Minimalism, Simple Living & Decluttering: Welcome to The Minimal Mom Podcast. My name is Dawn and I love sharing about family minimalism and simple living. On my main channel, The Minimal Mom, I share decluttering tips to simplify your home quickly (in fact we have over 500 videos there showing you HOW to declutter quickly and efficiently!). Here I answer questions and visit with others about simple living.
A little more about me: I'm married to Tom (@RustyJudgment), we have four kids ages 8-13 and live just outside of the Twin Cities in MN. We became minimalists about 8 years ago and haven't looked back! I also have a twin sister, @DianaKokku who also shares on KZread. I'm so glad you're here! For more details & resources you can visit TheMinimalMom.com
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GREAT INTERVIEW! Thanks, Dawn and Dr. Konajia!
One of your best podcasts. Thank you both.
Fascinating interview Dawn. Children have a lot to contend with these days and it’s a learning experience for today’s parents. Thanks for this enlightening conversation.
Asking myself questions like the ones Dr. K mentioned here helped transform my relationship to sugar after a lifetime of addiction. Such a great transferrable skill for so MANY things! 🤩 #Metacognition “...Things can feel really frustrating until you get the knack of it and then suddenly things become easy.” Just like clutter clearing! 😄
I love Dr. K. I was just introduced to him in a video yesterday where he had a conversation/debate with Dr. Mike and I really want to call it more of a conversation than a debate because he was just genuinely so curious and not at all off put bye what Dr. Mike was saying that could've been taken as combative. Dr. K is so levelheaded it is amazing and I think it comes from the fact that his resiliency is so high that he doesn't need to take offense, or feel offense, and realizes that there's deeper meaning underneath everything. I mean, that could be his psychological education as well… But I kind of think they go hand-in-hand.🤣 Great interview Dawn!
Very informative. I just wish I didn't get so annoyed at the man at the beginning and the end announcing the podcast. He is NOT an improvement.
She used to work at a radio station and he’s a radio announcer guy and an old friend. Bothered me too, but knowing the back story helped a little
Please get over it already, lol.
I feel like if I took my kids to something like the playground after playing games and asked if they wanna go back to play, I don’t think they would no🤷🏽♀️
Under 55 working on the 'supposed to' hold on to stuff guilt. 🙄
Deny reward by games is more epic is interesting. I sense this is the same with other apps like KZread.
Still want to know how many of these "addicted" gamers are neurodivergent, particularly ADHD and/or autistic - our brains work very differently and respond very differently than neurotypical brains, and therefore the approach needs to take that fundamental structural difference into account.
I'm currently going through the battle with my 14 yr old daughter. I caught her having 3 social media accounts. Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok. She is not allowed to have social media for safety reasons. I went to reach for her phone I literally had to wrestle her to the ground to get it away from her. This hurt me so bad. I canceled her phone line,this was not the first time I caught her. I'm thinking to get her pay as you go minutes phone with no data. I need to get ahold of her after school when picking her up.
Good job mom!!
@@KellyBoettcher-qo9tx Thank you 🙏🏼
I’m sorry to be the one to tell you this, but she’s not going to stop. She’s going to believe she’s bad because she does it, but she’s going to cling to it harder because with her whole heart, she believes you don’t understand her. She’s going to believe you’re unreasonable. Instead, what you should do is, go to her, and tell her, this is a problem, it’s not safe for you. And then ask her, what should we do about it? Because like he says in this interview, even if she’s going through some scary negative stuff, she’s can’t afford to admit it to you. She needs help navigating this, but she’s not going to let you know because you are going to overreact. She needs you to understand her. She needs you to give boundaries, but she needs them to be something she knows is 100% to protect her and not just to shut her down. So, I strongly recommend a No SnapChat rule. She knows why. But for instagram and TikTok, you might consider allowing her to have an account, but have her also log into it on your phone, or just making an account she can operate for your family? It’s not all bad. It’s not necessarily nefarious. She’s seeking connection, seeking dopamine, like anybody. And there is a lot of pressure on her to do those things. But if you’re going to take away connection and dopamine, you have to replace it with something else that provides those things in a safe way. So. Board games with friends at home. Or go somewhere fun together. A waterpark, or laser tag ir something fun, often
'Hold onto your kids' is an amazing book that really explains the addiction to peers and social media in this era. Helped me to pursue and repair relationships with my teens understanding that they need strong family connections and unconditional love in their daily world!! And I have to fight to give that to them.
When your Internet interests coverage. 😂
Interesting, informative, and much appreciated video.
Love this conversation with Dr. K and I'm happy to see him reaching Dawn's audience, many of whom may not be familiar with his platform. I listened to the audiobook book when it released and will be buying a hardcopy for future reference. It's by no means the end all be all, but as a millennial with many loved ones, myself included, who have had varying degrees of video game addiction, I wish our parents' generation had access to the knowledge and perspective shared here on online and in the book. It really is written to parents of gamers, which I am not, but I still got a lot out the content from a self-reflective POV.
I appreciate this discussion and I am so glad there is someone offering solution for parent a struggling with the video gaming power battle. I am not so sure I believe the Meta data about gamers and violence. Are there any study links about violence transfer for Virtual to reality? How many people in prison are gamers ba non gamers?How many felons were gamers vs non gamers? This data is generally produced by the corporations. Phillip Morris comes to mind. If you are concerned there is a reason. Violence is not essential to have fun at gaming. In my opinion, teaching self limits and boundaries throughout life will translate to all areas of life. There are studies about the visual experience of video time affect infant and children’s brain. Here is my thought, if I’m addicted to sugar, I am going to do all I can to help my child and grandchild know how not to become addicted. Not serve them portion each weekend. Teach them why we eat. I love this podcast. Not trying to be a hater just saying I see it differently. May that is why there are 135 view and two comments at this point? Best to all the struggling parents and I hope this his plan will help your family. Love to hear how to teach children boundaries and self modulate instead of the way I was raised and the way I raised my child. She is wonderful and never had big issues. But loved to be a more proactive grandma.
Just ordered the book. Thank you!! Increased feelings of aggression. Def my son when he plays, age 6. Stopping games for a little while until we can read this book!! 😁😂😂
Your brain is still developing until 25 years old.
Your brain keeps developing new pathways literally your entire life
This is a fascinating interview! I had my local library order this book--100% recommend
Where did you get your shirt?! I absolutely love it.
I wish i could spammed my family's youtube feed with your content. They got very defensive, understandably, whenever they mention their embarassment of their cluttered house but immediately shut down before i could suggest something.
Dawn, thank you SOOO much for this episode! Especially your answer for questions #3 was SO encouraging and helpful. This is exactly where I am right now with my decluttering journey. The LORD led me to your channel back in 2020 and I have had such a fantastic time getting rid of so much excess stuff I just didn't need. It's been glorious (I definitely get a dopamine high off of decluttering 😂)! However, lately I have found myself struggling to go forward. In my heart I REALLY WANT TO but my brain keeps pushing back. For me it is more sentimental, quality items that were given to me (not so much stuff I've spent money on)...and the big question my brain keeps throwing up is,"Why WOULD you declutter anymore? What's the purpose? You got rid of the excess. You're at a comfortable, manageable limit. No one else in your house is bothered by this (in fact, they're feelings might be hurt if you progress and wind up getting rid of something they gave you 😢). None of your possessions are now a problem...so why take the precious time, energy, and focus it would require to go further with simplifying when from this point on you could be getting rid of something important, even irreplaceable, for no good reason?" And, truthfully, I can't give my brain a good, logical answer. Yet, in my heart--in my SPIRIT--I just know I want to and need to. So THANK YOU for your gentle push to KEEP GOING. It was providential for me today. ❤ God bless you! Christis Joy Matthew 6:19-20 ❤ P.S. And if anyone reads this who would like to offer any other encouragement or advice, I would GLADLY and GRATEFULLY take it! 😄❤️
Mom of twin boys (3yrs) one has ASD but my other son, was pretty involved with decluttering toys. We are doing the time will tell method. He gave permission for some of the toys to “live in the garage in a box.” For being 3 years old I was very impressed because he was ok with a lot of things not living in the house. Then I purchased a cube storage unit and every box has a category, and he loves it! My living room has NEVER looked this good (since i became a mom) he will stop and put things away before pulling more things out (not 100% of the time but about 50%)
I so enjoyed this video. I'm doubling my giving each day in the month of June. Thank you ladies. You're the best ❤❤
Ollie seems to be available only for iPhone / Apple Store. Would love to try it. Is there a Playstore Android Version?
Thank you for discussing this subject. It’s something that most people want to gloss over. I have had a lifetime of pretending that I don’t struggle with pain, fatigue and occasional bouts of depression as a result. My mother was in a very serious car accident while pregnant with me. We both almost died. I was born with my skull too tight so have had constant head pain and tinnitus all my life. Add migraines and neck injury at age eight… Also chronic fatigue, adrenal fatigue, POTS and arthritis. I always think I can get lots done but reality is I just can’t. I became a single mom when my kids were small and now live alone since they grew up so there is only me to accomplish everything. The kids did grow into being helpful but now live in different states than me. As a result of the chronic health issues my finances have always been low making hiring people very difficult to do. My actual life is so different from what my brain thinks it should be. I watch your KZread channel, Dawn and dream of having the energy to declutter and be minimal and there it stays, a dream. Thank you for the encouragement though. 😍
I recently finally gave away several expensive things that I didn’t really want and was upset I wasted money on. The relief after I grieved was SO clear and that inspired me.
😃👍🏼 thank you both.
Thank you both. I don't have any children, but I can relate to the "Magical Thinking" for myself. (I'm 51).
When is the next take your home back? This link is expired
I would think it has something to do with like clutter equals to weeds As things we use are equal to plants
For the second question, I would suggest why can't the kids do both? They can have chores while the parents declutter. Let the kids see how much easier a chore is when there's less stuff. That way the understanding the why of decluttering much better AND they build habits.
Instead of taking the bag to church - let the children pick out one toy before they leave for church and after a few weeks you will know the ones they like and the ones you are free to pass on.
Another aspect to the concept of not filling a given space is that for many, especially as we age, handling a lot of stuff to get what we want becomes difficult due to bad back, arthritic fingers, failing eyesight, etc. In my case (age 80), I have intermittent pain and weakness at the base of my thumbs. Having to pull out a couple of appliances to get to the blender or whatever is not an acceptable form of exercise!
This was really helpful for me. I live in a tiny studio apartment, and I always wonder why things don't fit. It's because my storage spaces don't have space for growth! It's like a light bulb went off in my head with this podcast. THANK YOU. This will definitely make a difference in my decluttering journey.
Thank you so much! ❤ I was going to move after divorce but ending up keeping my home. I’d put a lot of decluttered tubs in the lined shed. It was overwhelming when it had to be organised too. So I’d do a session and not get far. Next day, the same. However the 3rd day it had transformed some floor space, yet I don’t know how. So I realised this was a pattern and not judge one or two sessions and not to be discouraged.
What do you do with the other stuff in the 3 month period? Thank you for the email I hope to join soon This 2 closet full of storage containers really needs help well I need the help P with them.
I really enjoy hearing the voicemails from real people, it's fun! (and the sound quality is great!!) It is kind of jarring though to hear the gentleman who does your intro 😂 I think I'm so used to hearing YOU talk and do intros and you're so good at it! If you ever wanted to skip that and just welcome folks to your podcast yourself I think it would sound great :)
The points you make about regretting that ONE item and remembering THAT as why you are afraid to keep decluttering, versus the 1,000 other items you’ve never thought about again is SO true for me! (And the Harvard-Yale alternate paths comparison! That’s always me with any decision as well!) I really appreciate you addressing it and pointing out that any choice will always have some risk involved!
Fellow Enneagram 2 - so true!!! I feel so much better when we can create systems that enable everyone to help 🙂
I have ADHD and OCD. My mom has never understood when I say "Mom, I just don't know where to start. I want an organized space but cannot figure out how to get there." It's an intensely frustrating feeling wanting to be one way and not knowing how to. My mind just doesn't understand how to. I get overwhelmed and lack knowing how to start and how to finish.
I almost never return anything to Amazon. But that would be different if I bought clothes on Amazon.
Cass, I also had weight loss surgery. 16 years ago. Before I had surgery, God had taught me to love myself as I was. So yes, I’m still the same person. I go from 145 to 165 most of the time. I lost 106 pounds and am now still down almost 80 lbs. weight loss surgery is a wonderful tool for many people. I’m thankful, but because God taught me first to really love myself as a person, worrying about my appearance really doesn’t happen to me. I still do struggle with sugar addiction.
Cass, can you barter with someone? She can do deep cleaning and you can help her declutter her home or organize it?
"one of the biggest things we can do... is help them have Identity in the family structure, so they don't go looking in other places." PRICELESS.
This is a GREAT episode! I learned so much! Thank you!
It helps me so much to think of someone else actually needing and using something after I’ve donated it!
Wow, I didn’t expect deep philosophy here - about making decisions, not being able to compare two outcomes, just making the best decision you can and accepting you might make a mistake, since you can’t see the future. Thanks!
My 2 year old granddaughter impressed me the other day. We were going outside and she had a place mat from the living room in her hand. She stopped herself at the door, went and put it away, and came back. Interesting how innately tidy she can be.
Beatiful podcast episode❤
Absolutely wonderful!! You never disappoint Dawn.❤