleaned up. I use these things all the time and tend to move around with them to various places but they end up on every usable flat surface 😞. By the end of the week or whenever I'm panic-cleaning, they get thrown into a basket or box that gets taken to be hidden somewhere else and that's how things get lost and I become agitated when I don't know where my things got stashed
I recently heard someone talk about having a "house purse". The idea was that you use a bag or purse to keep stuff that you like to move around with so none of it gets lost. I do that with my camera, planner, computer and stuff, because I work from home but often have to move around when I'm working. I've added chap stick, my morning meds, hair ties, etc. I don't know if that applies to you, but hoping it might help a bit!
I think this is the absolutely most meaningful video from you for me! Even if you have so many really good videos this is the best one so far! Thank you!
I sort that way too, Sarah. 4-Boxes-and-a-List is a method I learned many years ago when there was no RU-vid or social media (it was on cassette tape!). I wish I could remember the man's name who was teaching it, but internet searches have come up empty. The "boxes" can also be bins, trash bags or whatever makes sense for the area you are tidying. In general, they are to sort the clutter into 1)trash, 2)things to donate, 3)things that belong in another room, and 4)things to put into storage. The "list" is something to write notes to yourself (to-do's, things to buy, ideas for organization, etc.) so you can stay on track with your sorting as you demonstrated here, and allow a few minutes at the end for removing those things to where they need to go. For rooms like the office, or other types of sorting, the categories change. Like paper, for me, would be trash, recycle, shred and to file (or to read, decide or take action, etc.). Love your approach to moving forward! My best to you
Great solution for the hair care supplies! It's always more effective to organize for the way you live than for the way you THINK you should live. I find that it helps me to have a designated box or bag to toss items for donation throughout the year as I run across them. When it's full, I take it to the donation center. It doesn't have to mean blocking off hours on my calendar, and the items still leave my house, which is the goal.
I'm so glad I finally learned that the all or nothing thinking is what was holding me back! My kids are 17 and almost 15 and I try not to beat myself up over how chaotic their childhood has been. Thank you for helping to normalize outside the box thinking ❤
@@dinabertrand9113 I feel the same way! I have a 25-yr old, and I taught her as I was learning, much of it after she moved out. It’s never too late to impart tools that will help :)
I love what you are doing to make cleaning and even obeying more convenient for your children. Many moms either hold their kids to a standard that’s simply too high or just give up and begrudgingly do everything themselves. Also, I’m always surprised when I revisit a “later” pile how much more clarity I have about what to do what those items. Sometimes it seems obvious just a few weeks later.
Thank you for saying that! I make many mistakes, but I'm really trying to give them tools mixed with patience. :) Same! Making a "later" pile settles down the emotional (& rebellious) part of me that DOES NOT want to make the decision. Once that settles down, I am better at making logical decisions.
Is it possible to clean 🧼 juice ???? It looks so bad and I think it will damage my couche if i start to wash it it will clean the color of couch also What i should do please tell me something