Have to share. I donated THREE complete sets of dishes this year and bartered with another set. 1 to an organization that supports Alzheimer’s care for resale, 1 to a young man starting over in a new place, 1 to my granddaughter for her first apartment. I bartered my wedding china for some prime meats (the butcher hosts dinners in his event space adjacent to his store and uses china!) Win, win for all involved. AND I donated my 52 year old wedding dress to a theater company for their production of The Sound of Music. I went to the show and saw Maria get married in my dress. The dress is now part of the theater company’s wardrobe! I am slowly working through my house and decluttering-we plan to move to a retirement community in a few years and want to make things as simple as possible then!

@lmack6596

4 ай бұрын

💕This is wonderful. I can imagine it was difficult to part with your Wedding Dress after all those years, but how fabulous to see it being danced in again. And I bet it's freed up a lot of space. 💕💃

@marionosmond3219

4 ай бұрын

Donating your wedding gown to a theatre company is a brilliant idea!

@sarahroberts7374

4 ай бұрын

Susan you did amazing 👏 best wishes from sunny England ❤🇬🇧

@sgoldfish1

4 ай бұрын

Those are awesome stories. A few years ago, I bought a set of china for $25 at a yard sale - 8 place settings and serving pieces. Every holiday I use them and get so many compliments. These have been such a gift to me!

@kensiblonde4203

4 ай бұрын

Hi where are you bartering? Thanks!

My mother in law moved last week and she had tons and tons of stuff!! It was soooo much! She never had the power and motivation to declutter. Now she had to, because there is simply no place in her new appartement. So my husband and I did a huge decluttering for her. She gave us permission to declutter what we thought could go and we got rid of 85% of her stuff. We kept only some things she really loves and of cause things she really needs. When she came to the new appartement when everything was finished (she could not help with the move because she has some physical problems), she immediately sat down and cried. At first I was shocked because I thought we had done something wrong. But then she said „Thank god all the stuff is gone!“ These few words were worth all the effort!! Greetings from Germany and all the best for 2024! 🍀

@christinae30

4 ай бұрын

@chezpierree526: What a beautiful story! That you and your husband had the possibility to help your mother in law, and that she could see it as a good thing! My heart was really touched by this, send my regards to your mother in law that I'm so happy to hear this story🤓 Christina, Gävle, Sweden (58yo)

@mantsodahl

4 ай бұрын

My MIL recently moved. My kids moved six full boxes of VHS tapes. They asked what they were and do you have the machine to watch them? Her answer was no. We tossed them after moving them. Ridiculous!!

@pamallard4645

4 ай бұрын

What a lovely gift you gave her.

@janet1947

4 ай бұрын

My sister moved my elderly mom 10 years ago and my sister is the opposite of a minimalist. Why did she think my mom, at age 90, needed my great great grandmother's china? Her small apartment was cluttered. My mom just passed away and it was so stressful to be grieving and clearing out a packed apartment full of items that should have been cleared away 10 years ago. Great idea in making those choices now!

@judithhamilton4726

4 ай бұрын

😅😅​@@christinae30

I’m in my 87th year, I’m thinking of declutterring everything so my daughter won’t have to, although. I’m in good health, surely it won’t last forever. You gave great advice.

I've been dipping my toe into minimalism for about a year. I've really been slowing down my shopping and shoe addiction (yes, it really is an addiction). I woke up today after the holiday mess and decided it's time to be ruthless with my stuff. One garbage bag full of unused stuff is out of the house. I know it's a process, but I want the calm you get when you walk into a cean hotel room. Thanks for the inspiration!

@trishredding8009

4 ай бұрын

I mean clean hotel room

@candicewaller403

4 ай бұрын

Shopping addiction is SO REAL. I know I've got a compulsive shopping problem, but I'm also a minimalist so things don't tend to stay around. It's like this constantly revolving door of stuff. I've calmed down on the acquiring significantly over the years, but the urge is still there and I try to stay mindful of it. The trap is letting it get out of hand financially, even though the house itself doesn't look like I even have an issue. As you declutter, I just want you to know that the piles of unused stuff and the shopping addiction are two separate things to tackle. Good luck on your journey, friend!

@bridgetg2661

4 ай бұрын

You can do it! Good luck and keep going - it’s worth it ❤

@joannecalcutt6724

4 ай бұрын

I feel so much lighter since I started decluttering. The more I do, the better I feel. Especially in the kitchen. I find. Can actually enjoy cooking. I love opening a cabinet or drawer and seeing extra space and not having to ‘search’ for something. Priceless

@noth9617

4 ай бұрын

It's funny we stayed at the literal cheapest motel the other day. Painted brick walls and carpet tiles and everything yet it was so relaxing because none of my stuff was there. I have a quirky maximalist decor style more about colours and patterns than volume of stuff so id still like my home to reflect my personality but maybe with an eighth of the stuff.

DianefromDenmark talks about putting things on probation. Make yourself wear something and then decide if you want to get rid of it. This has helped me a lot. I often forget why I don’t wear something and then I realize once I force myself to wear it…it was itchy, it was too tight in the shoulders, it’s too hot. It’s shocking how easy it is to declutter it after that☺️

@rover790

4 ай бұрын

That's a great suggestion. Thanks fir sharing it.

@marnoch4632

4 ай бұрын

Yes! This works. I’ve had a beautiful dress forever in my cupboard. Never wore it, never the right occasion. So on Christmas Eve I forced myself to put it on. Stunning, but then I remembered/noticed how the zipper stuck out too much and made my tiny flat butt look weird. Instead of feeling disappointed I couldn’t wear the dress I’d kept for so long… I felt liberated!!! Be gone beautiful dress to someone with a bottom who can wear this better than me!! Hoorah! 🎉

@sunflowerbrown5823

4 ай бұрын

Oh great idea!

@cindywilkinson1610

4 ай бұрын

Yes!!!

@jeanschnur5856

4 ай бұрын

What a fantastic idea!🎉 Thank you so much!😊

Clutter free in '23... Declutter more in '24... 😊

I'm a Man and i can say you changed my life, after seeing more than 5 videos of yours and arriving at the Concept of: " The silent To do list" a lot of light bolbs started flashing in my head. I'm so so grateful. I started decluttering my parents place and i couldn't imagine what an huge effect would have on me. 😊 I also started to talk with the silent tasks!😅. It's a Process, a journey, and I can say thanks to your energy, assertiveness and concepts and strategies all science based, I'm a very happy person and my parents will have a decluttered life. 😉

@adelaalvarenga1669

4 ай бұрын

any Idea how to convince my husband. to Declutter he is working in projects all the time.

@georgewagner7787

4 ай бұрын

​@@adelaalvarenga1669 get him to watch the episode of Hoarders with the guy with projects

@joanvoss7512

2 ай бұрын

​@adelaalvarenga1669 what kind of projects

Your question "What would I do if I had a Saturday afternoon free?" is the BEST question I've heard. It tells me how I really want to spend my free time. Not what SHOULD I keep for what I SHOULD be doing if I have time.

I have been a “minimalist” for 2 years. I keep what I need ONLY. No excess. From kitchen, to apps, clothes and my anxiety went from 10 to 3. I’m working on these 3❤

😂 Thank you for all you do Dawn! I was in Home Goods with a friend a few days ago and I saw a very useful family size ( 10-12 people) neutral white all season color salad bowl! At home I knew we had two big take and toss type salad bowls with lids that were working good enough. I want you to know that you and Dave Ramsey were there in that store with me that day! I could hear him saying “gazelle intensity” and you asking, “If I buy this, where will I plan to keep it?” And you both made me put it back! 😂 I then went over to touch a beautiful heart shaped well stitched squeezable red pillow! Again I knew I would have nowhere to keep it when it was no longer February! I turned and told my friend, “Did you know that scientifically, I cannot enjoy this pillow any more than I do right here in this moment, even if I bought it and took it home?! It was hard but I refrained! Thank you for being that voice of reason in our heads!

@karenheffern4088

4 ай бұрын

I have been practicing " Catch and Release" while shopping. I pick up something like that salad bowl, admire it, and then release it to the universe.

@lmack6596

4 ай бұрын

💕💪💃 Good on you! 💪✨

@annajohnson2496

4 ай бұрын

Lol, I have Dave Ramsey in my head, too 😅

@pamelameyer4277

4 ай бұрын

Oh yes! Dawn’s advice goes with me everywhere!!!!❤

@figure15skater

2 ай бұрын

Isn't it funny how we have Pappa Dave AND Dawn in common? I love that.

No 7’s is also useful when evaluating your cart at the thrift store.

My family calls the grubby clothes “everyday clothes” 😂. And just like the body doubling for decluttering, I used it when studying in college. I would FaceTime my friend and we would “parallel study”. Not talking. Just holding each other accountable to stay focused! Now that we’ve graduated, we do parallel Bible study time!

@Carol-ch9wj

4 ай бұрын

Smart girls! Love it..

I love your response to your kids saying that they are bored. My kids are grown, but they learned early on that if you told Mom you were bored, she would say “Hmmm. Bore rhymes with chore, so what chore would you like to do?” My two got very good at keeping themselves entertained!

@barbaracolvin9383

4 ай бұрын

My parents did the same! As farmers, they were always overworked and exhausted, and it was enraging to them to hear us say we were bored! And as farm kids, always plenty of work for us to do. We learned to shut our mouths very quickly!

@MissTiffanyK1

4 ай бұрын

When I hear "I'm bored," I get over the top excited and say "that's awesome because... do you know what lies on the other side of boredom? CREATIVITY! I wonder what you'll come up with to do or make!"

@Magdalena287

4 ай бұрын

I have 5 kids, I rarely hear im bored because they have a lot of siblings to play with but when I do im now using that rhyme lol

@28105wsking

2 ай бұрын

That is a great idea! I had to laugh at your cleverness!

Happy New Year. I can't believe how decluttering has changed my house and my life. It started with not being able to find an ice cream scoop because I had so much kitchen junk piled in the drawers and a box, and in frustration was driven to declutter, and started watching your channel. I began in the kitchen shelves, then drawers, and moved into the dining room. Then, as I caught on to the power of decluttering and cleaning I moved to my studio, which I transformed, and my living room. Then, suddenly, my husband said he wanted to declutter the garage because he was so happy with how easy it now was to find things in the kitchen. We spent a weekend decluttering a messy garage and it made everything so much easier. NOW, guess what... he wanted help to declutter the basement and his workshop. We worked all day today and are both thrilled with the results. We'll finish up tomorrow, and I am the BOSS of the decluttering effort. I have a lot of confidence because I am using everything I learned from watching you. I am actually having FUN.. and am excited for tomorrow. Thank you so, so much and HAPPY NEW YEAR. Next week, my closet.

@gwengwen4535

4 ай бұрын

I love your comment! This is how we’ve also been rolling along😅🙌🏼 I call our closet our “Clothes garage” hehe..

@vickyfearnley9477

4 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing I have struggled with decluttering I do it but then don’t keep it up so gos back to before started I am not going minimalist but I am willing to down size our stuff this will hopefully cut down on cleaning side and help me have less stress

@jonap5740

4 ай бұрын

How is this related to decluttering? @@Repent-and-believe-in-Jesus

@eversosophi9653

4 ай бұрын

awesome!

@softsophisticate

4 ай бұрын

You are lucky your husband joined you in it, not all husbands are so enthusiastic - speaking from experience here :)

When donating those toys craft items, don't forget about teachers! We love to get items!! Toys work great in preschool, TK, and Kinder classrooms, also.

My husband is getting better at attacking decluttering 😅 we recently moved and he brought 8 boxes from our other house, which is now rented. I started emptying a box but he was putting them by the stairs to carry them downstairs into the storage room. I said please don’t, let’s work on one box at a time and be ruthless. He was very frustrated with me at first because he is a DOOM box creator, never to touch it again until who knows when. But he slowly got into the groove, in 2 hours every box was dealt with, the garbage taken out, the donate boxes went out to the car, and the keep stuff was organized and put into permanent spots. It was then that I told him what a DOOM box was, there was a grunt but he nodded his head in agreement 😂

I am so thankful for videos of people cleaning their homes, decluttering their homes, talking about decluttering and minimalism. I'll probably never be a minimalist, but I have gotten so much stuff out of my house by watching/listening to these videos while I declutter/clean..Thankful for your videos.

@beep-beepwatermelon4203

4 ай бұрын

Sounds like minimalism to me!

I’m in a Facebook group where we give away things, everything is free and it’s just for our town. I’m giving things away a little at a time. It feels good to give these things to people who could use it. I’m sure some folks might be in it to just get free stuff to sell. I don’t care, it’s clutter that I don’t have to deal with.

@joannelamoureux9729

4 ай бұрын

Buy nothing is an amazing group that I belong to and giving away more precious items and knowing they are being used and loved makes giving away so much easier.

Because I have really simplified my home and it is easy to maintain (to borrow Dawn's words ❤), I was able to say "yes" to hosting family Christmas lunch yesterday with only 18 hours notice. It was a stress-free decision and was enjoyable. It takes mindfulness about what I allow to come in my home, as well intentionality in moving unneeded "inventory" out of my home.

@danarzechula3769

4 ай бұрын

Wow you go!!

@bernadetteswanson3304

4 ай бұрын

That's fantastic! Collecting memories instead of stuff!

@BR-kk9qu

4 ай бұрын

This is wonderful to hear!

@lmack6596

4 ай бұрын

💕💪✨💃

Dawn, On the subject of body doubling, my husband owns small portions of race horses with others.🏇 Before the race, there is always a non-racing "pony horse" that walks next to the racehorse to keep him calm and reduce anxiety. This is the image I think of when you mention body doubling.

I had my old place completely decluttered and then added another baby and moved to a new place. It feels like I’m starting over again with decluttering and when I feel overwhelmed I just remember the peace I’m working towards. My husband keeps volunteering to watch the kids😂 so I can get our new place decluttered because he loves the feeling of a minimal space - and he thought I was crazy when I first decluttered but he is all on board now❤

The reset plus this? So grateful for so much time with you today, Dawn! I need it!

@kennethbailey9853

4 ай бұрын

Push those Beliefs !!!😅😅😅❤

Also know that decluttering has layers when you go all-in. Many people give up because it doesn't seem to stop. It doesn't get perfect in 1 hour, keep going at your own pace. ❤❤❤❤

I have a neurodiverse child. When she was younger, we looked for "stuff/things" to engage her. You are absolutely correct, at least in our home, that it was completely overwhelming. She just turned 17 and is more minimalistic and much more at peace in her environment. She is by no means deprived but she recognizes that it serves no purpose other than space filler.

When the big “C” happened and I was homeschooling, I organized all our tools, command hooks, paint, office supplies and it has made the biggest difference in not over buying. We use to have everything all over and would buy extras, now we just check the labels bins in our basement and don’t over buy anymore.

Dawn, I've just had my 60th birthday on Dec 20th. I raised 3 kids in a stressful marriage. My children are adults, and I'm a Grandma × 3. I'm remarried to a wonderful man and the happiest I ve ever been. I love your u tube videos. I gave my 10 and 4 yo granddaughters inventor boxes for christmas! They loved it and so did I!! I am applying minimalism to my life and creating a sanctuary of peace for my husband and my 92yo mother that lives with us. Decluttering breathes life into me. Thank you for teaching this and for your loving spirit.

Moms of littles, Dawn is *so* right! Start now, while your children are young. Parenting is plenty stressful, but it would have been a whole lot less so if I had realized these things when my kids were little, and a less-stressed Mom is a better Mom.

"Peace over Possession" love it, so easy to remember and apply to everyday clean up and decluttering!

This video is so spot on. We inherited a China cabinet when we bought our house. Because it was there, of course I had to fill it. But every time I walked by I felt sad and even stressed looking at my grandmother/great grandmother’s items I knew would never get used. I picked out a couple of pieces and then reached out to other family members and offered a keepsake. I covered the inside windows of the cabinet with a vintage print and used the shelves to store seldom used appliances since our kitchen was very small. Now I have peace every time I look at the cabinet, which is priceless.

I was ‘ruthless’ today, Dawn! So much stuff left my house today. My six year old loves how easily she can now find her favourite and new things in her room now. I felt so lightened by the results that we went to the park and had some fun together. I was no longer distracted by where all her holiday gifts were going to go, etc. What a gift! Honestly feels like self-care when I declutter/purge and organize what stays. Thanks Dawn ❤

my father suffered from advanced Dementia. As his carer, I didn't want him stressed so I gave him free reign to sort/keep items, that I would usually get rid of. After he passed I was left with the monumental task of tidying/sorting the chaos. I put off a lot of tasks because it was too much for my brain to handle. After watching a few episodes of Minimal Mom, I started to tackle the garage. I knew we had a LOT of stuff, given Dad was like "Steptoe and Son" mentality (if you know you know) But I didn't realise how much until I did the rubbish sort. Still a lot to go, but I've made a start and now I don't feel so overwhelmed mentality

I want to share with you how much inspiration I've received from your videos this year. I am at a point in my life where I need to downsize my possessions and you've been a huge help for me. Where a lot of the help comes from has been in developing intentionality in how I want my life and my home to function. This has meant re-examining actions, habits, and tools to understand what still does and what does not work for me anymore. Seriously, all the tips and restructuring mindset has been great, but the most fundamental and useful gift you've given me is being intentional in what I do, what I need, and what I keep to accomplish that intent. I have been ruthless in letting go of things, strategic in replacing larger volume kitchen appliances with smaller ones, and getting realistic about aspirational property for which I realistically don't have time or money for upkeep. I have so many hobbies and interests (aspirational) which I don't need to hang onto or to store or replace time-worn supplies. The quilt I was knitting that has sat for 20 years unfinished. The camping supplies I'll never use, now that I'm in my 70s and have the start of mobility issues. The cake decorating equipment that was stockpiled but never gets used. These are just a few of the many aspirational items that I just don't see myself using anymore. Better to put my time into my dog and my houseplants and my artwork. Better I finally carve out breathing room in my home and my daily life. You remind us, your viewers, to be intentional in our lives. We need to be clear on the life we live and what it costs to maintain the volume of 'stuff' that accumulates in the course of living. So easy to bring things in, but so easy for that stuff to weigh us down more than it lifts us up. Some CAN lift us up, but we have to be intentional, purposeful, in what we allow in our lives. Too easily the things we possess come to possess US. I don't think I'll ever be a minimalist, but I do want to be intentional in living and experiencing my life. That means curating my home, finding that balance that frees me to actively live, not passively manage. And I thank you for bringing me to this point. A very happy and beneficial New Year to you and your family!

I love how you always say “I love you”. You’re such an upbeat lady and I enjoy your videos. I’ve been purging for a few months since I started following you and my life is much more peaceful. Thank you.

Thank you for your tips and tricks. Since I’ve started watching your channel about a year ago I’ve donated and threw away over 60% of my belongings in my household. My mindset has shifted and I am very intentional about what I bring into my home. My whole family has jumped on the bandwagon along with me and we’ve never been happier and more at peace. Thank you ❤❤❤

I was ruthless last night and threw away, donated loads and loads of clothing and It’s starting to feel really good.

I have been following dawn for about 3 years and she has changed my life!! I still do not consider myself a " minimalist" but I definitely am close to it! It's definitely a working process! My biggest fear is getting rid of my clothes , I have a major clothing addiction and the thought of getting rid of my clothes makes me sick but my 2024 goal is to dive into my clothes and see how much closer I can get to minimalist!

Thanks Dawn! I started decluttering again today.. but not a deep focus in one area. The 7 rule for clothes is brilliant! Another suggestion for donating craft supplies is psychiatric hospital. I spent 3 months in one earlier this year. I was grateful for all of the supplies we had to use. When I came home I went through my very large fabric supply and selected the fabric that I found a 7.. (without knowing it!) and donated it to the hospital. Love you and your beautiful family ❤❤❤

@christinae30

4 ай бұрын

🌻🌷🌷🌷

I finally decluttered & mininized my kids' rooms, bathroom, & kitchen so the countertops are clear!! I love the stress-free feeling I get when I look around & it's clean! But I was surprised when I also experienced a sparsity mindset. Growing up, I felt an abundance mindset b/c my mom kept the counters full of food, etc. Now I have to remind myself that just because I don't see things doesn't mean I'm lacking them.

The floor threat is sooo real! When I was a child/into my teenage years, my room would be a disaster, and instead of shoving under the bed, I would put it on top of my bed. Then I didn’t feel the urge to change my environment. Never realized it was a fear response wow😮

My mom died seven years ago and moved her entire life's hoard into our house. I'm STILL getting rid of stuff. It was a nightmare, but things are WAY better now.

I was RUTHLESS in my 22 year old son’s room. GROSS! I just never went in there bc, he’s an adult, but I could see the clutter if I went to his door to ask him something. Finally, this weekend, I said TODAY is the day! We are getting rid of everything you aren’t wearing or using in here! 2 black garbage bags and two large moving boxes of donations and his room looks like a human lives in there again. Just knowing it isn’t cluttered like it was makes me happy!

@arizonashopper5095

4 ай бұрын

Great example you gave him, of how to declutter and bring order to his space!

Use those extra envelopes to save seeds from the garden. My seeds are stored in a shoe box, organized in envelopes I found at the thrift store.

I found with my kids that it wasn't the amount of toys, but the TYPE of toys that made the difference in their lack of boredom and level of creativity. Toys that lend themselves to open-ended creative play, such as generic blocks (as opposed to story-specific Lego sets), dolls/stuffed animals (each given their own unique personality & behaviors during imaginative play), as well as simple art supplies and fun books (library comes in handy here) keep kids occupied for hours on end. Even with video games, some (such as Minecraft) are more creativity-oriented than others, allowing children to use their imaginations. My kids are all in their 20s now, and to this day they still like to get together sometimes and play games they made up themselves over the years!

Dawn, I'm not likely to become minimalist. You are my friend; I do love you😊. I have accomplished a lot of decluttering in all the rooms of our home, and it is very rewarding. I sometimes put things back while shopping, because I ask myself, "Do I really want to figure out where to store this when it isn't being used/worn?" You are a tremendous helper and encourager, bless you !

Wow my mouth dropped open when I saw the grill Gage made!! Fantastic, well done Gage! & Well done boys!!

We are totally decluttered and minimal thanks to you! I’m glad you still like using my word ruthless, it’s totally appropriate, right?! Even though ruthlessness not really on brand for you bc you are so kind and sweet ❤

I’ve watched this particular video several times over the last few months and it really resonates with me. One phrase that really struck me today was “peace over possessions”. I think I need to post it where I can see it regularly for a little while.

I've been slowly converting over and have lately been thinking about the "NO 7's Rule" as using the best first. There have been so many things that throughout my life I've been saving for a "special occasion" -- anything to an outfit, perfume, food/beverage item, dishes, etc. Then one day it really hit me that tomorrow is not promised to me and if I were to die today, all of the best stuff I was saving for later would have never have been used. Now, when I make a decision on what to wear, use, buy, etc. I always choose what I like the most -- not necessarily the most expensive items but rather the items I already own that I like the most. The rest of the stuff that is cluttering and stressing me out has been finding new homes. And, lately, thanks to your videos, I've even -- cant' believe I'm doing this but -- THROWING things away. I REALLY struggle with this knowing about all of the poverty in the world. But, this also helps me to now buy stuff that I really don't need. Retail therapy is so easy for me and it's so easy to justify. But, if I am mindful that I may just be throwing it away soon, I have been able to not go through with impulse purchases. I'm also trying to be mindful that in my older age, and with never having had any children (not that they would want all my junk anyway), someone else will have to just come in my house and throw everything away anyway once I'm gone... Thanks for your videos. I'm really trying to implement some new habits into my life.

I'm currently decluttering my entire house! These tips are great because I'm overwhelmed! I swear I'm gonna do it. I have a bad back and can only go about 15 minutes and i have to sit down. I've got most of the kitchen done. Next is my closet! I'm donating and throwing away! Thank you dawn!❤❤

@AZHITW

4 ай бұрын

After 50+ years of never missing putting up a Christmas tree this year I decided to just donate everything, I'm 74 racing toward 75 and I think it's time to stop climbing up and down a ladder decorating the house and 9.5 tall tree. I had enough decorations to do two 9.5 trees, so I kept one container of small decorations in case I buy a 4 ft. table-top tree in the future. The rest got packed and donated. I was sad for a couple of days, but I think I'm over it.

@sunflowerbrown5823

4 ай бұрын

Take your time and work at your own pace. Dawn often says something to the effect that "10 minutes of something is better than 10 minutes of nothing". Remember that and give yourself grace and encouragement on your less active days. It helps you to see that even 10 minutes matters! You will get there I just know it and you'll love your "new" space!

@aquilasnest

4 ай бұрын

❤

@rg-mi5hh

4 ай бұрын

Five minutes a day will make a huge difference. Make something better today. Not perfect.

@kellieroth1710

4 ай бұрын

@@rg-mi5hh wonderful words! Thank you!!

I started watching your minimalist videos four or five years ago. God has used the information you have shared to change my life and the life of my family! When people come into my home they say, “Your house is so clean and nice! I wish my house was like yours!” I tell them about you and your videos, and how it has been a journey for me to have a nice, clean home. My mother has also transformed her home because of you. I thank God for you and your message of truth and hope for a better life without too much “stuff.”

I love consolidating not only because it's easier find things when they have a home, but I can see if I have too much of one thing. Great way to declutter.

Dawn, thank you so much for sharing minimalism. I have been incorporating minimalism in our lives for almost 3 years. It all started while we were pregnant with our second child. I was feeling overwhelmed, inadequate and incapable of managing our home, and I knew something had to change before our little baby girl came into the world. I went on a search for peace and simplicity. I started googling ways to have a more peaceful home, and by God’s grace. I discovered you and your videos. And here we are almost 3 years later living a significantly more peaceful, intentional, joyful life. I know we can go so much further though, and tap into even more of the incredible benefits of minimalism. So here’s to being RUTHLESS. Thanks Dawn. ❤

So awesome! I would usually be out buying clearance paper Ribbons tags, not this year😊

I let your videos play while I’m getting things done around the house. Your loooooong videos are great for this. I never knew there was a name for this until recently….”body doubling”! Thanks!

You're right about kids needing less toys! We did this with our children and it it was wonderful!

So true...kids need a peaceful home - without the chaos of clutter. Great advise and tips as always! 🥰

I love Gage’s grill! 😃 How creative! Great video!

I love this! I started last year and we got rid of 2 dumpsters full from our garage and shed and at least a dozen carloads from our house. It's huge! Continuing on in 2024!

@softsophisticate

4 ай бұрын

Wow! Well done. Fortunately, I have never had lots of money to go and buy so much stuff in the first place. I live in the UK and we have a TV show where a family wants to declutter and they take everything out of the house and put it into a warehouse with like for like items together. One family of four had over 50 mugs, and mutliple duplicates of everything. It was crazy to think about all the time they must have spent shopping, which they could have spent having fun family days out.

I have never heard of that "body doubling", but that is so me!! The point of just having some one there I always am so much more productive. Now I now why.. 😊

Thank you for reminding me to subscribe. I am an ancient one and need reminders. I am a retired Executive Housekeeper and have learned new skills from you. You can teach an elder dog new tricks. Love you kiddo.

Is it odd that I like to declutter and clean by myself?? I just like the peace and quiet zone I can get into and can get more done. Aside from teaching my kids the chores and daily responsibilities of cleaning and tidying, I'd rather solo clean than body double. May be just me 🙃

Just shared this with my daughter, Who has a 9 yo and 5 yo. They often get overwhelmed with their bedrooms, too much inventory and not a dedicated space for things. I know she was starting today to get things started, so hoping she watches this!

Dawn, I hope this won't upset you, but I got up from the sewing projects I've been putting off to do just a touch of decluttering. I was watching a newer video and you mentioned women having so many clothes that they don't wear. Well, I wear nearly all my clothes in my dresser, but there are ones I very much dislike. I know they don't make me look nice (my poor husband). So I threw them out. I thought it would only take me 30 seconds, so I got up and threw them away. Then I went over my closet briefly and threw clothes for consignment into the van. By that time, I'm on this video and you're talking about kids' toys. I have decluttered so many of my kids' toys over the last three years and I have YOU to thank. Thank you for being the one who gave me permission to throw away or donate toys. Some of them were really hard to let go of because of memories of the people who gave them to my kids. But, the truth is, they don't play with them and they just clutter up the house!! Anyway, I'm done decluttering for the night and I'll finish up the last couple of sewing repair projects now. Thank you so much Dawn ❤

Peace over possessions ❤ We have been praying over this very topic! Thanks, Dawn, as I watched and listened - I was totally inspired as I was finishing putting away our Christmas decorations. I’m preparing for 2024!

@abbyd7708

4 ай бұрын

I love that quote! Peace definitely doesn’t come for owning a bunch of things you don’t use or need.

@sunflowerbrown5823

4 ай бұрын

I love the way she put that! I've written it down and taken notes. I will use "Peace over possessions" as this year's mantra for decluttering inspiration!

Love your videos as always. I am about 6 months into decluttering my overflowing house and have not gotten as far as I would like. Only 2 trips to donate (about 9-10 boxes at s time) But loads of trash bags ending in the bin. Can't wait to get my house completely under control with you this week so my family and I can all feel calmer and relaxed in 2024. Since we are all on anti-anxiety meds and need this for our Mental and physical health. See you this week. I will be starting on my clothes (have switched the hangers around when I started) so I know for at least 3 seasons which clothes I have not worn and can therefore declutter

Thank you for giving us the examples and guidance some of us never get from our parents. We need to see how it’s done, not the theory and justification, most likely we already know those logic. We need more people like you who’s able to be honest and vulnerable enough and just full of grace when it comes to clutter and decluttering. Much luv ❤

Your methods and viewpoints have changed my life. I took the week between Christmas and New Year’s off of work last year and decluttered my entire condo. It was a lot of work, but the results has made me feel so much more comfortable in my space,!and cleaning my house is a breeze. It’s so great that you’re doing a decluttering session on New Year’s Day! I hope to join you. And THANK YOU for making your content available.

I work SO much better when working along side my husband! Especially on big projects like our property and the shop. We are a dynamic duo!

Thank you for mentioning neurodiverse kids 💛 we do see the benefits of minimalizing for them although it takes a bit more time and patience. Thanks you for all the tips and inspiration for 2024.

Every time you mention toy declutter, I am encouraged! I have three kids, soon to be four, under age five. Thank you for being passionate about it; it truly gives me more resolve to get rid of toys and junk that just builds out of control. Thanks for continually mentioning the negative impact of too many toys.

@daisybuchanan5378

4 ай бұрын

And rotating toys too !

@SingSirenMae

4 ай бұрын

Your doing an amazing job ❤ I've got lots of little ones too. You got this 😊

Thank you for talking about kids being so busy with lessons and activities. Kids need down time to just sit and think, look out the window and pick their nose if they need too. Having worked with children for 40 years and I have seen kids become more anxious and stressed through the generations of kids. I've seen parents brag about how busy their kids are with multiple lessons a day. I also think you don't have to do quality parenting when you are driving kids from lesson to activity and feeding them McDonalds in the car.

Dawn❣️as I listened to this video I opened every kitchen drawer & cupboard, being more honest with myself and got an entire laundry basket full that will go into my recycle dumpster tomorrow‼️‼️ I love you too, thank you Girl❣️I'm so glad you are doing what you are doing

@janeleslie4192

4 ай бұрын

Awesome 👏

I love the concept of applying the free Saturday rule to half finished projects. This frees so much guilt! I’ve been struggling with this for a long time.

Dawn, not only are you a fantastic mom, but you’re absolutely the BEST in the (de-cluttering) ‘business’!! Thank you for sharing your work. 🙋‍♀️🥰👏👏👏👍‼️

Best decluttering video ever!

as a former nanny, but never a Mom ... I approve your message .... and think about times I was able to assist families with this process ... mahalo

Seeing your place, listening to your stories, watching how you do it... I'm ready to declutter. I had no idea where to start, how to start, what to do (or to look for).... this not only making sense, but having someone who has been there, still going strong, and willing to share her space and time with us and showing a lot of grace .. just what I need.

I just love using old clothes to cut up immediately in medium sized rags kept in the garage to clean let accidents or cleaning walls . We need to reuse even those old stained or ripped garments 👍🏼

I am a minimalist and i love it ! So much STUFF is just a dust collector and a stressful way of life. Why do people need so much STUFF. habit, tradition, its how i grew up, i may need it one day and so on and on. I love living clutter free !

Hi Dawn! I'm body doubling right now by watching you! I am filling out the last entries of our homeschool diary (15th year of homeschooling done!) but I HATE doing it by myself. Instead, this year, I popped your video on while I did the last part. You are one of my go-to's for body doubling! Thanks for being part of my journey. Lusi x

@sunflowerbrown5823

4 ай бұрын

I do the very same thing! Body doubling with Dawn! It works!

@christinagreenbeautypro4378

4 ай бұрын

Same! Love Dawn’s upbeat tone and voice. Keeps me motivated.

Dawn - You are the best at what you do! Just listening to you as I declutter is so motivating. The hardest part to me with decluttering is that I always regret getting rid of at least a couple items which then sets me back and causes me to question things all over again, and paralyzes me really. Toys are the death of me 😭😱 God bless you! (That is a scrum Mommy which are the best!!!)

No 3 resonates with me especially after Christmas. I am already pretty ruthless with organizing and consolidating but at Christmas received two large charcuterie boards that a family member thought I would like even though we are a no gift family (we donate to a charity on behalf of our family members instead). Anyway they saw this and thought I had to have them. Well, they are so large I have no place to store them in my kitchen as my kitchen cabinets are not very deep or tall. I have managed to get our kitchen to function with these odd sized cabinets which the gift givers have seem me struggle with in the past and now I have two items that have to live in my coat closet since they don’t fit in my kitchen. A silly thing to be concerned with in today’s world, I know yet it’s like I hear those cutting boards taunting me. I want to donate the gift but they can’t wait to come over and see how I use them.

I have loved 'letting it all go' over the past two years. I am so alert to the constant buy, buy, buy that is shoved at us all the time. Im always astonished by how much I still find to hand on and sell - the idea of seasons is so helpful just not needed now. Craft projects was the hardest area for me but now its gone I don't miss anything. Love this lifestyle and philosophy of life.

Everything you say makes so much sense to me. I am taking 1 week off. I really don’t want to de-clutter but I never get time off. I have mentioned my hall closet. It is causing such anxiety. I need to watch this over and over. Maybe I could get inspired to tackle it

I have the same brain. I’ve been following you for awhile. I don’t have anyone who believes in my way of life. I get so much comfort, wisdom, and validation in how I live my life with my girls from watching you. Merry Christmas+peace in the new year❤

Extra envelopes are great for storing seeds. Keep them with the garden pots, seed starting stuff.

I asked my church family for those that do arts & crafts and gave away a lot of my things to them. Some were Sunday school or VBS teachers that wanted them for their class projects!

I just learned you have a twin! I have two sets and raising them, I said - everyone should have a twin! Their bond is beautiful. You helped me so much throughout the years. I’m far from a minimalist (especially with 5 young kids), but the consolidation and organization techniques are life changing. Seriously. Thank you!

Thanks for getting us simplified! Loved Gage's grill, turner & burgers! Less toys has worked wonders! -Kim, Columbus, OH

@delbelcoure

4 ай бұрын

I'm in Columbus too!

I got rid of some toys that were too much for them to deal with over a year ago, and I still hear about it from my kids. They were livid. Consult your kids before getting rid of the toys.

Another inspiring video. Thanks. We used the 'ruthless' word as a principle a few years but then quickly changed it to 'ruthfull'. This means we are tackling our decluttering challenges "with love" rather than "without love/ruthless" which helped with motivation as it fitted better with our values / goals. 😊 Happy New Year all.

@EMILYHERRERA

4 ай бұрын

​@@Repent-and-believe-in-Jesusppl like you are the *worst* 😑

I feel like I need to get family members to watch this. Everyone has to be on board with putting things back in their proper place

What a great video! I’m that person who decluttered in December, then put on the brakes Dec 20 to decorate for Christmas. This was the pep talk I needed to get going again. About the no 7’s, I belonged to a group that talked about color and signature style, and we decided not to buy anything that wasn’t at least an 8. That’s really helped over the years. It really simplifies the decision process.

Decluttering a kitchen drawer as I listen 😊 I am a "place for everything" person but not everyone in my household is, so things end up where they don't belong. So my utensil drawer had new shoelaces, the new puppy leash, the staple gun and a rolled up plastic bag in it .... all things that have a real home! So about 5 minutes got everything a wipe down, rehome or declutter!

I love how you think through (out loud) your decision making!

I’m watching this video after just this afternoon taking a huge pile of stuff that had been in the corner of my bedroom to the goodwill. I can’t even tell you how much calmer my room feels. ❤

Dawn, you have been such an effective, powerful force in my decluttering journey. I am loving it! It's been said in many previous comments that everytime a video pops up...we view it and then we are inspired to declutter some area! It is so true. Keep on!

@KellyBoettcher-qo9tx

4 ай бұрын

Yes!!! 😊🎉🎉🎉

Love the hair cut

Lol, “If I had a free Saturday” … Without exception for the last couple decades, that would be “cleaning and organizing” without needing to consider the answer. 😂 And the most frustrating part is it never gets done because there’s just too much stuff and no places it belongs. It’s just pushing things from one spot to the next in circles, but pending divorce will finally resolve this.

The no.7 is a great idea on clothing. Doing this for 2024. Thanks for sharing all the ideas.