Don't Make These Decluttering Mistakes!

[@megibug]

OMG! SPOT ON IN EVERY ASPECT! 👏🏼👍🏼🙌🏼

[@katyjoywells]

🙌🙌

[@jsmixson]

Brilliant! We (my husband and I) recently semi retired and sold our very large home and moved to a home half the size. It was an eye opening experience. I was much more able to just let go, but I think my husband has some hoarding tendency. He's getting better, but the things you talked about hit every box.

[@reneerodriguezpreston2270]

I’m new to your channel & really resonate well with your authenticity & vulnerability with your audience. “Fantasy self” really hit home for me. Thank you for your great tips. So helpful.

[@Isabella66Gracen]

Me too! Fantasy self is definitely keeping me in clutter.

[@mapratt]

Hit the spot! Another thing I am realizing is that, just as I can let things go to thrift stores, if I ever want to pick up that hobby for real I can probably find what I need at t thrift store. Let it go, grasshopper!

[@TammyFernsYT]

Some really good points! I’ve decluttered so much over the past few years, but I still get stuck on a few of these value lenses.

[@aksez2u]

Brilliant! I have ALL those "value lenses". Right now, I can't get rid of a bag full of stuffed easter bunnies because I fear my (fully grown adult) children might be attached to some of them. I am nuts. But just because I know I'm nuts doesn't make it easy to not be nuts 😁.

[@dannhorne9782]

I’ve started sending pictures of things to my adult daughters with a “would you like me to save these for you” message. To date they’ve said no to everything 😂

[@aksez2u]

@@dannhorne9782 That's a good idea 🙂. I asked my son about the Easter Bunnies and he said "I don't see why you wouldn't keep them" OMG! I guess he got it from me 🤣

[@amandaclarke1373]

Hi Katy. Just discovered your KZbin channel today and have found your topics of great interest. I'm sure your viewers would love to see you do a wardrobe declutter and how you arrange things. Keep up the great work. Amanda

[@lego1398]

I watch your videos because I like the way you sound! I study English! Thanks for not only teaching me your language but also for giving a lot of interesting information)))

[@katyjoywells]

How kind, thank you so much! So glad you're enjoying my channel!

[@kimberlyperrotis8962]

She is very clear-speaking and the audio is excellent, a good choice for your example speaker. I don’t have perfect hearing (avoid too-loud rock concerts!), so I appreciate her audio a lot. Good luck with your studies, the English of your comment is already perfect!🙂

[@Nwladylaura369]

Ha ha - I have at least 20 years of stuff I’ve been saving! This happens when you are a collector, have clothes you think you might fit back into one day, and an online seller death pile. And some of your parents stuff. Now I am sorting it for a garage sale. Donation after that. And I did do a first round before I moved last year. So do decluttering at least 2x a year. (And decluttering goes way beyond seasonal cleaning.) Save, donate, recycle and sale.

[@emmafallsinlove]

I love your videos! Please keep them up. Thank you for sharing your talent and insight with the world

[@katyjoywells]

Thanks for watching! 💕

[@caseyd8569]

Excellent! Thank you :-)

[@Sunshine-fy4fz]

Oh, I have a term for the "reorganizing your clutter" mentality. Instead of decluttering and editing out things from your home, deciding to simply organize or reorganize your stuff, you are simply (here it is:) "SHIFTING SH**" !! You are moving your sh** from one space to another. Problem NOT solved.

[@robbrien8506]

Hoarding experts call this self-defeating activity "churning", and yes, it's extremely frustrating. It makes it seem like you've "done" something, when nothing has actually been accomplished.

[@katyjoywells]

very true. feels like a solution in the moment, but no long-term results!

[@minookalantari]

Merci Katy

[@kimberlyperrotis8962]

My grandparents were young adults during the Great Depression and my Mom grew up being overwhelmed and irritated by the extreme clutter my grandmother, especially, had everywhere, she definitely had that scarcity mindset. My Mom reacted by keeping absolutely nothing, we grew up in a home with a very sparse amount of things, just the bare minimum to function. I ended up keeping more things than my Mom, but not a lot more. The best thing she taught me about keeping a home is to stay on top of the editing and decluttering, don’t let things accumulate. I do this, except that I tend to accumulate clothes and accessories. I would love help with decluttering or thinning down these items. The usual advice doesn’t help much because there’s nothing that I don’t love and wear or that isn’t in perfect condition and most of my things are high-quality. Using fast-fashion online shopping, for the first time, during lockdown as a mental-health tool only exacerbated the problem. There’s just too much of everything in my wardrobe! Thanks!

[@kimberlyperrotis8962]

One idea, I could thin out the button-front cotton shirts that I don’t wear as much because they need lots of ironing after every wash, or even wearing. I love them, but mostly wear my silk ones or knit tops like tees, because no ironing and little to no steaming is needed for them. I don’t hate ironing, but it does deter me from wearing the things I want to sometimes.

[@katyjoywells]

It can be difficult to let to go of pristine clothing that you enjoy and appreciate, I have done this, too. The deal breaker for me was, I wasn't wearing it enough to justify it space in my wardrobe. So, I sold those things on Poshmark. Create some type of boundary for yourself. If you have seasonal (or semi-seasonal) capsule wardrobes (like one for fall/winter and one for spring/summer) give yourself the season to wear something. If you haven't, well, you haven't worn it for a reason, and if you value space and a simplified wardrobe over hanging onto something to wear someday, hey, that's okay too- but if a goal is to simplify, then let it go at the end of the season. Ofcourse there's the classic flip your hanger over trick and what hangers/items are still facing backwards, you haven't worn and can let go of. No matter what "rule" or boundary you put in place, the end goal will be a simpler wardrobe filled with things you *actually* wear and favor over the rest. xx Katy

[@SL-lz9jr]

I’m hoping to buy a new condo in two years so I’m trying really hard not to acquire new appliances or furniture. Free is fine. I just don’t want to spend money until I get my new place and can finally upgrade my appliances and furniture. When my friend mentioned buying a shredder, the first thing I said was, let me come over to your place with my papers. Lol. Anything to not have more stuff in my own place. I visit her often anyway.

[@rhonii6259]

Letting go#1, great info.

[@marylhere]

I helped clear out a hoarding situation….and the amount of totes and bins stacked up empty was mind boggling. More infuriating was finding more newly purchased stuff (with yesterday’s receipts) piled up in the entranceway. More cleaning supplies. It was terrifying.

[@SL-lz9jr]

That’s a whole other can of worms. Hoarders need psychological help.

[@dianedugas9505]

You hit a nerve! I am driving around with two boxes for over 2.5 years! What is my problem! ?

[@katyjoywells]

You're totally not alone, happens to the best of us! This is your sign to get those boxes out of your car and create more SPACE for yourself!

[@kimberlyperrotis8962]

Commentator 4LiBa, above, has a great suggestion for this!

[@4LiBa]

Whenever I have a donation bag or box, I put it on my passenger front seat and seat belt in it. Then I can't forget to donate it because it is annoying to look at!

[@harrietcraig6716]

If I did that, it would make its way back into the house haha

[@jillhull7358]

Wonderful education and thank you for not waving your hands around distracting from what your SAYING.

[@kimberlyperrotis8962]

Or constantly touching/flipping your hair, or obsessing on how you look on camera, those habits drive me nuts!

[@cherylmartin9618]

HOW LONG DO WE NEED TO KEEP MEDICAL, BANK , AND OTHER PAPERS ?

[@kimberlyperrotis8962]

I relied on Thred-Up to get a little money back for my wardrobe items. I hired someone to help me put together a multiple-box shipment yesterday. I was shocked when I tried to print the labels they refused accepting more shipments as I was “at the limit”. I only sent two small boxes over the summer, the only ones in two years. What a nasty policy that is. Unfortunately, I’m not able to do the work to sell them individually myself, especially the photography and typing the descriptions.

[@katyjoywells]

That stinks! Hopefully there is an alternative!

[@MsGinSling]

I have an odd brain. Cleaning and organizing then moving thing on works for me. I think we need to find something that works for us which may not work for everyone and run with that.

[@magical.melody674]

Sheesh. The sentimental thing is a problem for me. I have clothes in my closet my husband got me when we were dating . I will never be able to wear them again because I’ve lost over 100 pounds. But I’m like not wanting to throw away gifts he gave me. Lol

[@helenalaney]

wow. I run things through all of the value lenses

[@katyjoywells]

That's awesome! 🙌

[@kimberlyperrotis8962]

I use Craigslist for giving away great stuff like working televisions, sewing machines, construction stuff, housewares, clothes, always in excellent condition. There’s no fee for free stuff on CL, and someone local can always use it. I’m going to have a “Garage Giveaway”, like a garage sale, but where everything’s free, in the spring. Where I live, there are always new hispanic immigrants who need everything from clothes (especially for children!) to kitchenware to towels and bedding. These poor newcomers pay everything they have to risk long, arduous, dangerous treks through burning deserts to reach the US or Canada with nothing but the clothes they’re wearing. I don’t care a fig if they’re illegal; if not from our First Nations, we all are or come from immigrants to this country. These needy families make excellent honest and hardworking citizens, immigrants like them and our ancestors built this country, so they’re very welcome by me and everyone I know. They only want the opportunity to work hard to provide food, housing and basic healthcare and education for their children!

[@katyjoywells]

💗💗

[@rhonii6259]

Now yo get it out lol… yep.

[@Clipperpan]

You look a lot like Margot Robbie, especially your smile.

[@teresaparry3172]

🥰🦋🌈🦋🥰

[@joankenowski8306]

J

[@heidihochrein7912]

Voice has a ‘ fry’ which is so hard to listen to. Does not sound good!

[@kraichellecurren7892]

🤯 Whoaaa 5:45 😭🥸😂 are you watching me lol That’s the part I get hung up on. Planning the physical discard of items. Get it out so it’s actually done and no longer taking up real estate in your home and headspace… Eureka I got it! Let’s go!!

[@katyjoywells]

yes! bringing awareness to that and making a PLAN can make a big difference there