Robin is a sweetie! I can’t handle someone else moving my stuff around regardless of the intentions. My brain has an inventory of where things are and I can go right to the spot to retrieve things. (My nephew once said it was the most organized chaos he’d seen!) Anyhoo, glad you got the books shuffled around and in a better order for him. Just go easy! 😃 ///By the way check your mail today or Friday. There might be something waiting for you! 😃😃😃 ///Love that dress on you! Get more like that! Looks comfy and flattering! ❤❤❤❤❤ Em

@user-zu2vb8bo9v

4 күн бұрын

Yes she looks very beautiful in that dress and it looks comfortable

We recently moved and had all our belongings boxed up in storage while we waited to close on our home. In 3 weeks, I only needed two things out of those boxes. It was a real eye opener for me to see that a lot of what I had, were things I do NOT need.

Karen, I always say Family First so I understand the driving situation and how much time it takes in time and traveling. As for organizing what someone wants to keep, I think it is very helpful. I decided to keep what I love (My books and antiques make me very happy, so that is that!) but I have found that I am much more willing to part with other things! I've been working on my basement and it has very large cleared spaces now. I have dozens of bins of quilting material that I am going through in the month of July. The only quilting supplies I might need is thread so I made a promise not to buy any material until I used what I have! There will be many patchwork quilts being made that is for sure! I have made a map of my basement and have zoned it out for Holiday bins, Laundry Area, Tools, Garden/Yard Area etc. It's a process but I am pleased with the progress.

This video spoke to me - I’m so frustrated I can’t get everything done like I could when I was young- I need more things I enjoy and less work - it overwhelms me

When I found you it was when you and Robin were originally going through the basement and his books!!❤ Karen, I appreciate the conversation on anxiety. I run at high speed with anxiety. As a born again Christian, I am finding more people are willing to discuss openly and less stigma. I so appreciate your thoughts. I have a list of coping ideas and for the most part have incorporated things inyo daily routine. I recently started reading for pleasure to help my brain slow down. I love my Bibles, journals, and my books, usually reference books too. But I am learning to use more online references. Thank you Karen!

Hi Karen, I feel for you on this! I used to have hundreds of books. Literally. I started years ago by giving my paperbacks away that I had already read. I would also pass books on to people to read and tell them that I didn't need them back. I got rid of all of my old college text books (we're going back in time here). I had tons of children's books. I gifted some to a friend with a young child. Donated the rest. I use an e-reader for the most part now. I have about 25 remaining books to read. As I am done with those, they will be donated. Keep up your good work. Some days I feel like getting rid of absolutely everything!!

I love these type of organizing videos! Reminds me of all the books I have organized and purged over several decades with homeschooling and my husband’s computer programming books. We are now down to very little, keeping only those that have true meaning. Hate dusting them, and the visual clutter is overwhelming as I get older. Thank you Karen for encouraging us to make our home more inviting with doing a little every day! Also, thank you Robin for joining in and being an encouragement as well!! 😊❤

LOL Karen, the intro with the books falling... I had a hard time with that let go when I decluttered , books are my friends.. but then I knew that others would benefit from the book, as I had...Books are meant to be read again and again , that is thier destiny. Not to be sitting on a shelf getting dusted and moved every 3 years.. that is how we repay the book. by letting it go on forever... just my thought that helps me

I am a huge book-a-holic. But I have down sized my books 3 times now. Does get easier! Good going Robin!!

Guilty as charged, I LOVE and keep books. Time to purge and organize. Thanks for the motivation!

Yesterday I decided that I wanted to clean and organize our garage. My husband did not think that was a fun idea. But he ended up building some shelves and we ended up throwing so much stuff away and organizing the garage. Such a relief. But like you said, if you are able to organize it, you help them see what needs to go.

@ThisMainerMom

3 күн бұрын

I love this so much! How satisfying!! 🙌

Agree, books take up alot of room! I whittled mine diwn to one small 3 shelf bookcase! So happy! Have not missed what I got rid of ! But you are so right ,every little bit helps!

Rich Dad, Poor Dad would probably be found in your local library. That was one of the criteria I used when downsizing my library: If I could easily find a book in a library or inexpensively online, it got donated. I've given away at least 40 cartons' worth of books in the past few years. I still have 5 bookcases full!

I love being allowed to organize for others--it makes my heart/brain happy! Do you realize that you have become a micro organizer?!

My family always found books to be of great enjoyment. Novels are read but generally passed on. Most of my books are nonfiction, so I am in and out of them a lot.😊

Hi Karen,love how you are always there to lend a helping hand to your Family ❤and us as well.May God bless you and your Family 🙏

What a loving gesture to organize your husband's books❤The pole hiding you both made me giggle😂that is so something I would do.

Very nice 😊 looks so much better. And yay Robin for getting rid of some 😊

I love your dress It's so pretty.

@ThisMainerMom

4 күн бұрын

Thank you! It’s super comfy! 😃

I did the same with my partner's workbench area. I got rid of trash, organized items that had clear categories, pulled out some miscellaneous items, then brought him in to make decisions on them. I was secretly hoping he'd go through the organized groupings that I did and declutter some more but that never happened. 🤷‍♀

You've done such a great job, and I love your idea of offering to organize a reluctant declutterer's belongings. But, I strongly (but lovingly) advise against purchasing another bookshelf (especially an inexpensive one that would likely not withstand the weight of books) since you have expressed multiple times that you and your sweet hubby are contemplating a downsizing move in the somewhat near future. Would he consider donating the reference books to your church or a nearby church with a library? That way he could use them any time he wanted but also share the info within the religious community. If not, another alternative would be to pack up a category of books that he never uses but still has an attachment to. In six months, you could revisit the box and chances are he would be willing to let go at that point. OR, box the extras by category and put on some of your existing shelving. To buy another book shelf just seems so contrary to what you're trying to ultimately accomplish. I hope I'm not coming across too critically. I admire both of you for all your hard work and honesty and really enjoy following along. I'm 10 years into my decluttering and simplifying journey and am reaping the rewards of a simpler life. I would love to see you get there too.

I loved your intentions towards helping Robin to better organise, categorise and declutter his books. However, I have to be honest, it did make me wince at little when the piles fell over because they weren’t stacked neatly. I suppose it is because I come from a family of avid readers and we had a lot of book shelves full of books growing up. We were taught from an early age that books were precious objects to be handled with care and kept dusted regularly. In my current house I have far too many books because they are my weakness. I would need at least five tor six tall bookshelves to house the ones I have categorised and boxed up in my upstairs study/office, because I went on a book buying spree and added to my book box stack two months ago. So now I need to go through my old books to make room for at least some of the new ones. Hence, my study is neatly organised, but has become far less minimalish than I would like. Karen, you have spurred me on to do something about that.

I got myself one of those turning book shelves I love it.

@ThisMainerMom

4 күн бұрын

We love ours too! 😃

Hi! Love this video - great job! We had so many books but get rid of a lot now. Maybe you can find a bookshelf in a thrift store/ Second hand . Take care❤

Hubby has a lot of books also and has a hard time letting go of them. But I do insist they be organized and kept well if he going to keep them. He is working on it.

I read then donate. I usually buy from thrift stores to begin with.

Hi, Karen. Thank you for video. Best wishes to you! ❤Welcome.

@ThisMainerMom

4 күн бұрын

Thank you! You too! ❤️

I love organizing videos

@ThisMainerMom

3 күн бұрын

Yay!

I wonder if you could find a second hand shelf if it’s just going to be functional in the basement?

The books that are two big on the third shelf you can move over on top of the black bookcase. It would look way better.

Dave Ramsey is who I follow for financial advice. It really worked for us.

@ThisMainerMom

4 күн бұрын

He’s awesome!! 😃

So hard to do my hubby won’t even part with his mom’s tax papers, she’s been gone for a while now, we emptied her townhouse it was stuffed to the rafters 😮

❤😊

Karen if the book is one I love and will read multiple times I keep it but if I read it and won’t it goes out the door.

🌻🍄

With my anxiety it equals action. I have to make some kind of progress. Usually what I have anxiety about.

@ThisMainerMom

4 күн бұрын

Yes I so relate!! ❤️

I have been really tired this week. I'm taking it slow and still pressing onward.

@ThisMainerMom

4 күн бұрын

Big hugs!!

@Myeverydaywifelife

3 күн бұрын

We all have tired days for me if clean and declutter me day the next day I need to rest. A rest day is good!

What's going on with the car situation?

@ThisMainerMom

4 күн бұрын

Ivon’s died and our teen car needs a lot Of work and failed inspection!

@carolynoquinn4573

4 күн бұрын

@@ThisMainerMom Oh CRAP. I hope Ivon can save and get herself a car. It's hard to drive the girls to work and back.

@ThisMainerMom

4 күн бұрын

@carolynoquinn4573 especially where we live far from most everything!

Did Cress have a car?

@ThisMainerMom

4 күн бұрын

Yes, her brother Fran helped her find one! 😃

You did a great job, Karen. Robin did, too. The tall bookshelf will look really nice, too, I think.

Sorry but you lost me today, to much about books and religion .