5 Secrets to Get Better at Decluttering | Minimalism Tips

[@SimpleHappyZen]

What’s your magic decluttering tip? Something that made everything easier? 🤗👇

[@Robert-qm1ld]

If I can't decide about items, I put them out of their normal place so I have to see them, have to work around them daily and don't allow myself to move them until I make a decision. HI Vera! 😃

[@SimpleHappyZen]

@Robert OOOh that's a good one!!!

[@cristinam.1764]

I have an empty box in my wardrobe and everytime I found something to declutter I put it there, it is like a donation box 📦

[@maricorcabrera540]

I've been decluttering for quite some time. I have multiple text books and workbooks. I decided to donate some of my duplicates to a school library. It felt good..they thank me and i thank them too...🥰

[@lornam3637]

I love this video so much - so many new ideas. I always make sure I take everything out of a drawer or off the shelf even if I can see them. It forces me to look at and consider every item.

[@jodidabroski7824]

A magic tip I used when decluttering my wardrobe was not only take everything out of my closet, but try on every piece of clothing as if I was shopping for it for the first time. If it made me feel beautiful it was hung back up. If it didn’t it was folded and put in box for donations to a relief donation or women’s shelter. I live in a complete four seasons area. So I use the same number for tank tops, short sleeve, long sleeve, sweaters, pants, skirts, dresses, coats, fantasy self, etc. My magic number is 8. Using beautiful hangers help too and you are only allowed so many.

[@SimpleHappyZen]

Awesome tips!! Thank you so much for sharing Jodi

[@jodidabroski7824]

I recently have updated my closet. The magic number is now 7 for each category.

[@jessicajaffeweinberger1419]

My tip is I ask myself: "If I found this at a store today, would I buy it?" If the answer is no... let it go.

[@SimpleHappyZen]

Yes, that's such a great question :) Thanks Jessica!

[@roxanne4534]

That's a really useful tip.

[@CT1010101]

That is so good. It also makes it feel like you're shopping without any shopping. This may just be the thought process of an over shopper. 😬

[@adventuresonice9863]

That is a PERFECT question! It totally eliminates the nagging question of “could I possibly use this for such and such IN THE FUTURE?” If I would not buy it RIGHT NOW, say goodbye!!!

[@leanncady8208]

I like the idea of taking everything out of its place and seeing the room empty. Then place things back as you "shop" only those items you'd like to keep. Allows you to see your space from a different perspective and what you'd like your space to look and feel like moving forward.

[@SimpleHappyZen]

Yes!! Love that :) Often do that with accessories and home decor items

[@louisehorsfall9400]

I've been craving to do that.

[@amyli092]

One tip that I would add to this list that kind of goes along with "viewing your house as a guest" is booking yourself a small getaway to a hotel or condo, or even just envisioning the last time you were in a hotel to help inspire you on what you want your space to look like. A lot of vacation spots tend only keep what's most necessary for the person who's staying in that room for a certain amount of time. It really makes you feel like you're at home, but not in your actual own home lol 😄

[@SimpleHappyZen]

YES! Good one :) One minimalism book I love (it's only in Dutch, unfortunately) talks about how his inspiration for minimalist living came from being in hotel rooms a lot of the time, and loving how he lived with only the essentials. It made him realize he didn't really need all those extras.

[@cathycirina-chiu6972]

One thing that really helped me was a suggestion/concept from Marie Kondo, and I won't get it perfect but it was like "it's OK let go of things that represent someone/something you maybe wanted to be, or were, but doesn't really represent you anymore." Like, at one time I thought I would learn a certain work skill, and bought several books about it. Then every time I looked at the books I felt crummy that I didn't learn that thing yet. And then I read that and had a moment where I said "I don't think I want to learn that, and I'm OK with that!" And when I let that specific 'vision' of myself go, I was able to let go of all of those books even though I never used them. And she said in her book something like "thank those things for letting you know who you really are and let them go somewhere where they will be loved and used'. My books are not ME, they are just books! :)

[@otterwench]

This is not a path I recommend, but when a house fire destroyed most of my things, I realized the value was in my connection, i.e. my emotional reaction to the item, not the item itself. Losing the item did not remove my emotional connection. I still felt love for the person who gave me something, for example. I did not need the item to remind me of that love. I recommend making that realization minus the house fire.

[@SimpleHappyZen]

Thank you for sharing Diana, I'm so sorry about your house 😢 I admire how you were still able to see this positive realization through something like that.

[@otterwench]

@@SimpleHappyZen it was a shock when it happened, but it was in 1988, so quite some time ago.

[@stephen.macleod]

I'm leaving my apartment and planning to do van-life for, at least, 6 months. I've been a minimalist for more than 30 years, but I'm suddenly struck by one type of possession, that I rarely think about: furniture! I have so much furniture, that I need to either store, sell, or donate. We tend to think of clothing, or books, or knick-knacks, when we think of decluttering, while our chairs, sofas, beds, tables, desks, bookshelves, etc., have taken on a life of their own! 😂

[@SimpleHappyZen]

Hahaha yes and they're BIG! 😄 Good luck with everything and with the transition into van-life!

[@minimalist5555life]

I am now living low furniture lifestyle now and hope to minimise furniture to nil in time. I have lived the minimalist life for 5 years now and love it. I don't regret letting go and when I move I can now fit everything I own in my small car

[@beulahbenade4098]

Every once in a while I walk from room to room and put things that I don't seem to use in a box and store it. I make quick decisions, I don't dwell on it too much. Because I know the stuff won't go anywhere yet. And then, if I find after days or months later, that I need something from that box I just fetch it - but if not, well, then I can let go and get rid of it one way or another.

[@SimpleHappyZen]

Love that! So efficient :)

[@cherylmayers5236]

I do that too! I've found that I have never gone to the box to take anything out and I've never regretted donating anything!

[@rachelledooley8911]

I like the idea of focusing on what you’re gaining. I like to think instead of letting go of stuff, I’m KEEPING my FAVORITE things.

[@beccismith4454]

Oh yes, this is a great approach! Reminds me of Dana K White’s approach of taking everything out and then putting your favorites back in until the container is full, and the rest can go. And if you discover more favorites that have to stay, trade something out for that :-). She use it for example with her daughter and stuffed animals, they had a shelving space for the animals and she asked her daughter to put her favorites in there… and then they were visible and could be enjoyed… And someone else could enjoy the rest.

[@sallycroft2191]

Just start with one drawer....set timer for 10 minutes. Ihave opened the drawer or closest just to remind myself I can declutter. Once you get started and see the results, it gives you momentum to do more.

[@SimpleHappyZen]

Yes! :) Keep it small and simple :)

[@laurawatkins9399]

These are all great tips! I'm at the stage in my life where I'm having to dispose of my mother's things (a lifetime collection) and I'm more determined than ever to not put my own children through this! So many of my things will only ever have sentimental value to me, and not to anyone else.

[@SimpleHappyZen]

Thank you so much for sharing Laura. If you haven't heard of the term, this is also an important part of something called 'Swedish death cleaning'. I'm sorry for the loss of your mom... Wishing you all the best 🌺

[@11Renee11]

I recently had this conversation with my mother. Thankfully, the items she has that will be handed down to me have a family history or story to go along with them. It was important that I fully understood and received this information before it was lost.

[@chrstopherblighton-sande2981]

Great tips, I've used the limiting space tip for my books. I decluttered a lot of books and switched to an e-reader and then made the intention to not buy any more bookshelves so my collection cannot get any bigger than I want it to. There is still plenty of room should I ever want to get some physical books, but if that space runs out (which I really don't see happening) then I'll adopt a one-in-one out method. I too wish I'd taken some before and after photos when I began my minimalism journey, I'd certainly recommend doing so. One tip I used and found helpful was the 'if this item were lost would I go to all the effort to buy it again?' question. It helped me get beyond the "I like this item so should I declutter it?" dilemma, as it made me realise that the fact I like something doesn't mean I actually want or need to own it. Above all for me your tip about seeing what you have to gain by letting go of an item is what helped me the most. This channel and books like "Goodbye Things" by Fumio Sasaki make me realise the real benefits and advantages of an intentional life with less, and that motivated and helped me declutter. Those benefits once experienced served as more motivation and I've never looked back :-)

[@SimpleHappyZen]

So wonderful :)

[@reginaeudy9249]

You did mention it in the video but what I found helped me the most was taking before pictures especially for big decluttering jobs. For example I took pictures of my office from many different angles so I got pictures of my desk, bookshelves, etc. (I finished but decluttering this room took about two months doing 2 hours a week). Sometimes I would start feeling discouraged thinking that I'm not making progress. When I started feeling that way I would look at my before pictures and then I could see the progress I was making. Also this room had a lot of paper decluttering. I would collect a stack of paper and go through an inch a day or more as I was watching TV. I didn't do too much paper at once so that I didn't get burned out. When you have a big decluttering job just keep doing something to move forward. The clutter didn't happen overnight.

[@SimpleHappyZen]

You're absolutely right, the clutter didn't happen overnight :) So we can take our time going through everything. Happy to hear that taking pictures is helpful for you :)

[@joank5585]

I decide on a number for items like 3 nail polishes, 2 purses, 1 t. v.etc. and stay accountable because there is a reason you made that decision, where you're comfortable. Someone mentioned about taking everything out of a room and put things back one by one until you feel happy with how it looks and be content with that because the rest would be too much clutter for you. Great tips and reminders Vera! 😘

[@SimpleHappyZen]

Ah that's a good one!! :) I like to do that with home accessories / decor items

[@pigletsbank437]

It's good to keep in mind what you gain! And I always vision people being happy when I donate things. because I know someone will get good use out of it😊

[@SimpleHappyZen]

Yes, it's a great feeling to know the item will serve someone else :)

[@juliae.8237]

I am in the thick of decluttering my home and I find before I even go into the space I want to declutter (for example the clothes closet or the bookshelf) sit down and write a list of the items that I know off the top of my head I want to keep. This isn’t a memory exercise, I write down just the items which I want. And the pull those items out and probably all the other items are give away or trash. There will be a few items I love that I forgot, but I have to think, if I didn’t remember them how important were they really. Also, I need to remember all the ‘just in case’ reasons I may come up with for keeping an item and give myself a pep talk about how great I am at problem solving and most of those scenarios will never come about anyway. Great video and I am learning so much!

[@SimpleHappyZen]

I love that way of looking at it, thanks for sharing Julia!! :) Have a lovely day today

[@lonnagraves7937]

I love your channel. Such an inspiration. I have moved 22 times in my life, around the world and back again. We are now in TX forever, on a farm and our children are grown. We got rid of stuff that way, but now that I have lived here 10 years, we have to pretend we are moving and go through every closet and drawer, slowly, one day at a time and reward yourself after for about 2 week's time, every 2-3 years. I tried the Marie Kondo method at first, but now I just go through and take out trash, clean and ask myself, do I need it, will it be useful, and do I even like it? I just made several trips to donation and said, hallelujah when I left. Great feeling

[@IamRedeemed5]

Hi, I enjoyed reading your comment! Thanks for sharing - I agree 100%!! 🥰

[@Deb.-.]

I also 100% agree. I looked at the Marie Kondo method and thought,, I do not have time to waste thinking about every item and thanking it for being in my life, so out it goes.

[@roxanne4534]

I do take photos of a room or just a space or shelf. It gives me the objectivity to see how it really looks and then I declutter accordingly. Thanks, those are great decluttering tips.

[@SimpleHappyZen]

Love that :) Thanks for sharing Roxanne

[@dominiquetheeasyminimalist]

I love the “guest” perspective!, such a great idea Vera! 👏 I’ve used the “moving tip”, and I still refer to it sometimes. Confession… until last December, I owned 32 lipsticks. I know, I know, it’s too much but it’s the one makeup item I can’t live without (oh, and mascara but I only have one). During the holidays, I decided to get rid of all the “neutral” ones. I’ve tried hard over the years, different shades and brands, whenever I wore those I felt I looked dull and tired. So I got rid of 10! Lesson learned 🤷‍♀️

[@SimpleHappyZen]

Haha thanks for sharing Dominique!! :) It makes sense to know which colors you almost always gravitate towards, so that you know if something will be a good purchase or not :)

[@RealMetalkeks]

For me one big thing that is helping me a lot is that I'm moving in with my boyfriend very soon. He's a minimalist and I'm a bit of a horder... I collected everything and it turned out that it is because of my depression that I hold onto things that I don't use. So moving in with him gave me a very positiv boost of energy to finally getting rid of about 50% of my belongings. I just don't want that the things I own have a negativ impact on my relationship. I decluttered my nail polish collection the other day, and I now have only 20 left instead of over 100. And I'm so proud of myself, that I managed to do this. :)

[@beccismith4454]

Well done! You may also find that has you pare down on your belongings that your depression eases and you start feeling lighter!

[@ΜΑΡΙΑΛΥΚΟΥΡΓΙΩΤΗ]

Hello 👋. Well the one thing that helped me most on decluttering, was to throw on the floor the things which I wanted to declutter. Sometimes the pile was so ridiculously overwhelming that it automatically forced me to start giving up on things

[@SimpleHappyZen]

Haha sometimes it's good to confront yourself with the volume of items we own, to really get motivated to decrease the pile :)

[@broughttoyoubynmblake]

Great tips 👍🏾Had a little declutter today and it felt so satisfying, take your time people, it’s not a race.

[@SimpleHappyZen]

Love that!

[@cozzy8910]

Pretend as if i was the visitor / guest, that's me for years, my judgement is always on the side of what gives visitor the best convenience, comfort & respect when at home. Not to please others but more of what pleases me inside, less stuff, clean & organized home is calm to me, its healthy in & out. On the side, as visitor coming to a house full of clutter, give such negative energy. Thank you Vera 💜

[@SimpleHappyZen]

🤗🍵🌷

[@helentaylor7791]

I always ask 'does this item make me happy? have a good memory attached to it?' As well as 'is it useful?' If I feel negativity or I don't really want it, then it goes (to recycling, charity or sell.) It has really helped me work out what I feel is important in my life and has been better for my mental health too.

[@SimpleHappyZen]

That's awesome :) A nice and intuitive way to go about decluttering

[@c.guedes7483]

Not minimalism related - your hair is beautiful!!! It really inspires me to embrace my natural curls

[@SimpleHappyZen]

Thank you so much :) I feel much better since embracing my natural waves :)

[@CrazyFox333]

@@SimpleHappyZen And you had said in your year end video 2022 that you gave up your hair dryer and straightening iron so your gorgeous curls are in fact a result of your minimalism choices 💜

[@craftingexperiments-StellaT]

Hi Vera, very helpful video. I don't have a magical decluttering tip, yet, but I do have a phrase that haunts me every time I'm thinking of getting rid of something: "what if I need this at some point and I don't have it?". A while ago, a psychologist friend of mine told me a tip to help me: consider giving a usage deadline to each item. That is give an object i.e. a five years period. If you haven't used this or thought of it for that time then it is obviously not offering anything and thus has to go. So I guess I go by that rule for the time being. Thank you.

[@SimpleHappyZen]

Love the idea of giving it a usage deadline :) Thanks for sharing Stella

[@aussieanne6812]

Thanks for these sensible tips. I find before and after photos are a powerful tool - whether it’s decluttering, reorganising or renovating a space. Keeps me motivated and provides a visual reminder of progress made.

[@SimpleHappyZen]

Exactly!! :) I wish I had done that haha

[@gillianm9367]

Ever booked a small holiday apartment in pale neutral tones with minimal furniture and furnishings? This will give you wonderful inspiration! When we travel we tend to take only our 'best' things and I love to see them hanging beautifully in a spacious closet ! Hold on to that feeling so that when you return home you are eager to replicate not only the aesthetic but also the calming and relaxing feelings which result from clutter- free living ! I recently used this tip to clear out many haircare, beauty & toiletry items which I no longer use (and had many duplicates of) I donated these to the 'Beauty Bank' at Superdrug and 'the Hygiene Bank' at Boots (in the UK) These are then distributed to local people in need. I have recently minimised the products I use and now stick with my 'tried & tested' only ! I think the best tip ever is to concentrate on what you want to KEEP rather than asking yourself what needs to go. When we see our loveliest items together we realise we don't need the others. And ALWAYS sort by CATEGORY to keep things manageable and fun. This will also ensure you keep enough of what you need (but not too much) Keep each category where it should be to avoid buying unnecessary duplicates! You are wise beyond your years Vera , your channel is my absolute favourite and I love to read all the helpful tips in the comments section also. Thank you 🦋🌺💕

[@louisehorsfall9400]

Ooh I like this idea. I have products that are probably well out of date that I don't use so I feel it would be an insult to put in the charity bins! The lady who helps the homeless sado for example, tha tif we get Xmas gifts of beauty products that we don't like, we can donate to them, even some half used ones! It's less weight for people to carry around. I always play it careful as I don't want to offend by donating anything too well used. They deserve to feel valued by what we donate

[@louiseanne830]

I love your videos Vera, I rewatch them to really take the messages and your wording in :)

[@SimpleHappyZen]

Aw thank you so much Louise, that's so nice to hear!! Have a wonderful day today

[@natalies.8016]

My tip for decluttering from a recent endeavor - I purchased organizing bags for my stuffed animal collection. I told myself I was only allotted 3 bags full. I focused on which ones initially sparked the most joy and placed them in the bags. Once the bags were nearly full - I then focused on what was left and if I felt they were important enough to take up space in the bags. In the end, I achieved my goal of 3 bags and I decluttered 1 bag full.

[@donnahutchinson2464]

I love the advice to Flip the Script!

[@mizmelbourne]

I use an electronic wardrobe manager to manage my clothes. I can quickly see what matches, what doesn’t fit, what is not getting worn, and avoid buying duplicates. Been a real game changer for me.

[@CharlotEYUT]

Thanks Vera, I’m in the process of downsizing and I needed this gentle reminder 💕

[@SimpleHappyZen]

Good luck Charlot, you can do it! :)

[@audreywoodside5964]

Vera 🤗 I love this one! Great tips 🙏

[@SimpleHappyZen]

Thank you so much Audrey! :)

[@amandalynnblaze9799]

You have inspired me so much. I call myself a social minimalist and you have inspired me to make my own channel on here simply from how authentic and unabashedly yourself you are. Thank you 🙏🏻❤️

[@SimpleHappyZen]

Aww thank you Amanda 💕💕💕 Wishing you all the best with your channel!!

[@amandalynnblaze9799]

@@SimpleHappyZen thank you so incredibly much for your support 🙏🏻❤️

[@deborahmeyers551]

Awesome thanks for this video Vera! I will take your tips and use them when I'm decluttering I will be decluttering my wardrobe next. I have clothes my mother got me when I was very ill and none of them are my style though I'm very grateful so I hold on to them night gowns too pretty expensive too she's a very loving mother just not my type of clothes also she got too many cat beds🙀 she loves my cat but he loves my bed anyway my tip would be please keep healthy everyone so your mother does not compensate with material things hahaha love and light Vera 💜

[@SimpleHappyZen]

Loved reading your story Deborah :) Hope you're feeling good and healthy now!

[@beccismith4454]

😄👍🏼🍀✨🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🧸

[@JoanSilva52]

Always enjoy your videos. So helpful and says with such kindness and heart ❤️

[@SimpleHappyZen]

Thank you Joan 🤗💖

[@cathylynnpietranton]

Thanks Vera these are great tips.❤

[@SimpleHappyZen]

Happy to hear that, thank you Cathy! Have a lovely day today

[@heidikoort664]

1.when you buy something, you have to get rid of something. 2.the weight and volume of the bags I carry out always makes me happy about the space I just made free. 3.collect things that do not fit in your life, put some box ready and fill it ("for charity ") 4.have I used this last year?/will I use it in 1 year? put it away in a box and you will never miss it, promise!

[@DoodleDragon4U]

Thanks for the advice about decluttering. Tip number four is really going to help me with downsizing my shoe collection.

[@SimpleHappyZen]

Happy to hear it :) Good luck!!

[@rosemarywilliams9969]

I want to still down size to 300sq foot. I've gotten rid of 90% of everything but since covid I've noticed that I've purchased furnitures that are not useful since moving into a new home. Now I want to for sure move into a smaller home no matter what. I know myself more now and with more space i will end up filling that void.

[@SimpleHappyZen]

Ah I understand :) Lots of luck with your plans Rosemary!!!

[@beccismith4454]

Maybe you can give the empty space some kind of a designation, like “dance area” or “fresh air collection”… :-) No furniture will fit in there :-)!

[@lunellevanniekerk2987]

I am not a minimalist not do I aspire to be BUT I really do want desire to declutter because we really don’t need so much stuff… So a goal I have set for myself is to declutter something or some things EVERY week. I have been doing this since November last year and I have made a lot of progress. Long way to go still but at least there is movement and consistently so 💪🏽🇿🇦

[@SimpleHappyZen]

Love that! Way to go

[@lauriecrose8451]

These are great tips. My favorite is to think about what you are gaining. Thank you for sharing your tips and ideas. They are very helpful to me. 😊

[@SimpleHappyZen]

Thank you Laurie, happy to hear it! 😄🌿 Have a nice weekend

[@tiashadae1143]

Awesome video, thank you!

[@SimpleHappyZen]

Happy to hear it, thank you Tia! Have a lovely day today

[@cristinam.1764]

Yes!!! Decluttering video!!! Exactly what I needed right now, thank you Vera, I will try the tips and let you know how it went, have a great weekend

[@SimpleHappyZen]

Yay, so happy you enjoyed it!! Happy decluttering and I look forward to hearing the results :)

[@PABWECG]

I have ADHD, so focusing on more than one thing at a time is very challenging and exhausting. Recently I was trying to declutter my sweaters, and I kept looking at each one and asking if it brought me joy (like Marie Kondo), and then immediately I'd get sucked into the questions of "Is it useful?" or "Will I someday swear this maybe?" So, I stopped myself and made myself ONLY ask the question, "Does this spark joy for me?" and then I divided things that way. After that was done I went through the "no joy" pile and asked if I needed it anyway. So, then a few of them got kept. It was much easier to "attack the problem" with one focus at a time.

[@donnarakitzis2719]

Love your tips. Love the quote by William Morris.

[@SimpleHappyZen]

Thank you so much Donna! :) I love that quote too

[@lucytitus2183]

Thank you Vera! I always get so inspired when you do decluttering video! Thank you! Have a wonderful week! 🤗❤️

[@SimpleHappyZen]

Yay, so happy to hear that! Thanks Lucy

[@louisehorsfall9400]

Casey Davies talks about the container method. You decide how much space you're willing to give to an item then you pick the best of what you have, that fits the space and the rest goes. Take bath towels. Do you need 20? If you dont have th space, you dont need another cupboard, you just pick the best to keep. The space is like an objective party in the decision making process. It really works.

[@antiquesrestoration3874]

For items I may be on the fence about decluttering, I have a sort of way station. I have a box in the back of a closet that the item will go into for the "just in case" situation. After a certain period of time, I revisit the item, which is then so much easier to declutter. It's a kind of fail-safe that helps for the occasional item I find harder to declutter for whatever reason.

[@SimpleHappyZen]

Absolutely love that :)

[@barbarasylvain5060]

To let things go is to stop ruminating about letting them go. Take decisive action.

[@SimpleHappyZen]

Ah yes, well put :)

[@beccismith4454]

Deciding! This is a key point for me! :-) Thank you 🙏

[@mukundjere9230]

Hi Vera... Great. Perfect observation. All five tips are very useful for new one or those who regularly maintaing... Thanks 🎉🎉 enjoy moments 👍

[@SimpleHappyZen]

Thank you so much for your kind words! :)

[@sybilleelsner4082]

Being my own guest,a great tip to me...i have that in my kitchen...best retaurant in town,spezial guest:Me ,so i will do that with all areas in my life,thank you for this tip.

[@beccismith4454]

Oh I like that!

[@kbs7583]

Ah ha ! I'm loving the feeling of decluttering, and the gaining of energy and more from it, as you say. One of my decluttering tips that I use in this "winter of my life" is when an item I no longer use, am not attached to, or simply do not want, is to ask myself: Would one of my chidren (or if none, close people) want it when I've passed on? It might be something small (or large) that one of them can take sooner than later. If not, Vera, it can go, using one of your decluttering methods!

[@SimpleHappyZen]

🤗✨💕

[@vassili3000]

A tip I use during my current decluttering project is to put all the things I am not sure about (or the ones I do not have the strength to part with yet) into a box and store that box in the attic for like half a year. This way I am fooling my brain that if I need something, I can get it anytime. But I told myself that any and all things that I won’t miss or notice gone in this half a year will be disposed of for good.

[@reneesvensk]

These are excellent ideas Vera! I always love your videos! 😊

[@SimpleHappyZen]

Thank you so much Amy :) Have a lovely day today

[@vassili3000]

As an avid gamer who owns 7 consoles (I am working on reducing that number, eventually haha) and before seeing tip no. 4 in this video I decided that I will confine all my physical video games to this one relatively small shelf I have - and just one section per platform. Not only it looks amazing, but also it gave me more confidence to get rid of some of the games I knew I would not ever play! I still have a long way to go but it is nice to see that I am on the right path haha

[@ktrudy1]

I love the number 3 one

[@SimpleHappyZen]

Happy to hear it :)

[@Colibrilibra]

I found myself cleaning all the time. I craved me time so much. But when our toddler slept or was with husband or grandma instead of taking time for myself I was ending up cleaning the house. Organising, tucking things away. It was years since I started getting rid of things. It is so much easier now to manage the house. And with clean minimal organised kitchen, cooking is turning into joyful creative time, instead of dreadful mess.

[@lihimizrahi5157]

I like to use the criteria of useful or loved. Your house should contain objects that are either used and / or loved. And following the love theme, I also like to think that objects deserve too to be used and loved. And they deserve passing them to someone who will use and love them instead of collecting dust at someone's box or garage

[@SimpleHappyZen]

Love that way of looking at it!

[@beccismith4454]

Yes, this thought is helpful for me as well! If an item is just taking up space in my place and not being used or appreciated or loved or seen, it’s a great move to allow it to move onto somewhere where it is seen and appreciated and used! :-)

[@lihimizrahi5157]

@@beccismith4454 great :-)

[@nancybruce2247]

I decided all my shoes needed to fit in one specific space. I determined that the space would hole 33 pairs of shoes, but I had 58 pairs! I put all my shoes on my bed, so the culling was easier. Tried on every pair, looked for duplicates, bagged up the extras and gave them to a church outreach which specializes in giving needy folks shoes. Also, my favorite decluttering question: "If it isn't a clear 'YES', it's a 'NO'. That saves me from waffling.

[@Deb.-.]

Love the idea that your shoes went to the needy.

[@SimpleHappyZen]

Me too :)

[@xHeartHeartbreakx]

Wow that's really impressive to downsize like that. Definitely inspiring

[@kathrynmettelka7216]

My test was can I wear these shoes again? They were wonderful Ferragamo heels, most of which can't wear any more because my feet widened as I aged. Also I don't wear heels much anymore. The shoes, still in their boxes, go to Goodwill this week. And I have more shelf space in my very crowded closet. More to declutter, but I one step at a time.

[@dodomein]

Hi Vera, thanks for your great tips. I recently threw away a big paper bag full of expired medicines. And reflexively wanted to buy these medicines again. Then I asked myself, why? Some of the old medicines had never been used. In fact, I only bought medicines because it is recommended to have them. I thought to myself: What happens if I don't repurchase medicines and then need them? Can I use home remedies until I get to the pharmacy? And indeed: teas instead of stomach drops, teas and onion syrup instead of cough syrup, cooling pads instead of pain gel, etc. For certain illnesses or injuries, it is enough for me to get the medicines from the pharmacy only when I need them. I also don't need 5 different types of pain gels, headache tablets, etc. Finally, my medicine cabinet is clear. I find everything. 😁

[@beccismith4454]

Awesome!!! I think often we really don’t need as much medicine! I have hardly anything in my home. Teas and honey, yes. 😉 And even recently when I got the virus that has been in the news the past couple of years for the first time, I didn’t take anything except a couple of homeopathic substances recommended by a friend of mine who is a naturopath.

[@teresaromero8655]

Lovely video !

[@SimpleHappyZen]

Thank you so much Teresa!! Have a lovely day today

[@heidilopez-felix8105]

Great tips thank you 😊

[@SimpleHappyZen]

Happy to hear it! :)

[@misslies84]

love your ghibli stuff 😍. i've got some too. mine makes me happy. 🤗

[@scherrigreene5602]

I have found if I stick to the task of decluttering a specific area by using a clock method. Starting a specific spot, say 1. Then just follow the arm 1,2,3,4,etc. Basically goes around till you end up at 1. Especially, if I get caught up in second guessing or what if I need this? It is easy to get distracted. I can use this in a room or on a table, chore, or really any space. Thanks for the tips.

[@SimpleHappyZen]

Oh that's a clever one!! I never heard of it before :)

[@ericamciver1293]

I use the one in /one out rule. Also if it hasn't been used in 30 days it goes. I have a few exceptions but this is my general rule.

[@alonew]

My go to trick is " I need open / negative space, how can I get it?" & also symmetry, try keeping a utensils drawer all straight n in line, you will automatically hv to declutter 😂

[@SimpleHappyZen]

Haha that's awesome :D

[@raqueldelorbe5277]

My best tip is to send my stuff to a disadvantage people on other countries like Dominican Republic, Haití or even Africa. They won’t waste it, because they really need it.

[@lth7023]

My favorite question that I ask myself is "If we Lost Everything in a Disaster, what things that I lost would I remember to include on the Insurance Forms & what would I buy again? Other times when we're doing a Real Clean out we use the "Swedish Death Clear" & that Principle is "Do I want our Sons to have to clear out these things when I die?" There are so many things that the Adult Children of the Elderly have to get rid of, when their Parents Die, that it can be Overwhelming to them! So my husband & I remind ourselves of that Principle! The Easiest Thing is to go thru your things every few Months & keep the Flow going so it's not so hard to do it when you have kept things around for 20yrs! That's when it gets harder to let go!

[@KellyClarkD]

This may sound evil but, "If I were a burglar, would I steal this item from this house?" sounds like a good tip. 😂

[@shehnazahmad5213]

Thanks V

[@SimpleHappyZen]

You're very welcome! :)

[@user-fk7iu6es3h]

do you have any minimalism/decluttering tips for dvd and cd box cases? They take up a lot of room and I was thinking of buying a DVD binder/case so I only keep the actual discs but i’m worried I will need the boxes some day :( thank you!

[@charisedaniels1237]

You have beautiful skin!

[@fwebster6226]

I regularly declutter items by 50% - it doesn’t matter the start number as long as it decreases by half.

[@SimpleHappyZen]

Yes, nice and simple :) I like it

[@DesertDreamer]

Quarantine the items you're unsure about. Put them in a closed cardboard box in an out of the way place. If you don't retrieve the items within a certain (pre determined) time frame, you can be confident that you can dispose of them without regret.

[@SimpleHappyZen]

Love it! Thanks for sharing

[@sanja7489]

Oh I think I will never overcome my Achilles heel in decluttering...What if I need it one day?...your tips are of great help 🌺

[@simpleandhealthymama]

That can be a tricky one! The more I declutter though, the more I realize that even if I would have reached for an item to use it after I've decluttered it, I'd rather live with not having every single thing I could ever use rather than keeping it all and living in the chaos.

[@SimpleHappyZen]

Yes, that's a really great way of looking at it :)

[@sanja7489]

@@simpleandhealthymama good and practical advice , Thank you ☘️

[@anncat1111]

When clothes decluttering, I know I must always ask "Is it comfortable?" A happy life has comfort! I must also add, that in the past I had some uncomfortable shoes and a dress that were so beautiful and made me feel happy thinking about memories, which I kept and displayed in my room as art. Why have a painting when you have this beautiful dress, why have a sculpture when you have these beautiful shoes... They were eventually decluttered for a long-distance move, but I have photos, and memories, of them.

[@SimpleHappyZen]

Love that! Yes, comfort is a must for me too :)

[@calisongbird]

Regarding decluttering makeup, I can remind everyone (as a former professional makeup artist)… MAKEUP EXPIRES. It collects bacteria and becomes unsanitary after a certain amount of time. One example is mascara - the rule of thumb is 3 months. But of course, most of us are guilty of extending that out longer, especially if it was an expensive brand. Be especially conscious when it comes to those ubiquitous powder eyeshadow palettes that are so popular. At the very least, scrape off the top layer of the powder on a regular basis with a tissue or a clean cosmetic spatula or even butter knife.

[@SimpleHappyZen]

Good advice! Thanks for sharing

[@helenebedar7636]

one magic tip? if I wanted to go by the door to get some places I love or dreamt of going....quickly, to own less...makes all the difference! Also, freedom! Nothing (or hardly) left to do with less...magic! TIME! Time for people and doing things...I love! :))

[@simpleandhealthymama]

I'm finding that if anything isn't immediately a "YES!" then it probably can go. All my maybe items are really "nos" that I am delaying acting on.

[@SimpleHappyZen]

Haha that's relatable :)

[@minimalmomgreece]

I think that the best way to start decluttering is the "30 day decluttering challenge". That's what I did when I first started and I never regret it because it changed my way of thinking, my life and it gave me motivation. Fortunately, I had documented it with photos with which I have very recently made a video in my channel. I would be very glad if you take a look at it and tell me your opinion. Kisses!

[@minimalmomgreece]

Btw, I am drastiria, I have recently changed my nickname and photo.

[@PamperedWife]

I just shared your video with my stepmom 😬

[@SimpleHappyZen]

😄✌

[@pomegranateandivy9833]

I think my tip is: don't obsess about decluttering in certain seasons of your life, especially like parenthood. I'm in a season of my life where I have really tiny kids (2 kids under 5, one is almost 1) and I'm not able to do much for myself. I can't engage in my hobbies as much as I want to. So I store my supplies for my hobbies in boxes. It doesn't bother me that I'm not using them right now, because I will come back to them later. I don't feel the need to throw everything out and repurchase it later. What I tend to do to feel a little bit lighter about my space is to take only the things out of my boxes that I really need right now. I create tiny capsules for my hobbies to keep them around for times when I can use the items for 5 to 10 minutes. And other than that, just focus on mundane activities and do my job as a mom and my chores, cooking, whatever. I can come back to it later. I just don't obsess about it. Also I don't even know anymore what it feels like to have time for myself. What do I like as my identity? For my kids questioning my identity doesn't really matter at all. But still, I'll come back to it later in life and that's okay.

[@SimpleHappyZen]

I like that :) Sometimes in life, it really makes more sense to focus on other things for a while :) Have a great day!

[@essamtarek9140]

The hardest part is the idea of decluttering is that I do not know how to get rid of the small things like stationery items (pencils, pens, erasers.. etc) and electronic things from my old PC or electronic devices, as alternative I collect all the things that I do not use in a box or a old bag and set them aside till I figure out how can I get rid of them.

[@SimpleHappyZen]

Sometimes, if options like selling, donating or giving away for free aren't available, it's best to just recycle or bin the items. They're not doing anything for you just sitting in your space. The best thing would be to try and learn from the items you get rid of, so that you will make fewer 'purchasing mistakes' in the future. Mindful consumption is one of the best ways to be more sustainable :)

[@beccismith4454]

Maybe there is an after school program or kids camp or something that might appreciate pens and pencils and erasers and stuff? Or even a hospital, the kids’ ward…?…

[@judysbakeryandtestkitchen1654]

Decluttering as much easier when I’ve already set up an appointment for the charity pick up! I’m motivated to help them out and get rid of excess things Especially love your first tip

[@SimpleHappyZen]

Oh that's a good one!! Nice to have the appointment set up to motivate you to do things quickly :)

[@mindibear]

I ask myself “If I lost everything in a fire would I repurchase this item?” If the answer is no then I get rid of that item.

[@SimpleHappyZen]

Makes sense :)

[@lenas5613]

This actually happened to me. A few years later I'm in the same overwhelmed place. Fatigued and overwhelmed.

[@louisehorsfall9400]

One thing i find hard is that i dont like waste. I get stalled. I have an item that isn't useless but its not good enough to sell or it's a complicated process to give it a good home. Perhaps it's functional but a bit battered so no one else will want it. Then i feel bad throwing it out. However, if i am not using it anyway, it's already being 'wasted'.

[@pinkroses135]

Bump for the algorithm

[@mimisart]

Is it partially broken (talking kids toys here) and unable to be fixed, out it goes!!

[@froggy9191]

I find it so SO difficult to get rid of clothing, even though I only wear 40% or less of the clothing I have and always wear a similar outfit each day. Does anyone have any tips? 😟

[@SimpleHappyZen]

Hi Froggy! :) I have a deepdive video into decluttering your wardrobe, perhaps it has some helpful tips in there for you: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qKWkqZuChLV2m68

[@beccismith4454]

For me, learning about “dress your truth“ and energy profiling with Carol Tuttle has been extremely helpful with my wardrobe. It’s about much more than clothing, but definitely helps in that regard! :-) Now making decisions about what I want to keep and wear and buy and get rid of has become much clearer, and it’s easy to spot and choose things that reflect and enhance who I am! I love it

[@MRSancutzik]

Limit yourself using time, space or a number. Keep only the things you really love.

[@naomisandoz3448]

Leuke video. ik vroeg mij af heb jij speciale jurk? die je bijvoorbeeld met feestdagen aan doet of dat niet? ik heb jurk die ik alleen met kerstdagen draag en miss alleen met mijn verjaardag de rest van het jaar gebruik ik het niet? wat doe jij met zulke item?

[@madhumitadevivlogger4781]

Keep it with you... Anyhow u r using it... Don't throw away... I too have such kind of clothes that to worn on wedding function etc

[@SimpleHappyZen]

Hoi Naomi! Bedankt voor je vraag :) Ik ben het met Madhumita en Alicia eens, ik denk dat het heel handig kan zijn om 1 jurk te bewaren voor speciale gelegenheden. :) Als het het in ieder geval af en toe gebruikt voor zulke dingen, en je voelt je er nog steeds goed in, zou het zonde zijn om hem weg te doen. Persoonlijk heb ik op het moment niets voor speciale gelegenheden, gewoon omdat het echt letterlijk jaren geleden is hahaha. Mocht er ooit zoiets weer komen, dan denk ik dat ik ook ga kijken voor 1 jurk die ik voor allerlei gelegenheden kan gebruiken.

[@anjakeller6612]

Wish I had taken before pictures too..

[@SimpleHappyZen]

Haha yes, live and learn :)

[@Τζένη-η7ζ]

❤️👏❤️👏❤️👏❤️👏❤️

[@konradkrupicki7884]

Hello, what are these pictures from 2:11?

[@SimpleHappyZen]

They are basically the only artwork I still have on my walls :) They're all from Studio Ghibli movies, I got them at the Studio Ghibli museum in Japan :)

[@user-dl4cu8vu1s]

Now I have only one room full of stuff

[@shelachee6286]

I ask my self… have I touched it, or used it in the past year?. If answer is no. I let it go.

[@saida2399]

🤗♥️

[@SimpleHappyZen]

🤗🌷