I like decluttering in layers like an onion. First you go through the house with a bag and get rid of the easy stuff, obvious garbage or recycling like wrappers, empty boxes from stuff you bought, newspapers and magazines (don’t stop to read them! Not even one article), worn out clothing, things that are broken or worn out. That gives you satisfaction and motivation to continue on. Then move on to duplicates. You have things that are perfectly good, but you don’t need ten spatulas, five pairs of headphones, four sets of sheets for each bed, twelve sets of towels, etc. Those things could be blessing someone else. Donate them. At the same time or just after, do the same thing with things that you simply never use: specific kitchen gadgets, those high heels that hurt your feet, those nice clothes you just never wear because they don’t feel just right or you don’t have the occasion to wear them, that silver tea set or punch bowl or fondue pot, those art supplies you bought a few years ago, tires for a car you don’t own anymore, basically all your “just in case items”. If it turns out you have a need for a certain item in a couple of years, you won’t be able to find it anyway in your mess, so realize you can live in a clean, stress free place all those years and just buy a punch bowl at the thrift for that one party, then donate it back. You go at your own pace, working toward those really difficult sentimental items. Even if you just do 15 Minutes a day, your place will feel better so quickly, and it will get easy to clean your decluttered space.
I agree, very well said Starting with obvious choices gives us immediate progress. That makes the new behavior of sorting out excess rewarding. As we advance to more challenging items we've already got momentum. I'm not lazy but my space got disorganized because I was too busy. Wasting time looking for something I suddenly realized I needed to address the issue. I will implement this process. Thanks for sharing!
I did the minimalist game...only I did my days out of order. It seemed a lot more productive to me to go through items until I got too tired. I counted as I went. There would be lots of times that I marked out more than one day (35 items = marking out day 31 and day 4). This helped me slack on the days that I was tired or had somewhere to be...and I actually finished early.
This may also work with the onion layer method as in a previous comment!! Getting rid of the junk and broken things at first will be quicker and easier, then as days go on, it may be harder to do this- especially with sentimental items. Awesome tip!! Thanks for sharing.
I'm using the minimalist game for my decluttering process, but instead of associating the numbers to what day of the month it is I use them like levels in an actual game. For example in order to complete level 1 you have to throw away 1 item, in order to complete level 2 in minimalism you have to throw away another 2 items....so I've been "leveling up" at my own pace.
Thank you! Well, i try not to buy anything unless i really need it, and that is so hard! Because usually when i get bored, i would go to the dollar store and just shop to buy stuff i didn't need. I liked it because it was cheap but a nice experience, but it really cluttered up my house. Do you have any tips to keep me from dollar store shopping?
The best way to do it is to stay out of that store. I know that's annoying advice, but it's true. I had to ban myself from Amazon fully so that I could break the cycle of 'twitches' that kept me buying on impulse items.
Break the Twitch I think that the best way to keep your house clutterless is actually not to learn how throw things away but to learn how to stop them coming in.
Konmari question doesn't work for me. Things that I shouldn't have and cannot justify keeping nonetheless spark joy. Once a friend told me "Would you replace this if it was lost?" That question helps me declutter.
This mostly happens with clothes. Clothes that don't fit and that I can't wear, I think it's hard to justify keeping them :) Another example is bedding-- having four sets of sheets so that I don't have to worry about laundry and it is easy to put on fresh sheets....but do all those sheets give me joy? No, it's just practical.
"Does it spark joy to own this many?" Also, sparking joy can be as simple as being useful and necessary to my life. I'm grateful for my can opener when I need to use it, so it brings me joy. And I feel joy looking at my favourite pants that are now unwearable, but they also bring me sadness because I can't wear them.
I REALLY appreciated this because it was co clear, concise, and straightforward. So many Decluttering Videos contain rambling, meandering, personal reflections that are superfluous and irrelevant to a mass audience. Excellent delivery.
I do the same thing! We need to make a catchy name for it. Instead of BOGO (buy one get one) we can call it BOLT (buy one, lose two). I just made that up. Now to write the book that makes millions...
lol that's a genius name! I enjoy doing this method. It's really simple and makes you think twice before buying anything. So yeah, next stop: SUCCES! :D
My method was just going room by room. So first day I decluttered the kitchen- got rid of old appliances that I never use, expired supplements/food/etc. Second day I decluttered the office desk. Next day was the closet/dresser. Then the bathroom (under the sink, in the drawers) and so on. Was simple, satisfying, and therapeutic for me. I wish I hadn't finished the whole house already- I want to do it some more! Haha
I love how you present yourself in your videos. You're so clear and understandable. If I hadn't read your bio, I would assume you were a teacher. Awesome job :)
That made me tear up a bit. My mother spent her career as a high school teacher and she always told me I should consider it. The traditional education system never worked well for me, so I never pursued it. Making these videos has been so incredibly rewarding for me, though. It's comments like yours that reinforce how much I love this, and I only hope to make a positive impact on people's lives with the work that I do now. Thank you.
I'm glad my comment made you so happy! :) I am in school presently to become a high school French teacher, so it's so great to make that connection with you. I completely understand why the traditional education system wouldn't work for you. It's not the best. I would say you're definitely succeeding at having a positive impact on people's lives. Your videos are awesome. I wish you the best.
+ceesab My mom taught Spanish! She still hears from students she taught decades ago. You will impact so many lives in such a positive way throughout your career. Thank you again for your kind words and please do keep in touch.
That's so great to hear. Especially since I'm considering not pursuing teaching even after I receive my degree. (I get very nervous public speaking and trying to manage a classroom). No matter which career I choose, I'll still appreciate and remember your advice! :)
@@c1975stark I know this comment is old but if you're interested in speaking comfortably & effectively, check out joining a toast masters group for practice. Best wishes to you.
The author of the Konmari method gave a speech to a crowd of her fans. Nearly everyone raised their hands to say that they'd read her books, yet hardly anyone raised hands to say they'd implemented the method, thus showing significant flaws in its true execution and ease of use. Me, I got stuck on the insanity about needing to pet and talk to my socks and other items, worry about their feelings, like she said was so important. If I grant feelings to my possessions, how cruel and tyrannical of me to ever toss them in the trash.
I agree that I found Marie Kondo's methods to be quirky, but the core principle she taught really worked well for me. I usually take what I want and leave what I don't when it comes to these sorts of philosophies. For me, keeping what I love vs finding what I don't want was a great strategy. That said, I'm not folding my socks. No way. ;)
Seiferboy Yes some people already feel like their items have feelings and need to acknowledge that and do things like "find a new way to honor your items" which could include putting it out of it's misery or giving it to someone who will take better care of it.
AccordingToLorna It is about point of view. And read her book in full if you have not before, many question is answered in her own history of decluttering. I personally loved the method and I don’t know what meet-up you watched as I have seen many where ppl have actually used the method. Anyways, what I mean with how you look at it is what happens if you do keep it instead of donating or throwing it out. Unused and unloved by you, or used and loved by somebody else. Or, Finally resting after a life of hard work. Though personally I view it less about things having feelings but that you have feelings for them be it good, bad or neutral. Treating things with care oughta make you happy as they prob look better in the long run which makes happy.
I'm just finishing up the minimalist game. To ease the pressure of having to go in order, I allowed myself to get rid of the different numbers of items in whatever order they naturally occurred. For example, I might get rid of 30 one day, then 5, then 18, then 24, etc. until all of the days were finished. This way I could do large # days on the weekends when I had more time, and smaller # days on the weeknights. I've already exceeded my goal!
We have used the KonMari method to go through almost everything in our home so far and it has already mad ea big difference. I did find that in some areas it didn't work too well. But I love her sparks joy concept and have held onto that every time I have decluttered, what i will say is that the book has helped me see past the attachment I had to material things and totally re-evaluate more possessions and shopping habits
Life Sorted The difficulty I would have with this method is finding like items all through the house and going through them. If your house is a mess it’s tough knowing where all these like items are.
I tried the KonMari method about 6 months ago after reading her book and im so happy with it. I took like 4 days to complete it as i didnt wanna take out and pile EVERY category at once. So day one I tackled clothing, went thru the house and grabbed anything that had been left/strewed maybe in another room and took everything out of my closet and drawers and told myself "THIS is your goal for today. .just get this done" i went thru each item and sorted it to keep, discard/donate, and maybe. after the first round was done, i went back to double check the maybe pile and i that was it! i was hooked! next day i did makeup/toiletries/etc and then nicknacks etc. Just last week i did a re-scan over of my clothing using the konmari method and got rid of a few more things that didnt spark joy or were hole-y and now i feel even more free! TLDR: i didnt do all the konmari categories in a day, just to make it easier and more manageable.
I am moving again in a few months. I am combining KonMari with Packing Method. Gathering items in categories and going through them. Only packing those items I love and need . Then when I get to my new home will unpack items as I use them. In a few months, I will be down to exactly what I need in my life. Big drawback of this method is the need for a detailed inventory for every box. Otherwise finding what I need will be frustrating.
i packed up the whole house, had some yard sales, donated lots, tossed lots! then i ended up keeping the place (just renting) as i love the uncluttered space!
I used the moving thing. We had 2 bedroom apartment for our 4 people family. Our parents moved out, took a lot of stuff with them (LOL, I know, sounds odd, but they bought a house and went to live there after some extensive renovation and we were in uni and college at the time in the same city where we grew up). Then my brother got a job in another city, moved out so it was just me in this HUGE apartment. I am not one to buybuybuy but we had a lot of stuff left over. Plus, I rarely threw clothes out. It was finally time for me to move out and before selling the big apartment we went through every room in the house...woah. That was intense and the kitchen alone - we threw away/gave away so many things. When I finally moved out I did not have that many boxes but I went over them once again before putting them away /got rid of maybe like a 6th of stuff, including clothes). Then before I moved to my grandmothers place (my apartment was still in progress) I went over my clothes (before summer), then again before autumn, AGAIN before I moved into my apartment and now every month because when I moved into my apartment I also started to lose weight (67 pounds gone)...so i also practiced minimalism on my body...huh. Anyway, I think just going over all of the things is not needed. Take a room, or season specific clothing and then go on from there. Just yesterday I went over my kitchen again, threw out stuff and realized also, that I need 1 new thing that takes the function of most of the 1 drawer full of stuff.
Well done video! You are focused on the topic and what you say is quite informative. I love these kind of videos. There are too many CZcamsrs who upload long videos with too much superfluous chatter. Your video is quite professionally done. Thanks!
You can do the packing party methode partially. You don't have to do it for all your stuff, but for a type of stuff. I did it for my clothes (waited a year bc. of seasons), later I did it for my kitchen stuff (I had the boxes in my cellar and every time I needed something else I had to go to the cellar, so I looked if I could use something that I already brought up from the cellar in the kitchen).
Hmmm, that's a good idea if I just made up sets, but I'm actually am more into MOCs which means I continually reuse pieces for my Stop Motion Videos. I did buy LEGO in Bulk which is where the problem started, now I just buy from a single theme and things appear to be more manageable. Thanks for your idea :-)
What about categorizing them? Maybe you have too many of a certain category that you don't use (for me it would be single use scenery and oddly shaped base pieces) and can minimize without affecting your stop motion too much
I think that you don't have to get rid of anything. If your LEGOs make you happy and are a hobby, then why should you give them away / sell them? Isn't minimalism really about what brings joy or value into your life? That's my honest opinion. My only suggestion would be not buying MORE than you already have, or at least creating a budget only for spending on that, and stick to it.
This is crazy, I didn’t know this, but we did the Packing Party method by accident. We packed up everything to stage our house, and everything is in storage. We brought back a portion of the stuff for the holidays before we move- our kids don’t miss the things that are still in storage, and neither do we. We still need to figure out what/when to donate- but it has absolutely proven to us that we need only a fraction of what we have. We have since decided to lean in to minimalism and see where the journey takes us.
My favorite is also the con Mari method. I am working on papers again, and as I am moving in a few weeks, there is motivation! :-) I love the way clothes and books have come out, love the space they are in now. And it’s fun to let go of the books and find new owners for some special things. Still in that process… Biggest challenge: papers. But I am feeling better about that at the moment. I appreciate your focus on focus, Anthony. What is it that I want to focus on?
I’ve been decluttering for 3 years now. It’s started with Marie Kondo. Then getting rid of multiple things a day for a long while. Then the mins game. And I’m still decluttering every so often. It’s a lot of work, but well worth it and I don’t regret getting rid of anything.
I just finished a 31-day, 465-item Minimalist Game. I couldn't believe how much stuff I had. I'm now on Day 7 of another 31-day challenge because there's more stuff.
Anthony, thank you for explaining the pros and cons of each decluttering method so easy and simple in order for us to decide which method may work best for each one of us. Except for all the information on popular decluttering methods for minimalism, you have a good sense of humour. I really enjoyed it!
The funny thing about decluttering for me is that while I've been somewhat good at it even before I heard about minimalism (I like using the one in, one out method), I still had a lot of stuff in the end even though it was neatly organized and put in designated spots. Once I came across channels like yours, I started getting rid of anything I held onto "just in case" or didn't have a proper spot for. All that hidden clutter is finally free from my space and it feels good :)
Personally I loved KM’s first book and reccomend reading or listening to it in full before you go ahead. Many question of why you do or do not do things are answered in her own history from childhood and onwards. Like why you shouldn’t declutter other persons’ things, why you take everything out and not room by room etc. It was eye-opening for me who after the process combined with Clutterbug(youtube) made me go from a person with clutter everwhere to feel at home and out of sight out of mine... To a person loving organizing and minimizing and having much easier to let go of things as Well being wiser of what I really need or want not what is cheap but I’ll dislike or feel uncomfortable with. Many things stood out for me, the first being that in most cases we are not taught how to tidy and clean up like we are with many other things. It made me wonder how many parents nagging their children about keep their room neat have actually taught them How. Or helped them set up a organizing system that actually fit their child. A teenager filling their floor with clothes in a search for the perfect outfit might need a big bin on the floor so it is all in one place easy to later to put back but not getting dirty on the floor. Or perhaps the closet isn’t designed in a way they can see what they have. Plus learning to go through what you own and let go of what you’ll no longer wear. If you use anything from KM the thing that after the decluttering helped me most was no longer stacking clothes in piles that easily becomes a mess... With the kon-Mari-folding method I see it all in at a glance and pick things up without the other things falling over.
well spoken, well paced, informative. good inflection. couldn't tell you were reading at all 👍. great use of bullets as visual cues to reinforce the talk. very well lit and decorated set to perfectly accompany the topic you're discussing. overall great, quality video.
Ive also used the hanger method in my toddlers wardrobe, he has so many clothing as he has been gifted lots, so I have only turned the hangers round if I am returning an item to the wardrobe after washing, I can see which items I gravitate towards for him to wear, so when he outgrows the current size I can pack the items I love (assuming they are in good condition) into the attic for a second child and simply get rid of anything I haven't put on him as I clearly don't like it!
My problem is that I'm very seasonal with hobbies; sometimes I tinker a lot and then I might have 6 months without touching other tools than a tape measure and a hammer. I knit at winter, I have a big chest full of yarn that I bemoan at summer. I make jewelry and tea light sconces occasionally, paint, draw, sew and all these take really a lot of space. I guess I should declutter some of those hobbies first and then the stuff itself.. Hurts like hell since we are somewhat poor and ie. art supplies are not cheap; I had my share of second hand stores earlier and just got angry with people so I noticed it's easier and less frustrating to donate everything away. On the other side, the more it hurts to throw things away, the more likely you won't buy similar items again. All practical stuff is super easy to declutter, like bed linen and towels or utensils, no problem with them. The attachment is probably the key, I don't take my fork very personally you know. :D
Such an awesome video! I've spent months trying out a couple of these and couldn't figure out why I couldn't stick with 🤔 but you made the pros and cons of each method so easy to get my mind around to decide what may work best now! tysm for this :)
We used the packing party method when we moved! We donated bags and bags to a thrift store and got rid of a TON of stuff. My husband and I are moving into a house together after living apart, and I'm trying really hard to eliminate unnecessary items in our home. Videos like this are great inspiration! Thanks!
Loving your channel. I'm busy using the 'One a day' method - Every day I have to find one item to toss out. (I did the bulk clean out by going through every room last year). This means that small things that missed my eye last year are being weeded out! I've cleared so much 'clutter' that I started throwing out storage boxes and extra drawers!
Hello! I just found your Channel today and I've been really enjoying it. At the beginning of August I decided to try the 30-day minimalist challenge. But I got a little impatient, and just added up the total amount of items, and did it in just two days LOL it was very liberating and I have so much more room!
For the packing method, if you put all your seasonal stuff in seasonal boxes based on item type like in the first method (So all your winter sweaters together if you're packing in the summer, for example), and just leave those boxes undisturbed in the initial purge of items you didn't unpack, and then do the unpacking method with the seasonal boxes as the seasons arrive. It's a whole year of boxes, though.
When I did kitchen stuff I noticed what got washed and concentrated on what I used not what to get rid of. I read somewhere "Find the treasures." Focus on what to keep. Also the four box method works great. Kathy B.
I went through the closet hanger method starting when I moved into my new place back in June, and didn't go through the clothes until now, so that I was going through all weather types before getting rid of things. I also went through everything else in my room (I live in a shared home and don't really keep things I don't use regularly outside of my room) drawer by drawer and just really thought about if I've used it/when would I use it. I now have four boxes of mostly clothing to go through and my sister's are thrilled since I'm passing it all off to them. Cleaning is my personal favorite method for procrastinating during finals week.
Great video! I love that minimalism can be tailored for each person. There are no set rules. I only started a few weeks ago, but already made my 1000 item challenge. Now it's time to really get moving. Thanks for all the great ideas!
Another pro of the Konmari method is that you get to see the results immediately. This motivated me to keep going and to get rid of more because I was excited to see the end results. I finished in about one month which was really good since I’m usually quite the procrastinator.
I find this method effective where in you declutter just a section of your room/house like a box or your shelf due to that you'll be very selective of the things you keep. When I did this I only kept 1/8 of the things I found in every space I tackle which is very liberating.
The Konmari method worked wonders for me. I got rid of 70% of the things I owend in just 1 1/2 weeks. I think it works so well because you do declutter your house *completly* in a short period of time. Seeing results so fast and having a perfect home afterwards really works like magic. Plus - you don't feel stressed to get rid of a certain amount of things or more and more things because you are encouraged to keep whatever you love. However, it obviously isn't only for minimalists, you can keep much more stuff if it makes your life happier.
I have tried the most of the methods you are talking about. They were all good and helped me to declutter my house considerably. But the one which really worked wonders was the Marie Kondo method. It was time consuming, that's true, but I needed to do it only once. My house has changed completely, for the better. So has my life, as I learn to keep my life simple.
What a great overview. I like the idea of the one method. After all I might only be able to handle getting rid of one thing today. Tomorrow I might be fine to do one box. There’s no rule that it can’t vary and as a minimum I get rid of one thing which is still good. I realised a while back how much I own that I really don’t care about. I live in Australia and a few years ago our home was threatened by bushfire and we had to evacuate. I realise that aside from family pics and my journals I really didn’t care about much. I mean if it had been lost I would have likely missed things but very little was a big deal. Now if I have trouble deciding I think about if I’d take it with me during an evacuation. If I wouldn’t I get rid of it.
I'm dealing with a lot of health issues - 3 major surgeries, and several small procedures in the last three years. Just when I thought I could get back on my feet another crash hit. Now I am drowning in clutter and chaos and don't have the energy to get back on top of it. Some of your suggestions really gave me hope. Thank you. Any suggestions for someone in my situation? I KNOW that if I can get to a place of order and minimalist I will create room for mor Heath and Healing.
Christy, thank you for your comment-I really do appreciate you sharing this with me. I'd say what's most important is not beating yourself up over the clutter and focus on healing. The time will come when you'll have the energy and ability to calm the chaos, but prioritize your health first. While it may seem small, removing one or two small things per day can really go a long way as well. Please do let me know if I can help further. -Anthony
5/6/19....Older YT video but I JUST NOW "discovered" Anthony & his decluttering. LOVE the 6 methods.....I knew about the "spark joy" method + the "4 box" method + the reverse hangar" method + the "packing/moving box" method.... But the "1 more each day" method fascinated me for some strange reason---so I'm going to try it as I declutter/downsize now. Sorry but I forgot the final/6th way so I'll have to watch this video again---just to "study" it with less distraction. 😗 I did 1st diwnsize/declutter when I was thinking about retiring/moving from 4 bedroom house to FL retirement area 7 yrs ago....Got rid of clothing + furniture + less "loved" pieces of all my various "collections"....Went from 450 clowns to 100---hard to make choices but a drastic "purge". Then did 2nd downsize/declutter before I moved from GA to FL b/c movering is expensive. Then started 3rd downsize/declutter from 1 yr in apt + huge rented storage unit to purchased mrg home in restricted retirement subdivision....so NOW really going thru 205 WalMart 18-gal plastic bins with lids + prob 75 large cardboard moving boxes. All but 3 cardboard boxes are emptied/gone but prob 25 plastic bins are still waiting to be gone thru. I am picking/choosing my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE collectibles + taking cell phone pix as well as Fuji mini pix of each as I make a list & put it/Fuji pix on top of items in each bin/snap the lid on tight/label the outside of each bin/stack & organize in my FL room. I am leaving some items on display---but rotate them every 3 mons with other stored items so I can enjoy the few "most loved" items that I have collected thru my life.....Down to the last few that I "treasure" & refuse to give up. Wish I had seen your videos---plus Dave Ramsey's videos 30 yrs ago! GOD BLESS US ALL AS WE AMERICANS TRY TO "RECOVER" FROM OUR CONSUMERISM CULTURE & HEAD MORE TOWARDS MINIMALISM!
Super de voir PLUSIEURS FAÇONS de DÉSENCOMBRER nos maisons. Un MIXTE de méthodes encourage à commencer. ------ Good to evaluate different methods to HELP CHOOSE our way to DEAL with Declutering... Such a big challenge for me. Merci.
Moving to another house is really a good method. We`re moving this month, so I have a few weeks to decide what to take. Also all methods you mentioned are fine. But my favourire one is called "just look through the stuff and throw away all the unnecessary shit".
THANK YOU! You break everything down so well and are so calm and collected...I need that because giving up things is very emotional/psycological for me.
Hi Anthony, your video is the coolest video on declutter methods I have found! And I watched quite a lot videos on minimalism! ;-) I made a mini-series on minimalism myself and recommend this video of yours because I like it so much and it is already there and PERFECT! :-) Thank you!! Your other videos are pretty cool, too!! :-D
I tired the Konmari method and it’s disruptive to place the items in one area. It’s messy and a bit overwhelming. I love the idea of deciding what to keep and not eliminate. I thought a would love the game and it worked for a while but it’s hard to find items on day 21, 22 etc. I like your one method. I can definitely eliminate at least one item or box a day.... thanks for your channel. I love it and learn a lot. I also like your approach and info.
After I decluttered everything (at least 3-5 times depending on category) I now use a combination of these methods to keep the clutter from sneaking back into my life. It works for me. Thank you for this video. It's a video I need to watch from time to time
Great vid. Another problem of the Packing Party is it doesn’t address any other value to the item if it’s not used in that month such as collectibles or things of sentimental value. I think if you do the Packing Party method you must deal with only essential goods, otherwise you’ll be looking in the boxes you’re about to sell or donate and have another sorting issue to deal with.
I find that seasonal decluttering is a good bonus to the hanger method if u do this throughout the season at the end of it u can evaluate what to keep and what to get rid off.. :)
A mixture of all methods with some alterations is the best! For kitchenware it’s easy to get rid cause there are no special feelings unless it’s a souvenir mug or a piece like that ! I keep only what s really useful. For clothing and shoes it’s also not so hard cause I keep what fits and what makes me look and feel beautiful in it. This is why I try to wear all the clothes I own at least once to see if I ll keep it or give it way. My only issue my kids clothes I kept from their childhood that I cannot give away. For things that I bought little expensive and I hesitate I give them to my family members which gives me satisfaction as well. As for the rest like decoration stuff and other houseware I de clutter slowly. If I see it doesn’t give me pleasure as I see it I give it away to someone that needs it. The same I do for jewlery and cosmetics.
Loving your videos :) Your voice is so lovely! I like to declutter in bursts, but spread out over time because it will take time for me to slowly pare down and focus at the same time on not recluttering my life with new purchases. Breaking the twitch and not shopping for new stuff is just as important as decluttering or else you will refill all your nice empty spaces once you clear the old stuff out! I really liked the idea of the 30 day challenge but it didn't work for me because I was already so far along on the minimalism journey that I thought getting rid of that much stuff would have been so extreme! I am moving shortly soon though so it will give me a great opportunity to practise some of these other methods. Picking and choosing techniques from several different methods suits me best :) great video comparing the pros and cons of these methods, you have a great channel, and a great beard!! :D
Hey Cait! You're making me blush over here! I know what you mean about the minsgame, we ran into that during our last 'round' of it, feeling like we were getting rid of too much. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, and your kind words as well. Makes me feel good about all the work it takes to make this stuff. :)
For things like clothes and shoes, I have a 'one in-two out' rule. Like if I buy one new pair of shoes, I have to get rid of at least two pairs. Sometimes I get rid of way more than just two, but I must get rid of at least two, preferably in the same category as the new thing. ( shoes, pants, tops, etc). So the amount of items in the closet gradually decreases, but still allows me to make some purchases. Any method that is too strict, I feel is not practical. Like not being allowed to buy ANYthing new- people can't stick to that.It's like a diet where you're never allowed to eat a cookie- you end up feeling deprived and you binge-eat the whole box of cookies. So with this method you can still buy something, but it makes you really think, is this new thing good enough to lose 2 other things for?
lestrange what do you do if you really have to buy something? I'm just thinking about trousers. I only buy new ones when the old ones are ripped. It wouldn't make sense to throw out two trousers if I already lack trousers. would you just throw out items from other categories? (just curious :) )
Jannyl13, it sounds like you are already down to the minimal wardrobe that you really need, so you could do a buy one, lose one method, since you are now only buying to replace worn out items. I'm not quite at that stage yet. I still have more than I really need, so the buy one/lose two method helps to reduce the number of items while still allowing some purchases. (I also purge clothes regularly even without buying any.)
I think I'm more of a low key declutterer, slow and steady. I have anxiety so making piles of stuff to go through freaks me out!! Just found your channel so I'm gonna catch up on your other videos this weekend!!
I love your videos, but this one especially. Everything is explained very simply and in a practical way. In less than 7 minutes I learned 6 methods and I know I'll be using them because of how well I undestood them, on the other hand, sometimes I watch a 15 minutes video explaning 1 method, and I end up more confused and I don't know where to start. Thank very much
Very refreshing explanation on Kon Mari. It’s certainly not something done in a hurry. I liked the 4 box idea. I’m trying a mish-mash of all these things except the pack party. Too drastic for me.
Packing party seems like an interesting concept... you would get rid of a lot all at once. Might create some anxiety though... thanks for sharing these methods.
An alternative method to the hangers one is to , once the piece of clothing is worn and cleaned, put it away in a box/hamper/empty drawer, and only wear what is left. Bit by bit you'll see which clothes you pick last or don't want to pick at all and it will be easier to rationalize that those need to go. Of course work clothes, uniforms, special occasions and out of season ones don't apply / use common sense!
Good to lay out all items, but not always helpful to phrase your question in that way 'Does this item spark joy in my heart?'. I need a fork to eat my dinner, but there is no fork I own that sparks joy in my heart! Also, important documentation might not spark joy in your heart but will be very essential when you have to do your tax return, for example. I make piles on the floor for: Keep, keep until I move/travel (or for a defined period of time), sell, donate and throw away (recycling if possible). Few more categories but quite helpful.
I, an underage momma's child, am a very minimalistic (is that a word?) kind of person and really want to try these methods out. However, my mother is quite the opposite. She is a classified hoarder and it's a big problem since she doesn't want me to throw anything out (or donate), including my personal stuff. Do you have any advice on how to convince someone to use or try minimalism?
Do it without her knowing, although once your room starts looking empty she might notice =P But you can still try to sell some stuff and donate other things. When I went back home last year I went to the bathrooms and started getting rid of expired products or things that hadn't been used for years. I got around 6 or 7 bags full. This year I did the same in the kitchen. Unfortunatelly I did not have much time. Anyway, my mom had a gazillion tiny crayons, dead batteries, tops of spray bottles (to put the crayons and dead batteries in), etc. in the kitchen waiting to be used so well, I got the bags. I think I got rid of... 5? And there is sooooo much more. She hasn't even noticed what is missing.
My mom is the same way.... When I come back home, I sometimes get rid of some things, but I always pay attention to not touch something she might actually notice. I mostly get rid of broken junk. Unfortunately, this is really not enough decluttering.
AllergicRants I don't know if you mean came home to visit or moved back in, but either way, if it's not yours to throw away, why are you throwing it away? Why even care? Even if it is clutter, it's her clutter and if you want to interject with her stuff it just seems rude to not ask first. Have you asked if she wants help? Maybe you could say "wouldn't it be great to decorate like this if we had more space?" Or "If we had more area in this room we could do that activity here and spend time together."
I am in the exact same situation, my mom is like that so I just keep my space very minimal, it helps me de-stress when I can get away from all the other stuff. I try to give away things she won't notice gradually
I rarely comment, but I just wanted to say I really like your videos. I'm a somewhat seasoned minimalist, but there's a lot of new info and great suggestions in your videos. Thanks for making content, I subscribed! :)
Suggestion for the closet hanger method- perhaps doing this over the course of the year with all clothing items, including shoes, may be helpful because you can see everything you wear through all seasons. As seasons pass, perhaps you could clear all the clothes you’ve not used during those months. For example, once winter hits, clear any summer and spring clothes that haven’t been used. For some, it is hard to let go of lots of items at once. This may help the process feel more gradual and thorough, so you don’t unnecessarily lose important seasonal items! Any thoughts on this?
For many categories and to go with previous mental picture comment write list of what is minimum needed then 4 box sell or donate or give the easy things then as someone's previous comment you can do BOLT buy one lose 2 then when you get down to the minimum amount on the list of that item or category you can either keep your minimum amount or change it to lower amount or keep it the same. Your safety is you don't have to go under the safety number especially if it is a replacement item you bought. This also gives freedom to lose more than 2 at a time.
Thank you for such detailed good video! I am only starting this process of decluttering and it will probably will take me a couple of years to get rid of everything that I should get rid of... but I have to start somewhere, right? Thanks for the push!
In my view, a combination of the 4 box and Konmari method is great because this is what I did intuitively without knowing there was a name for either ever since.
Hanger method or packing party what in did for hangers was all,summer did that and only focused on summer clothes ... not more winter clothes so will do that all winter... as for purging clothes I try to take a look at what I need in my life etc... if you wear jeans a lot try keeping 4 pairs as one may be in the was, your wearing one and if all of a sudden laundry time comes if keep right amount will have 1 or 2 of that category left and can fill up closest again
I'm so excited to have found your channel! This overview of methods is good inspiration. My task over the next two days is to alternate painting our house and decluttering. I'm naturally a "keeper" not a "purger," but I'm working to change that. I'll be listening to your channel while I paint. Thanks for the help, from another Minneapolitian (is that a thing?)
My personal method and mantra is "don't buy crap". "Get rid of crap". Had more than my fair share of crap over the years and I'm over it. No more energy draining crap.
Helps for the hanger method: 1. For drawers you can use more bags empty drawers nearby or boxes or parts of a box as a divider in the drawer that can slide over as you use items in the drawer to separate what you have and have not use in the drawer. 2.for clothes and seasonal items you can go by season using for box method and con Mari as you are deciding what to wear each day or while you wear it then choose a box or a sorted hanger at the end of the day also by season decide which of the repeats or multiples our best and sort in box method and review that season then move onto the next season leaving the haters as they were in the previous seasons. Do same with drawers of clothes with cardboard separators etc#1 comment and box method. 3. Good video
I just combine the methods of Konmari and One method I go by room instead of category though but I'll pick things up and If I love them I give them a home if not I donate or trash them. I also just purged 2 bags of clothes and I'm doing the closet hanger method I really recommend it cause I try to wear the backwards hangers more if they're cute clothes that I've never worn it's super helpful for deciding what I like but don't wear and what I don't like
I feel the same way about jewelry. I love brooches, but I don't wear them, so I'm planning on making shadow boxes and displaying them on my wall. My motto is, "Display, don't store."
I'm going through what I am calling "the great purge" right now. I just randomly woke up at 4am one morning went to walmart and bought a bunch of boxes. I labeled them in categories and just started throwing stuff in there. I closed my office a few months all that stuff came here. So I thought how will I declutter if I don't even know what I have. A lot of stuff I now have 2 or more of the same thing (how many Brother label makers does one need?) So the very slow going plan is to fill up the boxes and then once everything is in those boxes, go through them one by one, see what I have and either find a *specific home* for something, or purge it. A place for everything and everything in its place. Seeing as those boxes have been sitting in my living room for months now, I'm pretty sure I could probably forgo going through them and just purge it all.. lol.
Thank you Anthony. This has helped. I wasnt sure where to start or what method to use. Guess I will try a minimalism game because I feel I have too much clutter for kon mari. I wouldnt be able to go to bed for days!!😉😄😄😄🇦🇺🌹
In the closet hanger method I think you can just at once position all of the hangers on the opposite side and then by habit you will keep it back in the normal way and then after 7 days you can just check what you have worn and what you have not
I really liked this video. There were many methods I want to try out. I started with KonMari- method last august and it was working, but then I went back to school and didn`t have time to finish. Now my home has been waiting for me to continue for months and it`s been killing me. If you want to do KonMari right you have to do so much base work and I find it a bit hard to find all the items in one category when your house is a bomb. Maybe I try the minimalist game at first and go back to KonMari when I have significally less stuff to deal with.
I like decluttering in layers like an onion. First you go through the house with a bag and get rid of the easy stuff, obvious garbage or recycling like wrappers, empty boxes from stuff you bought, newspapers and magazines (don’t stop to read them! Not even one article), worn out clothing, things that are broken or worn out. That gives you satisfaction and motivation to continue on. Then move on to duplicates. You have things that are perfectly good, but you don’t need ten spatulas, five pairs of headphones, four sets of sheets for each bed, twelve sets of towels, etc. Those things could be blessing someone else. Donate them. At the same time or just after, do the same thing with things that you simply never use: specific kitchen gadgets, those high heels that hurt your feet, those nice clothes you just never wear because they don’t feel just right or you don’t have the occasion to wear them, that silver tea set or punch bowl or fondue pot, those art supplies you bought a few years ago, tires for a car you don’t own anymore, basically all your “just in case items”. If it turns out you have a need for a certain item in a couple of years, you won’t be able to find it anyway in your mess, so realize you can live in a clean, stress free place all those years and just buy a punch bowl at the thrift for that one party, then donate it back.
You go at your own pace, working toward those really difficult sentimental items. Even if you just do 15 Minutes a day, your place will feel better so quickly, and it will get easy to clean your decluttered space.
Yes, agree with starting with what feels easy and then moving on to the other stuff at increasing levels. :) Thanks for watching and sharing!
Thank you so much for sharing this tips!!!!! ✨
Great suggestions! I hope you'll make a video of your own!
Gracias
I agree, very well said Starting with obvious choices gives us immediate progress. That makes the new behavior of sorting out excess rewarding. As we advance to more challenging items we've already got momentum. I'm not lazy but my space got disorganized because I was too busy. Wasting time looking for something I suddenly realized I needed to address the issue. I will implement this process. Thanks for sharing!
I did the minimalist game...only I did my days out of order. It seemed a lot more productive to me to go through items until I got too tired. I counted as I went. There would be lots of times that I marked out more than one day (35 items = marking out day 31 and day 4). This helped me slack on the days that I was tired or had somewhere to be...and I actually finished early.
+Lady Brittany that's a great idea! Start with the harder days when you're feeling more inspired in the beginning. Brilliant.
@@aongaro Im doing it this way also.
This may also work with the onion layer method as in a previous comment!! Getting rid of the junk and broken things at first will be quicker and easier, then as days go on, it may be harder to do this- especially with sentimental items. Awesome tip!! Thanks for sharing.
I'm using the minimalist game for my decluttering process, but instead of associating the numbers to what day of the month it is I use them like levels in an actual game. For example in order to complete level 1 you have to throw away 1 item, in order to complete level 2 in minimalism you have to throw away another 2 items....so I've been "leveling up" at my own pace.
That is such a good idea!
This is a great variation. I'm definitely going to use this 'Gaming Method' of decluttering :)
i just gave away half the stuff i own (or threw away if it wasn't useable anymore) a few days ago and i feel so liberated!
Wow! What an incredible shift! Was there anything that was more difficult for you?
Thank you! Well, i try not to buy anything unless i really need it, and that is so hard! Because usually when i get bored, i would go to the dollar store and just shop to buy stuff i didn't need. I liked it because it was cheap but a nice experience, but it really cluttered up my house. Do you have any tips to keep me from dollar store shopping?
The best way to do it is to stay out of that store. I know that's annoying advice, but it's true. I had to ban myself from Amazon fully so that I could break the cycle of 'twitches' that kept me buying on impulse items.
Break the Twitch I think that the best way to keep your house clutterless is actually not to learn how throw things away but to learn how to stop them coming in.
Use for cleaning rags, then toss.
Konmari question doesn't work for me. Things that I shouldn't have and cannot justify keeping nonetheless spark joy. Once a friend told me "Would you replace this if it was lost?" That question helps me declutter.
Why justify getting rid of something that truly gives you joy, though?
This mostly happens with clothes. Clothes that don't fit and that I can't wear, I think it's hard to justify keeping them :) Another example is bedding-- having four sets of sheets so that I don't have to worry about laundry and it is easy to put on fresh sheets....but do all those sheets give me joy? No, it's just practical.
great tip!
Lynne S Plus many necessary items don’t spark joy, such as work/school supplies. No, my calculator doesn’t spark joy but I need it for school.
"Does it spark joy to own this many?" Also, sparking joy can be as simple as being useful and necessary to my life. I'm grateful for my can opener when I need to use it, so it brings me joy. And I feel joy looking at my favourite pants that are now unwearable, but they also bring me sadness because I can't wear them.
I REALLY appreciated this because it was co clear, concise, and straightforward. So many Decluttering Videos contain rambling, meandering, personal reflections that are superfluous and irrelevant to a mass audience. Excellent delivery.
I have this method where, for every thing I buy, I throw out (at least) two things that I own :)
I do the same thing! We need to make a catchy name for it. Instead of BOGO (buy one get one) we can call it BOLT (buy one, lose two). I just made that up. Now to write the book that makes millions...
lol that's a genius name! I enjoy doing this method. It's really simple and makes you think twice before buying anything. So yeah, next stop: SUCCES! :D
donate it..
Aliah Obeidi wow that's great you're able to do that
That`s what I am doing with the chicks from my harem.
My method was just going room by room. So first day I decluttered the kitchen- got rid of old appliances that I never use, expired supplements/food/etc. Second day I decluttered the office desk. Next day was the closet/dresser. Then the bathroom (under the sink, in the drawers) and so on. Was simple, satisfying, and therapeutic for me. I wish I hadn't finished the whole house already- I want to do it some more! Haha
@LauraACG Thank you! ❤
I love how your cons weren't critical! thanks for sharing!
Thanks, +C Mac!
I love how you present yourself in your videos. You're so clear and understandable. If I hadn't read your bio, I would assume you were a teacher. Awesome job :)
That made me tear up a bit. My mother spent her career as a high school teacher and she always told me I should consider it. The traditional education system never worked well for me, so I never pursued it. Making these videos has been so incredibly rewarding for me, though. It's comments like yours that reinforce how much I love this, and I only hope to make a positive impact on people's lives with the work that I do now. Thank you.
I'm glad my comment made you so happy! :) I am in school presently to become a high school French teacher, so it's so great to make that connection with you. I completely understand why the traditional education system wouldn't work for you. It's not the best. I would say you're definitely succeeding at having a positive impact on people's lives. Your videos are awesome. I wish you the best.
+ceesab My mom taught Spanish! She still hears from students she taught decades ago. You will impact so many lives in such a positive way throughout your career. Thank you again for your kind words and please do keep in touch.
That's so great to hear. Especially since I'm considering not pursuing teaching even after I receive my degree. (I get very nervous public speaking and trying to manage a classroom). No matter which career I choose, I'll still appreciate and remember your advice! :)
@@c1975stark I know this comment is old but if you're interested in speaking comfortably & effectively, check out joining a toast masters group for practice. Best wishes to you.
The author of the Konmari method gave a speech to a crowd of her fans. Nearly everyone raised their hands to say that they'd read her books, yet hardly anyone raised hands to say they'd implemented the method, thus showing significant flaws in its true execution and ease of use. Me, I got stuck on the insanity about needing to pet and talk to my socks and other items, worry about their feelings, like she said was so important. If I grant feelings to my possessions, how cruel and tyrannical of me to ever toss them in the trash.
I agree that I found Marie Kondo's methods to be quirky, but the core principle she taught really worked well for me. I usually take what I want and leave what I don't when it comes to these sorts of philosophies. For me, keeping what I love vs finding what I don't want was a great strategy. That said, I'm not folding my socks. No way. ;)
Some hoarders have this mindset where they feel like they're "betraying" their items if they give the items away.
Seiferboy
Yes some people already feel like their items have feelings and need to acknowledge that and do things like "find a new way to honor your items" which could include putting it out of it's misery or giving it to someone who will take better care of it.
AccordingToLorna It is about point of view. And read her book in full if you have not before, many question is answered in her own history of decluttering.
I personally loved the method and I don’t know what meet-up you watched as I have seen many where ppl have actually used the method.
Anyways, what I mean with how you look at it is what happens if you do keep it instead of donating or throwing it out. Unused and unloved by you, or used and loved by somebody else.
Or, Finally resting after a life of hard work.
Though personally I view it less about things having feelings but that you have feelings for them be it good, bad or neutral. Treating things with care oughta make you happy as they prob look better in the long run which makes happy.
I'm just finishing up the minimalist game. To ease the pressure of having to go in order, I allowed myself to get rid of the different numbers of items in whatever order they naturally occurred. For example, I might get rid of 30 one day, then 5, then 18, then 24, etc. until all of the days were finished. This way I could do large # days on the weekends when I had more time, and smaller # days on the weeknights. I've already exceeded my goal!
We have used the KonMari method to go through almost everything in our home so far and it has already mad ea big difference. I did find that in some areas it didn't work too well. But I love her sparks joy concept and have held onto that every time I have decluttered, what i will say is that the book has helped me see past the attachment I had to material things and totally re-evaluate more possessions and shopping habits
Life Sorted The difficulty I would have with this method is finding like items all through the house and going through them. If your house is a mess it’s tough knowing where all these like items are.
I tried the KonMari method about 6 months ago after reading her book and im so happy with it. I took like 4 days to complete it as i didnt wanna take out and pile EVERY category at once. So day one I tackled clothing, went thru the house and grabbed anything that had been left/strewed maybe in another room and took everything out of my closet and drawers and told myself "THIS is your goal for today. .just get this done" i went thru each item and sorted it to keep, discard/donate, and maybe. after the first round was done, i went back to double check the maybe pile and i that was it! i was hooked! next day i did makeup/toiletries/etc and then nicknacks etc. Just last week i did a re-scan over of my clothing using the konmari method and got rid of a few more things that didnt spark joy or were hole-y and now i feel even more free!
TLDR: i didnt do all the konmari categories in a day, just to make it easier and more manageable.
I am moving again in a few months. I am combining KonMari with Packing Method. Gathering items in categories and going through them. Only packing those items I love and need . Then when I get to my new home will unpack items as I use them. In a few months, I will be down to exactly what I need in my life. Big drawback of this method is the need for a detailed inventory for every box. Otherwise finding what I need will be frustrating.
Nancy Nurse wise woman. This is a good plan. Let us know how it went.
Nancy Nurse I like this idea! How’d it go?
i packed up the whole house, had some yard sales, donated lots, tossed lots! then i ended up keeping the place (just renting) as i love the uncluttered space!
I used the moving thing. We had 2 bedroom apartment for our 4 people family. Our parents moved out, took a lot of stuff with them (LOL, I know, sounds odd, but they bought a house and went to live there after some extensive renovation and we were in uni and college at the time in the same city where we grew up). Then my brother got a job in another city, moved out so it was just me in this HUGE apartment. I am not one to buybuybuy but we had a lot of stuff left over. Plus, I rarely threw clothes out. It was finally time for me to move out and before selling the big apartment we went through every room in the house...woah. That was intense and the kitchen alone - we threw away/gave away so many things.
When I finally moved out I did not have that many boxes but I went over them once again before putting them away /got rid of maybe like a 6th of stuff, including clothes). Then before I moved to my grandmothers place (my apartment was still in progress) I went over my clothes (before summer), then again before autumn, AGAIN before I moved into my apartment and now every month because when I moved into my apartment I also started to lose weight (67 pounds gone)...so i also practiced minimalism on my body...huh.
Anyway, I think just going over all of the things is not needed. Take a room, or season specific clothing and then go on from there. Just yesterday I went over my kitchen again, threw out stuff and realized also, that I need 1 new thing that takes the function of most of the 1 drawer full of stuff.
One item or one box or one bag is the best n practical approach. Thanks for sharing your ideas.
Well done video! You are focused on the topic and what you say is quite informative. I love these kind of videos. There are too many CZcamsrs who upload long videos with too much superfluous chatter. Your video is quite professionally done. Thanks!
You can do the packing party methode partially. You don't have to do it for all your stuff, but for a type of stuff. I did it for my clothes (waited a year bc. of seasons), later I did it for my kitchen stuff (I had the boxes in my cellar and every time I needed something else I had to go to the cellar, so I looked if I could use something that I already brought up from the cellar in the kitchen).
The coolest way to put on a t shirt!! That was awesome !
Is there a decluttering method for my LEGO habit? GULP!
I'm going to have to start building furniture with it soon, so I can hide it ;-)
Take pictures of the box and finished products then give or sell them keeping your pictures as the trophy. instead of the item itself.
Hmmm, that's a good idea if I just made up sets, but I'm actually am more into MOCs which means I continually reuse pieces for my Stop Motion Videos.
I did buy LEGO in Bulk which is where the problem started, now I just buy from a single theme and things appear to be more manageable.
Thanks for your idea :-)
Brick Flicks TV Google Anton galkin Lego storage chest. This is what I plan to do but I'm building a bigger one.
What about categorizing them? Maybe you have too many of a certain category that you don't use (for me it would be single use scenery and oddly shaped base pieces) and can minimize without affecting your stop motion too much
I think that you don't have to get rid of anything. If your LEGOs make you happy and are a hobby, then why should you give them away / sell them? Isn't minimalism really about what brings joy or value into your life? That's my honest opinion. My only suggestion would be not buying MORE than you already have, or at least creating a budget only for spending on that, and stick to it.
This is crazy, I didn’t know this, but we did the Packing Party method by accident. We packed up everything to stage our house, and everything is in storage. We brought back a portion of the stuff for the holidays before we move- our kids don’t miss the things that are still in storage, and neither do we. We still need to figure out what/when to donate- but it has absolutely proven to us that we need only a fraction of what we have. We have since decided to lean in to minimalism and see where the journey takes us.
My favorite is also the con Mari method. I am working on papers again, and as I am moving in a few weeks, there is motivation! :-)
I love the way clothes and books have come out, love the space they are in now. And it’s fun to let go of the books and find new owners for some special things. Still in that process…
Biggest challenge: papers. But I am feeling better about that at the moment.
I appreciate your focus on focus, Anthony. What is it that I want to focus on?
*konmari!!
I’ve been decluttering for 3 years now. It’s started with Marie Kondo. Then getting rid of multiple things a day for a long while. Then the mins game. And I’m still decluttering every so often. It’s a lot of work, but well worth it and I don’t regret getting rid of anything.
I just finished a 31-day, 465-item Minimalist Game. I couldn't believe how much stuff I had. I'm now on Day 7 of another 31-day challenge because there's more stuff.
Congrats! and way to go on a second round!
Anthony, thank you for explaining the pros and cons of each decluttering method so easy and simple in order for us to decide which method may work best for each one of us. Except for all the information on popular decluttering methods for minimalism, you have a good sense of humour. I really enjoyed it!
The funny thing about decluttering for me is that while I've been somewhat good at it even before I heard about minimalism (I like using the one in, one out method), I still had a lot of stuff in the end even though it was neatly organized and put in designated spots. Once I came across channels like yours, I started getting rid of anything I held onto "just in case" or didn't have a proper spot for. All that hidden clutter is finally free from my space and it feels good :)
Personally I loved KM’s first book and reccomend reading or listening to it in full before you go ahead. Many question of why you do or do not do things are answered in her own history from childhood and onwards.
Like why you shouldn’t declutter other persons’ things, why you take everything out and not room by room etc.
It was eye-opening for me who after the process combined with Clutterbug(youtube) made me go from a person with clutter everwhere to feel at home and out of sight out of mine...
To a person loving organizing and minimizing and having much easier to let go of things as Well being wiser of what I really need or want not what is cheap but I’ll dislike or feel uncomfortable with.
Many things stood out for me, the first being that in most cases we are not taught how to tidy and clean up like we are with many other things.
It made me wonder how many parents nagging their children about keep their room neat have actually taught them How. Or helped them set up a organizing system that actually fit their child. A teenager filling their floor with clothes in a search for the perfect outfit might need a big bin on the floor so it is all in one place easy to later to put back but not getting dirty on the floor.
Or perhaps the closet isn’t designed in a way they can see what they have.
Plus learning to go through what you own and let go of what you’ll no longer wear.
If you use anything from KM the thing that after the decluttering helped me most was no longer stacking clothes in piles that easily becomes a mess...
With the kon-Mari-folding method I see it all in at a glance and pick things up without the other things falling over.
well spoken, well paced, informative. good inflection. couldn't tell you were reading at all 👍. great use of bullets as visual cues to reinforce the talk. very well lit and decorated set to perfectly accompany the topic you're discussing. overall great, quality video.
+Bill's Beard This is the nest CZcams comment ever.
+Break the Twitch Also the best.
Ive also used the hanger method in my toddlers wardrobe, he has so many clothing as he has been gifted lots, so I have only turned the hangers round if I am returning an item to the wardrobe after washing, I can see which items I gravitate towards for him to wear, so when he outgrows the current size I can pack the items I love (assuming they are in good condition) into the attic for a second child and simply get rid of anything I haven't put on him as I clearly don't like it!
My problem is that I'm very seasonal with hobbies; sometimes I tinker a lot and then I might have 6 months without touching other tools than a tape measure and a hammer. I knit at winter, I have a big chest full of yarn that I bemoan at summer. I make jewelry and tea light sconces occasionally, paint, draw, sew and all these take really a lot of space. I guess I should declutter some of those hobbies first and then the stuff itself.. Hurts like hell since we are somewhat poor and ie. art supplies are not cheap; I had my share of second hand stores earlier and just got angry with people so I noticed it's easier and less frustrating to donate everything away. On the other side, the more it hurts to throw things away, the more likely you won't buy similar items again. All practical stuff is super easy to declutter, like bed linen and towels or utensils, no problem with them. The attachment is probably the key, I don't take my fork very personally you know. :D
I like the konmari method and the 4 boxes. I'm now on the last leg of the house.....my clothing and these 2 methods have really helped.
Such an awesome video! I've spent months trying out a couple of these and couldn't figure out why I couldn't stick with 🤔 but you made the pros and cons of each method so easy to get my mind around to decide what may work best now! tysm for this :)
Thank you, +Jessie Petri! Glad it was helpful for you and I'll be curious to hear about how it goes. Let me know if I can do anything more to help!
+Jessie Petri thank you for your kind words! I'm so glad it was helpful.
We used the packing party method when we moved! We donated bags and bags to a thrift store and got rid of a TON of stuff. My husband and I are moving into a house together after living apart, and I'm trying really hard to eliminate unnecessary items in our home. Videos like this are great inspiration! Thanks!
Loving your channel. I'm busy using the 'One a day' method - Every day I have to find one item to toss out. (I did the bulk clean out by going through every room last year). This means that small things that missed my eye last year are being weeded out! I've cleared so much 'clutter' that I started throwing out storage boxes and extra drawers!
That t-shirt on magic edit made my day!!!!
+theblonderthanthou I'm glad to hear that! Thanks for making mine better too.
Hello! I just found your Channel today and I've been really enjoying it.
At the beginning of August I decided to try the 30-day minimalist challenge. But I got a little impatient, and just added up the total amount of items, and did it in just two days LOL it was very liberating and I have so much more room!
Welcome to the channel! Glad to hear you're enjoying the videos and experiencing the joy of decluttering. :)
Great idea the closest hanger method will save a lot of time. Stuff you use flip the hanger the other way. Great simple system.
For the packing method, if you put all your seasonal stuff in seasonal boxes based on item type like in the first method (So all your winter sweaters together if you're packing in the summer, for example), and just leave those boxes undisturbed in the initial purge of items you didn't unpack, and then do the unpacking method with the seasonal boxes as the seasons arrive. It's a whole year of boxes, though.
Anthony you have beautiful eyes and a lovely manner
That's quite a compliment! Thank you, +TimelordUK!
When I did kitchen stuff I noticed what got washed and concentrated on what I used not what to get rid of. I read somewhere "Find the treasures." Focus on what to keep.
Also the four box method works great.
Kathy B.
I went through the closet hanger method starting when I moved into my new place back in June, and didn't go through the clothes until now, so that I was going through all weather types before getting rid of things. I also went through everything else in my room (I live in a shared home and don't really keep things I don't use regularly outside of my room) drawer by drawer and just really thought about if I've used it/when would I use it. I now have four boxes of mostly clothing to go through and my sister's are thrilled since I'm passing it all off to them.
Cleaning is my personal favorite method for procrastinating during finals week.
Great video! I love that minimalism can be tailored for each person. There are no set rules. I only started a few weeks ago, but already made my 1000 item challenge. Now it's time to really get moving. Thanks for all the great ideas!
Another pro of the Konmari method is that you get to see the results immediately. This motivated me to keep going and to get rid of more because I was excited to see the end results. I finished in about one month which was really good since I’m usually quite the procrastinator.
I find this method effective where in you declutter just a section of your room/house like a box or your shelf due to that you'll be very selective of the things you keep. When I did this I only kept 1/8 of the things I found in every space I tackle which is very liberating.
The Konmari method worked wonders for me. I got rid of 70% of the things I owend in just 1 1/2 weeks. I think it works so well because you do declutter your house *completly* in a short period of time. Seeing results so fast and having a perfect home afterwards really works like magic. Plus - you don't feel stressed to get rid of a certain amount of things or more and more things because you are encouraged to keep whatever you love. However, it obviously isn't only for minimalists, you can keep much more stuff if it makes your life happier.
One hanger method...start on say April 1st. Stop on March 31. You have covered the entire year. Worked like a dream for me!
I have tried the most of the methods you are talking about. They were all good and helped me to declutter my house considerably. But the one which really worked wonders was the Marie Kondo method. It was time consuming, that's true, but I needed to do it only once. My house has changed completely, for the better. So has my life, as I learn to keep my life simple.
My favorite method is KonMari =) Simple and fast!
What a great overview. I like the idea of the one method. After all I might only be able to handle getting rid of one thing today. Tomorrow I might be fine to do one box. There’s no rule that it can’t vary and as a minimum I get rid of one thing which is still good.
I realised a while back how much I own that I really don’t care about. I live in Australia and a few years ago our home was threatened by bushfire and we had to evacuate. I realise that aside from family pics and my journals I really didn’t care about much. I mean if it had been lost I would have likely missed things but very little was a big deal. Now if I have trouble deciding I think about if I’d take it with me during an evacuation. If I wouldn’t I get rid of it.
I'm dealing with a lot of health issues - 3 major surgeries, and several small procedures in the last three years. Just when I thought I could get back on my feet another crash hit. Now I am drowning in clutter and chaos and don't have the energy to get back on top of it. Some of your suggestions really gave me hope. Thank you. Any suggestions for someone in my situation? I KNOW that if I can get to a place of order and minimalist I will create room for mor Heath and Healing.
Christy, thank you for your comment-I really do appreciate you sharing this with me. I'd say what's most important is not beating yourself up over the clutter and focus on healing. The time will come when you'll have the energy and ability to calm the chaos, but prioritize your health first. While it may seem small, removing one or two small things per day can really go a long way as well. Please do let me know if I can help further. -Anthony
My method is one drawer or one closet section or one shelf at a time. Lots more to do, but taking it in segments keeps it from be overwhelming
5/6/19....Older YT video but I JUST NOW "discovered" Anthony & his decluttering.
LOVE the 6 methods.....I knew about the "spark joy" method + the "4 box" method + the reverse hangar" method + the "packing/moving box" method....
But the "1 more each day" method
fascinated me for some strange reason---so I'm going to try it as I declutter/downsize now.
Sorry but I forgot the final/6th way so I'll have to watch this video again---just to "study" it with less distraction. 😗
I did 1st diwnsize/declutter when I was thinking about retiring/moving from 4 bedroom house to FL retirement area 7 yrs ago....Got rid of clothing + furniture + less "loved" pieces of all my various "collections"....Went from 450 clowns to 100---hard to make choices but a drastic "purge".
Then did 2nd downsize/declutter before I moved from GA to FL b/c movering is expensive.
Then started 3rd downsize/declutter from 1 yr in apt + huge rented storage unit to purchased mrg home in restricted retirement subdivision....so NOW really going thru 205 WalMart 18-gal plastic bins with lids + prob 75 large cardboard moving boxes. All but 3 cardboard boxes are emptied/gone but prob 25 plastic bins are still waiting to be gone thru.
I am picking/choosing my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE collectibles
+ taking cell phone pix as well as Fuji mini pix of each as I make a list & put it/Fuji pix on top of items in each bin/snap the lid on tight/label the outside of each bin/stack & organize in my FL room.
I am leaving some items on display---but rotate them every 3 mons with other stored items so I can enjoy the few "most loved" items that I have collected thru my life.....Down to the last few that I "treasure" & refuse to give up.
Wish I had seen your videos---plus Dave Ramsey's videos 30 yrs ago!
GOD BLESS US ALL AS WE AMERICANS TRY TO "RECOVER" FROM OUR CONSUMERISM CULTURE & HEAD MORE TOWARDS MINIMALISM!
Super de voir PLUSIEURS FAÇONS de DÉSENCOMBRER nos maisons. Un MIXTE de méthodes encourage à commencer. ------ Good to evaluate different methods to HELP CHOOSE our way to DEAL with Declutering... Such a big challenge for me. Merci.
Moving to another house is really a good method. We`re moving this month, so I have a few weeks to decide what to take. Also all methods you mentioned are fine. But my favourire one is called "just look through the stuff and throw away all the unnecessary shit".
THANK YOU! You break everything down so well and are so calm and collected...I need that because giving up things is very emotional/psycological for me.
Hi Anthony,
your video is the coolest video on declutter methods I have found! And I watched quite a lot videos on minimalism! ;-)
I made a mini-series on minimalism myself and recommend this video of yours because I like it so much and it is already there and PERFECT! :-)
Thank you!!
Your other videos are pretty cool, too!! :-D
Hi! Thank you so much. I appreciate being included!
You are welcome! :-) Not that you would need it, but you totally deserve it! ;-D
I tired the Konmari method and it’s disruptive to place the items in one area. It’s messy and a bit overwhelming. I love the idea of deciding what to keep and not eliminate. I thought a would love the game and it worked for a while but it’s hard to find items on day 21, 22 etc. I like your one method. I can definitely eliminate at least one item or box a day.... thanks for your channel. I love it and learn a lot. I also like your approach and info.
After I decluttered everything (at least 3-5 times depending on category) I now use a combination of these methods to keep the clutter from sneaking back into my life. It works for me. Thank you for this video. It's a video I need to watch from time to time
Hello Kathy. Can you please explain your combo method? I am a minimalist beginner. 🇦🇺🤔🙏🌹😉
I think I will try the pack & move method because I am actually moving, it is a great time to declutter! Ready to simplify.
Perfect timing! :)
Great vid. Another problem of the Packing Party is it doesn’t address any other value to the item if it’s not used in that month such as collectibles or things of sentimental value. I think if you do the Packing Party method you must deal with only essential goods, otherwise you’ll be looking in the boxes you’re about to sell or donate and have another sorting issue to deal with.
I find that seasonal decluttering is a good bonus to the hanger method if u do this throughout the season at the end of it u can evaluate what to keep and what to get rid off.. :)
This is very smart. Why not just keep doing it quarterly! Love it. Thanks for watching and stopping by to say hello :)
A mixture of all methods with some alterations is the best! For kitchenware it’s easy to get rid cause there are no special feelings unless it’s a souvenir mug or a piece like that ! I keep only what s really useful.
For clothing and shoes it’s also not so hard cause I keep what fits and what makes me look and feel beautiful in it. This is why I try to wear all the clothes I own at least once to see if I ll keep it or give it way. My only issue my kids clothes I kept from their childhood that I cannot give away.
For things that I bought little expensive and I hesitate I give them to my family members which gives me satisfaction as well.
As for the rest like decoration stuff and other houseware I de clutter slowly. If I see it doesn’t give me pleasure as I see it I give it away to someone that needs it. The same I do for jewlery and cosmetics.
Loving your videos :) Your voice is so lovely! I like to declutter in bursts, but spread out over time because it will take time for me to slowly pare down and focus at the same time on not recluttering my life with new purchases. Breaking the twitch and not shopping for new stuff is just as important as decluttering or else you will refill all your nice empty spaces once you clear the old stuff out! I really liked the idea of the 30 day challenge but it didn't work for me because I was already so far along on the minimalism journey that I thought getting rid of that much stuff would have been so extreme! I am moving shortly soon though so it will give me a great opportunity to practise some of these other methods. Picking and choosing techniques from several different methods suits me best :) great video comparing the pros and cons of these methods, you have a great channel, and a great beard!! :D
Hey Cait! You're making me blush over here! I know what you mean about the minsgame, we ran into that during our last 'round' of it, feeling like we were getting rid of too much. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, and your kind words as well. Makes me feel good about all the work it takes to make this stuff. :)
For things like clothes and shoes, I have a 'one in-two out' rule. Like if I buy one new pair of shoes, I have to get rid of at least two pairs. Sometimes I get rid of way more than just two, but I must get rid of at least two, preferably in the same category as the new thing. ( shoes, pants, tops, etc). So the amount of items in the closet gradually decreases, but still allows me to make some purchases. Any method that is too strict, I feel is not practical. Like not being allowed to buy ANYthing new- people can't stick to that.It's like a diet where you're never allowed to eat a cookie- you end up feeling deprived and you binge-eat the whole box of cookies.
So with this method you can still buy something, but it makes you really think, is this new thing good enough to lose 2 other things for?
lestrange what do you do if you really have to buy something? I'm just thinking about trousers. I only buy new ones when the old ones are ripped. It wouldn't make sense to throw out two trousers if I already lack trousers. would you just throw out items from other categories? (just curious :) )
Jannyl13, it sounds like you are already down to the minimal wardrobe that you really need, so you could do a buy one, lose one method, since you are now only buying to replace worn out items. I'm not quite at that stage yet. I still have more than I really need, so the buy one/lose two method helps to reduce the number of items while still allowing some purchases. (I also purge clothes regularly even without buying any.)
Thanks for your quick answer. That makes a lot of sense actually. I think I could reduce my shirts, but the rest really is fine as it is (mostly) :)
I prefer the one method!! Although that hanger method is a great idea for clothing!
I think I'm more of a low key declutterer, slow and steady. I have anxiety so making piles of stuff to go through freaks me out!! Just found your channel so I'm gonna catch up on your other videos this weekend!!
To be honest, the piles freaked me out too. Especially when multiple areas start coming out of closets and dressers and stuff, it's a bit much...
I love your videos, but this one especially. Everything is explained very simply and in a practical way. In less than 7 minutes I learned 6 methods and I know I'll be using them because of how well I undestood them, on the other hand, sometimes I watch a 15 minutes video explaning 1 method, and I end up more confused and I don't know where to start. Thank very much
Thank you! Great to hear it was helpful. :)
Very refreshing explanation on Kon Mari. It’s certainly not something done in a hurry. I liked the 4 box idea. I’m trying a mish-mash of all these things except the pack party. Too drastic for me.
Carman. Can you please explain your mixed method? Im sorta stuck. 🇦🇺🤔😏🌹
Packing party seems like an interesting concept... you would get rid of a lot all at once. Might create some anxiety though... thanks for sharing these methods.
An alternative method to the hangers one is to , once the piece of clothing is worn and cleaned, put it away in a box/hamper/empty drawer, and only wear what is left. Bit by bit you'll see which clothes you pick last or don't want to pick at all and it will be easier to rationalize that those need to go.
Of course work clothes, uniforms, special occasions and out of season ones don't apply / use common sense!
Good to lay out all items, but not always helpful to phrase your question in that way 'Does this item spark joy in my heart?'. I need a fork to eat my dinner, but there is no fork I own that sparks joy in my heart! Also, important documentation might not spark joy in your heart but will be very essential when you have to do your tax return, for example.
I make piles on the floor for: Keep, keep until I move/travel (or for a defined period of time), sell, donate and throw away (recycling if possible). Few more categories but quite helpful.
Very helpful, listened twice. Thanks!
I, an underage momma's child, am a very minimalistic (is that a word?) kind of person and really want to try these methods out. However, my mother is quite the opposite. She is a classified hoarder and it's a big problem since she doesn't want me to throw anything out (or donate), including my personal stuff. Do you have any advice on how to convince someone to use or try minimalism?
Do it without her knowing, although once your room starts looking empty she might notice =P
But you can still try to sell some stuff and donate other things.
When I went back home last year I went to the bathrooms and started getting rid of expired products or things that hadn't been used for years. I got around 6 or 7 bags full.
This year I did the same in the kitchen. Unfortunatelly I did not have much time. Anyway, my mom had a gazillion tiny crayons, dead batteries, tops of spray bottles (to put the crayons and dead batteries in), etc. in the kitchen waiting to be used so well, I got the bags. I think I got rid of... 5? And there is sooooo much more. She hasn't even noticed what is missing.
AllergicRants That practically describes my mom. I will definitely try that. Thank you.
My mom is the same way.... When I come back home, I sometimes get rid of some things, but I always pay attention to not touch something she might actually notice. I mostly get rid of broken junk. Unfortunately, this is really not enough decluttering.
AllergicRants I don't know if you mean came home to visit or moved back in, but either way, if it's not yours to throw away, why are you throwing it away? Why even care? Even if it is clutter, it's her clutter and if you want to interject with her stuff it just seems rude to not ask first. Have you asked if she wants help? Maybe you could say "wouldn't it be great to decorate like this if we had more space?" Or "If we had more area in this room we could do that activity here and spend time together."
I am in the exact same situation, my mom is like that so I just keep my space very minimal, it helps me de-stress when I can get away from all the other stuff. I try to give away things she won't notice gradually
I rarely comment, but I just wanted to say I really like your videos. I'm a somewhat seasoned minimalist, but there's a lot of new info and great suggestions in your videos. Thanks for making content, I subscribed! :)
I really appreciate you taking the time to say hello and leave a comment. Welcome to the channel :)
Suggestion for the closet hanger method- perhaps doing this over the course of the year with all clothing items, including shoes, may be helpful because you can see everything you wear through all seasons. As seasons pass, perhaps you could clear all the clothes you’ve not used during those months. For example, once winter hits, clear any summer and spring clothes that haven’t been used. For some, it is hard to let go of lots of items at once. This may help the process feel more gradual and thorough, so you don’t unnecessarily lose important seasonal items! Any thoughts on this?
I am so happy I found your channel such great information
For many categories and to go with previous mental picture comment write list of what is minimum needed then 4 box sell or donate or give the easy things then as someone's previous comment you can do BOLT buy one lose 2 then when you get down to the minimum amount on the list of that item or category you can either keep your minimum amount or change it to lower amount or keep it the same. Your safety is you don't have to go under the safety number especially if it is a replacement item you bought. This also gives freedom to lose more than 2 at a time.
You are fantastic at this! Videos aren't too long, you have a great presence and amazing information! Keep doing you :)
Thank you Ryann!
Thank you...you explain very well.First time I heard of the the minimalist method is... Well, I have to start somewhere.
Thank you!
Thank you for such detailed good video! I am only starting this process of decluttering and it will probably will take me a couple of years to get rid of everything that I should get rid of... but I have to start somewhere, right? Thanks for the push!
You're most welcome. Just get started, and do whatever works for you. That's all that matters! :)
In my view, a combination of the 4 box and Konmari method is great because this is what I did intuitively without knowing there was a name for either ever since.
Hanger method or packing party what in did for hangers was all,summer did that and only focused on summer clothes ... not more winter clothes so will do that all winter... as for purging clothes I try to take a look at what I need in my life etc... if you wear jeans a lot try keeping 4 pairs as one may be in the was, your wearing one and if all of a sudden laundry time comes if keep right amount will have 1 or 2 of that category left and can fill up closest again
I'm so excited to have found your channel! This overview of methods is good inspiration. My task over the next two days is to alternate painting our house and decluttering. I'm naturally a "keeper" not a "purger," but I'm working to change that. I'll be listening to your channel while I paint. Thanks for the help, from another Minneapolitian (is that a thing?)
My personal method and mantra is "don't buy crap".
"Get rid of crap".
Had more than my fair share of crap over the years and I'm over it.
No more energy draining crap.
Helps for the hanger method: 1. For drawers you can use more bags empty drawers nearby or boxes or parts of a box as a divider in the drawer that can slide over as you use items in the drawer to separate what you have and have not use in the drawer. 2.for clothes and seasonal items you can go by season using for box method and con Mari as you are deciding what to wear each day or while you wear it then choose a box or a sorted hanger at the end of the day also by season decide which of the repeats or multiples our best and sort in box method and review that season then move onto the next season leaving the haters as they were in the previous seasons. Do same with drawers of clothes with cardboard separators etc#1 comment and box method. 3. Good video
+Joy Kemp thank you for these comments, I've read them all and really appreciate your thoughts on this. You have some really great ideas!
I just combine the methods of Konmari and One method I go by room instead of category though but I'll pick things up and If I love them I give them a home if not I donate or trash them. I also just purged 2 bags of clothes and I'm doing the closet hanger method I really recommend it cause I try to wear the backwards hangers more if they're cute clothes that I've never worn it's super helpful for deciding what I like but don't wear and what I don't like
Thankyou 😺😺 What about vintage items that I don’t wear but bring me joy?
I feel the same way about jewelry. I love brooches, but I don't wear them, so I'm planning on making shadow boxes and displaying them on my wall. My motto is, "Display, don't store."
I'm going through what I am calling "the great purge" right now. I just randomly woke up at 4am one morning went to walmart and bought a bunch of boxes. I labeled them in categories and just started throwing stuff in there. I closed my office a few months all that stuff came here. So I thought how will I declutter if I don't even know what I have. A lot of stuff I now have 2 or more of the same thing (how many Brother label makers does one need?) So the very slow going plan is to fill up the boxes and then once everything is in those boxes, go through them one by one, see what I have and either find a *specific home* for something, or purge it. A place for everything and everything in its place. Seeing as those boxes have been sitting in my living room for months now, I'm pretty sure I could probably forgo going through them and just purge it all.. lol.
Thank you Anthony. This has helped. I wasnt sure where to start or what method to use. Guess I will try a minimalism game because I feel I have too much clutter for kon mari. I wouldnt be able to go to bed for days!!😉😄😄😄🇦🇺🌹
Wow. Thank you very much for the video. I needed some way to get the clutter out my home. Definitely going to do the minimalist game.
Thank you for your kind comment - start with the minimalist game and let me know how it goes!
Thanks for sharing. Nice video, and so funny hahaha.
Thank you for watching!
@0:15 KonMari
@1:38 Minimalist Game
@2:38 Four Box Method
@3:30 The One Method
@4:21 Packing Party Method
@5:29 Closet Hanger Method
In the closet hanger method I think you can just at once position all of the hangers on the opposite side and then by habit you will keep it back in the normal way and then after 7 days you can just check what you have worn and what you have not
Great overview. Worth the time to watch. Thanks Anthony!
You have such a kind and approachable personality! Subscribed!
Thank you for your kind words. :) Welcome.
The closet hanging method works great for a year long approach
I really liked this video. There were many methods I want to try out. I started with KonMari- method last august and it was working, but then I went back to school and didn`t have time to finish. Now my home has been waiting for me to continue for months and it`s been killing me. If you want to do KonMari right you have to do so much base work and I find it a bit hard to find all the items in one category when your house is a bomb. Maybe I try the minimalist game at first and go back to KonMari when I have significally less stuff to deal with.
Great video Anthony! It was really informative, well explained and I like how you've underlined pros and cons of each one
Glad you found the video helpful! Thanks for watching and leaving a comment!