It's so freeing to me to know I don't have to keep things. I can give myself permission to get rid of it. I don't need a good reason other than I don't want it. So many years I spent keeping things people gave me or keeping things other people wanted me to keep.
My love language is gifts. What I can say about it is, I love it when they use the things I give them AND if they didn't love it, or it doesn't mean anything anymore, I am happy to know they aren't keeping it. I don't want to burden anyone. I just want to share my love and if they look at it and don't feel love, I don't want them to keep it.
I think that is the most important part! If you know your love language Is gifts but realize that it isn’t for everyone - to not be offended if the gift receiver doesn’t use it/like it. ❤️ if you can find joy in the giving itself, then anything above that is just a bonus!
I just started this journey. Another good place to start is your car. Cleaning your car and getting rid of unnecessary items just feels good. Once you do a thorough cleaning and get rid of the clutter, it only takes about 15 minutes a week to vacuum and maintain a clean interior. Anytime you get in the car it feels good and you will probably do more to maintain it and keep it longer. Women should make it a habit to clean out their purse each Saturday or Sunday and if you have a work bag clean that out at the same time. Once you do a thorough cleaning and declutter, it just takes 5 minutes a week to maintain. Just a few quick and easy wins to get started. Every weekend I have been tackling a few declutter projects. It feels good.
What a mind opening concept on the different categories of decluttering , I know we have many items of each in our house. Thankfully none in storage . We’ve been able to say “if we have to pay someone else to store our ‘stuff’ then we have too much! “ and that mindset has worked on that aspect . Thank you for the steps & how to proceed forward . Easily over a thousand ‘items’ have left our home and more to go to be comfortably ‘functional minimalist ‘ 👍😉
Good morning! These are all great categories. I'm struggling with the fantasy self items...scrapbooking supplies that I'm no longer interested in. Incomplete photo albums that I feel a need to finish, but dread having to search back through years of digital pictures just to find the perfect ones to use. My husband is bad for just in case items, especially tools. He gets defensive whenever I try to suggest decluttering. As for the everything in storage category, this is tricky. Most times it's in storage because it's sentimental. And I think most people have a hard time with those items. Thanks for a thoughtful video.
Fantasy self items are tricky for me too! I think craft supplies were the last category that I decluttered because it was so hard for me to decide! With storage - If it is sentimental Items you have stored, have you considered taking them out of storage and displaying them in your home?
@@ArrowHillCottage I was speaking more in general of people. Personally, I don't have many sentimental items in storage boxes. I have 2 sets of china from my mom and grandma, stored in an upper cabinet in my kitchen. But your idea to display items is a great one. It would be a reminder to people of the good memories. ❤
Ah, I see! I used to have a lot of sentimental items in storage until I realized that I wasn’t enjoying them at all and even forgetting about some things!
When we built our home we added an antique curio style cabinet that flanks then entrance into our kitchen. Many of our special sentimental items are in it, including a small tea set we brought home from China while on our trip to adopt our first daughter, and a glass pitcher with juice glasses from my grandma :) I have found that for me, personally, photos are my favorite keepsake- and so I make an effort to display them and visit them often
This just happened to me last night. I finally pulled out a retractable fabric tape measure that maybe I pulled out too far and found that it wouldn’t retract. 😅😅 Well I don’t generally sew but I do still keep a small cigar box I call an emergency “sewing kit.” That item was a part of that. I’ll prob just cut it and keep the tape part. There were a few things that offended me so much that I either burned them or smashed them or ripped them up. And yah. I have to say it felt mondo good and I have no regrets about doing it. And at the same time I was telling it off and saying this is the last time for you and me ever ever. Goodbye and good riddance. The only exception would be is if I needed abuse documentation really…like in court. You’d need to keep that stuff, unfortunately. I’m glad it never came to that for me tho.
Cards people gave you , old pictures of people you used to know , glass jars from salsa and spaghetti sauce you only need a few for using if you save those .
Thank you so much for sharing this journey, tips, and the experience as a whole. It is truly inspiring as I am someone who struggles with stress, constant cleaning, but feeling I can never get rid of the clutter. You truly inspire me to push myself to make the transformation into this lifestyle that will elevate my life to a place of peace and calmness. Thank you again and wishing you the best.
I just started the decluttering process. I’ve finished my first pass which was mostly organizing. I also started a cleaning routine. I am now very aware of how decluttering and simplifying will make cleaning easier. I find I have a lot of “what if” items.
Categories I have recently decluttered: Cords-match cords with your specific electronics and get rid of the rest. Old toiletries and old make-up. Board games you no longer play (donate to hospitals or libraries). Unmatched socks, expired medication/vitamins/supplements, unused craft supplies, linens (we kept 2 sets of towels and sheets for each person, the rest were donated to our local animal shelter) anything broken or in need of repair-if you haven't fixed it by now, you won't in the future and you have not needed it. Jewelry- keep only what you regularly wear and a few special occasion pieces.
Hello my dearest friend thumbs up here watching with love my dear friend. I started my minimalism journey this year and I was very happy with the outcome
thank you for your way authentic to express things.. in an intense life transition.. some categories are delicate.. so your reminders are helping in the process.. thank you, love from france
It can be pretty overwhelming when you first start a decluttering process. I always suggest to focus on one drawer, one shelf, etc. to get that small win and build momentum! ❤️
