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You are soooo non-judgmental and sooo helpful!! Listen to you all the time!

Loved this episode (as I do all of them!) but this one really hits the nail on the head. Due to multiple injuries and several broken bones in an accident two years ago, I have had a slow but steady recovery. Early on, I had to choose to do just ONE major thing per day because that was all I could handle. (Like, shower, cook, clean, etc. I was off work for 9 months recovering.) I have been back to work now for a year and a half and am getting back to more normal energy levels, which is amazing! That said, there's a LOT of clutter and a multitude of HOMELESS items, especially on my kitchen table, which seems to be my 'dumping ground.' It serves as a place to eat as well as a place to watch Netflix and CZcams on my computer, plus I sometimes do paperwork here because my desk is also covered in stuff! Lack of energy and injury are no longer excuses for the state of my home. It boils down to some bad habits- namely not having a place for things and/or not putting things away- so that is my task this week: Clear off the kitchen table and my little desk, find homes for things, and have a tidy up session every night before bed. Thanks for the inspiration, Clutter Fairy!

Handling paper is my biggest problem. Roadblock is the layout of my house....3 story, but very small house. Once I lived in a ranch style house. That was the Only house that operated effortlessly, as it was all one story. Now, in this multistory house, the Only place for "Office"is on the second floor. Mail, bills and paperwork enter through the main floor, and then have to be relocated upstairs to the office. notepad on kitchen island, where I need to jot notes. those notes need to be relocated upstairs. Long term paper storage (old taxes etc) is in the basement. I use a small tote bag to bring the paperwork upstairs to the office, but it all gets mixed up with other things I am carrying up too...like laundry, bathroom supplies, etc. Instead of "acting" on the paperwork, it seems like all I do is relocate around to different stories and rooms in the house. . This small multistory house makes all tasks 100 times more work. The layout of a house (ranch vs 3 stories) or even rooms, (like kitchen) can make or break organizing efforts.

I take my shoes off at the door, which was great in previous home w/white carpet. Having a shoe caddy for shoes & socks was extremely convenient plus bench for sitting. 😊

I am now a morn person and a late nite person!

Watching this on Saturday evening and hearing about storm Beryl the peril. Hope you are all hunkered down and safe. Got rid of some major large items in the last week and am stuck in cleaning mode at the moment. Loving the space but have not done my happy dance yet as want to keep going.

Thank you!

My 86 year old father just passed and bought His house new in 1969. I may get the call to fly from Okla hi oma to the Bay Area to help with 55 years of accumulation or others may not me involved since They know I am fairly exteme as a minimalist.

Thank you.

My husband had a work trip to Toronto and I was tagging along for the trip. I prepared as best I could but the powers that be were against us that day. I left work early and came home ready to leave but my husband had such a busy work day that he was still working and not ready to leave at all. I was rushing around to help him and decided to pack both of our cloths in one large suitcase instead of 2 smaller carry-ons, thinking one piece of luggage would be easier. (WRONG). I drove 2 hours to the airport like a mad woman only to get there and we were told that we could get on the plane but the time to check any luggage has passed. Sigh. so we had no choice but to drive the 9 hours to our destination through the night. All because we didn't have carry-on bags. Side note, the trip was a disaster; this was just the tip of the iceberg. We were stopped at the border and had to fill out paperwork because we declared this was a work trip, there was scheduling issues and my husband had to give a presentation he wasn't prepared for because his boss who was supposed to give it wasn’t available, and we both caught the flu and had to drive home a day early while sick.

I have been meaning to write to you guys both Gail and Ed...you two are extremely polite and very respectful when you are dealing with tough topics and challenges...u both have a way of lifting people rather than making our challenges a problem or an area of shame...thank you 💙 team you rock...

I am a forced morning person because my job starts at 7am. once I am up and had my coffee I feel I am more productive than in the afternoon / night. I do however stay up later than I should. I researched why I do this even when I and fighting not falling asleep. I found that there is a thing called revenge bedtime procrastination. The definition is: Revenge bedtime procrastination” describes the decision to sacrifice sleep for leisure time that is driven by a daily schedule lacking in free time." I think so many of us feel like our time is scheduled for us so we all are probably suffering from this.

Bc of all the regulations for flying, I have no enthusiasm for flying anymore. 😒

What a beautiful message for the world!🎉❤

I saw a video that advertised having a qr code placed on the headstone of a family member. Videos and stories of the beloved person reveal more of what they were in the dash of life.🎉❤

This has actually been helpful , you know so much out there is not . Thank you so much , I will be followling you now .

Great video as always 😊

I have donated to the Humane Society, Teen Challenge, Seniors group, schools, and Goodwill. I have sold a lot of vintage over the years to individuals and dealers. In addition it is fun to gift items to friend, family that want them.

I used shoeboxes for years, also cigar boxes. Wooden wine boxes worked for T-shirts, and gave a needed touch of elegance.

I don't buy books anymore since it occurred to me that the library is my personal warehouse for everything that I have read or that I am likely to want to read. I don't think of buying books as being more "grown up" or being more invested in reading anymore. Also, supporting your local library is a way to support freedom of the press and young and poor readers. Plus, it's the ultimate in recycling. My local library is great about getting any book that they don't have within a few days. I take out books at the rate that I actually read them, which makes me a more disciplined reader, and I keep a list on my online library account of future books I want to read.

Hi guys, I had a deep thought about my experience as a single person who is not thrilled about going out of my apartment: Are others in your audiences as rattled as I am coming home to my living space? Not only rattled, but I'm on the second floor, and I get very out of breath climbing the stairs after years getting terribly out of shape!

Re: Shredding, I have a plastic container that I labeled "please shred", right by my mail station. If I had space, I would put my shredder right there as well. I have a recycle bin by the mail station, and I have one tray using The Minimal Mom concept of "time will tell". I put things like catalogs, advertisements, in the "time will tell", and when it gets full, I usually go through it from the bottom up and tend to toss most of it. Re: Charity requests, for awhile, I printed out a few letters that said, "Please remove my name from your list. I am no longer contributing to your organization. Thank you." I would put them in the envelope and return it to the organization. That seemed to help. Gayle is correct, I read/heard years ago, that a small donation to multiple organizations is not very effective, because they then spend money marketing to you. So, I picked a couple of organizations that I give to monthly, and I ignore the rest.

Gayle, I have discovered there are still some ruths hanging out in my space, will be working on it this week. "What is the worst thing that could happen if I don't have this item?" and repeat.

Man, I have been unavailable for these live for months. I need to get my schedule back in sync.

I have an "Urgent" list for every month = time sensitive = I have to do '1' thing on it daily.. this list when completed moves to 'Top Priority List' for the rest of the month = '1' thing daily = it works & it relaxes my brain & any anxiety, bc I know I'm Moving Forward, & getting done what needs to be done w/out added stress.😊 .. I do the same for Finances--> savings, investments, purchases = what is top priority & most important to me, & how much is left for non essentials. = The Result = I don't feel bad for chilling, having Fun, & 'wasting time' or buying Fun things😁

Definitely a morning person-- if working outdoors, I can work for very long periods on yard stuff. Exercise, & activities where I need to move, need be in the morning. Paperwork, reading, & other sit down activities = can be in the evening.😊

Watching in June 24, passing on long treasured items have brought happiness for both the giver(me) and recipients!

I love Gayle's discussion of benefits of a decluttered space at about 12 or 13 minute mark.

Thank you.

It would be very interesting to see how you organized your beads collection.

❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉❤

What would we do without your videos. I only wish you were on daily. What "Joy" that would be!😊 .. I believe that I am always in a partial state of readiness for a trip & continuously looking for ways to consolidate for the next trip. .. Recently updated some clothes that look & fit better & don't wrinkle. Having clothes you feel good in makes a big difference in packing. A quick grab of things that you like. Also, got a few travel sz items as well. 😊Also, I try to think ahead on snacks I would want & have them on hand -- I usually travel once a month to see family & friends.

Good job, Gayle! Can you pop across the pond and fill your car up with everything I have sorted/ Seriously though, I made a decision to get rid of some major items that have been taking up too much space, but will wait to do my happy dance in that same space when they are gone.

Thank you, Gayle and Ed!

dishes and laundry... I.recently have changed my lifelong habit. I used to pack the fullest loads of dishes in the dishwasher and laundry in the washing machine. Although I was trying to conserve water and electricity, those big loads became mentally too much for me. I dreaded the big loads. So, I finally switched to doing much smaller loads, much more frequently... and that has made it easier to keep up with the dishes and laundry.... as it is no longer a major effort. Now, I am next going to do the same thing with my dreaded paperwork pileup. So it does not pile up, I will find a way to do much smaller amounts of paperwork on a daily or weekly basis.

Staying up extra late when you're extra tired might be an emotional reaction to having such a busy day that you didn't feel like you had enough time for yourself.

Regarding cruises - YT channel Tips for Travellers is excellent for all aspects of cruising (including what to pack and what NOT to pack (which items could get you denied boarding)) - Gary Benbridge (a retired British gentleman) has taken over 100 cruises - he does not accept any free cruises so his opinions are honest.

Question: Why is it always, seemingly, about Too Much? Especially when it might really be about Too Little?

I love the story of Gayle's Happy Dance at about 31:00

gave away three diff items this morning to people that have offered to purchase in the past. Vintage buyer may come out this Friday, if not def later. I offered to let him shop my garage. Tools, vintage items , glassware with arcane area advertising.

First comment and 9th view. Hurrah!

When i am visiting family for longer periods, i will pack less & do laundry several times as well.

Yes, i always take out hanging clothes, but I have an incredible toiletry bag for make-up & shower items = it is always packed & used daily even at home, with the exception that i have extra items in my shower. But make-up stays organized in this bag at all times = it has an extra compartments for all brushes &little things &then bulky items.😊

I always bring my bottled water, etc = usually I can't get to a store right away. .. I carry benadryl (bites or skin reactions) neosporin/ a few bandaids at all times in purse & sm lotion. Motrin on trips in sm insulated bag, that many times travels w/ me on sm excursions... I keep sm empty cinnamon jars for prt pdw mix for trips & a couple empty ziplocs (also goes in sm over-the-shoulder insulated bag)😊If flying, of course, the scenario changes & yes, of course -> will be buying alot of items. I usually dont fly.

Thank you for the discussion around 14 minutes about large collections of journals. I have at least seven boxes of them.

I think Gayle once said some people just have more skill or skills at organizing. I'd recommend therapy and outside help with clutter.

I love this channel! For over a year, I have been trying to listen to all previous shows while I declutter and then clean and I still have many more to listen to and learn from. Thank you!!!!

Clutter leads to self-destruction? I think that might be a tad hyperbolic. 😋