The Minimalists’ 5 Favorite Decluttering Rules 

What’s your favorite minimalism rule?

As a mom of 5 kids the decluttering question I use is “would I clean poop off of this?” ( I got this gem from a fellow minimalist mom) and come to find out there’s not a lot Im willing to clean poop off of lol

TK always gives the best insights

13:00 AWEEEEEEE😭😭😭😭

After a few minutes of this I would think the Minimalists #1 rule would be 'Avoid an education.'

Three stages of life: (1) Desiring things. (2) Acquiring things. (3) Disposing of things.

1: Spontaneous combustion rule. 0:49 2: 20-20 rule 2:50 3: seasonality or the 90-90 rule 3:54 4: wait for it rule aka the 30-30 rule take 30 hours to 30 days to decide 6:08 5: emergency items rule. 11:42

One of my own rules .. when going to any store (other than grocery) I don't get a cart. I carry what I need. If there's a sale and I'm drawn to it, I'm immediately limited in what I can carry. I've had employees offer to get me a cart but I always refuse. It helps me keep my perspective with my limitations to arm length in carrying items as well as the weight. I tell ya, things get heavier the longer you carry them.

I do a no-spend random month, and in those months if I think I need something I go ahead and shop for it online and out it in my "cart" until the month is over. More than half the time, i decide I can live without it anyway.

I think a key is to acknowledge that holding onto things comes at a price. Before I was just thinking about the loss of items. Now I visualize a clean, well-organized space and a less-burdened mind and ask if holding onto something is worth what it will take from that.

Always ask yourself..."do i need it, or just want it?"

My 2 cents - Purge anyone, or anything, that brings more sadness than joy. Have what you need, need what you have. Purge everything else. On a side note - do these guys have the same mother - or share the same brain? They could finish each others sentences. 😮

When T.K. spoke he made a good point. Would've enjoyed hearing more from his view during this discussion.

30 minute meals black only wardrobe no home decor no seasonal decor boundaries, even with professionals like a therapist in my life would I rather see this money in savings? toys only fit into 4 x 30cm by 30cm boxes

I’ve been thinking about minimalism a lot lately in relation to me. I’m not looking to only have X # of possessions. I’m trying to get to the point where I don’t have things/clothes I never use. I’m not going to live in a …..to me….cold, sterile,vacant space. I’ve made huge progress but am not quite through thinning stuff out. I’m not going to wear the same thing every day for a week, or a month. I’ve reduced my wardrobe a lot. I don’t buy clothes for a life I don’t and never will live. I don’t have pieces of clothing that some fashion maven says I must have. My wardrobe perfectly fits my life. I like to have nice, pretty things around me, but no longer have stuff crammed into closets or in boxes that haven’t been opened in yrs. I don’t keep “family” things that were passed down because I think I have to. I am much less emotionally attached to stuff. So…..I’m not a minimalist in a strict sense, I’m just an old woman who got tired of having too much stuff. 🤷🏻‍♀️

My rules are pretty simple, when I go grocery shopping I only get what is on my list and I get the store brand most times. Another tip is to look up and down, a lot of times they put the more expensive prices at eye level.

90/90 rules in Canada where I live is not a good rule because I have winter clothes when temperature is reaching lower than 0 celcilus to near -35 celcilus and in July, the rule would tell me to get rid of those clothes but I would have to buy them each year because in July again it's been more than 90 days that I wear those clothes and will take more than 90 days before wearing them back. So for winter in Canada, I would invent the 180/180 or more precise a rule that scope around 7 months so 7 months x 30 days / 2 = 105/105 rule but that would not be as cool to say 😅

I’ve been a minimalist since 1975 - I’m 68; long before the word became stupidly trendy and ‘modern’. Stop talking about it, watching silly films about it, and just do it; that’s the only rule one needs to know…..🇬🇧

I ask myself: “If I didn’t already have it, would I buy it again?” 95% of the time, it’s a NO.

My ex-husband would wait YEARS before he told me something bothered him. I would say, "If you don't tell me when something bothers you how am I supposed to be aware of it? If you tell me years later it's not going to help anyone." Hence EX....

Is josh ok ? He’s not wearing black

Corporations hate minimalism. They want us to be good little consumers... just keep consuming, even if you don’t need it. If you're tired of your existing stuff, donate to Goodwill, so you can get MORE stuff!

If it’s not a “hell yes” it’s a no.

Calculate the rent by square meters and how much that occupy and how much it cost is it worth and useful?

Keep the shirt! It gave me a sigh of relief. Looks great on the black background. And your blue eyes are glowing.

Kudos to you both as I have been a minimalistic person for years and didn't even realize it until I actually realized what minimalism actually was!!! I don't even own a couch for several years now and I have not had cable TV or a home phone for over 10 years now :)- I am 51 years old with no friends, no relationship, never married and never owned a house and I am completely content as I look at my younger brother who works 15 hour days to support a wife who has never worked and he is supporting a 40 year old home with a $4k a month mortgage full of stuff and is completely miserble because he lives his life so that he can keep up with the Jones' so he can impress people on Facebook!!!! I don't have anything and I am completely content!!! :)-

If I wait 30 minutes I won't remember what I wanted. I just remember that I wanted something I didn't get. 😂

Wait For It Rule - T.K. made the best point regarding holding off criticism/constructive feedback/contention for 24 hours. Josh, please note that he did not say "tomorrow", he said "24 hours". "And when I speak on it, I want the wait to come from my conviction & my clarity of thought and not from my body language alone" THIS IS SO POWERFUL

I just happened upon you guys on facebook and i have to tell you i love it! It's all so thought provoking. It really has been making me think about alot of things in a different light. I hate clutter but my house is full of clutter. I'm alreafy looking around at things i don't need. Am looking forward to listening to more. You guys are great!

Before buying something new I ask myself if I will still love this item in a year’s time or is it more likely to end up in the ‘declutter’ pile. I also employ the moment of doubt rule, especially to clothing. If I pick something up and find myself wondering whether I should or shouldn’t get it or if it will suit me, I don’t buy it. That doubt means I don’t fully appreciate it, so is a mediocre choice that will inevitably lead to me discarding it in future.

Another YT creator I watch says, “If I spilled red wine on this item, would I fight to save it?” Her version of the “Spontaneous Combustion” rule. 😉

Oh boy this is exactly what I had to do this week - our adult daughter isn't making the best life choices and I had to really take all personal feelings out of her situation, because we have helped in many ways - that's our roll as partners.. but our help shouldn't come with any conditions- and that's a really hard lesson for any parent.... no matter what and even if - is how we are supposed to love our children right- we just want what's best for our children, but they have make their own way in life , as we did ... I remember all the times I made mistakes , but I'm ok with most of them... made who I am ...

I use this rule when I shop - if I didn't need it yesterday why do I need it now. This has stopped a great deal of purchases.

Perhaps a true minimalist should only have 2 or 3 rules. Must be some clutter in 5.

Just don't buy shit. That is the first premise.

what do you guys think about books???? I have so many for reference I have kept for over 20 years. I still use them often. :)

Love these pods. Just wondering what you do with all your excess money? I'm glad you have money but just sayin

Unlocking the Power of Less! These minimalist rules are pure gold! Embrace the wisdom of The Minimalists and witness the magic of simplifying your life! From decluttering to prioritizing, it's the ultimate guide to living with purpose and intention. Discover the beauty of minimalism and its transformative impact on every aspect of your life! Say goodbye to the chaos and hello to a life of clarity and freedom! Ready to embark on this life-changing journey? Count me in! Let's redefine our lives together!

Two Items I want to relate; 1. Every time I listen to your 'rules' it amazes me how I or anyone else could come up with their version of the very same rules. 2. It impresses my how spiritually applicable each one of the 'rules' really is. Barefoot shoes, carnivore diet, and minimalism...I'm set! Oh! I forgot the bicycle!

Awesome rules! Josh, the color of your purple T is super flattering. I think you should keep it and wear it to celebrate s/t or s/o or make a statement.

Ever think about what you would buy if you had a fire that ruined everything. What would you buy?

I prevent clutter by this rule; If I get something new, something I don't use, or like has to be given away and this applies to however many new items I may purchase. And overtime I let go of other items if I am finding myself not needing or using it too.

Oh i hold on to clothes. Nice or comfortable things like jackets and sweaters.They are so expensive to replace. I doubt i have too many though. I do try to wear them. I cannot do any 99 day rule as I am a merchant marine and am not home most of the year so its a little different for me.

Open minded people don’t really care to ever be right, they care to be understood more. There’s never a right or wrong answer. Everything is about being understood

Completely agree with the idea of waiting as the great policy for responding to impulses and so many other events in our lives, like conflicts and relationships.

I have a question that’s been nagging at me. I’m moving across the across and I am getting rid of things. I have all my yearbooks from school. I don’t want to have to lug these around for decades. I never look at them. What do I do with them? Help

I’m shocked to hear that you got rid of +10k things and still own stuff 😱 were you hoarders before?

I've seen the spontaneous combustion in action. I learned it from one of my old professors when I was in undergrad. He's an older guy and an experienced professor, having done research in a number of fields in chemical engineering. He does 10 years of study in one field, and pivots to the point where he still has a degree of expertise but still has to keep learning and growing. When he talks about it, he refers to it as "setting his lab on fire" - he did tell a story of it literally happening, which is a lot more common in my field than you'd think.

You can wait , when it comes to things like , too much food , drink , acting impulsive, but then there is the ..for example, .. hey I should get up and go play my piano , ( or some other enjoyable creative thing) , don’t wait for it !

My version of wait for it is pause and pray. They are the wisest words I know

This single podcast has helped me more than multiple hours watching other podcasts. Thanks. I've liked and subscribed. I'm in the process of moving, but was stuck with decluttering anyway. Perfect timing.

Guys, your explanations are not easy to understand.

Tornado put mine in perspective.

One in one out is my favorite rule

Josh is wearing colour in the thumbnail?? Is this the new normal???

“Guidelines” would be a more gentle and fitting term.

"the things you own end up owning you" Fight Club (quoted in Fumio Sasaki's Goodbye Things)

The best way to downsize and declutter is to pretend to prepare to live in a car with only the boot or trunk as storage etc by using The 3 plastic storage tub method 1 tub for clothes 1 tub for food 1 tub for everything else And that's all a person needs and that way all the things that you have not placed in the 3 tubs are the things a person bought that they wanted but didn't need

Love those rules! I’ve really been decluttering so much over the last year. I think the last three months I really have just been cut throat with everything that has been left. Love learning new things from you all. (Side note: blue is your color!) Keep it! Just kidding, but seriously keep it. 😂 👕

Did you put a link to the set the stage rule and no piles real? I would love to listen to those. Grateful for you guys.

Josh has a hair dryer...same reason for my 2 cars , it's a priority (Josh, you might be able to have healthier hair w/o it...just saying), If 1 of the cars is down, have a back up - being on time and to a destination is important to me. De-cluttering is a fun thing to do - IF you get through the tough areas, you know, the areas that are not fun....my attic for example....took most of a weekend. Once you get the tough areas...then it's ...easy peasy...and then just maintenance. This video inspired me to go maintenance the clutter in the kitchen... the Junk drawer, the Vitamins, medicines that have expired....old salt/ herbs and spices that got old...etc.. Thanks for your channel.

I have found that waiting to buy stuff gives me time to think about what I really want. I want to buy a hanging lamp. But what kind? How much am I willing to spend? What can I find that is in my budget. Maybe there is something else that I need more. Or I think that I need. Waiting lets me figure out what will really fit in my life better.

"Could you tell someone why you're keeping this?" I don't plan to say use my first aid kit in the next month, but I can tell a person exactly why I keep something I don't even want to use. A cake pan? I don't make cake!

Dios mío, tiene una camisa azul 😮❤

Consider this I did a search for how many vehicles were in America? The answer was a number that was a number that equaled more than people. So two things are happening here. 1.There are people supposedly who went to college but cant understand the effects of vehicles on the planet So let me break it down for you its simple A battery A engine produces heat, the gasoline used to power the vehicle is toxic and harmful to the earth when burned. The sad part is these opponents to climate change who are obviously not smart are still in debt to the college😔2. In the American 5 family household every single individual has to have there own car, truck, SUV, whatever. This is Madness

I love the spontaneous combustion rule

I, personally, (as well as taking your rules into consideration) also adhere to my own rule: The 'Is it Perfect Rule?'

About the „Wait for it“ about criticism I have found something working for me: If it bothers me after 24h, I will address it within 48h hours.

I just reconnected with an old friend. She wants to be close again. We don’t have in common what we used to, and I’m a Liberal Atheist, and she’s a religious Trump supporter. So I’m just letting the friendship gently go.

The main things I choose to let go of are big and heavy items. Mostly furniture.

Joshua looks strange in a purple shirt 😮

What about tools ? Something like a ladder or a drill . Rarely used but very useful when they are needed

just in case - the 20/20 rule. I just want to say I adore all three of you. Keep up all the good work!

“One day on that shirt!… Have I worn this yesterday-yes. Will I wear it tomorrow? No.” Hahaha! So funny!

JOSH'S SHIRT!!!!

Thank you for this great video! :).

Instead of saying Rules ,how about Guidelines? Great ideas! 😊

This friendship love … melts my heart.

Josh looks good in purple. You wouldn't consider keeping it?

I try to imagine the item's future. Will I keep this for a long time? Will I use it a lot? How/when will I probably get rid of it. Etc.

For me, seasonal rule and 33 rule was not happening.......so I gave away all my denims and unworn clothes. I've segregated to office wear and occassion wear and I own half of what I used to. 😇😇

ryan could let go of some of his hair 😂

I needed this. Thanks.

Yes the wait time is taught in "mindfulness" even 4 min rule to surf the urge to be impulsive

never buy because something has been marked down. Get rid of subscribe n save. Get rid of too many pots and pans. Read a book and pass it on. Stop buying the same basic thing over and over, clean out the medicine cabinet.

I found a website of a company that buys computer memory and circuit boards. I have no use for 72 pin DIMMs and ISA boards so I'm gathering them up and weighing them and sending them off.

I didn’t understand the emergency items were they arguing to keep or get rid?

Is there any reference or leaning on to of religion here? Truly many religious texts including the bible reflect a lot of these things you're saying. I love the rules that you are espousing but, does this come from a self-centered atheist perspective, or is there some belief in God here? Forgive me, new to your channel

Just in case is like playing an RPG game where you hold all your items and potions then come to find out you didn’t even use them.

Once again, such valuable information. Thank you.

Really liking the blue shirt Josh. Goes well with your complexion. Only a chick like me would notice that. No, I do not have a problem with clothes and fashion.. lol

I have been a minimalist already since 1992. The first thing I stopped doing was wearing underwear.

Not to have rules. See what I did there? :)

But no one wants my old plunger. I can't justify putting it in the landfill. I'm really good about getting rid of things responsibly but some things are pretty much impossible.

You two remind me of the bible project duo lol

I love it, I'm so attachef to just in case. When one grows up with seasons we become like squirrels. Hmm, impulse and recycling, think about it. I'm obsessed with recycling

What a great guy, the other participant!!!

Just what I need to hear this morning! There’s some conflict issues that I’ve left unaddressed for too long. I’m realizing now these issues are “blocking “ some joy in my life. I’m going to finally address these matters today.

Mi regla personal. Comprar lo mínimo genera menos basura para este planeta. Transformo mis desperdicios orgánicos en humus con ayuda de lombrices. Separo para reciclar el resto de basura. Odio el packaging. Tengo mi bolsa o mochila para las compras.

I didn't know William Fichtners son was on the minimalists, sorry I had to, I always get called Woody harelson