How to Throw Things Away: 3 Phases

[@vanneistat]

Finally, Milanote is available for free with no time limit. Sign up using the link milanote.com/vanneistat and start your next creative project.

[@nick_is_watching]

van: "learn how to acquire fewer things" me: "wow, storage boxes outside, that's a great way to hold more of my things!"

[@keneticchannel]

Walking past those every day would drive me crazy.

[@dimitar297]

They will be stolen by the new Americans.

[@jdpal4564]

@@keneticchanneland that’s great!

[@AimForTheBushes908]

I was already ready to Google them and where I might get me some.

[@hillbillyheadcam1729]

I need these totes, did you find them?

[@BreakzoneVIDS]

“Don’t have a storage unit? You have my respect” got me lol

[@TheNewTravel]

Your ability to show the perfect archival b-roll shot at the perfect moment is my favourite thing about this channel

[@JoeHHarrell]

Getting rid of things with sentimental value is one thing, getting rid of things with potential future use is a whole different story.

[@virajchauhan6732]

this can apply to kids as well 🤣

[@redmond9653]

Yeah I really regret tossing my Atari 1040ST when I thought it was just a useless old computer, and my now-vintage embroidered Carhartt jacket.

[@gomerpyle7721]

Just ask, “have I used this in the last year?” If not, give it the heave

[@LeonardChrist]

I found that viewing this "things with potential future use" as "I just like being prepared for 'everything'" and am now trying to view this as something emotional too. - I don't need to be prepared for everything - You can always buy stuff you don't have - With 20% of my "potential things" I am well prepared for 80% of the situations, which is enough (google the 80 20 rule) - It's awesome to be the hero by helping someone out with that one thing you still have lying around, but it's okay to say "No, I don't have that" - Forget about the things of the past, what's gone is gone and that's a good thing. Any potential or monetary gain you now know of, but didn't at the time of throwing it away, only causes misery.

[@jdawg414]

Totally agree.

[@DaliwolfBacon]

Thank you Van. I have lived in the same house for 36 years. I moved into my house at 19, and in all that time I have aquired a lot of stuff and it is so hard to let go of that stuff. It's full of memories. I decided I am going to take pictures of the things and write little stories to go with the pictures so I can look back and remember. Then I am selling/giving away/throwing away everything. Thanks for the inspiration!

[@liamstone]

I have been using the “take a photo” method for 20 years and it works wonders. I’ve also found that the first few items are difficult, but once the free space and organization appear, it’s easy to keep the momentum going. Good luck with your project, it will be very rewarding!

[@wes_tank]

Watching this on repeat while clearing out my attic

[@Applewhizz]

As someone who recently decluttered their home and work shop this video really hit home. My wife recently went away for a week which gave me some time to go through my old things, I ended up doing multiple truck loads to good will and the dump. Old sheets of drywall that I “might need some day” that had been moved back and forth for years finally gone. The weight lifted off my shoulders was huge. I read a book during this time that said “consider a store to be your storage unit. Let them hold the burden of keeping items you need until you actually need them” I thought of that when tossing the drywall that only cost $10. It’s not worth the price of storage.

[@jdpal4564]

Another idea for old building materials - use them to teach someone how to eg hang, mud and tape drywall just on a little stud wall that you hack together. Make a YT video of the process. Whatever works, but two ideas for deriving “final value” out of the items. Ofc not everyone has time to do that but the option is open to pick and choose.

[@williamrgrant]

This idea of using a store as a storage unit is amazing!

[@williamrgrant]

Facebook is also a great way to get rid of little bits of stuff at a time. Joining a “buy nothing” group is key so you don’t have to deal with tons of messages and to have some framework around who gets it. Usually a random pick of people who comment. It is nice to have things be directly useful to the next person. Especially when you just put them by your front door and they come get them! Goodwill is definitely easier to just take a big load of random stuff to though.

[@canadude6401]

I am a son of a hoarder mom, and lucky me a hoarder father in law too (God help me!). It's quite the mental disorder. Hoarding sometimes slips into my subconscious but thankfully I despise clutter much greater than holding onto stuff I might need "someday". Your comment really hit home because I do a lot of home renos and make my own things out of wood. But I keep so much scrap pcs of wood and cut offs. I think a spring cleaning is in order for me to get rid of 90% of the scrap wood. The comment "consider a store to be your storage unit" is just perfect. Home Depot is only 5 minutes away and has everything I need when I need it. Thank you for your comment @Applewhizz

[@swordsofdivinetruth7622]

A good way to get rid of stuff is training yourself to have the feeling of imminent loss of all your stuff by a certain time and you have to choose what to keep. Come up with a actual scenario where you believe something could happen any day that you would have to make that decision. I get a feeling i all of a sudden cant renew my lease and I have so many days left, this helps to condense stuff.

[@gregorybown]

I was just faced with this issue after being single for over a decade and never dealing with my sentimental clutter, only to unexpectedly fall in love again 😂. It is not fair to bring my laziness and sentimental clutter into the new relationship as if it is some untouchable requirement. Thank you for this video, your honest and sound advice, and time producing this.

[@stevemuzak8526]

The best thing about dealing with sentimental value items is give it away for somebody else to use it. It's feels like liberation.

[@MrWiseinheart]

Kinda like passing on your clutter problems to the next 😅

[@JAW1992]

I hate this. My wife and I are a young couple with baby on the way, we used to get weekly texts from her family members asking if we could use things from their house or even just dump things on us when visiting that we would just throw away a week later. Once you try to throw things away, it makes it easier the next time and the next. Now I get excited to throw shit away when I have stuff taking up space and will never poke around to see if other people want my used clutter.

[@FWDXPL]

It’s so rad that you do creative videos and keep it interesting. So many channels devolve into commercialism. Thanks Van.

[@JoshandErik]

**Skips through sponsored ad segment taking up almost 1/6th of the video's runtime**

[@meisrerboot]

@@JoshandErik lol

[@CoelhoMorto]

I've been procrastinating doing a decluttering for weeks, and i'll be moving soon. So, this video came at the right moment. Gonna do it RIGHT NOW.

[@jmd76family]

My mom passed away 6 years ago and I as an only child had been cleaning out her house, my childhood home, since then. Thanks for sharing how to slay the sentimental demon. I've learned that a pic of something is much smaller than storing it. Such a great channel for inspiration!

[@peterkovachevich]

Been fighting this clutter demon my whole life! This is an excellent video to aid in the battle

[@johnpannebaker5757]

Working at a day shelter for homeless and low income individuals and families, I cannot tell you how invaluable donations of clothing items are and how grateful people are when they get these items.

[@whitetailsband9461]

A great read is "Goodbye, Things" by Fumio Sasaki. Love this video. Thank you for your efforts. It's making the world a better place.

[@ploughmyfield]

acquisition-resistance, I love that word(s) Never, Never have a phase 2, go from 1 to 3 ALWAYS!

[@essaysbyken]

A no-buy period of time is a good way to reset the impulse-buy presets. I'm doing a no-buy year right now. It's amazing how much relief I've been experiencing just because the decision "to buy or not to buy" has already been made.

[@CallieMasters5000]

I noticed after a devastating hurricane or fire, it really helps people get rid of junk. Though tragic, it allows people to take a big jump forward in their life free of crap.

[@MrWiseinheart]

Especially if you lose family photos and videos.. for the most part everything else can kind of be restored.

[@DaveLaneGC]

I try very hard to acquire fewer, nicer things. I knew you struggled when I saw you keep your old todo lists. The amount spent on a storage unit exceeds any rebuying costs. I like the idea that possessions flow like a river through your life and … well that’s ok.

[@jeronomosp]

... And. For a little while you will listen to that voice!!! Love it!

[@MrSister127]

For the last couple of years I've been really aware of how much time I spend dealing with my stuff. It's really fucking wild how many hours a week I spend washing, organizing, unorganizing, moving, and storing my things. I'm growing to hate it

[@forestantemesaris8447]

Van delivers not the content we deserve, but the content we need

[@cupbowlspoonforkknif]

Van is never late. He arrives precisely when he means to.

[@ys3at35l]

I (by accident) donated our wedding video to the church fund-raiser garage sale. My wife found it while perusing the garage sale herself. I've since digitized all of our old videos we had lying around.

[@jefffromjuneau]

Hi Van, congrats on being a Dad again. You are too young but the elderly in Sweden call de-cluttering death cleaning. Getting rid of things so there is less stuff for the living to have to sort through after we've departed this World.

[@michaellorenzen8200]

my 82 year old mother isn't a hoarder but has 2 20×20 storage spaces full of antiques that she and my father (he died I '92) bought at farm auctions in the '70s and '80s and refinished/repaired themselves she can't list everything in storage but keeps all of them because she cherishes the fact that she and the ONLY man she loved did a big life project TOGETHER I leave her be only knowing that honestly she is sitting on a goldmine of beautiful memories and furniture

[@scraparcade733]

Dear Van, well done, again! The goody pile is both the treasure chest and nemesis of creative tinkerers. Entropy lock syndrome is real and decluttering is a great tool to -even if only temporarily - free your space and mind and let creativity have vital breathing room.

[@VariTimo]

To reiterate: Don’t throw away film negatives, slides, reels or, prints of photos! A film negative is like a raw file and it’s more archive stable than a digital backup. Just because you got that stuff digitized by someone, doesn’t mean it’s save. Keep film save.

[@canadude6401]

I always say the following: "if I had 15 minutes in which I would have to leave my house, I would grab my wallet, passport, cell phone, charger and..... photo albums" The rest can go up in flames and have almost 0 effect of my life.

[@TyBraek]

I had a huge shift when I realized that the memories of the item were more valuable than the item itself in most cases. If I wanted to keep an item to remember something I would just take a photo of the item so I can go back to the memories.

[@thebowmac]

I love how purposefully you speak in your videos - the cadence of your voice is soothing!

[@AstronomyGarage]

My big de-cluttering motivation came from a recent hobby of visiting estate sales. No matter how valuable you think your stuff might be, it will one day be sold for pennies on the dollar and what doesn't sell will be thrown in a dumpster. Sell it now or donate it now while you can enjoy the clutter-free home.

[@WayneThePoet]

Good one. This liberating process, is one that begins at your age and increases exponentially as you get older. At this point, at least 50% of my books and 70% of my albums have been disbursed. I no longer take interest in new camera gear (except for a wonderfully tiny and powerful Insta360 x3), no more saved gear packaging, and am looking to sell my moderate photo studio lighting. The clothes I needed for my job, “nice shirts and ties” will be going soon. Far too many dress shirts. It’s white t-shirts and cargo shorts about 95% of the month, even on our rare cool 50* temps like today here in Floriduh. And I buy no new clothes unless it is absolutely necessary. Style no longer plays a role in my wardrobe decisions. As a meticulous record keeper, there were folders filled with the typical annual tally of bills, receipts, … since the late 60s. About five years ago that has been whittled down to the prior three years from the current one, all the rest have been destroyed. My biggest challenge is finding a home for two cherry wood Haverty’s desks. Both are fine pieces of furniture loaded with art supplies and the last remnants of saved paperwork. I’ll be 71 in a few days, so the process is in high gear for me. And it feels good to watch it go. A kind of relief.

[@randomred16]

Congrats on the new baby, Van Fam!

[@toozeeka]

Another way I've found to ease over the sentimental value hump, or "emotional inventory" as Terri Gross once called it, is to take a photo of the item. Many of the things I hold onto give me a little ping in my heart or mind when I re-encounter them. I can preserve the ping yet get rid of the item by keeping a photograph.

[@colinstu]

Never had a storage unit. Never understood the need for one. If you have that much junk you need ANOTHER place to store stuff, you have too much stuff. Get rid of all junk until there's no storage unit left.

[@sivyh]

My family has a whole history of decluttering. We love to do this, and I often include decluttering and... 'garbage' sorting into my methods to live a curious life. Every video of yours is like a well made narrated documentary, since the beginning of your channel I found it very different to most of other 'content' on YT. This is not content, it's an educational film!

[@Guerry78]

I’ve watched every film multiple times. Van has made some genuine masterpieces

[@krehbein]

Please elaborate! How often? How do you decide what’s worthy of being kept? What’s the process?

[@Makebuildmodify]

Who is ERIC? - "ERIC loves his friends, loves bed, loves food, loves the hunt, loves his sons. He is a man that can throw a spear, take a girl, steer a ship, till the soil, plant, care for the cattle, skin a fox, sing, dance, run, wrestle, climb, swim like a seal. A man to plan an expedition and pay for it, kill an enemy, take his way through a fog, a snowstorm, read a reckoning by the stars, live"

[@david_jahn]

Crazy this is posted as I’m moving back into my apartment after winter break

[@SamNunezNYC]

I’m remembering you mentioning your artistic nirvana being like the man who paints the numbers. I find how you map out the work you need to do and execution of your videos an incredibly more meaningful pursuit and an important one to those who take in your art. I wouldn’t leave a comment like this but the video is new and thought you might come across this. You’re one of my favorite living artist.

[@rafai1281]

When you buy something - this thing buys part of you. This is helpful to judge if you overbuy - if any part of you or your time is left to really use another thing. It is also easier to feel trapped by buying something new. One year rule you mentioned in the movie is the great one - to be honest with time I feel joy when I'm removing everything without use for a one year, but at beginning it was really hard.

[@wellversedhealthyhealing9979]

I've watched this three times this morning on I'm going to watch it again I already woke up this morning knowing that I was going to organize. 🗑️ I'd say overall I'm pretty good at it but I have too much stuff for living in a small place by the beach.... I could always move inland to a bigger place but I'm choosing to live close to the 🏖️..... So today is PURGE DAY 🧹🗑️🧽🗑️🧴🗑️🪣

[@chrisgenovese8188]

once a year i go through my stuff and de-clutter, and i love doing it. it adds value to the things i keep. i still have too much stuff, and much of it is sentimentality.

[@g66lol]

"The gratitude from the friendly donation workers" dude we neglect to take things to Goodwill because the people in receiving at ours are rude af.

[@Shmyrk]

Same bro I make my wife go lmao

[@davidholmes6342]

100%

[@jasonwestphal7730]

Im a 33 year old man with a family of 5 and a house with a garage. You inspire me so much. I don’t have a storage unit and your respect means everything lol.

[@aprilsleanworkshop3110]

Great video Van. Decluttering and streamlining is a form of art!

[@ThatwasAsian]

It's always a good day when Van posts

[@ivan_valerian]

I have always been a maximalist all my life. Hanging on to stuff cause it has sentimental values and with hopes that I can still use it again in the future. But it changed after I studied overseas. Coming back home with THAT much stuff is close to impossible. Trained myself to be a semi minimalist during that time. Also, when I'm back home, going through my old things, I realized that 80% of the memories attached to the so called "sentimental items", I couldn't even recall them anymore

[@BXDOLPH]

Final quote "for a little while you will listen to that voice" Epic video Van

[@ShaunHautly]

That last shot, the double, is the most satisfying thing I've seen in a week.

[@Cam_Fasching]

AWESOME WORK VAN. It is great to see you and another vlog.

[@TheOnceAndFutureDoug]

I recently did a grand purge almost as an emergency of my apartment. I had started going through and my place was a mess and then my land lord called and said insurance wanted pictures of the apartment and he'd be by in 5 days to take them. Anyway careful consideration became "if it doesn't justify itself it goes." The rules I created were: - Is it person-specific nostalgia? If the person is still alive and in my life, or I have an other more sentimental object, sentimentality cannot save it from the purge. - Is this object non-trivial to replace, either with the same thing or a workable alternative? If yes, it should not be purged. - Have I used this object at some point in the last 3 months (last season for seasonal objects)? If yes, it should not be purged. - Does this object take up more space than it provides value? If yes, it gets purged. - Is this object a duplicate of a duplicate? If so, it's immediately up for purge consideration. The only things that require special consideration beyond this are things like books and art, which can be made safe from a purge by simply being a thing that makes me happy for that is their use, their purpose. And of course in all of this logic overrides rules. I got rid of so much junk.

[@LomanB]

Firstly - I just love, love, love your content, unique creative style and story telling instincts. Secondly, congratulations for the pending arrival of your new baby. Honestly, I am delighted to here this news. Health and Happiness to you all. Totally get your clutter management mindset - Even though I live in a relatively spacious apartment - I am clutter averse and regularly cleanout, give away or dump "Stuff" Finally, did I miss something - you mention a Tacoma..... what happened to the Land Cruiser!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?????

[@cdbrown30]

I ordered giant moving bags and it’s been great to store things, clothes etc. Easy to move around too.

[@Marcolino91]

grazie per questo servizio

[@HNXMedia]

Always declutter the day before garbage day. It goes in the trash and the idea of "getting it back" is taken out of your hands.

[@prescottmccarthy]

For that add I just imagine you saying, “I appreciate this sponsor so I write Milanote on the top of a cardstock do list and then write my project plans as usual”

[@stretch1807]

When Van posts, it's always for the wellbeing of the soul.

[@TyBraek]

I challenged myself to get rid of 5 items per day. It lasted a few months until I didn’t have that many items I could let go of without thinking. When it’s only 5 per day it’s pretty easy. If you get to a hard item skip it and think about it for a few days.

[@MrWiseinheart]

Good idea 💡 thanks 👍

[@illtrax]

PLT - Turn all your hangers in your closet so the hooks face the towards you. After a couple months you see what you actually ware. Obviously take seasons into account, but I found this the best to keep the closet organized. Or one for one. Want a new shirt? Find a hanger facing you and ask yourself if you are ever going to fit into that band shirt from yesteryear ever again?

[@mariaanmo]

Congratulations on your brand new creatures!

[@proProcrastinatooor]

Rule #1: If you are putting something in a box, that's the sign to sell, donate or throw away.

[@vincentplisson8678]

Like Sysiphus, that job is never done... Also that last double camera pan shot is beautifull. I have been doing some experiment with it but I love the fact that they don't align and the focus shifts. Sweet

[@TheHappyCaravan]

I finally found someone with more post it’s on their wall than I have!🙌🏼😅🙌🏼

[@speckdratz]

I hoard exceptionally well made videos. This is one of them. Van's the man!

[@iamharryjames]

Van, I love how you can even make an ad read interesting

[@chrisreichel4068]

This is what the world needs right now. Thanks for creating this.

[@jamesfestini]

One time I left my “tech clutter” box outside and it got rained on. My wife made me grow it all out. That was 20 years ago. I never recovered. Once a year we rent a small dumpster and start throwing out stuff. It does not take long to ask what ever happened to X item? Never mind when you think you kept it and go through new junk boxes going crazy thinking that I would NEver throw it out. So I but a new one only to have the old item magically appear some time later.

[@LarsGoldbachDP]

this is the perfect explanation for my periodical situation. thanks van!!!

[@speedrunfantasychess]

Love your work Van ❤

[@teddgram]

That one year rule is pretty high on my list. If I have used it, if I haven't even wondered where it was, if I haven't even thought about it, it's gone.

[@Mulisec]

congrats van!!

[@chantalrochon3566]

Great take on declutterring ❤🎉😊😊

[@beautyunboxed530]

Congrats on the new arrival!❤

[@Dobry69]

Thank you Van

[@bauerma4]

My life’s goal is to die never having had a storage unit.

[@BerendsBees]

This video was great and so applicable to every stage of life.

[@harrybayfield9910]

This is just what I needed. Thank you

[@neilsawbridge9998]

Congratulations on the new arrival 🎉

[@6Acres]

Another great video! Loved it. Keeping my things and space organized has served me well. I believe that our inner and outer worlds are connected. The outside can influence the inside, and the inside has the power to change the outside. So, it is a positive cycle.

[@gigidodson]

My sentiment really messes me up. I still have my first phone bill from 1978. Its on a photo album with pictures of our first year of marriage. I have my first doll. This was given to me by an Aunt in 1961, named Clancy. He has sat on a shelf in my bedroom my entire life. I will probably be buried with me because my kids are scared of it. I keep "things" that most folks wouldn't. But they are my history.

[@blinkingmanchannel]

I'm not sure how to get this to you... I don't see "super thanks" so I'm just gonna hope... here goes: Hey bro, I keep coming back to this feeling (as I'm watching your KZbin channel) that ...I'm looking into a mirror, only the reflection is... more risk-tolerant! (1) In my youth I always quit at the point of diminishing returns. Only after I had (survived) a stroke (late-2021) did I consider the possibility that the rest of that returns curve is for ME! (2) I want to say I completely understand your cleaning the bathroom in your SRO. I did a similar thing in the rehab place I was in for three months. (I dubbed mine, "brain damage boarding school") It never, ever occurred to me that anybody else would do such a crazy thing. (And apparently for very, very similar reasons!) Imagine my happy surprise to discover your video journal (if you don't mind me using that phrase.) (3) I am still processing whether there can be two of me, so I have to consider that maybe there are many more than two, and I've just been ... hanging out with the wrong people? (4) In case it helps you any: I don't think you are a narcissist. Instead, I'd say you are aware that you are on that hero's journey. I think people who become aware very often try to report back to those who might like to know what we're all doing here... Since I can see it in you, now I have a better sense of what to do with that part of me! (Including all the 'works with hands' stuff, oddly enough.) (5) Thanks for this amazing surprise, to say the very minimum least!!! ...p.s. My model for dealing with sentimental value is to think what my kids will do with my stuff when they go through it after I'm dead. If it'll be junk to them, I know it's junk. If I see that this means I ought to pass it along while I'm alive, I can more intentionally do that. Cheers!

[@NightKnight2048]

Take a picture. Makes getting rid of sentimental items that much easier.

[@tomasr64]

I live in a 330 sqft yurt with all my possessions, no storage rental. I have a small shed outside. I have two bikes, old tools, and dogs, a kitchen and jugs of water since there is no plumbing. I also have a firewood pile and a wood stove so that is messy as well. Solar charging station. I have my kitchen with a canyon cooler, no refrigator. I have a few sets of clothes and not much more. A few books, and a couple computers, some personal items and art I have made. Its not pretty but its functional and can be completly taken down. The small space keeps me from growing. If something I have does not get used within one year, out it goes.

[@Slingin_Mary_Alex]

Awesome vid as usual 🎉 Looking forward to trying out Milanote!

[@purcilas]

Amazing video and speaks so much truth

[@samisim0]

Thank you Van

[@michaellorenzen8200]

as far as clothing goes my mom would say to me "if you haven't worn it in 6 months get rid of it" at 60 I have been living out of a 30 liter backpack and a 5×5 storage space

[@ShapeyFiend]

I hate having things around I don't use. Back when I moved a lot I could really fit most of my belongings into a couple of bin bags quite comfortably. Now I live in my parents house again, which is quite large, but entirely crammed with their clutter so I don't have many personal effects cos every square inch is full of their stuff, most of which they haven't disturbed since the early 1970s, except to dust it occasionally.

[@henry-mb2gp]

the editing in this was really fun thanks van

[@GreatDivideResell]

Yeah, living without a storage unit. It is very hard. Anybody who does not have one definitely deserves respect

[@cupbowlspoonforkknif]

For sentimental items, remember that the memory is in you, not the object. Take a picture or somehow capture the essence in a smaller space so you can get rid of the item. I've seen people make blankets out of sentimental tshirts.

[@Outandbackhiking]

We all have too much stuff. It's really wild when you think about it.

[@therealgaragegirls]

5:24 Whose old bed linens?! 😳

[@AtomicPixel]

Ahhh… the Sentimental Demon is a tough one. Battling this right now so this video is timely. Love your vids, brother!

[@feelfreetodeviate]

I don’t think I’m strong enough to do this, but it is precisely what I need.

[@adayinthelife5496]

Sell, sell, sell. Feels as good as buy, buy, buy.

[@nauticfilms]

05:10 resisting the "need" to rent a storage unit can be powerful. Ask yourself "Do I really want to pay a monthly fee for this? For how long? When will I likely need this stuff again?"

[@steeleanderson1172]

At least next time you open those boxes the addition of mould from the rain will make it easier to discard items

[@kyleilenda]

Please, whatever you do, get a 1UP USA bike rack. All the parts are serviceable / replaceable and use little to no plastic. The first and last bike rack you will buy.

[@pasos550]

Another rally nice and most importantly interesting video, keep up the amazing work, I would also suggest right by the date on the boxes that shows its age to put a last used or opened date that could be useful perhaps. Hoarding is a major problem and it is more and more relevant as consumerism increases, the hardest junk to get rid of are the ones that hold some emotional value and you just keep stacking the things, from the nostalgia filled photo albums that never get opened to old board games, toys and other trinkets. The best thing is to donate and it feels better than throwing in the trash as far of course its able to be reused .

[@-Lisanne]

Nice video Van!