Path to Peace :: Extreeeeme DECLUTTER Shoppe, Ep. 1

The goal is to unload a portion of this shoppe so we can create a workspace/playspace separate from our home. The larger goal is to unstuff my life.
In this episode, I found a box of sentimental childhood treasures I really didn't want to deal with, but my adrenaline was pumping and I wanted to get something done. Slow and steady, perseverance over perfection, right?
Who's ready for some 80's goodness?

[@phyllispinion6229]

Hello1 i am new to ur channel & my heart goes out to you. I am such a clutter bug, too. But I tend to pile up in my guest bedroom. I wish i could come & help you. It would help me, too. All we can do is to keep keeping on, one pile at a time? I have found when I start to declutter & actually get rid of this stuff I don't need, it is liberating!!!!!!!! If I clear off a counter top or a corner, it is such a huge accomplishment!!!! It's not perfect, but it's PROGRESS!!!!!!!!!! God bless you!

[@jenndubmac]

Hello! So nice to meet you. I totally understand what you mean by feeling liberated when you leave that donation site! It's like being a 3 year old, on the beach, running carefree thru the surf and sand (while giving your parents a mild heart attack every time you venture in the water above your ankles.) :) I wish we could help each other--trading 30 mins here, 60 mins there. Every little bit is better than just letting it keep piling to the ceiling, eh? We'll get there. A corner, a cabinet, a layer at a time. Hope you have a glorious day today. Whit

[@sh3ll3yb]

I came across your channel and now going back to the beginning to follow the whole journey. You have probably already realized this - but I’ll offer this advise. Seems like people have better luck if they pick an area, throw away empty boxes and obvious trash but don’t go thru the box or bin, just a quick label on the outside and then stacking like with like. Seems all people with a lot of treasures are very sentimental and have had a loss in their life which leads them to hang on to everything. You are doing great!

[@Saforra99]

Me too! I'm going back to the beginning + agree with the starting with trash/recycling, because it makes an immediate + visual difference, which is encouraging + helps you see the individual things that are left better (Dana K. White's No Mess Decluttering Method suggests this) + I love the quick label idea too :) It is definitely okay to just label it as sentimental + decide to go through it later. (Erica Lucas + Hoarder's Heart do a great job of modeling this) Building decluttering muscles (+ not starting off with the hardest of all 💜) Good luck + good job! Edit: I love that you quoted Dana K. White :) Yes! + so sad about the violin. I feel for you! + yes, label (maybe even with the date of when you went through it? but no pressure!) And hooray for downsizing!

[@jenndubmac]

Hello there! Thank you for your advice. I am certainly in need of any i can get...i feel like every time is an exploration in furthering my insanity. :) Most of our move was strung out over a year. So everything migrated over to our new place when we needed it and looking back, we should have just thrown all the stuff that didn't make it in 6 months out. Welcome to my home, hope you stick around, and i look forward to getting to know you.

[@jenndubmac]

Yeessssss! I adore all these strong women! Learn so much from them. Now trying to implement their advice.......

[@wendyeskelin8765]

I am starting at the beginning of the series too. I just found your channel. I'm not trying to be critical, but I am wondering why you are starting with the extra space of the shop instead of the main house? I've been on a whole house declutter since probably around January and it's now almost November. Sometimes I would take a weekend off here or there, and I've mostly saved the harder stuff for towards the end. ( clothing ) and the stuff that is in the catch all room.. the stuff that you aren't really using but it's hard to part with. Those things are going now more easily. What I've been doing lately is just seeing what area I feel like doing and only have a rough plan to eventually work my way through the house top to bottom. It's really been helping me because I go where I feel inspired. So the closet ( the hardest ) isn't done all at once. Thanks for taking us on the journey with you.

[@jenndubmac]

I had initially started in the shoppe, because my oldest needed chauffeuring many places, which meant a couple hours parked in a lot, waiting with a new baby. The shoppe seemed the easiest target, as abandoned things were packed in boxes, needing to be sorted, and i could bring a box or two with me to go through in the back of the car while baby was sleeping. Those videos haven't made it to the channel--maybe someday as a throwback series? The one box at a time method was the method that really clicked for me. I could just focus on what was inside. Cleared out a pretty good swath of the shoppe this way. Was also hoping for the extra space out there to help sort the house out, however, now our lifestyle has changed again and so have plans. Working in the house is such a relief! Congratulations on your progress! I bet it feels so good to be winding down the year with so much less stuff. You did the hard work finding a system that worked for you and sticking with it! You're awesome!

[@wendyeskelin8765]

@@jenndubmac Thanks for the insight. I'm glad you're able to get back to the house as it's a relief for you. What a great idea to take a box or two along with you to sort while having that "free time" :) Yes it feels good to get rid of a lot of stuff. Some of it was a bummer with clothes I love that didn't fit anymore, but all in all yes, feels great to open closets and cupboards that aren't super full. It's crazy how even sorting a few things empties a spot out substantially. I love board games too. My husband isn't much of a fan anymore which is a bummer, but he'll still play sometimes. A few of those games I've never heard of, but so much of what you've shared I do recognize as I was born in 1970.

[@brendafournier1863]

I mean no disrespect but it seems that you are just moving stuff from one box to another and not tossing much. Would it work faster if you went and got rid of obvious trash and empty boxes first and then deal with what is left? Just simply a suggestion.