Organizing Is Easier After Minimizing 

So true! I was browsing in Target the other day (not buying, but was killing time waiting for kids to get off school), I came across two aisles of storage solutions (plastic containers, dividers for drawers and shelves, etc.) I was thinking to myself "why don't people just get rid of their stuff instead of buying more contaiers to store them?" That's when I realized months of listening to Joshua Becker has changed my thinking, and for the better! Even my kids would say to me "You don't need it! You don't need it!" when they are with me at the store. Thank you for your work on spreading the truth, Mr. Becker!

I'm working on decluttering some areas in our home and it is embarrassing how many empty containers I have piled up. I thought they were helpful but they are literally part of the clutter!

I quit buying, and seriously de-owned many possessions. I am now a much happier, more organized person who doesn't have to search for things. They are right there. Thank you, Joshua, for opening my eyes to being happier with less.

Freeing up mental space is my 2023 motto to get my mojo back. Great message as always Josh

Last month I was looking at some floating shelves to place some plants that I have on. Then I thought to myself, "What are you thinking? You just spent the past four years changing your habits to live minimally. If you buy shelves you will feel compelled to fill them with stuff which is the exact opposite of what you have done here at home. Just leave the plants grouped in the corner on the floor. They already look great in the way you arranged them. God designed them and He did an excellent job so you don't have to try and enhance them". Just last week I stopped at the Container Store and picked up a can opener which I desperately needed and almost started looking at laundry organizing solutions. I had to get myself out of that store fast before I got swept up in the illusion that I need containers when I clearly have all that I need.

Thinking back to when my husband was going to school and we were starting our family. We had precious little money or possessions, but we were happy and wanted for nothing. As more children arrived and our income increased, more stuff made its way into our home. We have never been hoarders, but at some point I looked around and realized that we were spending our time and resources (1) acquiring stuff, (2) cleaning and maintaining stuff, (3) storing stuff, (4) moving stuff out of the way to get to other stuff, and (5) contributing to the land fill when the stuff broke or wore out. That awareness made it easy to limit shopping to buying the necessities or things that were truly special, and to gladly donate what we no longer needed or wanted. After the offspring were on their own, it became even easier to control what came into the house. Forming a habit of limiting one's possessions makes it effortless to just say NO to STUFF!

I have stuff crammed into boxes, plastic bins and baskets. When I minimize the stuff within, the containers also go out the door. It is the best! I tried to organize our house before I started listening to you. It didn't work with 3 different organizational styles. Minimalism works for everyone!

Another thing is I was thinking about my grandmother and mother's house is how they didn't have clutter at all and they were very happy . They didn't have things stored in containers and boxes everywhere and their closets only had clothes and shoes and a few accessories

I am a Professional Organizer and I cannot agree with you more! The first step with any of my clients is to purge. The less that there is, the easier it is to organize or find homes for what you have deemed important enough to keep. I’m also the admin for my local Buy Nothing Group. Our items can definitely be a huge gift and blessing to our neighbors

Omg I'm doing the kids decluttering today. Yup I'm not getting more storage...I'm giving it away to our local charity. My kids are tweens and I'm trying to teach them to be content with 'just enough'. Today I've counted 10 school glue sticks, 12 X t.shirts they don't fit into. It built up soooo fast. Funnily the kids loved finding and re. reading their childhood books.... Joyful moment during the declutter process🥰

After cleaning our kitchen cabinets we purged old cookie sheets, old electric skillet that had rusted, a few old pans and it made a huge difference.

I emptied a closet & almost filled my trunk with excess art supplies. It all went to the Boys & Girls club. Everyone wins. ❤ ty for this video!

You have taught me so much, so thank you. I'm now selling my large home and moving to a small apartment. I'm minimising like crazy. I'm so looking forward to less cleaning, tidying and organising. I'm spending my days doing what I love, being with my grandchildren! Thank you and God Bless!

I recently bought a smart phone because I thought a few of its features would be useful. After a few days of using it, I realized that it, like many other electronics that are deemed indispensable, was really just a wide-bore sewer pipe of advertising. I will be going back to a flip phone. I wish I could get rid of the internet, too, but unfortunately a number of things such as banking and bill paying practically require internet access. I experimented with giving up television many years ago, and whenever I pulled it out of the closet to watch something, I was always astonished at the amount of advertising and the over-the-top ways advertisers try to sell you things you don't need. I gave up TV for good 15 years ago and I don't miss it at all. It's so much easier to resist accumulating things when you aren't being overwhelmed by people trying to convince you that you must have what they are trying to sell.

I read your book Simplify 3 years ago Joshua. It has taken me multiple sweeps of my home over this past 3 years but today I live a much calmer life because of that little book and your wise words. I cannot thank you enough. I love your other books too but "Simplify" was my lightbulb moment. Thank you .

If our kids & grandkids are to have an Earth that isn't a big, toxic garbage dump, we need to get serious about NOT just getting rid of stuff but recycling, reusing, reselling, repurposing, redesigning, repairing and donating. A big part of being a Minimalist should be joining with others in their community to deal with the excess in a responsible & compassionate way.

Those are very thought provoking questions. I, too, question why I collected so much over the decades. But, maybe there can be some consolation in Maya Angelou's famous quote "when you know better, you do better." I didn't know there was a better way back then.

You’ll be so proud of yourself when you free yourself of unneeded items in your home! I’m so thankful for the information and encouragement from Joshua and others!

I agree with the thoughts on the video, but it made me remember a friend of mine who grew up really poor, and never really "had things". So when she was a little older and on towards the end of her life, she wanted as much as she could get. I think that kind of thing happens to a lot of people unfortunately. She also at times didn't have enough food growing up, so food insecurity was a big thing for her (which I think is understandable).

This is your best video ever, Joshua. Thank you. And I also remember the deeply impactful message of Courtney’s entry that your mentioned. I AM SO GRATEFUL for you. Someone out there said, “the retail stores are my storage unit”. They can hang onto everything until I need it.

De-cluttering and donating is best way to clear out and make progress. Donate!

Very true! Now when there’s a space in my home that I can’t keep organized, I think is time to declutter that space instead of buying more containers to contain the stuff. It works ALL the time. Also, declutter first and then organize 😉

Clutter is middle class abundance.

When it finally clicked for me was hearing someone say "If you have too much stuff, no matter how you organize it it will look messy." It helped me to realize how I was still holding on to too much stuff even after decluttering. I now also get rid of the various containers and bins after I have decluttered what is inside to avoid filling them up again.

Amen…. So many things you learn as you force yourself to reflect on why you have certain things. Even if it was something from 15 years ago, you remember why you actually bought it. Never thought I was the rich young ruler, until I really started decluttering. It has been a deeply spiritual process.

The third point is really true. When I got rid of some stuff, I thought about why I bought it and it was looking for something to change my life or make me happy.

Really like your approach. I come from a nature conservation background and I believe that the „problems“ you discuss are so intertwined with the way our Planet looks like. All the best to all of you on your journey.

I was organizing /minimizing and I got to a point where I had 3 large totes that I couldn’t find stuff to put in. Since November I’ve taken 3 van loads to charities. I have about another 1/2 van waiting. It feels nice. It has allowed me to actually organize the right way. For example I was able to move office supplies next to my small desk and was able to combine all tools and hardware in the small storage closet. Previously I had to store some tools in my cloths closet.

This video is SO true it’s almost ridiculous. I needed to hear this reminder.

Minimising is liberating 🌸🌸

Again, I Thank You!!! Donated today and so happy about it!!♥️♥️♥️

This is a timely video. My daughter and I are in the middle of decluttering our basement. I was able to discard “stuff” that I have not used in years. It helps to do this in a buddy system….. also, I ask my kids if they want some childhood items. If they say no I discard. I have kept meaningful stuff to me but let the rest go.😊

Joshua, everything you said is absolutely correct. My mom and I are swimming in useless stuff. We tried to go minimalist but did not work for us because we feel exhausted day two of our attempts. Need help. We feel terrible every day about this situation. Minimizing is better than organizing.

What a brilliant video ❤️❤️❤️

I agree. I must declutter first.

Love. This. Bookmarking it so I can watch again and share.

That is exactly what I have been thinking this past week. Not the exact words but, the thing about if organizing is the answer, why is it not done yet? And I have actually had the thought about why am I buying stuff to store things? These are two excellent questions to ask yourself in order to move forward. And thinking about the fact that it could help someone else is very motivating. Thank you

100% agree! Both you and Courtney have been a part of my simplifying journey. 💚 Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences! I always look forward to your videos and emails. 😊

Hey Joshua, I moved recently and decluttered a lot before and donated most of it (I've been decluttering for years). But I still have too much stuff and now I thought of buying more furniture (second hand) because in my new space I have no cabinets. And I have to organize so much.....But a few days ago I realised, that this can not be the right way. It has to be the other way round, I have to purge more. Just like you said in your video😊 But it is not easy, 'cause most of my stuff is filled with so much memories. And I love nearly all of my books....it' s not easy, although I dream of a lighter space.....sigh......

Watching your videos always reminds me that you’re never too old to learn new things. You are so inspiring Joshua. this has been a work in progress for me for about 2 1/2 years and it’s been a wonderful journey. I’m not quite there yet but I’m getting closer and I’m feeling much much better and enjoying the freedom. It allows. Thank you so much I’ll continue to watch your videos and continue to be inspired.

I never thought of it before as Kicking A Can Down The Road and now I see that that is what organizing can be. I think you’ve shared a very true and important thought. Thank you.

Getting rid of containers is one of the most fun things about minimalism! 😂 Such an easy solution.

Minimising is a permanent act.....I love this aspect of minimalism

Took another load to the Goodwill and Salvation Army yesterday. It feels much lighter in here. Can get into cabinets easier. Will not miss managing all that stuff either. Should have done decluttering all along, but learning never stops! It is amazing how just little items can accumulate.

One of the best solutions I've found for what I actually will use, is buying the appropriate piece of furniture for the function that I am needing and letting its design be the cap or the container. I mean what did people do before this abundance of plastic?

I just took my third car load full to the thrift 😮 it is shocking and a little embarrassing. It does make me feel better to know that others will use these items. Great video 👍

I think I can hear George Carlin bemoaning ‘stuff’ from beyond the grave 🙂

A bigger home just gives you the excuse to collect and hoard more junk.😩

The great irony is that this mentality has us buying even more stuff 😅 storage containers, shelves and the like. It really is better to throw away or donate the excess. Thanks for the incentive, I have some things I need to throw out today.

Thank you for the video! Happy New Year 🎉

Thanks… I’m struggling with the process now.

😊My most favorite quote of your is something like instead of and better than decluttering is not bringing the stuff into iur lives in the first place👍🏽

Thank you! ❤

Wonderful video, empowering, motivating, inspiring, freeing and all that good stuff! Mauri Ora, blessings! 🌺🌺🌺

Everything we buy comes in some sort of container, surely we can repurpose some of this potential junk to corral the stuff we are keeping!❤

Very good and very true. Thank you.👏🏻😀

Thank You

This is a great reminder!

Painful but necessary - let it go - let it go..... Have you been to the container store? Wow it's a beautiful thing. - but.

Thank you for this way of life! We gave about 97% of stuff away. Such freedom!

Thank you so much! We coloured walls in our house, so we had to remove most of the things from our house and now we need to put them back! So much work 😮... I am a minimalist, but my husband is a hoarder, however I do have a lot of clothes!! I am planing to get rid of at least 1/3, so thank you for the motivation! 😊

I am so glad to hear you speak what's in my heart for everyone reading this. Peel off the layers of hoarded stuff and free yourself! I keep my empty bins just to fill up the shelves so I don't get tempted to buy more stuff to keep on them.

Great message! Thank you so much :)

Excellent and insightful. Thank you.

Thank you for this video!

I have just realised Joshua that I have been following you all this time- BUT I did not subscribe until today. I have no idea of how this happen, but I was shocked 😯😊. I am still in the process of decluttering. Although not as successful as how you have initially approached decluttering-we have got rid of a lot of stuff. Countless trip to donation place, and I laughed when you've mentioned the four van trips😀. I agree with the organisational tools, and this is why I am not spending money on it. I just use cardboard boxed in the meantime. There is still more to declutter and only than I will purchase if I have to. What stood out today to me is - the UNINTENTIONAL LIVING. This makes me think to travel throughout my everyday life and makes me ask the question: Am I living an intentional life in all areas of my life? Thank you again for another thought provoking session. 🙏🙂

You are absolutely right 💯 👍 I tried it on my own stuff ✨️

Thank you

Very good thank you. I have a lot of stuff but compared to most people i don’t have much , however I’d like to have less

Well done - I think this is the best video yet Joshua! Very well organized and impactful. Your message is on point and summarizes all we need to know. Thank you for your work - it has helped a lot

Wonderful thoughts. Hope others will listen

I have this problem with Vinyl records- I have to keep buying shelves to hold them, now I've run out of room for the shelves! 😅

I still have loads to do but getting better xx

Great video. We open our mail after we enter our home. We immediately shred or place mail in the recycle bin. The paperwork we need to keep, we file inside a cabinet. My question is how do we avoid getting junk mail? It's such a waste. Thank you for your informative videos.

Excellent video sp helpful to help let ho of things. Thank you❤

ROFL! If you have to buy stuff to organize your stuff maybe you have too much stuff! LOL That one just made my day! :-)

Can you imagine that there are countries that is almost imposible to find a donation centre. Yes, there are few in Cracow/Poland but with very small storage space, you feel that you are making a problem for them to store your unwanted stuff. They are selling it for quite large prices so they are unable to sell and reduce stuff before they say yes to another box from the donators. Sad but true. Therefore i cannot reduce my stuff because i dont want to simply throw it away as a garbage...:(

Very important advise

This is the absolute best video I’ve seen! ✌🏻 amazing advice!

Those Courtney Carver quotes are from her book Soulful Simplicity. I just listened to the audio of it this week and recognized the quotes from there. Just thought you’d like to know for future reference. 👍😊

Thanks Josh for another good podcast

I've been purging a lot lately. At almost 59, I want to pare down the possessions, because I do not want my family to have to handle every single item and have to make a decision about each one once I go into eternity.

Lovely videos.

At last. Someone being realistic about their possessions. You have recognised the things you can do without but you keep the items you need for your hobby which is obviously important to you. Not all possessions are “junk” even if they take up space.

youre right! tote bags are available near the cashier 😄

Correct Correct Correct

best video ever !

Excellent, as always! A friend said that she took your course, and it helped her immensely! Am I correct that the woman you referred to is Courtney Carver of "Be More With Less: Simplify Your Life"? I couldn't find it in the after notes, and I wasn't sure I heard correctly. Thank you for all of your help, inspiration, and encouragement!

Hi Joshua, what is your minimalist perspective of framed family photos around the house. I have a 1 year old and 4 year old and wondered what your minimalist approach would say about putting lots of baby pics up. There is a part of me that thinks by doing this you are living in the past. What do you think?

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How on earth do I release the attachment to things?? A lot of trauma in my life, BTW.

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YES!!!!! :)

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👍

Daddy used to say "don't let your possessions possess you".

Awalnya saya mengira, memberikan barang yang tidak saya pakai akan membuat saya rugi ,tapi rupanya saya keliru, saya mendapatkan keuntungan .

The irony is when people declutter, they give it to someone else, creating clutter for the other person. Yes, of course, for many people they’re blessed by the hand me down clothes, shoes, toys, Manchester, whatever it is - but many, such as myself, is not.

Thank you for the video, I had commercials during this video, is this new?

How do we find somewhere really useful to take our useable stuff?