Just decluttered for the third time this month, your videos are helping me so much. My tolerance level of letting go of things is increasing every time I declutter. Thanks
Thank you for making minimalism actually seem obtainable and for making my journey so much easier. I've been working towards this for a while now and so many videos I've seen make me feel extremely overwhelmed with rules and tasks, etc. You give the most simple advice that is easy to follow and I appreciate it!
I am 61 yrs young! Have been watching your vids since Summer. Very motivational! I believe I invented clutter & "packratism"!! But I am moving along in a positive flow...
Thanks, ahulagirl! Always love your comments. That was the thing that drew me to shorthand: a new and efficient language. I can write my recipes in ultra condensed form :)
I have a 20 yr old son and a 22 yr old daughter whom I battled with as they were growing up to organize their ultra messy rooms, My daughter has toned down on buying stuff but she refuses to watch my links to her on minimalism videos... but yesterday, while helping my son separate mountains of his dirty clothes on the living room floor to be washed, I turned on You Tube on my TV and let this video play. He sat down and started watching! Not sure if it was because you are so adorable but I played at least 4 full videos and I hope and pray he got something out of them, they both need to organize and get rid of the clutter that weighs them down without them knowing. Thanks for your tips and videos Melody, I'm a subscriber and get notifications every time you upload one!
Thank you for the videos, Melody! You've inspired my sister and I to become minimalists and given us great tips to do so. I couldn't be happier with the clean spaces and decluttered surfaces in my home.
Love when you upload. We have a small house and your tips are making it look much more neat. We still have a long way to go. Cords and paperwork are my trouble spots lol
i love your videos! i have implemented many of your tipps in my home. and my mindset has deffinitely changed into one of a minimalism. thank you so much for that Melody! i have two small kids and from the moment on i decluttered (and it will always go on;) my stresslevel went down so much! :) less stuff less energy having to spend on tydying up:) thanks again so much. im sure you influence a lot of peoples happiness through your videos. greetings from austria (europe)
I am ruthless about paper! I use Pinterest for recipes and if I do write down a recipe I use google drive to and categorize them in folders! Great categories to think about! 😍❤️️
FREE TO FRUGAL agreed! Pinterest is so easy to keep things stored and organized. I have one recipe book that i still keep because i like to study it sometimes for ideas and learning. My Mother-n-law gifted it to me - America's Test Kitchen. If i run across one at the thrift store i just take a few pics of the recipe i want to try. Keepin it simple! : )
One of your previous videos about digitizing media and using Plex really made a difference! It's a slow process, but really frees up space and clutter! We had it before, but my husband and I really didn't know how to best utilize it. Hard drives are so cheap too! I now take pictures or search the internet for important information that I might need to reference later. (I have a baby, so that's so many items now!) They're all in my Google drive so I know where to find them in the future!
I agree with the puffy coat idea. I recently bought a smaller size coat that is also puffy with a very warm material. It is amazingly warm no need to layer on.
I took pictures of all my recipe cards and uploaded them to google docs! So nice! It also helps when I'm at the grocery store and I can't remember how much of an ingredient I need to buy! ☺
I keep my recipes on my computer. Using the scanner to save documents are very useful also Most user manuals can be found online also. Download them and store on your hard drive or external drive, or store them on the cloud, etc.
Great video! I moved from TN to CT. The winters are rough for me but now that I invested in a great coat (the marmot montreaux), winter is much more pleasant for me!
you're minimalist lifestyle is inspiring...I've been on a decluttering phase lately and I'm inspired to keep going. thank you for your amazing tips and suggestions.
Pat wants you to keep that drawer open, lol! Great tips...I finally realized that about furniture too, it is better to have less. I am working on it! :)
obsessed with your videos and you have the best amazon lists!! I have bought atleast 40% of what you discuss here. do you have ever one long list of all of the items off amazon that help you. I do not always have the time to watch the videos all the way through. also please please please do a video about minimalism and kids!
Oh my, those cords, I totally agree! I pity the people with iPhones and other technology having to have a cord for each thing. Great inspiring video, thank you!
I've been transitioning over to a more minimalistic lifestyle. I've shared my journey with friends and family so they know and are aware of it. I've ran into the problem of once I get rid if stuff, and feel a relief. I have family who don't understand and continue to buy buy buy stuff we don't need or want. How would you tell them no thank you so they understand our new lifestyle?
Some people will always buy, but for me I went about it in a subtle way: by posting organization and minimalism memes or pictures of my home on Facebook. Now everyone knows I really love minimalism, so I rarely get a gift I don't need. The people that don't know me that well or that really love to buy, I accept their gift and thank them, and then I give it to someone who would enjoy it.
please please please!!!!! make more videos per week. it's such a long week having to wait till Sunday just to watch one of your amazing videos. I'm positive every one of your subscribers will love more content from you. plus you will get way more subs/reach more people with the additional content 😊 please take it Into consideration
I love your channel and always look forward to Monday new vid! Would you mind sharing where you found your faux fur sofa blanket? Thank you for all of the helpful advice!
Hello Melody! Please do a dress video soon I see other viewers are requesting this video too& since that is what you wear the most how many do you recommend for your minimalistic lifestyle?
hi melody. i love your videos, i think i have seen them all. i think that you are beautiful, your name is very suitable with you channel theme. every video you make is really informative and the thing i love the most is that you dont repeat same things even if a video has similar subject with another one. i think you deserve more subscribers for the work you put on. allow me to suggest a couple of things i would like to change to your videos. i think i would like it more if you could speak a little slower not much just a little. i also think i would change the intro/music too and maybe i would like to see more visual elements editing in your videos just making them a little bit richer in content like you did with this video. 💖
I only have 1 small square closet in the wall. it is so hard to have anything because even somewhat minimal is cluttering! I am always getting rid of stuff
Good point about the dressing for mood compared to dressing for body type. Any suggestions for finding info to do that? I think I've been dressing for mood and have been finding myself constantly going back and forth between not liking my clothes to loving them and wanting to get rid of more but then I buy more to replace what I got rid of because I constantly am changing my moods. Granted I have very little though I only have 28 pieces at a time and I always buy from the thrift store and re donate so I don't feel bad but it'd be nice to not be in a constant state of flux. Love your videos :)
you can digitize and upload to the cloud so media can be shared around the world easily. google drive now gives 15 gigs (a HUGE amount for the avg. person) to your email account.
Hey Ninja 1974, I'm the same way! Can't wait for cord-free charging. I am working on a video on how to hide cords and a video also on how to elevate things easily! These videos will be really great for minimizing visual clutter :)
Ninja 1974 cordless means more radiation and higher risk of developing cancer. Yes it is true. If you have an iPhone for example read the health warning about cancer risk.
What if I cannot digitize everything...? I live in Venezuela and the electricity is not available at all times or there's not always internet (even for days) so no access to internet storage, what would you do in that case?
I was wondering what brand of black? Blue? purse( shoulder bag) do you use? I have being looking for one but can't find that fit's my long wallet and iPhone. Thank you.
Hey Linda, the two micro USB cords I own, one is for my phone and the other is for everything else. The phone needs to be charged regularly, so I keep its cord in the same place. For tablets and maybe Kindle, I would do the same :)
Great video and awesome tips !! I just started watching your videos but wanted to ask if you are hard of hearing? My brother is deaf and I notice you use your hands a lot, just curious
⭐Keep going Sophie. You will get there. Imagine your life with the amount of clothes you would like to store in your closet, move to a different house, or travel with for a year. Each week evaluate what you like to wear *often* and cull 1 or 3 pieces. *It will get easier as you practice* culling based on your goal. If your goal is to have lots of variety then you will always have lots of clothes. Examine what you really want, list or meditate on the reasons why (key to success), then take an action baby step asap to make progress. One step at a time and focused on your goal. You *CAN* do it. Clothes are not your boss, master, or Lord. Keep practicing working the steps. You WILL get there! Cheering you on and i send you grace & peace.
denpotpink 1 Keep in mind that copy centers can scan in anything you need and create digital files for paperwork you need to keep but don't want around! It takes them no time at all!
Melody just found your videos! What is your profession? This lifestyle may be easy if your are single. Seems impossible with other family members living under the same roof!
I disagree with one think you said. You said to shop for the life you ive not for the life you want to live. I think minimalism is about making room and time for the life you want to live. So buy what you want for the life you want to live but start living it. Does that make sense? I understand how this could get out of control but that's how I roll.
Probably been discussed before, but what's the merit or motivation or reason for becoming a minimalist? My life feels bleak, pointless and void as is already and with various stuff I can at least artificially try and fill the vacuum. #fml 😢🔫 So what do you take from it?
Claudius, I understand that feeling. Forgive my long reply in advance. The flow of being on the hunt and the high of finding something great seems built in and makes sense from a biological perspective - foraging, collecting, storing, and impressing (for safety and security). In old times, you could almost not ever have too much. I think the merit for minimalism is part altruistic (less strain on others, can give back with time, can support crafts instead of exploitation) and part selfish (can find and pursue passions and purpose, can have better health, can have it all, if focusing on quality instead of quantity). With globalization and robotics, college becomes more necessary, yet wages have been stagnant for decades. Something has to give if the quality of life and freedom can remain. For me, that was the junk or activities that didn't add value anyway. Lastly, I wanted to add that the feeling of depression or hopelessness that so many feel is common. One in four suffer from psychiatric imbalance (maybe more). Even mild forms of anxiety, depression, constant racing thoughts, impulsiveness, paranoia, and intense loneliness or emptiness make it extraordinarily difficult for peaceful living and contentedness. Therapy helps people even without psychiatric disorders, but it's expensive. Massages are expensive. These non-physical purchases (road trips, classes, dates) add to happiness more than square footage or possessions, in my opinion. It is a kinder society when people take better care of themselves, mentally and physically, find purpose, and live within their means. Instead of encouraging a peaceful life, advertisement exploits weakness (anxiety, depression, impulsiveness). I think with less noise and stuff, we can get down to the root of unhappiness or imbalance, through being mindful, reading, or therapy. It also gives millennials or retirees more mobility (for travel, job opportunities, independence, or love). Also, for those who are religious, it makes sense because it minimizes physical distraction. For those who are old-fashioned, it makes us feel more connected with living: There is a lot of appeal in intentional living (homecooked meals and items built to last) versus the current fast pace of technology, fashion, and food. These are just my honest thoughts on the matter.
Without winter, I never needed lotion or pants, and hair is so easy to grow! But I do love the beauty in winter. I've only experienced three falls and winters so far :)
Hey Jana, I live in Franklin, Tennessee, and I was born on Oahu. It's been 60+ degrees the past few days. I am really enjoying it, reminds me of winter in Hawaii :)
+More Melody cool.u seemed not cold wd ur outfit in ur video,dats why I'm wondering if it's not winter there.it's super cold here lately in Ca.been raining also.i like ur videos a lot,its very practical and helpful.thank u for reply
