Erica Lucas, I am so grateful to you for the inspiration you are on my decluttering & health/fitness journey, especially for planting the 100-walks seed in my heart where it grew. I completed my 100 walks on Friday, & I've set a new fitness goal for myself. This is the first time ever in my life that I have achieved a goal that I have set for myself. I shared my progress on Facebook thereby influencing friends to jump on board. Thank you so much for your positive influence.
I had a storage unit for eight years filled with my entire curated household that I'd worked on since I was 17. I am now 64. I put an ad on Craigslist saying that they could have anything they wanted if they could haul it away. A man who had recently become a single father with two teenagers came with a van and a big long 20-foot trailer. He took 90% of what was in my storage unit. It was such a blessing to give it away to somebody who actually wanted and needed it. I was so over it! I live a thousand miles away from the storage unit and I still have 10% to go. It's heirlooms like my father's desk my mother steamer trunk Etc but I will be getting through it next spring. My suggestion is give it away and bless other people. Also I would Implement an absolute no buy rule.
I think the most valuable lesson of this video is to just start. Sometimes we get so overwhelmed with what we need to do we can’t even start. Often, just getting started brings the energy and motivation to continue.
Sincerely thank you Erica. What I LOVE about this is how you're showing us, and not shying away from, how you work through this process step by step, with the good, the bad, and the ugly. I could clearly see the steps that I can take forward for my own decluttering projects, while taking care of 'me'... and it's really motivating too. Thank you for 'being human'! LOVE this. xx
Loveeee your hair❤️ I remember the IKEA shelves, and the school supplies a few years ago. I also remember when you took away the IKEA shelves, and you put the beautiful autumn painting in its place. You have come such a long way ❤️
This is by far The Best Organizing Video I've seen...because you are authentic about that stinkin'thinkin' and working through it. It's a "Show Stopper" for most of us. Thank You.
You and all the other minimalist/decluttering channels gave me the courage to let go of 42 years worth of stuff when I moved into my new home this summer. And I ❤️❤️❤️ the clean clutter-free look. For the first time in probably 15 years I was able to have Thanksgiving at my house! I’m sending you all Christmas hugs of thanks. ❣️❣️❣️
Amazing job done! Very satisfying and again you've included your thought process. What you described - I call it Teflon-ning off - that's what happens when I have a task and that initial speedbump of decisions that need to be made to make a start feels like Mt Everest and so every time my mind goes there I start doing something else and suddenly I'm cleaning up the third drawer down - or trying to bury myself in another yt video. I find that fifteen minute or half hour time block absolutely invaluable. I have my time scheduled and I'm just not allowed to do anything else - it's me and the task and I best deal with it otherwise I'm going to just be sitting there doing nothing So I start that roll of decision just like you did - okay i have to do this to do this to do this so I can start - and then there I am doing it. It's glorious for you to put into words so clearly that process - you have a knack for imparting these roadblock moments. Thank you!
It was so surprising to see you struggle, but it was a great reminder to all of us that even someone who seems to have it all figured out can sometimes hit a roadblock and struggle a little. Thank you for sharing that with us. And I know you'll conquer it with a little time.
Just curious of why you store books horizontally instead of vertically with some poster board to line the wire shelving or magazine file folders like on the school cart? Using clear bins and/or magazine file folders for each subject could also help you limit your inventory.
I agree that some form of container/containment would be handy. Otherwise, subjects might get mixed up or supplies might slide around and go back to looking like the bottom shelves of the closet.
I thought that too, like a library system. Easier to take out and put away, it takes up less space. With magazine holders for papers, they could be bookends to stop books falling over. I admire the work that goes into home schooling and how Erica has come so far, breaking the task down is 5 star!
You are doing awesome! My baby of four is 23, and I literally just decluttered all their completed homeschool materials 3 years ago! I think I kept them because our state doesn't have a reporting system like yours, with the notebooks that you make, and so I just wanted to be sure I could prove I had actually educated my children if anyone ever asked. Nobody ever asked. And my kids are doing great as adults! I did have them organized in totes, but it was a LOT! It was kind of fun looking back over their years of work, and it was totally freeing to empty those totes and let It go! My kids had already taken anything they wanted, so I was able to avoid using that as an excuse for keeping it a little longer 🙃. I don't know why homeschool stuff is so difficult to declutter, but it was. I enjoyed this video!
You have came leaps and bounds in the last 2 years. I have been watching since you started. Suggestion for next time, have a black trash bag ready for trash and box for donate, so you don't handle those items again and possibly want to change your mind or for guilt to hit you again.
I love watching your decluttering process. How you talk us through what you are doing and are kind to yourself even though you are feeling the guilt. Thanks for keeping it real 😊
Erica, I'm a professional organizer. In projects like this I decant the closet and do all my sorting at a neutral location. The dining room table, the kitchen island, even the floor outside the closet. Anywhere but inside the closet. Doing this totally changes up the energy and removes the negative thoughts.
Good idea- it also gives you a motivational “ push” by allowing you to , almost immediately see the space as a blank slate, thus giving your imagination a jump-start at making progress✌️
Veteran homeschool mom here (3 done, 3 kids to finish). Just a suggestion for you that has been a plus for our home. I ditched having 2 living/family rooms. Gave one over completely to homeschool. It has a big table at which we do school. One wall lined with shelves for books and homeschool. The kids school computer and all supplies are in this room. I used to have overflow in the basement similar to what you have in your closet but it is so much better having everything in the same space and I can see what I have. This also allows the family room to not have any school overflow which is awesome. The living room is so much more peaceful and easy to tidy when there is no homeschool in there. You definitely have the room in your house to do this. For me it was prioritizing how the rooms in my house get used. Facts are we do school way more than we need the extra room for either a dining room or a living room. It is the big family room with the fireplace that I took over for school which is unconventional but in reality the home needs to function for us not us forming ourselves around the design intended for the home. Added bonus, the kids love having the fireplace going during homeschool on a cold day. And because we have the big table in there we can use it for overflow dining if we have a big group of people over. And the table we need for eating every day isn't constantly covered with homeschool and needing moved for every meal. Best of luck to you as you navigate your homeschool journey. Just thought I'd share after 22 years of homeschooling what I would do if I had your house and 3 early years kiddos.
I just was sewing the other day and it doesnt bring me joy. I made the decision to get rid of 98% of my fabric. Im sure ive spent thousands as an ex joann fabrics employee. It was been so much guilt and im at such a roadblock. This video has helped me so much. Thank you for the video 🥰
Whoever you donate/sell it to will be SO HAPPY. You probably have so many beautiful fabrics that they no longer sell and people will be so blessed to use it. I know it’s hard when you’ve spent money on something and the joy is gone and the guilt is strong but you are overcome by that. Good job Danielle!
Seeing the difference in your countenance from before to after (2 years ago to predecluttered today) is so amazing. Even knowing how stressed you feel looking at/working on this closet, you look so much more at ease because you have a process for dealing with the clutter :)
Erica, you look and sound so much healthier, confident, and energetic now, compared to just a couple of years ago. I'm so happy for you that all the things you are doing to take care of yourself, your family, your home, and your life are working. 😄
I feel like some magazine holder things would help get all of this stuff upright and taking advantage of vertical space. Also would help make a home for everything
I just decluttered some items that had a lot of guilt associated with them. It is amazing how powerful guilt can be. So thankful that I no longer have to be burdened with the guilt of these items now though. Thanks Erica!!
Now, first I'm running behind in videos - I seemed to have had an issue with my notification button for a time - but clicked on that again so I now receive notification - but then I couldn't move on with the new videos until I'd gotten to the backlog - because I'm weird that way, sorry. So, this comment probably won't reach you, but I have to say it anyway! I'm only minutes into this video and I want to say your look is fab! Absolutely fabulous! Those boots are just sheer pizazz and those pants - and that gorgeous elegant long cardigan - you are looking marvellous! It's such a huge inspiration for me - thank you! Also in the last video where you and the kids dealt with the quarterly of the pantry - the skirt was to die for and the top flattering and beautiful colours and I loved your styling - your wardrobe is in-focus!
Thank you for speaking your process. I just got a cancer diagnosis last week and minimalism I’ve done will be huge help. Now I’m tackling the last big basement closet so I can just focus on recovering and not undone projects. I feel waves of overwhelm more right now how you bit off bits and stopped was helpful to see.
Have you tried Dana K White's 'no mess' declutter method? I think that could help you in this space, so you don't have to pull everything out into the boys' room. As you say, your decluttering muscles are built up, so I think you'll smash your way through the four decluttering questions, but I think some of the other parts of the process could help you in this space. For example, having a trash bag, recycling container, and donatable donate box with you while you declutter - put stuff in them as you go, so no piles to clear up afterwards! I recommend checking out some of her 'one hour better' series, as they align to your time limit strategy and showcase how her system means you can stop at any point and not have a mess to deal with. Definitely on the 'progress not perfection' train! You're doing great. So awesome to hear your struggles and see you work through them. Life isn't polished; it's great to see the reality in progress 🥰
Great topic, but could not watch to the end... I have a thing about not dumping stuff on the floor 😂😂😂 . For projects like this, I prefer to set up a table so that I can create a pile for each home school subject. Next to that, I would have one or more boxes for donations, a bin for recycling, and a trash bag. That way, I have to touch many items just once. And if I get interrupted, the space is still somewhat organized. But your point is well taken: It’s all about getting started and letting go of the money aspect.
Omg I love how you always keep it real, talking through what your thinking and feeling is an eye opener for me. Well done 👏 on the two shelves. Just a thought but if you had the books vertically like you do in the school carts, they would be easier take out and put back and would take up less space. Thanks for inspiring and motivating me too. Stay safe and healthy. Mary, Joes wife 👏👍💪🙏
I'm going through the same thing. Getting rid of stuff I find is the solution to help reduce and eventually get rid of financial guilt because getting rid of stuff helps the process of developing the mindset that in the future moving forward, we buy what we need and not everything we think we'll need.
Homeschool stuff can be so enticing, and is often expensive. I can definitely relate to the roadblocks in this area. You did a great job! Maybe next time you are tackling an area you should have a couple of empty boxes ready for trash/shred/recycle, sell/donate, and move to another area in house, so you don’t have a bunch of stuff on the floor to gather up when you’ve run out of time/steam
Yes loved the video. I especially loved hearing the thought process. It helps me with other decluttering I may do. My daughter is in college so I don't even homeschool but I still loved the video! Don't change the format! Loved it!!! 😍
Erica there are so many family’s STRUGGLING to home school and struggling to pay for the supplies you are an amazing blessing offering this stuff for free or a discount price to those families you have no idea how many people you are helping.
If you put cartboard on these shelves it could cover the slits in the shelves and you could also store the books vertically :) maybe that saves a little space
Recently, I was avoiding cleaning the storage area in our basement. It was overwhelming. I set a timer for 30 minutes just to see what I could get done and I ended up finishing the whole thing in 45 minutes! I spent weeks having anxiety about something I solved in under an hour. Just start and see what happens. Also, I think it’s OK to quit and try again when you are in a better headspace for task.
I love how you talk yourself through the roadblock. That's always helpful for me. Love my labeled boxes that are ready to sort my dump, donate, delay, etc. 😆 I'm excited for the day when I'll only have to keep the donate box. What I had that was like your closet was teaching curricula. I let go of a ton of teaching files at the beginning of the year. I'd been dreading it for years because I thought I would use something sometime. I haven't thought about or missed any of it. Everything is online now for me. Great job on your 15 min success!
I was literally cheering you on out loud during your video “you can do this Erica!” “You’re doing great!” My 8 year old son just walked in the room and said “ who are you talking to mom??” LOL You inspire me in every video with your honesty!!! Thank you Erica! Have a wonderful thanksgiving! 😁
You hit SO MANY of my issues and I've been "decluttering" for 5 YEARS ago when we decided to retire and move to another state...my "d/c muscles" are MUCH better...but still struggling. So thx for displaying YOUR weaknesses...as a retired Navy wife and late-married, paper/book-obsessed woman (at 40, but coming upon a 36th anniversary - you're like young "twin" 😆)...I can relate so much... But a question... why do you not have, minimally, the "trash/donate" containers handy so you don't confuse or trip over floor piles...I've noticed that in a couple of your vlogs...I'd be doing face plants b4 too long...or grabbing up a pile of "donate" stuff and tossing it in error. 😬 ...Just curious...
I think the same for myself. A bin or barrel. Marked donate! . When my kids were young it would be barrel. Now with help from Erica it is just a reusable grocery bag! Woohoo!
Thank you Erica for showing us the raw process of decluttering. Your attitude and sharing your journey has helped me start on my own. It helps because there are many similarities between our households and processes.
Good for you for tackling your personal roadblock. What would happen if you labeled each shelf or half shelf by subject, then divided each shelf into grade levels? Perhaps labeled magazine holders or bookends so that there is more room. If you prefer your books to be horizontal, I still think that labeling the shelves by subject, and then each subject by grade would help your brain feel less overwhelmed. You could even use Post-it’s temporarily if you have to make piles on the floor during your sorting process. That would help me visualize how much I have of one thing and also keep my brain from being so fatigued while decluttering. I’m excited to see how you end up organizing it all in the end. Your videos have really helped me and act like a decluttering buddy. Thanks for sharing them.
I can see myself in this so much. When I do my clothes, I have a big bed to use for piling stuff on to sort In the kitchen I have my table and counters to spread stuff out, but with other areas, I don't have a place to pile and sort it all. I think that's where I get stuck.This was a huge light bulb that went off while watching you this time. Now I know that in the future, when I tackle an area that is not in a bedroom, I need to set up a table or have someplace that is easy to pile/sort stuff without having to get on the floor. Thanks Erika, big help!
First, your hair looks fabulous in this video. :D A few ideas from this seasoned homeschooler (my 14th year homeschooling, kids are currently 6-18 yrs): 1. when I print off unit studies I want to keep I hole punch them and put them in a small 3 ring binder or folder. I glue/tape the cover page to the front. This helps keep it all together and makes it easy to find later. 2. Last year I realized my curriculum organization overwhelmed me. I had two large bookcases (organized similar to your closet). When I "shopped my shelves" I felt overwhelmed and shut down, so we ended up not using some really great stuff. Over Christmas last year our basement flooded and I had to throw out so many great books and curriculum along with the books shelves that had wicked up the water. When I reorganized the basement, I changed my system. Now I have 1 large tub for each of World History, American History, Science Curriculum, Science readers, math, Language Arts. And a misc. for languages, art, music, etc. I made the containers the limit. Now when I need the next science books related to our current topic I only have to look through 1 tub. No more overwhelm. I know exactly where to look and we are using our great stuff.
so sweet the story how your son is teaching you then spanish 😅 i love languages 🥰 I learnt Spanish when i lived in Mexico and now, i dream to learn portuguese in Brazil, so i will check on Babbel i think 🤞☺️ for the moment I still struggled with my paper clutter, paperwork ahahahaha, i even dream to BIN ALL ! 😱 but it is not really reasonable 🤪 so your videos help me to be less crazy or blocked and go over fears and move forward towards my dream, to feel more free for it, so , sincerely THANK YOU Erica, your approach of life helps me 😘
I really think having upright file holders to put books in by subject and label would be amazing so you know what you have and not have to resort and organize over and over. Good job. Also work on throwing away and decluttering and not just showing everything back in closet.
Got over my OCD and came back to watch the rest of your video 🙃. Home schooling 3 kids is such a big commitment that it’s no surprise that the materials are going to take up quite a bit of space. After all, you discover with them over time what type of learners they are, and what supplies are most suitable for each child. Therefore, I would think being minimaliSH should allow you to keep more materials, as long as it’s easily retrievable. 👍👍👍
If it’s too big a task for one day & you can’t leave it partly done, I would still haul it all out. I’d ‘fast file’ everything into categories in storage bins from your basement. Then the shelves are empty and the pressure is off to have the room clear for the boys. THEN I’d do one category/bin at a time thoroughly in front of the shelf. Because I’m weird & even though that’s more effort luggin bins about, I feel like I could process it better 😂🤷🏻♀️But you do you 😊😘
Erica, I love how real you are! I call myself a Minimalish Minimalist because of you! I didn’t struggle with the large volume of stuff you did, but your method resonates so much with me!
I’ve seen so much of Cass’ clutterbug lately. What about storing the books in a magazine holder? Then it won’t be piles that can get lost. You don’t need to for all of it, but you could for the small things on the good shelf. Then if you need the space below to place bins and move up smaller items to the shelves it will fit in. Not that decluttering shouldn’t do the trick. Maybe put books or the workbook? in a little free library. Cause then if a home owner is just grabbing them for their children to scribble on or in they won’t feel bad since they didn’t spend money for it,
Erica, I haven’t finished watching yet but just wanted to say that you have done so so well over the last two years! You have done it nearly all on your own and achieved so much. It has been a privilege to be with you on your path since the beginning 🧡 I would so love to come and help you but I can’t and I know you can do it yourself so will send good vibes across the oceans to you 😘🙏🏻
You go, girl!!! You are a world class strong declutterer 💪🏆 these are my absolute favorite videos! I find myself worrying that you will run out of stuff to declutter! 🤣 Thank you for sharing with us, and cheers to you for tackling this very difficult area!! Wow!!! Nice job, Erica!!! 💗🥳🎉
Great start Erica! My tip would be that while you are sorting, rather than just making random piles, which can get a bit overwhelming when you look at them... Setup your sorting area first. So, you know the subjects you want to inventory, grab a tub for each subject, label it, and as you go, you can easily see where to throw things. This also helps if you have to leave the job unfinished for later, you can just grab the tubs and pop them in the closet and easily resume when you get back to it. 😊
Your frustration with your closet is making me think about my art , slash sewing storage space closet . Its a big mess. So your giving me ideas how to tackle this. Thanks
I like that you are tackling your roadblocks. I also have an affinity for all things stationary and school related. It is like I have an emotional tie to it. I don’t know where it comes from but I am trying to find out. Does anyone else have this problem? It is not a financial attachment but I get a thrill out of buying new stationery and stuff. If you are the same way; do you know where it all started for you?and how do you deal with it now?
I always look forward to your videos. I’ve followed your journey and I’m so impressed with all the changes you’ve made. I also think you look so healthy and happy now. Cute hair, too.
Hi Erica, I just want to say that I’m pulling for you and I feel your pain. Lol When you show bits of video from your basement in your other house it takes me back to feeling overwhelmed for you. I think, if you can handle that...which you did...you can do some tiny weeny closet decluttering with no problem! You go girl. I know you can finish it!😃
Looks like you have enough shelves to do one or two subjects per each shelf. That could help you keep it organized. Also, some clear bins or magazine holders to keep things grouped together?
I am not far into your video yet so I am not sure if you came across this idea yet but I have noticed that you had a bunch of books or work that was already completed and written in....I just wanted to throw an idea out there for you about maybe having a basket on the floor for papers to shred or completed books or work that you no longer need to keep and then can empty when you are ready to so that it doesn't clutter and take up space on your shelves
I think you need some organizational units to contain your piles and make it more organized and intuitive to use. The piles tend to blend together and then you just starting layering things on, which is how you got to this point I think.
Thanks! I will apply your skills to my sewing room! I am 1 1/2 years in to a much smaller sewing room(245 sq ft to 80 sq ft) still over crowded….still letting go….guilt from prior purchase are ghastly!
Totally unrelated to the video but: you are beautiful! Love the 🐑 😆😆. Ranger's howl made me laugh...and made my cat skedaddle. Another inspiring video, thank you!
I took all of my future curriculum and supplies and macro sorted them by subject into bins. I go through it yearly and pull out the stuff used for the upcoming school year. That has helped a lot for me. :) I hope that tip helps someone.
Making a whole shelf level for each subject may help. A few opaque bins for objects, small items, learning tools, flash card, etc... may help as well. Keep subject books on each shelf wth the subjects. Remember it is OKAY to have more or less with each subject. You have 3 kids, that's 3 grades and each child learns each subject differently. That means it's OKAY to have all the TOOLS (not clutter) you need as a parent teacher to teach your children. It's OKAY to set boundaries too. I am all for them. I taught for many years and the amount of stuff can be overwhelming, but it's there for a reason, to help us teach young minds. Streamline where you can. Some small suggestions: More books on tablets, less physical. I love physical books, but I don't need one of each. More work on tablet, less physical paperwork/worksheets, if possible. Get creative with tools of teaching. Use what you have in your home as much as you can instead of buying something else you have to inventory. Oh, the things I have taught with LEGOS. Ahaha! In your weekly planning, PLAN for 15 min a week to maintain homeschooling areas. A quick tidy after learning each day, but a 15 devoted time to just the homeschooling. That way you can see if you've finished teaching a particular subject, if will you use the tools again? If not, is it ok to donate or set in a possible donate bin for a while? If you are going to use again can you put it away in a use later bin or just set it up on the subject shelf for later? Maintenance is the key to everything you and I and many people have worked on in our minimalism journey. It helps to keep things from being overwhelming. From taking over. It gives peace of mind. So nice. Loved the video. An inspiration!
I would suggest getting more of those magazine holders for your supply closet. They would take up less space and you could label them. Have a happy thanksgiving 🦃
This was a toughie- I rememember seeing those early clips for the first time. What about using magizine holders for all those thin workbooks? Best Wishes
I felt such empathy for you when yougot the marbles and stones... I remember the first pass through homeschool stuff in your old house and it stopped my purchases in their tracks then (your reel brought back PTSD from those times lol) Now I'm back at work with my daughter in early K and... I am you standing in front of your closet door. But you're so strong and amazing that you've gotten this far, you'll be where you want to be in no time. Have you tried Dana K White's process of garbage first, easy stuff next so that you don't have to pull things out at the very beginning? I know you have found your method for yourself that obviously are successful but I was kind of yelling it at the phone screen when you first hesitated at the door lol. She always says "Look, just look. There's always garbage" and then with the garbage box, donate bag you can just close the door and walk away.
Haha! You cracked me up about too much stuffs 🤣 Tell me about it. I’m working on photos yesterday & today. I did little last week but I want to get it done by this week🤞🏼 Then work on paperworks to reorganize and many more ugh 😩🤦🏻♀️😄
Erica Lucas, I am so grateful to you for the inspiration you are on my decluttering & health/fitness journey, especially for planting the 100-walks seed in my heart where it grew. I completed my 100 walks on Friday, & I've set a new fitness goal for myself. This is the first time ever in my life that I have achieved a goal that I have set for myself. I shared my progress on Facebook thereby influencing friends to jump on board. Thank you so much for your positive influence.
This is one of my most favorite comments!!!! Congrats!!!!
I had a storage unit for eight years filled with my entire curated household that I'd worked on since I was 17. I am now 64. I put an ad on Craigslist saying that they could have anything they wanted if they could haul it away. A man who had recently become a single father with two teenagers came with a van and a big long 20-foot trailer. He took 90% of what was in my storage unit. It was such a blessing to give it away to somebody who actually wanted and needed it. I was so over it! I live a thousand miles away from the storage unit and I still have 10% to go. It's heirlooms like my father's desk my mother steamer trunk Etc but I will be getting through it next spring. My suggestion is give it away and bless other people. Also I would Implement an absolute no buy rule.
I think the most valuable lesson of this video is to just start. Sometimes we get so overwhelmed with what we need to do we can’t even start. Often, just getting started brings the energy and motivation to continue.
Yes!! Just start!
Sincerely thank you Erica. What I LOVE about this is how you're showing us, and not shying away from, how you work through this process step by step, with the good, the bad, and the ugly. I could clearly see the steps that I can take forward for my own decluttering projects, while taking care of 'me'... and it's really motivating too. Thank you for 'being human'! LOVE this. xx
Two years ago I would have dove into this and spent hours doing this until completion. Boundaries are so important!
Loveeee your hair❤️
I remember the IKEA shelves, and the school supplies a few years ago. I also remember when you took away the IKEA shelves, and you put the beautiful autumn painting in its place. You have come such a long way ❤️
Thank you!!
This is by far The Best Organizing Video I've seen...because you are authentic about that stinkin'thinkin' and working through it. It's a "Show Stopper" for most of us. Thank You.
You and all the other minimalist/decluttering channels gave me the courage to let go of 42 years worth of stuff when I moved into my new home this summer. And I ❤️❤️❤️ the clean clutter-free look. For the first time in probably 15 years I was able to have Thanksgiving at my house! I’m sending you all Christmas hugs of thanks. ❣️❣️❣️
Amazing job done! Very satisfying and again you've included your thought process. What you described - I call it Teflon-ning off - that's what happens when I have a task and that initial speedbump of decisions that need to be made to make a start feels like Mt Everest and so every time my mind goes there I start doing something else and suddenly I'm cleaning up the third drawer down - or trying to bury myself in another yt video. I find that fifteen minute or half hour time block absolutely invaluable. I have my time scheduled and I'm just not allowed to do anything else - it's me and the task and I best deal with it otherwise I'm going to just be sitting there doing nothing So I start that roll of decision just like you did - okay i have to do this to do this to do this so I can start - and then there I am doing it. It's glorious for you to put into words so clearly that process - you have a knack for imparting these roadblock moments. Thank you!
It was so surprising to see you struggle, but it was a great reminder to all of us that even someone who seems to have it all figured out can sometimes hit a roadblock and struggle a little. Thank you for sharing that with us. And I know you'll conquer it with a little time.
Just curious of why you store books horizontally instead of vertically with some poster board to line the wire shelving or magazine file folders like on the school cart? Using clear bins and/or magazine file folders for each subject could also help you limit your inventory.
I agree that some form of container/containment would be handy. Otherwise, subjects might get mixed up or supplies might slide around and go back to looking like the bottom shelves of the closet.
Or even those desk stackable tray things. You can stack multiple parts of a subject matter together like current lessons and future lessons.
You wrote what I was thinking hahaah 😉🥰
I like horizontal at least for sorting. The books don't fall over.
I thought that too, like a library system. Easier to take out and put away, it takes up less space. With magazine holders for papers, they could be bookends to stop books falling over.
I admire the work that goes into home schooling and how Erica has come so far, breaking the task down is 5 star!
You are doing awesome! My baby of four is 23, and I literally just decluttered all their completed homeschool materials 3 years ago! I think I kept them because our state doesn't have a reporting system like yours, with the notebooks that you make, and so I just wanted to be sure I could prove I had actually educated my children if anyone ever asked. Nobody ever asked. And my kids are doing great as adults! I did have them organized in totes, but it was a LOT! It was kind of fun looking back over their years of work, and it was totally freeing to empty those totes and let It go! My kids had already taken anything they wanted, so I was able to avoid using that as an excuse for keeping it a little longer 🙃. I don't know why homeschool stuff is so difficult to declutter, but it was. I enjoyed this video!
My state says to keep it indefanantly 😬. We are only just starting but its stressful to think if how much stuff there will be.
You have came leaps and bounds in the last 2 years. I have been watching since you started.
Suggestion for next time, have a black trash bag ready for trash and box for donate, so you don't handle those items again and possibly want to change your mind or for guilt to hit you again.
I love watching your decluttering process. How you talk us through what you are doing and are kind to yourself even though you are feeling the guilt. Thanks for keeping it real 😊
Erica, I'm a professional organizer. In projects like this I decant the closet and do all my sorting at a neutral location. The dining room table, the kitchen island, even the floor outside the closet. Anywhere but inside the closet. Doing this totally changes up the energy and removes the negative thoughts.
Good idea- it also gives you a motivational “ push” by allowing you to , almost immediately see the space as a blank slate, thus giving your imagination a jump-start at making progress✌️
Listening to music helps make this more mindless work and pushes your recurring negative thoughts out of your conscious mind.
Là ce n'est pas professionnel ..et oui c la différence. C'est son process. Son histoire son vlog.! Ces commentaires n'apportent rien 😔
@@karineb5980 Il semble que vous passiez une mauvaise journée. J'éspère que tu te sens mieux.
I know I’ve said this before but--I absolutely love how you talk through your thought process & actions. It’s so helpful!
Veteran homeschool mom here (3 done, 3 kids to finish). Just a suggestion for you that has been a plus for our home. I ditched having 2 living/family rooms. Gave one over completely to homeschool. It has a big table at which we do school. One wall lined with shelves for books and homeschool. The kids school computer and all supplies are in this room. I used to have overflow in the basement similar to what you have in your closet but it is so much better having everything in the same space and I can see what I have. This also allows the family room to not have any school overflow which is awesome. The living room is so much more peaceful and easy to tidy when there is no homeschool in there. You definitely have the room in your house to do this. For me it was prioritizing how the rooms in my house get used. Facts are we do school way more than we need the extra room for either a dining room or a living room. It is the big family room with the fireplace that I took over for school which is unconventional but in reality the home needs to function for us not us forming ourselves around the design intended for the home. Added bonus, the kids love having the fireplace going during homeschool on a cold day. And because we have the big table in there we can use it for overflow dining if we have a big group of people over. And the table we need for eating every day isn't constantly covered with homeschool and needing moved for every meal. Best of luck to you as you navigate your homeschool journey. Just thought I'd share after 22 years of homeschooling what I would do if I had your house and 3 early years kiddos.
I just was sewing the other day and it doesnt bring me joy. I made the decision to get rid of 98% of my fabric. Im sure ive spent thousands as an ex joann fabrics employee. It was been so much guilt and im at such a roadblock. This video has helped me so much. Thank you for the video 🥰
Whoever you donate/sell it to will be SO HAPPY. You probably have so many beautiful fabrics that they no longer sell and people will be so blessed to use it. I know it’s hard when you’ve spent money on something and the joy is gone and the guilt is strong but you are overcome by that. Good job Danielle!
Congrats!!! That’s huge!!!!
Oh Danielle, I wish I lived near you, lol !!
Seeing the difference in your countenance from before to after (2 years ago to predecluttered today) is so amazing. Even knowing how stressed you feel looking at/working on this closet, you look so much more at ease because you have a process for dealing with the clutter :)
Erica, you look and sound so much healthier, confident, and energetic now, compared to just a couple of years ago. I'm so happy for you that all the things you are doing to take care of yourself, your family, your home, and your life are working. 😄
I feel like some magazine holder things would help get all of this stuff upright and taking advantage of vertical space. Also would help make a home for everything
I just decluttered some items that had a lot of guilt associated with them. It is amazing how powerful guilt can be. So thankful that I no longer have to be burdened with the guilt of these items now though. Thanks Erica!!
That pep talk you gave yourself was amazing! So many people need to see that side if decluttering. You’re awesome.
Now, first I'm running behind in videos - I seemed to have had an issue with my notification button for a time - but clicked on that again so I now receive notification - but then I couldn't move on with the new videos until I'd gotten to the backlog - because I'm weird that way, sorry. So, this comment probably won't reach you, but I have to say it anyway!
I'm only minutes into this video and I want to say your look is fab! Absolutely fabulous! Those boots are just sheer pizazz and those pants - and that gorgeous elegant long cardigan - you are looking marvellous! It's such a huge inspiration for me - thank you! Also in the last video where you and the kids dealt with the quarterly of the pantry - the skirt was to die for and the top flattering and beautiful colours and I loved your styling - your wardrobe is in-focus!
Thank you for speaking your process. I just got a cancer diagnosis last week and minimalism I’ve done will be huge help. Now I’m tackling the last big basement closet so I can just focus on recovering and not undone projects. I feel waves of overwhelm more right now how you bit off bits and stopped was helpful to see.
You are experienced, creative, generous & competent. You go girl, you can do it!! 🤗🤗😁
Have you tried Dana K White's 'no mess' declutter method? I think that could help you in this space, so you don't have to pull everything out into the boys' room.
As you say, your decluttering muscles are built up, so I think you'll smash your way through the four decluttering questions, but I think some of the other parts of the process could help you in this space. For example, having a trash bag, recycling container, and donatable donate box with you while you declutter - put stuff in them as you go, so no piles to clear up afterwards!
I recommend checking out some of her 'one hour better' series, as they align to your time limit strategy and showcase how her system means you can stop at any point and not have a mess to deal with. Definitely on the 'progress not perfection' train!
You're doing great. So awesome to hear your struggles and see you work through them. Life isn't polished; it's great to see the reality in progress 🥰
Your hair looks fabulous as does the rest of you. Good for you!
Well done, Erica! You’ve come such a long way since that Kallax shelf in your old house 💪💪👏👏
Great topic, but could not watch to the end... I have a thing about not dumping stuff on the floor 😂😂😂 . For projects like this, I prefer to set up a table so that I can create a pile for each home school subject. Next to that, I would have one or more boxes for donations, a bin for recycling, and a trash bag. That way, I have to touch many items just once. And if I get interrupted, the space is still somewhat organized. But your point is well taken: It’s all about getting started and letting go of the money aspect.
I really appreciated how you knew not to take it all out and take on the whole thing. I learned that lesson the hard way on a closet declutter!
Omg I love how you always keep it real, talking through what your thinking and feeling is an eye opener for me. Well done 👏 on the two shelves. Just a thought but if you had the books vertically like you do in the school carts, they would be easier take out and put back and would take up less space. Thanks for inspiring and motivating me too. Stay safe and healthy. Mary, Joes wife 👏👍💪🙏
I'm going through the same thing. Getting rid of stuff I find is the solution to help reduce and eventually get rid of financial guilt because getting rid of stuff helps the process of developing the mindset that in the future moving forward, we buy what we need and not everything we think we'll need.
Homeschool stuff can be so enticing, and is often expensive. I can definitely relate to the roadblocks in this area. You did a great job! Maybe next time you are tackling an area you should have a couple of empty boxes ready for trash/shred/recycle, sell/donate, and move to another area in house, so you don’t have a bunch of stuff on the floor to gather up when you’ve run out of time/steam
Yes loved the video. I especially loved hearing the thought process. It helps me with other decluttering I may do. My daughter is in college so I don't even homeschool but I still loved the video! Don't change the format! Loved it!!! 😍
Erica there are so many family’s STRUGGLING to home school and struggling to pay for the supplies you are an amazing blessing offering this stuff for free or a discount price to those families you have no idea how many people you are helping.
If you put cartboard on these shelves it could cover the slits in the shelves and you could also store the books vertically :) maybe that saves a little space
Recently, I was avoiding cleaning the storage area in our basement. It was overwhelming. I set a timer for 30 minutes just to see what I could get done and I ended up finishing the whole thing in 45 minutes! I spent weeks having anxiety about something I solved in under an hour. Just start and see what happens. Also, I think it’s OK to quit and try again when you are in a better headspace for task.
I love how you talk yourself through the roadblock. That's always helpful for me. Love my labeled boxes that are ready to sort my dump, donate, delay, etc. 😆 I'm excited for the day when I'll only have to keep the donate box. What I had that was like your closet was teaching curricula. I let go of a ton of teaching files at the beginning of the year. I'd been dreading it for years because I thought I would use something sometime. I haven't thought about or missed any of it. Everything is online now for me. Great job on your 15 min success!
I was literally cheering you on out loud during your video “you can do this Erica!” “You’re doing great!”
My 8 year old son just walked in the room and said “ who are you talking to mom??” LOL
You inspire me in every video with your honesty!!! Thank you Erica! Have a wonderful thanksgiving! 😁
Ha who are you talking to?? 😂😂😂
You hit SO MANY of my issues and I've been "decluttering" for 5 YEARS ago when we decided to retire and move to another state...my "d/c muscles" are MUCH better...but still struggling. So thx for displaying YOUR weaknesses...as a retired Navy wife and late-married, paper/book-obsessed woman (at 40, but coming upon a 36th anniversary - you're like young "twin" 😆)...I can relate so much...
But a question... why do you not have, minimally, the "trash/donate" containers handy so you don't confuse or trip over floor piles...I've noticed that in a couple of your vlogs...I'd be doing face plants b4 too long...or grabbing up a pile of "donate" stuff and tossing it in error. 😬 ...Just curious...
I think the same for myself. A bin or barrel. Marked donate! . When my kids were young it would be barrel. Now with help from Erica it is just a reusable grocery bag! Woohoo!
Great idea!! I will bring a trash bag next time!!
That's how I work best too One space, one drawer, one shelf at a time.
Helpful tip: Bring a box for donations and a tote to carry items downstairs, to avoid cluttering the floor around you.
Well done! You made a great start. Looking forward to seeing part 2. 🙂
You made a great dent into that project. That is all you can ask for. Way to go Erica! 😀
Thank you Erica for showing us the raw process of decluttering. Your attitude and sharing your journey has helped me start on my own. It helps because there are many similarities between our households and processes.
Good for you for tackling your personal roadblock.
What would happen if you labeled each shelf or half shelf by subject, then divided each shelf into grade levels? Perhaps labeled magazine holders or bookends so that there is more room.
If you prefer your books to be horizontal, I still think that labeling the shelves by subject, and then each subject by grade would help your brain feel less overwhelmed. You could even use Post-it’s temporarily if you have to make piles on the floor during your sorting process. That would help me visualize how much I have of one thing and also keep my brain from being so fatigued while decluttering.
I’m excited to see how you end up organizing it all in the end.
Your videos have really helped me and act like a decluttering buddy. Thanks for sharing them.
I can see myself in this so much. When I do my clothes, I have a big bed to use for piling stuff on to sort In the kitchen I have my table and counters to spread stuff out, but with other areas, I don't have a place to pile and sort it all. I think that's where I get stuck.This was a huge light bulb that went off while watching you this time. Now I know that in the future, when I tackle an area that is not in a bedroom, I need to set up a table or have someplace that is easy to pile/sort stuff without having to get on the floor. Thanks Erika, big help!
Your decisiveness is so impressive.
First, your hair looks fabulous in this video. :D
A few ideas from this seasoned homeschooler (my 14th year homeschooling, kids are currently 6-18 yrs):
1. when I print off unit studies I want to keep I hole punch them and put them in a small 3 ring binder or folder. I glue/tape the cover page to the front. This helps keep it all together and makes it easy to find later.
2. Last year I realized my curriculum organization overwhelmed me. I had two large bookcases (organized similar to your closet). When I "shopped my shelves" I felt overwhelmed and shut down, so we ended up not using some really great stuff. Over Christmas last year our basement flooded and I had to throw out so many great books and curriculum along with the books shelves that had wicked up the water. When I reorganized the basement, I changed my system. Now I have 1 large tub for each of World History, American History, Science Curriculum, Science readers, math, Language Arts. And a misc. for languages, art, music, etc. I made the containers the limit. Now when I need the next science books related to our current topic I only have to look through 1 tub. No more overwhelm. I know exactly where to look and we are using our great stuff.
I agree. When I saw all the loose papers, I was screaming binders!! Binders!! Great advice.
so sweet the story how your son is teaching you then spanish 😅 i love languages 🥰 I learnt Spanish when i lived in Mexico and now, i dream to learn portuguese in Brazil, so i will check on Babbel i think 🤞☺️ for the moment I still struggled with my paper clutter, paperwork ahahahaha, i even dream to BIN ALL ! 😱 but it is not really reasonable 🤪 so your videos help me to be less crazy or blocked and go over fears and move forward towards my dream, to feel more free for it, so , sincerely THANK YOU Erica, your approach of life helps me 😘
This inspires me to go through all the homeschool stuff for grandkids. It's overwhelming (ages 12 down to 3).
I really think having upright file holders to put books in by subject and label would be amazing so you know what you have and not have to resort and organize over and over. Good job. Also work on throwing away and decluttering and not just showing everything back in closet.
Je pense que vous n'avez pas a dire ce qu'elle doit faire, aucun apport d'intérêt.
Got over my OCD and came back to watch the rest of your video 🙃. Home schooling 3 kids is such a big commitment that it’s no surprise that the materials are going to take up quite a bit of space. After all, you discover with them over time what type of learners they are, and what supplies are most suitable for each child. Therefore, I would think being minimaliSH should allow you to keep more materials, as long as it’s easily retrievable. 👍👍👍
I’ve been trying to find you channel for weeks now. I followed your first declutter, and I too am minimizing again
If it’s too big a task for one day & you can’t leave it partly done, I would still haul it all out. I’d ‘fast file’ everything into categories in storage bins from your basement. Then the shelves are empty and the pressure is off to have the room clear for the boys. THEN I’d do one category/bin at a time thoroughly in front of the shelf. Because I’m weird & even though that’s more effort luggin bins about, I feel like I could process it better 😂🤷🏻♀️But you do you 😊😘
Erica, I love how real you are! I call myself a Minimalish Minimalist because of you! I didn’t struggle with the large volume of stuff you did, but your method resonates so much with me!
I’ve seen so much of Cass’ clutterbug lately. What about storing the books in a magazine holder? Then it won’t be piles that can get lost.
You don’t need to for all of it, but you could for the small things on the good shelf. Then if you need the space below to place bins and move up smaller items to the shelves it will fit in. Not that decluttering shouldn’t do the trick.
Maybe put books or the workbook? in a little free library. Cause then if a home owner is just grabbing them for their children to scribble on or in they won’t feel bad since they didn’t spend money for it,
Erica, I haven’t finished watching yet but just wanted to say that you have done so so well over the last two years! You have done it nearly all on your own and achieved so much. It has been a privilege to be with you on your path since the beginning 🧡 I would so love to come and help you but I can’t and I know you can do it yourself so will send good vibes across the oceans to you 😘🙏🏻
You go, girl!!! You are a world class strong declutterer 💪🏆 these are my absolute favorite videos! I find myself worrying that you will run out of stuff to declutter! 🤣 Thank you for sharing with us, and cheers to you for tackling this very difficult area!! Wow!!! Nice job, Erica!!! 💗🥳🎉
Right off the bat, you’re hair looks gorgeous. Thanks for being honest about the roadblocks.
I think you just awoken the souls of every homeschooler to clean out and declutter their homeschool closets 🤣😊❤️
Great start Erica! My tip would be that while you are sorting, rather than just making random piles, which can get a bit overwhelming when you look at them... Setup your sorting area first. So, you know the subjects you want to inventory, grab a tub for each subject, label it, and as you go, you can easily see where to throw things. This also helps if you have to leave the job unfinished for later, you can just grab the tubs and pop them in the closet and easily resume when you get back to it. 😊
Here from Leaf Like On A Tree! Loving your content!!
Good job, Erica. You made great progress. Two shelves down!
As a fellow homeschool mama I can't wait for the next video in this closet! This looks great so far, and I love to see what other mamas use!
Your frustration with your closet is making me think about my art , slash sewing storage space closet . Its a big mess. So your giving me ideas how to tackle this. Thanks
I like that you are tackling your roadblocks. I also have an affinity for all things stationary and school related. It is like I have an emotional tie to it. I don’t know where it comes from but I am trying to find out. Does anyone else have this problem? It is not a financial attachment but I get a thrill out of buying new stationery and stuff. If you are the same way; do you know where it all started for you?and how do you deal with it now?
Telling myself “don’t put it down put it away” helps me! Even with my ADHD.
High FIVE! That helps me so much too
I’m using times tales for my oldest, we love ETC as well. You did a great job- it looks awesome! Keep up the amazing work!!
With all that homeschool stuff your kids better be geniuses lol
You did such a great job. I love your process! Thank you for sharing it.
Love your hair with the side part!
Side part is so nice on you!!
Thanks!
Your hair looks hella cute in this video. Wow!
I always look forward to your videos. I’ve followed your journey and I’m so impressed with all the changes you’ve made. I also think you look so healthy and happy now. Cute hair, too.
I think your dog heard my dog barking. 🤣
Hi Erica, I just want to say that I’m pulling for you and I feel your pain. Lol
When you show bits of video from your basement in your other house it takes me back to feeling overwhelmed for you.
I think, if you can handle that...which you did...you can do some tiny weeny closet decluttering with no problem!
You go girl. I know you can finish it!😃
Looks like you have enough shelves to do one or two subjects per each shelf. That could help you keep it organized. Also, some clear bins or magazine holders to keep things grouped together?
Your hair looks phenomenal!!!!!
I am not far into your video yet so I am not sure if you came across this idea yet but I have noticed that you had a bunch of books or work that was already completed and written in....I just wanted to throw an idea out there for you about maybe having a basket on the floor for papers to shred or completed books or work that you no longer need to keep and then can empty when you are ready to so that it doesn't clutter and take up space on your shelves
I think you need some organizational units to contain your piles and make it more organized and intuitive to use. The piles tend to blend together and then you just starting layering things on, which is how you got to this point I think.
Thanks! I will apply your skills to my sewing room! I am 1 1/2 years in to a much smaller sewing room(245 sq ft to 80 sq ft) still over crowded….still letting go….guilt from prior purchase are ghastly!
Totally unrelated to the video but: you are beautiful! Love the 🐑 😆😆. Ranger's howl made me laugh...and made my cat skedaddle. Another inspiring video, thank you!
He’s a camera hog. 😂😂😂
I admire what you are doing for your kids
Great video. Would be really great if you could do a video on best resources you have come across. Thank you!
You are so REAL! Thank you alot!!!
I took all of my future curriculum and supplies and macro sorted them by subject into bins. I go through it yearly and pull out the stuff used for the upcoming school year. That has helped a lot for me. :) I hope that tip helps someone.
Had to pause the video to comment: you look great!
You are the person, it is the stuff. I have used this phrase for many years!
Making a whole shelf level for each subject may help. A few opaque bins for objects, small items, learning tools, flash card, etc... may help as well. Keep subject books on each shelf wth the subjects.
Remember it is OKAY to have more or less with each subject. You have 3 kids, that's 3 grades and each child learns each subject differently. That means it's OKAY to have all the TOOLS (not clutter) you need as a parent teacher to teach your children. It's OKAY to set boundaries too. I am all for them.
I taught for many years and the amount of stuff can be overwhelming, but it's there for a reason, to help us teach young minds.
Streamline where you can. Some small suggestions: More books on tablets, less physical. I love physical books, but I don't need one of each. More work on tablet, less physical paperwork/worksheets, if possible. Get creative with tools of teaching. Use what you have in your home as much as you can instead of buying something else you have to inventory. Oh, the things I have taught with LEGOS. Ahaha!
In your weekly planning, PLAN for 15 min a week to maintain homeschooling areas. A quick tidy after learning each day, but a 15 devoted time to just the homeschooling. That way you can see if you've finished teaching a particular subject, if will you use the tools again? If not, is it ok to donate or set in a possible donate bin for a while? If you are going to use again can you put it away in a use later bin or just set it up on the subject shelf for later?
Maintenance is the key to everything you and I and many people have worked on in our minimalism journey. It helps to keep things from being overwhelming. From taking over. It gives peace of mind.
So nice. Loved the video. An inspiration!
Wow thank you!! These are amazing heartfelt tips.
You are also helping other home schooling families by parting with what you don't use
I would suggest getting more of those magazine holders for your supply closet. They would take up less space and you could label them. Have a happy thanksgiving 🦃
I love homeschool curriculum! I wish I could be there with you to look through that. I would be like a kid in a candy store.
Similar to other subscribers: you need bind with labels for each subject. That way you have a way to KEEP it organized.
This was a toughie- I rememember seeing those early clips for the first time.
What about using magizine holders for all those thin workbooks? Best Wishes
I felt such empathy for you when yougot the marbles and stones... I remember the first pass through homeschool stuff in your old house and it stopped my purchases in their tracks then (your reel brought back PTSD from those times lol) Now I'm back at work with my daughter in early K and... I am you standing in front of your closet door. But you're so strong and amazing that you've gotten this far, you'll be where you want to be in no time.
Have you tried Dana K White's process of garbage first, easy stuff next so that you don't have to pull things out at the very beginning? I know you have found your method for yourself that obviously are successful but I was kind of yelling it at the phone screen when you first hesitated at the door lol. She always says "Look, just look. There's always garbage" and then with the garbage box, donate bag you can just close the door and walk away.
I haven’t tried that but will try that in my entryway closet!
I don't have small children but your videos are awesome..
🤩🇨🇵🖐
@@karineb5980 👋
The hair looks AMAZING!
Haha! You cracked me up about too much stuffs 🤣
Tell me about it. I’m working on photos yesterday & today. I did little last week but I want to get it done by this week🤞🏼
Then work on paperworks to reorganize and many more ugh 😩🤦🏻♀️😄
Erica, you should go find the kneady homesteader's earlier, 2 yrs ago, posting of her homeschool room and organizing system, it's phenomenal.
Well done looking forward to part 2 lol ❤️🇮🇱❤️