WEBVTT
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Welcome back to another episode of the Downsizing Roadmap Podcast with your hosts Jodi Rosko and Heather Fisher.
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We're talking about all things downsizing, from our own experiences with clients to guest experts.
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Let's make downsizing easier, one conversation at a time.
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Hi, welcome to the Downsizing Roadmap Podcast.
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10 sneaky categories that create the most clutter.
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Yeah, I think I think this is so brilliant because they're little things, but they're the little things that add up into all the big things.
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Yeah.
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I think there's a misconception sometimes that if you feel like your house is cluttered or you're trying to judge whether your house is cluttered or whether there's room to downsize things, you think that, well, if my house doesn't look like a hoarder, a hoarder house, I'm fine.
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Yeah.
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But I think there's so many places and things that don't need to look that way.
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They can look pretty and organized and still be clutter.
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So maybe we'll come across some of those categories in this list.
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Yeah.
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Okay.
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Yeah.
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I'm Jodi Rosko.
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I'm Heather Fisher.
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We listen to um in our class that we give, we listen to Jerry Seinfeld talk about um all clutter.
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And it's hilarious.
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You should look it up.
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It's on YouTube.
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Um but he talks about stuff and how there's too much stuff and how we shove it in our, you know, closets and, you know, garage and everywhere so that we don't see all the mistakes that we've made of the stuff.
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And I think that's exactly what you're talking about, is that the house can look clean, but behind those closed doors of closets and storage areas and drawers and all of that stuff, there's so much living in there.
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Um, because when you go to move and you start putting that stuff in boxes, you realize it just keeps coming out and coming out and coming out.
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Yeah.
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And I mean, we really, when we we've talked about the 80-20 rule, and I, you know, years ago, you could not have convinced me that I could give away 80% of what I own and still not see a change.
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But I I'm a pretty, you know, we talk about downsizing all the time, and I'm a thrower outer, and I have downsized so much stuff, and I still, you know, after moving just about a year ago, I was standing in front of my bathroom vanity, and you know, I've cleaned all that out.
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I cleaned it out before we moved, and I was standing there and I'm thinking, okay, I use the face products in this drawer, and I use this little one bin of, you know, some hair products, and I have this in in this drawer, and I'm like, okay, I have three more drawers and probably 70% of the cabinet underneath that I haven't touched that stuff either since I moved.
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And that was like my initial decision.
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I I think we all just have that everywhere.
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And I think that being comfortable with the drawers not being all full, yeah, or the you know, top shelves not having anything on them or any of that stuff.
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We I bought a dresser um that I put under the TV.
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So it it it's like a long well, it's drawer, it's a set of drawers or whatever.
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Um, but when I put under the TV, I like the way it looks, but I'm like, I should put nothing in those drawers.
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And so I still don't have anything in the drawers.
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I'm so proud of it.
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Like I have plenty of stuff everywhere else.
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Don't worry, I'm not the thrower outer, so it's how that goes.
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Yeah.
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But anyway, I have not junked up those drawers and they're empty.
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And I'm actually kind of like when I look at it, it makes me feel good to know that there's not a bunch of stuff in there that that it's it's calming.
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Like it's not, you know, it feels like, oh my gosh, if I look over there at the TV and then there's just, you know, a bunch of stuff in there, you know?
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Yeah, all of those unmade decisions when things are full just kind of weigh in your mind.
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But yeah, I have an empty dresser in my uh, well, my half is empty in my in uh, you know, our bedroom because you know, I just fortunate to have a closet that holds everything.
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And I need that dresser, that furniture piece to just kind of anchor the room and and live there, but it's empty.
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I don't need the drawers.
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So it is a a strange feeling at first, but then it is very freeing to just know, like, okay, it's okay.
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It's okay.
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It's okay to have it be uh okay.
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So let's talk about the sneaky stuff.
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So number one, um, just in case items.
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Oh my gosh.
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So I might need this someday.
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I might need um who has the box?
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Do you have the box of cords?
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Yes, the box of cords.
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Yes.
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We don't know.
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Some of them we don't know where they go to.
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Some of them are for phones that don't fit those cords anymore.
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Well, yeah, so it's a we do have it was a drawer at our old house.
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It's like a little plastic bin inside of a drawer at our new house.
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And it's very funny that you say that because in the last two weeks my daughter was traveling and she wanted um, you know, plug-in uh earphones that would work on the the different um jack on the airplane.
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Oh yeah.
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And so I was like, okay, well, if we own them, that's where they'll be.
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No, did not find those.
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And then my husband needed a longer cord for where he charges his phone.
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And he's like, Do we have one of them?
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I'm like, if we do, it's in there.
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He did not find one.
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So we had to, you know, she bought headphones, he ordered a new cord.
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So I was just thinking, what do we have in there?
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What is it useful for?
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And I think nothing.
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Right.
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Because when we actually needed things, we don't have those.
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And you bought them.
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You b you bought them, which is not very often.
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Not very often.
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And he's gonna have that longer charging cord now for quite some time.
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Like you don't need another one sitting there.
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But the shorter one's probably now in the book.
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I'm sure it is.
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I'm sure it is.
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We'll take it to the car or something.
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I don't know.
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Anyway, yeah, so this is what happens to all of us though.
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Right that what we have isn't quite right for the use we need.
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So we buy what we actually need, but we save that emotion, that feeling of I might need that, even though we've just proved to ourselves we don't, or it doesn't work for our home at that moment.
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Yeah, I think linens can be like that.
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Like, oh, somebody might come stay, so I need these extra towels, or I need these extra sheets, or and if you have somebody that comes stays all the time, great.
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But if you don't really have anybody that comes and stays, you know, linens can accumulate.
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Um, kitchen stuff like can accumulate.
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Like you have too many spoon, spatulas, blah, blah.
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We've talked about all that before.
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But um, you buy the new ones and the old ones don't go away because you might need it.
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You know, you know, you might need that someday or whatever.
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Yeah, and I think, you know, maybe one layer of that just in case works.
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Like may, you know, we need that one extra set of sheets or or whatnot.
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One, right.
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But the problem is it's all in, no out.
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So each time we get a new set of sheets, we keep the old.
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So suddenly, well, maybe 12 guests will come over.
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Right.
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Sleep on beds we don't own.
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And you know, that happens.
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Right.
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And I think the mental part of that, the psychology of that is um, you know, you back to you own it, and so you it has more value to you, but you're afraid um that you might need it, that um it's fear, it's fear-based that you aren't gonna have something that you need and that you kind of have to keep keep it just in case, you know, that that happens.
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And so I think what you'll find is if you let that stuff go, you'll feel so much lighter.
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Um, and the just in case will happen every once in a while.
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Yeah.
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Every once in a while it'll be like, ugh.
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Yeah.
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And if you're struggling, uh, you know, holding something in your hand and struggling what to do with it, just ask yourself, when is the last time I even remembered that I owned this?
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Right.
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I did go through my linen closet and there was stuff that I was like, oh, oh.
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Well, and if that's what you're thinking, like it's time for it to go because you clearly haven't seen it in so long that it's like new Christmas to you.
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And don't be swayed by that.
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You know, you've owned it and you didn't think it was cute enough to use all of that time.
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Right.
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So don't be swayed by that momentary, oh, this feels like something I haven't seen.
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It's cute.
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Right, but you aren't pulling it out.
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Like let's be real with ourselves.
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We aren't pulling it out, right?
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Right, correct.
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Correct.
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Uh, number two, sneaky category, gifts received and never used.
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Yeah.
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This is the guilt, not a gift, right?
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Yeah.
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So you kept it because somebody gave it to you and it didn't fit your life, or you know, or you just have too many of it.
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Like common offenders would be like mugs, yeah, candles, kitchen stuff, um, decor, little signs or things, you know, things that people gave you.
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Um throw blankets in my house seem to accumulate.
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Um kids love the throw blankets, and then we just get more and more and more throwing.
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I think yes.
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So this happens in my house.
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I am not, I am not a good creative gift giver.
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I feel like I should be, though.
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And so I try, and I'm sure I'm not giving great gifts.
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I'm sure you're positive.
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But my husband also, on the flip side, doesn't really I don't think like receiving gifts is his language.
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And so I try, I know he doesn't need all the everyday stuff, and so I try to get something that's just gonna be perfect, and there's a pile beside his desk of gifts, mostly from me, that just sit.
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And I it's a cycle we need to break.
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And it's just funny because you know, I feel the need to give well, and he's like, Okay, that's nice, and then it sits, and I think you know, that's the pile that needs to go.
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Well, and I think the main purpose of a gift is to feel appreciated, or you know, you you're trying to make somebody feel happy or feel appreciated or feel like you love them, and that's why you're giving them a gift in the first place.
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And if they felt like that when you gave it to them, like that has been accomplished.
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Like that they don't have to feel like that for the rest of their life when they look at that thing, right?
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Yeah.
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And so sometimes that might last just in the time that you gave it to them.
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They're like, oh, that was so sweet.
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She gave me something that was sweet that she gave something, not the thing, the sweet, the giving.
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Yeah.
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And and sometimes the thing that you give hits good, hits well, and you're like, oh, okay, I'm I that was sweet, and I I need this thing, or I love this thing, and I'm gonna use it.
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And sometimes it doesn't hit forever, and then you can let it go because it's already served its purpose.
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Yeah, yeah.
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It's always the intention behind that gift.
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Someone might not know that you already have something or you, you know, don't need something.
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So enjoy that moment of the giving, the receiving, um, and then you can move on and put it to better use.
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And remember that some of the gifts do hit and they're things that you will want to keep forever.
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And and so that is those are the ones that will remind you of that person and whatnot.
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And so you don't have to keep every single thing that anybody has ever given you.
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Yeah.
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Yeah.
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Just the ones you really love.
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So um, okay.
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Duplicates, um, you know, drawer, closet, entire room, doubles of everything, travel size lotions that you've can't you've kept from whatever.
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Um, you know, you don't need you don't need all of the you know, travel size lotions from any hotel that you've had.
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And um things that also I have a lot of scissors in my house.
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I have a lot of scissors.
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Yes, you do.
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You do.
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Um, screwdrivers, you know, some tape measures, like you're not gonna be measuring five things at the same time.
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Yeah, stuff that just kind of tends to accumulate.
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Lotion sunscreen, um, you know, like you were saying, face products, like that that kind of stuff can tend to accumulate.
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If you try something, it's not quite right, you didn't finish the bottle, you try something new, you don't throw away the old one, you know, those kind of things just easily accumulate.
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I think a lot of the things in this category accumulate because they're um kind of unique things that don't have a natural spot in a lot of times.
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Like where do you keep your scissors, where do you keep your tape measure, your screwdrivers, so that you know what you have and you go get them.
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And they're the things that end up in like five different junk drawers.
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Yes.
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Like we have a tape measure here and we have one in the garage.
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And then you couldn't find one, so you went and bought another one.
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Yeah, yes.
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And so one spot that's kind of um, you know, this category is great for like putting like things together and then giving however many you need to keep a home.
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Yes, that you know where to go look for it.
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Yes, yes, yeah, and I do think that multiples happen either because the spaces are disorganized, like you said, or because you buy a new one because you wanted it and then you don't let the old one out.
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Like it's only in no out.
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When I need to wrap a present, I could not find scotch tape for the life of me.
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But when I don't need to, there are 12 rolls all over the house.
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All over different places.
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I mean, that's that kind of thing.
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Right, right.
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Yeah.
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So yeah, the fix to this is knowing exactly where you're keeping things and um and and putting all the like things together in your house.
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If you have batteries all over the place or, you know, those kind of things, right?
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So yeah, and recognizing your needs.
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Like you said, the travel, it's great if you have um some, but then when you go for your next trip, are you taking it and using it or are you just accumulating more from the hotel you stayed at?
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Right.
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Right, right.
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Yeah.
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Right.
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Um, okay, uh, hobby and craft.
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Oh, hobbies, all the hobbies.
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Yeah.
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People have such the best intentions, such as such good intentions, right?
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Yeah, I'm gonna knit, I'm gonna make photo albums, I'm gonna, you know, scrapbook stuff, I'm gonna woodwork, I'm gonna whatever.
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I think it's in all of our nature, it at least in mine, to not like dip a toe in and be like, I wonder if I like needlepoint or whatever it is.
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It's like, oh, I want to like needlepoint.
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Let me buy all the supplies before, you know, accomplishing one project.
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Um, but I think, you know, that can happen as well.
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We go and outfit ourselves with the whole kit and caboodle without trying a class or borrowing someone else's supplies to, you know, test the waters.
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So I really wanted to knit.
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And I cannot do it because I am too like high strung or whatever it is.
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And so I'll get knitting and the needles will just get tighter and tighter and tighter until the needles can't move anymore.
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And then I have to pull it out.
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And I tried and tried and tried.
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And so knitting, if I had taken a class, maybe they would have taught me how to not do that if I'd taken a class.
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But um, but if I'd taken a class, I might have also learned that it's it's not my it's not my thing.
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Yes.
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I uh I really want to though.
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I I feel like I've had this kindred experiment with with you, and I, you know, finally accomplished a couple inches of like, you know, scarf size width, and I was so proud.
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And then something I did, suddenly it was all unwinding and like what done and done.
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Can't do it.
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Okay, not starting over.
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I want to, but that's not it for me.
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Yes, and my all of you, all of you knitters, I'm excited for.
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Oh my gosh.
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My daughters can both crochet.
00:15:15.840 --> 00:15:20.399
My daughter makes beautiful projects, and I just skipped a generation.
00:15:20.399 --> 00:15:24.159
I got that from their grandma, and I have not learned.
00:16:12.259 --> 00:16:25.860
But so ask yourself is this is a hobby that you were aspiring to do, that you are actually gonna do, or that you used to do, and that you have, you know, maybe moved into something else that you like better, which is fine.
00:16:25.860 --> 00:16:29.139
Um, but what are you know, let go of that if it's not serving you now.
00:16:29.459 --> 00:16:42.819
And looking back to um uh the other category of duplicates and and things like that, even if it's a hobby you still do, do you have way too many supplies for what you actually use?
00:16:42.819 --> 00:17:00.259
I mean, we've been to many homes where people have, you know, way too much fabric or yarn or whatever, and they're still quilting, they're still crocheting, they're still knitting, but do you have so much that you'll never get through all of the supplies?
00:17:00.259 --> 00:17:05.860
Do you have, you know, 50 sets of knitting needles that you don't need?
00:17:05.860 --> 00:17:12.259
That kind of application of of thought on the category can help too, even if you're still doing it.
00:17:12.259 --> 00:17:12.980
Yep.
00:17:12.980 --> 00:17:15.380
Okay, number five, old tech.
00:17:15.620 --> 00:17:17.620
Who who keeps all the boxes?
00:17:17.620 --> 00:17:20.740
We might have boxes in our basement.
00:17:20.740 --> 00:17:24.819
Who has ever revisited the box ever?
00:17:24.819 --> 00:17:25.860
Right.
00:17:25.860 --> 00:17:30.420
So uh VCRs, I mean, this stuff is coming back sometimes, some of it though.
00:17:30.420 --> 00:17:43.380
Like if you, you know, if you need to use the VCR, but um old phones, you know, old chargers, um, laptops that don't really run anymore because they aren't even strong enough to run anymore.
00:17:43.620 --> 00:17:58.099
Um Yeah, and making decisions um on those laptops when you stop using them early is your best bet because if there are things on there, photos or things that you want them, doing that before any of that gets lost.
00:17:58.099 --> 00:18:06.899
Um, you know, take it to someone who understands the tech, can get it off of there and where you need it, and then recycle that.
00:18:06.899 --> 00:18:12.019
There are ways to, you know, get that so that your information's no longer on there.
00:18:12.019 --> 00:18:14.259
Uh that can all be handled for you.
00:18:14.259 --> 00:18:20.659
There are places that will take it as recycling or um, you know, scrub all the data off of it for you.
00:18:20.899 --> 00:18:21.299
Yeah.
00:18:21.539 --> 00:18:24.579
Um personal experience.
00:18:24.579 --> 00:18:28.579
I have, I think, three laptops in a stack that I have not done that with.
00:18:28.579 --> 00:18:29.619
It needs to happen.
00:18:29.619 --> 00:18:30.899
Um or old phones.
00:18:30.899 --> 00:18:32.099
Yeah, it needs to happen.
00:18:32.099 --> 00:18:36.420
The phones, um, things like that, just get it out of your life.
00:18:36.740 --> 00:18:43.940
And I think some stuff, like I said, VCRs at first, and those could actually still work because the technology isn't something that needs to evolve.
00:18:43.940 --> 00:18:48.819
But old phones and old laptops and you know, all of that stuff, it will just not work.
00:18:48.819 --> 00:18:52.819
Like it will not run the new programs because it's just not strong enough and all of that.
00:18:52.819 --> 00:18:54.019
So that that's different.
00:18:54.339 --> 00:18:54.579
Yeah.
00:18:54.579 --> 00:19:01.700
And if it's something you have replaced with a newer version, then that is you don't need the old.
00:19:01.700 --> 00:19:10.019
If it's something that that is your only means to watch an old VHS tape or something like that, then that's a different story.
00:19:10.019 --> 00:19:16.659
But once you've replaced with a newer version of something and no longer have the need to get it out of there.
00:19:16.980 --> 00:19:17.619
Yeah, but yeah.
00:19:17.619 --> 00:19:18.420
Okay.
00:19:18.420 --> 00:19:19.859
Number six, papers.
00:19:19.859 --> 00:19:21.059
Paper.
00:19:21.059 --> 00:19:24.420
We see so many people who have so much paper.
00:19:24.659 --> 00:19:24.819
Yeah.
00:19:24.980 --> 00:19:28.339
Um filing cabinets full of paper that they're never gonna look at again.
00:19:28.339 --> 00:19:30.019
Um, and that they don't need anymore.
00:19:30.019 --> 00:19:44.259
So um, organize your super important papers all in one place, hopefully in a fireproof box so that you know where they are, you can tell somebody that you care about where they are, so that it's easy for them to find them if they need them, and the rest of it can go.
00:19:44.819 --> 00:19:45.700
I think that's key.
00:19:45.700 --> 00:19:55.700
What you just said is that the the organization of the important ones um will by default downsize how much you keep because it's organized.
00:19:55.700 --> 00:20:01.139
But the time paperwork is important because you need it at important times.
00:20:01.139 --> 00:20:10.339
And if it is just an overwhelming mess of disorganization, it's not serving you at that moment you need it either.
00:20:10.339 --> 00:20:29.779
So there's so much peace of mind, not only by having less and having it take up less space, but knowing that if you know that professional needs information from you, you know where it is, or you need, you know, someone else needs to take care of things for you, they can follow the path of that.
00:20:29.779 --> 00:20:33.779
Um, so there's so much peace of mind in that for sure.
00:20:34.099 --> 00:20:35.940
And there's so much stuff that's online now.
00:20:35.940 --> 00:20:39.940
Like you don't need your books to your refrigerator or you know, any of that stuff.
00:20:39.940 --> 00:20:47.700
You can find all of that recipes, um, unless they're grandma's recipes or something super special, you can find all of that online and search.
00:20:47.700 --> 00:20:50.180
And so yeah.
00:20:50.579 --> 00:20:53.940
It lets you know where the super special ones are.
00:20:53.940 --> 00:20:54.420
Right.
00:20:54.420 --> 00:20:54.899
Exactly.
00:20:54.899 --> 00:21:01.779
You know, always what we say, you can honor things by having less because what's left is the important stuff.
00:21:02.099 --> 00:21:07.059
But for the most part, old tax returns, receipts, you know, medical paperwork that's old, expired.
00:21:07.059 --> 00:21:08.180
Expired coupons.
00:21:08.180 --> 00:21:09.379
Oh my gosh, right?
00:21:09.379 --> 00:21:11.940
They go in the junk drawer and then they expire, they go there to die.
00:21:11.940 --> 00:21:12.420
Yes.
00:21:12.420 --> 00:21:17.139
Um, so yeah, so there's so much paper that we don't actually need anymore.
00:21:17.139 --> 00:21:20.980
So um all the important stuff in one place, and that's it.
00:21:20.980 --> 00:21:25.220
Uh number seven, sentimental um items.
00:21:25.460 --> 00:21:31.220
So I I think the caveat here is the uh pre-sential items.
00:21:31.220 --> 00:21:41.460
These are the items that aren't truly sentimental, but we're attaching that label to big, broad, sweeping categories.
00:21:41.460 --> 00:21:51.940
And I I've seen this in my own family, and I think it's thinking I need to save this because somebody might love it in the future.
00:21:51.940 --> 00:21:52.339
Yeah.
00:21:52.339 --> 00:21:59.619
Not saying, here's the story and here's why I love it now and enjoying it.
00:21:59.619 --> 00:22:02.740
It's sweeping, oh, we better keep all the baby stuff.
00:22:02.740 --> 00:22:03.139
Yeah.
00:22:03.139 --> 00:22:04.420
The kids' artwork.
00:22:04.420 --> 00:22:04.899
Yeah.
00:22:05.059 --> 00:22:05.379
Yeah.
00:22:05.619 --> 00:22:24.420
Every single like stuff that was grandma's, whether it was important stuff or not, just because it was Yeah, not curating, but just making sweeping broad strokes because the item potentially lives in somebody's sentimental category in some unknown future family member.
00:22:24.819 --> 00:22:25.059
Yeah.
00:22:25.059 --> 00:22:33.139
We had a whole bunch of trophies that um Maddie had gotten, and really like 95% of the trophies were participation trophies.
00:22:33.139 --> 00:22:40.180
And she had had a shelf in her room, and we started to change up her room, you know, at one point when she was getting a little older.
00:22:40.180 --> 00:22:46.259
And she took all those trophies and just armed basically, like almost like armed them off the shelf and put them in the trash.
00:22:46.259 --> 00:22:52.019
And she's like, These are all like They mean nothing to me because they weren't her actual, like, she didn't win.
00:22:52.019 --> 00:22:56.579
Like it wasn't something that was and so she was like, these are not important to me.
00:22:56.579 --> 00:22:59.220
And I'm like, okay, like I don't need to keep those, right?
00:22:59.220 --> 00:23:01.059
And so if it's important, keep it.
00:23:01.059 --> 00:23:04.259
But if it's really not, like you get given so many things.
00:23:04.579 --> 00:23:07.539
Yeah, I think that that's what this category is saying.
00:23:07.539 --> 00:23:23.700
That, you know, for somebody who really, you know, put all kinds of hours and time and and effort into a sport and you know, just won a trophy that they had worked so hard for, that is a sentimental item for them.
00:23:23.700 --> 00:23:29.139
But saying trophies are sentimental, don't throw them away can't be that broad stroke.
00:23:29.139 --> 00:23:29.460
Right.
00:23:29.460 --> 00:23:31.059
It's really curating.
00:23:31.059 --> 00:23:44.980
And so these are the categories that too many of us just apply that broad filter of, oh, we should keep all the baby clothes because every person on the planet was a baby at one time and we need to remember what they wore.
00:23:44.980 --> 00:23:47.619
You know, that's not a good filter.
00:23:47.619 --> 00:23:59.539
But if there's one outfit that is so important to you because of the story of that particular piece, that's something to curate and keep in your legacy box.
00:23:59.779 --> 00:24:00.099
Right.
00:24:00.259 --> 00:24:00.819
Exactly.
00:24:00.819 --> 00:24:06.819
So yeah, stuff that sounds like it should be sentimental, but maybe it actually isn't, but you haven't put any thought into that.
00:24:07.059 --> 00:24:07.379
Yeah.
00:24:07.379 --> 00:24:12.420
So just realizing that, you know, kids want stories, not items.
00:24:12.420 --> 00:24:19.220
And to check yourself if you're saving things for that general, well, somebody might want this, start asking people.
00:24:19.220 --> 00:24:19.619
Yeah.
00:24:19.619 --> 00:24:24.500
Their answer will maybe show you that they don't.
00:24:24.819 --> 00:24:25.460
They don't, right?
00:24:25.460 --> 00:24:25.779
Yeah.
00:24:25.779 --> 00:24:29.539
Okay, number eight, decor from past seasons of life.
00:24:29.539 --> 00:24:39.859
Um, so this is like you had a whole vibe of your house, um, and then you changed it to something else, but you still have all the old decor from the original vibe.
00:24:39.859 --> 00:24:54.259
And this happens um a lot with holiday decor because you put it out and then you put it back, and then you buy some new things for the next holiday, and you don't realize that you're not putting out everything that you have in your bin or whatever.
00:24:54.259 --> 00:24:59.619
And so then the bin just kind of starts not really coming out, and you're buying different things.
00:24:59.619 --> 00:25:07.299
And um, so that I feel like, you know, seasonal decor really can you can do that easily without really thinking about it.
00:25:07.619 --> 00:25:14.980
Yeah, and we have things um, you know, hanging on our walls or, you know, sitting on a shelf for a very long time.
00:25:14.980 --> 00:25:18.500
And so for a long time we're not noticing it at all.
00:25:18.500 --> 00:25:26.500
And then maybe it gets replaced, but we have back to that ownership, like, oh, we've had this for so long.
00:25:26.500 --> 00:25:34.259
We have trouble making that distinction that, like, oh, we we've replaced it because we didn't like it so much.
00:25:34.819 --> 00:25:40.019
And sometimes you can make your house fresh by like moving it to another room and you know, kind of doing that.
00:25:40.019 --> 00:25:44.819
But if you end up like taking it and then putting it in storage, like then there's no place for it in your house.
00:25:44.819 --> 00:25:47.619
Like it is not, it's lived, it served its purpose.
00:25:47.619 --> 00:25:52.899
Yeah, you loved looking at it for a whatever time, that time's over, it can go.
00:25:53.220 --> 00:26:17.460
Yeah, and if there's a move involved in dealing with all of these things, uh sometimes the vibe of the house dictates you know, the physical house itself, the the space um dictates what's going to feel like it's right again, and something that you had the perfect spot for in one location just is never going to feel right in the next.
00:26:17.779 --> 00:26:19.299
And I definitely had that when I moved.
00:26:19.299 --> 00:26:20.500
Um, you probably did too.
00:26:20.500 --> 00:26:23.299
Stuff that I had, and I'm like, oh, where am I gonna put this in the new house?
00:26:23.299 --> 00:26:27.460
And I tried it like four or five different places, and it just doesn't seem to fit in the new house.
00:26:27.700 --> 00:26:46.740
Yeah, the color scheme can shift if you know your woodwork's different or the flooring's different, all of those things shift and move, and sometimes things that you either have just had a long time and when you really think about it, you don't love it anymore, or things that you're like, well, it is pretty, they just don't work, and that's okay.
00:26:47.139 --> 00:26:48.019
Right, exactly.
00:26:48.019 --> 00:26:50.819
It can still have life in it and you can share it with someone else.
00:26:51.139 --> 00:26:52.099
Yeah, someone else will love it.
00:26:52.099 --> 00:26:52.659
Love it.
00:26:52.819 --> 00:26:53.299
Yeah, yeah.
00:26:53.299 --> 00:26:56.420
Um, okay, number nine, pending projects.
00:26:56.420 --> 00:27:03.220
So uh stuff that you're gonna fix or mend or return or finish or you know, all of that.
00:27:03.220 --> 00:27:08.500
You broke a vase, it's broken, you're gonna glue it back together five years ago that happened.
00:27:08.500 --> 00:27:09.940
Right?
00:27:09.940 --> 00:27:10.659
Yes.
00:27:10.659 --> 00:27:14.579
There's broken jewelry, there's stuff that needs to go to donation.
00:27:14.579 --> 00:27:19.619
Um, so either handle it or let it go.
00:27:20.019 --> 00:27:21.220
Yeah, yeah.
00:27:21.220 --> 00:27:36.339
I think that I mean, you know, I've said it over and over, I'm a systems person, but having that, you know, everything has a home, I think your projects need a mental home, like on paper, uh like a list.
00:27:36.339 --> 00:27:50.180
So if you've got things that need repair or return, you know, have that running to-do list somewhere because I think what happens is they just get put, you know, on the kitchen island the first day, you're like, oh, I need to return this.
00:27:50.180 --> 00:27:59.379
And then you need to, you know, use the island so it gets put, you know, over on the side counter or uh, you know, by the door, and then it gets moved.
00:27:59.379 --> 00:28:01.139
Oh, I need to pick up and clean in here.
00:28:01.139 --> 00:28:06.899
So it gets put, you know, on the desk or in a or in your trunk and you drive around with it forever, not returning it or whatever.
00:28:06.899 --> 00:28:07.379
Yeah.
00:28:07.379 --> 00:28:14.899
And so that shifting of it, it it gets stuffed and shoved and pushed back, and it's just not that priority.
00:28:14.899 --> 00:28:21.779
So if you just, you know, we always talk about just do, you know, one habit 15 minutes a day or whatever.
00:28:21.779 --> 00:28:25.940
This is that what's the one hat, what's the one check-in each week?
00:28:25.940 --> 00:28:32.500
You know, on Monday mornings I go run errands and do all of my returns or things like that.
00:28:32.500 --> 00:28:32.819
Yeah.
00:28:32.819 --> 00:28:36.339
Make it part of your weekly habit so they don't stack up.
00:28:36.659 --> 00:28:37.220
Yeah.
00:28:37.220 --> 00:28:41.859
Um, this is this is one you don't think about, but cleaning supplies can stack up.
00:28:41.859 --> 00:28:54.740
Um, and that can be because you most people have way more than they realize because it might be under every sink, you know, maybe in there's a closet, like in the laundry that you also have cleaning supplies and like they're just kind of in the garage.
00:28:54.740 --> 00:28:55.299
They're everywhere.
00:28:55.379 --> 00:28:59.619
Like they just I am I am wooed at the store by the cleaning supply aisle.
00:28:59.619 --> 00:29:00.659
That's my problem.
00:29:00.659 --> 00:29:07.220
I know this is for me because I like I like the advertisements.
00:29:07.220 --> 00:29:12.740
I am convinced they're all going to just have the perfect house.
00:29:12.740 --> 00:29:14.339
I enjoy cleaning my house.
00:29:14.339 --> 00:29:18.259
And so I have too many because I am wooed by the new products.
00:29:18.579 --> 00:29:23.460
But you don't get rid of the other half old bet, you know, thing that didn't do it as well as you thought it was going to do it, right?
00:29:23.460 --> 00:29:33.700
So then we just continue to um to I think that I think in all of these categories, the biggest problem is something comes in and nothing goes out.
00:29:34.019 --> 00:29:34.500
Yes.
00:29:34.819 --> 00:29:36.339
So that's something to think.
00:29:36.339 --> 00:29:38.659
If you're getting something new, what is leaving?
00:29:38.659 --> 00:29:40.420
Like what is it replacing?
00:29:40.420 --> 00:29:41.940
What it what's happening there?
00:29:42.339 --> 00:29:46.980
I think uh let's jump into we've got a couple bonus categories for you.
00:29:46.980 --> 00:29:56.099
And I think sometimes this next category becomes a problem when you're trying to solve the 10 previous categories.
00:29:56.099 --> 00:30:06.579
When you're trying to solve that top ten, the thing that happens is that we go get too many containers and organizing products.
00:30:07.059 --> 00:30:07.220
Yeah.
00:30:07.220 --> 00:30:12.500
So you try to fix the problem that there's too much by organizing it.
00:30:12.819 --> 00:30:13.059
Yes.
00:30:13.059 --> 00:30:21.619
So big distinction and you know the solution is never organizing too much and making it prettier.
00:30:21.619 --> 00:30:25.299
It is making good decisions and reducing a little bit.
00:30:25.619 --> 00:30:29.619
Which we're not saying you don't need organizing sometimes, because sometimes you do need organizing.
00:30:29.619 --> 00:30:35.460
But first, before you go by the organizers, you have to, you know, pare it down to what you actually need.
00:30:35.460 --> 00:30:40.740
So then you can see what kind of organization and what space you need to use and all of that.
00:30:40.740 --> 00:30:45.700
So um, you know, and sometimes organization can really give you good parameters.
00:30:45.700 --> 00:30:48.740
I want one bin of how of fall holiday.
00:30:48.740 --> 00:30:49.539
Like that's it.
00:30:49.539 --> 00:30:55.779
You get one bin for the fall or two bins or whatever that is instead of the seven bins that you have, you know, right now.
00:30:55.779 --> 00:30:59.379
So giving yourself a parameter and bins, we're not against it.
00:30:59.379 --> 00:31:13.299
But what we are against is not taking the time to go through it and then just thinking the more that I containers and organizing stuff that I can get, the more I'm gonna be organized or feel like I'm okay with this stuff.
00:31:13.299 --> 00:31:15.779
But you're it's still gonna, it's still gonna haunt you.
00:31:15.779 --> 00:31:16.500
It's still there.
00:31:16.500 --> 00:31:17.859
It's just in a bin now.
00:31:18.099 --> 00:31:18.420
Yeah.
00:31:18.420 --> 00:31:26.099
And when you don't do that first, then I think what happens is the bins become um that nothing has a home type bins.
00:31:26.099 --> 00:31:36.819
It's like the bin of random you were cleaning the garage, so you put a bunch of stuff in a bin because the bins look more organized than sorting through it and making good choices.
00:31:36.819 --> 00:31:49.299
But if you've made the choices first and then you're getting the organizing tools to fit what you actually need to store, then you can put, you know, right-size things.
00:31:49.299 --> 00:32:02.659
Okay, all the extension cords are in this box, this bin, all the uh, you know, craft supplies are in this, and it makes it much more sensical as to what everyone's home is.
00:32:03.059 --> 00:32:04.420
Yes, for sure.
00:32:04.420 --> 00:32:09.299
Um, and then our second bonus one is not actually a thing, it's a mindset.
00:32:09.299 --> 00:32:13.379
And the mindset is I paid too much for this to let it go.
00:32:13.379 --> 00:32:20.339
And so that could be clothing, it could be exercise equipment.
00:32:20.339 --> 00:32:26.259
We get a lot of that where there was an expensive, you know, moment when we felt like we were gonna work out at home.
00:32:26.259 --> 00:32:32.259
Um it could be it could be furniture that's not your style anymore, but it was really expensive when you bought it.
00:32:32.259 --> 00:32:44.099
Um, you know, anything that feels like, oh my gosh, I just I paid so much for this, and so I feel like I shouldn't let it go because that it's a hard dynamic in your mind to wrestle with.
00:32:44.259 --> 00:32:50.740
You probably had some talking yourself into taking the leap to spend the money on it.
00:32:50.740 --> 00:32:52.420
Like, oh, but I really want it.
00:32:52.659 --> 00:32:55.700
And maybe you didn't have quite the money to spend on it at the time.
00:32:55.779 --> 00:32:56.259
Or yeah.
00:32:56.259 --> 00:33:00.980
And you spent it and then it just doesn't fulfill you in the way you thought it would.
00:33:00.980 --> 00:33:01.779
Or any more.
00:33:01.859 --> 00:33:09.859
I mean, maybe I think one thought process is like I used all of that money up in the enjoyment of this thing over the however many years I've owned it.
00:33:10.099 --> 00:33:10.339
Yeah.
00:33:10.500 --> 00:33:10.819
Right?
00:33:10.980 --> 00:33:11.539
Yeah.
00:33:11.859 --> 00:33:15.859
Um, but yes, you're kind of grappling with that idea.
00:33:16.180 --> 00:33:16.500
Yeah.
00:33:16.500 --> 00:33:18.339
I should get more use out of it.
00:33:18.339 --> 00:33:23.940
I should get more enjoyment out of it before I throw in the towel and say I didn't.
00:33:23.940 --> 00:33:25.539
I'm a firm believer though.
00:33:25.539 --> 00:33:39.379
I make clothing mistakes, you know, I buy things and then, you know, for whatever reason, especially with more online shopping and it comes and I want to convince myself, like, oh, I love that.
00:33:39.379 --> 00:33:41.859
And it hangs there for a while.
00:33:41.859 --> 00:33:47.539
Maybe I've worn it once, but there's other things that I've never worn.
00:33:47.539 --> 00:33:56.899
And I'm just such a firm believer that if you've gone to the store or something has arrived and it's not a special occasion thing that you know that that is weeks off.
00:33:56.899 --> 00:34:04.579
If you're not finding a reason to wear something new in the first like week you own it, you don't love it that much.
00:34:04.579 --> 00:34:05.619
Yeah, because you should brand.
00:34:06.259 --> 00:34:10.340
It should be one of those things like you put it on like the next day because you're so excited about it.
00:34:10.740 --> 00:34:10.980
Yes.
00:34:10.980 --> 00:34:15.380
You're you, you know, if it's your everyday stuff, it should be worn right away.
00:34:15.380 --> 00:34:16.820
Like that's your excitement level.
00:34:16.820 --> 00:34:19.860
And if you've pushed it off and pushed it off, it's okay.
00:34:20.500 --> 00:34:26.019
Well, and if you try it on and you're like, it's a little like uh, I don't know, it's not quite you're done.
00:34:26.019 --> 00:34:28.420
In your brain, like you're not gonna pick that again.
00:34:28.420 --> 00:34:29.539
So just return it.
00:34:29.780 --> 00:34:29.940
Yeah.
00:34:29.940 --> 00:34:35.860
If you've got that habit from a few items ago on the returns, get it returned.
00:34:35.860 --> 00:34:42.340
If you didn't, if you missed that window and you're just looking at the guilt, like it's just time, like clear that out.
00:34:42.500 --> 00:34:42.659
Yep.
00:34:42.820 --> 00:34:44.740
We'll all somebody will love it.
00:34:44.740 --> 00:34:46.180
Yeah, pay it forward.
00:34:46.180 --> 00:34:49.780
Someone will be so excited to see those tags, like, oh, brand new.
00:34:50.019 --> 00:34:50.340
Right.
00:34:50.340 --> 00:34:54.579
Okay, so that's 10 and two bonus today.
00:34:54.579 --> 00:34:55.139
Yeah.
00:34:55.139 --> 00:34:59.059
Uh yeah, things to think about and ways that things can sneak up on you.
00:34:59.300 --> 00:34:59.539
Yeah.
00:34:59.539 --> 00:35:03.940
So these categories create 70 or 80 percent of our overwhelm.
00:35:03.940 --> 00:35:10.739
Um, you know, just because they require emotional decisions, not necessarily like logistical.
00:35:10.739 --> 00:35:12.579
Um, you know, they're kind of hidden.
00:35:12.579 --> 00:35:17.380
They're kind of ones we don't think about, um, but they're pinging around there in our brains.
00:35:17.779 --> 00:35:23.139
And they still require some mental, like they have some mental weight to them.
00:35:23.139 --> 00:35:23.300
Yeah.
00:35:23.300 --> 00:35:24.259
Like you know.
00:35:24.259 --> 00:35:26.980
You know that there's those clothes that you aren't wearing.
00:35:26.980 --> 00:35:27.380
Yeah.
00:35:27.380 --> 00:35:30.340
You know, you know that that area feels a little bit too much.
00:35:30.820 --> 00:35:30.980
Yeah.
00:35:30.980 --> 00:35:41.860
Logistically it might be okay, but mentally you're like, okay, why am I moving this hanger over out of the way every time I walk in here?
00:35:41.860 --> 00:35:42.500
Right.
00:35:42.500 --> 00:35:42.980
Yeah.
00:35:42.980 --> 00:35:43.619
Yeah.
00:35:43.619 --> 00:35:53.460
Um, so reasons to address these categories, especially if um there's a move, is the cost of moving all of this stuff that you don't need.
00:35:53.460 --> 00:35:57.779
That is an actual um, you know, physical cost.
00:35:57.779 --> 00:36:04.019
And then, like we just said, the emotional bandwidth that it's taking a toll on you every day.
00:36:04.259 --> 00:36:04.500
Yeah.
00:36:04.500 --> 00:36:09.860
I I think people really, really underestimate that because they've lived with it, it just snuck on up on them.
00:36:09.860 --> 00:36:15.619
You know, that emotional stuff, the stuff snuck up, but the emotional thing, it just slowly builds.
00:36:15.619 --> 00:36:23.139
Um, and that's why when people actually do this, they just feel so free because they didn't realize how unfree they were feeling.
00:36:23.139 --> 00:36:29.059
Like it just, it just you just live with it every day and you just don't realize how um what the emotional toll is like.
00:36:29.059 --> 00:36:30.980
So um, here's a couple strategies.
00:36:30.980 --> 00:36:33.619
Um, you can do a 30-minute sweep, right?
00:36:33.619 --> 00:36:40.980
Put the put the type the timer on, pick a sneaky category, and just do a sweep through the house.
00:36:41.460 --> 00:36:46.019
I think the timer is always good because it makes you make your decisions faster.
00:36:46.019 --> 00:36:52.420
We all, when there's a timer ticking on any activity, we're like, oh, I gotta go a little faster.
00:36:52.420 --> 00:36:56.420
Uh, and it takes a little bit of the lingering on emotion out of the equation.
00:36:56.739 --> 00:36:57.219
Yes.
00:36:57.219 --> 00:36:58.659
Um, one is enough.
00:36:58.659 --> 00:37:02.259
Tell yourself, you know, how many duplicates you have of whatever one is enough.
00:37:02.259 --> 00:37:03.059
Maybe two is enough.
00:37:03.059 --> 00:37:03.460
I don't know.
00:37:03.460 --> 00:37:07.860
It depends on what it is, but it you don't need 20 of anything, probably.
00:37:07.860 --> 00:37:09.619
And so t-shirts is another one.
00:37:09.619 --> 00:37:14.259
T-shirts, I think people really that's something that they'll have like 50 t-shirts.
00:37:14.579 --> 00:37:18.900
Yeah, I think setting that parameter and not looking at each one like, do I like this?
00:37:18.900 --> 00:37:22.500
That's such a question that will make you keep way more than you need.
00:37:22.500 --> 00:37:22.739
Yeah.
00:37:22.739 --> 00:37:30.099
And so instead deciding, okay, I think having three spatulas is what I need for my kitchen, which three do I like best?
00:37:30.099 --> 00:37:33.139
Right works so much better in any category.
00:37:33.460 --> 00:37:35.539
Yeah, and making that decision before you start sorting.
00:37:35.539 --> 00:37:47.219
I'm gonna have 10 t-shirts, I'm gonna have three spatulas, I'm whatever the number is for you, but then again, gives you a parameter to be like, okay, I have 10 here and I have 17 more.
00:37:47.219 --> 00:37:51.860
Which ones of these 10 are going to get to my favorite 10 or whatever?
00:37:52.099 --> 00:37:53.380
Yeah, absolutely.
00:37:53.619 --> 00:37:55.219
Um, future self-test.
00:37:55.219 --> 00:37:58.099
Would your future you be happy if this was gone?
00:37:58.099 --> 00:38:00.179
This happens with the guilt things.
00:38:00.179 --> 00:38:00.500
Yeah.
00:38:00.500 --> 00:38:04.659
Like the when when you're looking at the things that are guilt is not a gift, right?
00:38:04.980 --> 00:38:13.860
When you look at it and you think, that doesn't give me like I think a a good twist on that question would be would your future self notice if this item was gone?
00:38:13.860 --> 00:38:14.900
Oh, yeah, too.
00:38:14.900 --> 00:38:15.619
Yeah.
00:38:16.179 --> 00:38:16.500
Honestly.
00:38:16.500 --> 00:38:18.900
If you've pulled it from the top shelf of your kitchen, the answer is no.
00:38:19.139 --> 00:38:22.579
Well, yeah, you experienced that and you're like, I don't remember what it was.
00:38:22.579 --> 00:38:22.820
Right.
00:38:22.980 --> 00:38:23.779
So exactly.
00:38:24.099 --> 00:38:26.820
And I've I've done that with you know plenty of things.
00:38:26.820 --> 00:38:29.139
I've donated, like, what did I even give away?
00:38:29.460 --> 00:38:30.019
Yeah.
00:38:30.019 --> 00:38:33.860
Um, do you can you keep the story and not the stuff?
00:38:33.860 --> 00:38:43.059
Um, is the story enough to you remember the story without the things, you know, or is or or do you tell the story of the thing and it's not enough to keep it?
00:38:43.059 --> 00:38:43.460
Yeah.
00:38:44.019 --> 00:38:44.420
Either way.
00:38:44.420 --> 00:38:45.059
Yeah.
00:38:45.059 --> 00:38:49.460
Um, removing the barrier is back to those habits.
00:38:49.460 --> 00:38:54.179
When you know, what's your frequency for going to the donation drop-off?
00:38:54.179 --> 00:39:00.900
Do you have a bag, you know, in your closet like Jody does, that you're just filling as you go and taking it when it's full?
00:39:00.900 --> 00:39:03.860
What is your system around doing that?
00:39:03.860 --> 00:39:09.380
What is your system for taking returns or just moving anything out of the house?
00:39:09.380 --> 00:39:11.300
What's your habit around that?
00:39:11.300 --> 00:39:16.820
Are you doing one of our 15-minute a day, just do a little bit at a time?
00:39:16.820 --> 00:39:23.300
Anything like that can move you forward in progress instead of just continuing to accumulate.
00:39:23.539 --> 00:39:24.179
Yep.
00:39:24.179 --> 00:39:30.099
All right, so go check out your sneaky spots and get those cleaned out, and you'll feel much freer.
00:39:30.340 --> 00:39:30.579
Yes.
00:39:30.579 --> 00:39:31.139
All right.
00:39:31.139 --> 00:39:33.059
Next time.
00:39:33.059 --> 00:39:36.820
Thanks for joining us on the Downsizing Roadmap Podcast.
00:39:36.820 --> 00:39:45.300
If you found this episode helpful, be sure to subscribe, leave us a review, and share it with someone who might need a little downsizing inspiration.
00:39:45.300 --> 00:39:48.340
Have questions or ideas for future episodes?
00:39:48.340 --> 00:39:54.259
Reach out to us on our website, www.downsizingroadmap.com.
00:39:54.259 --> 00:39:58.019
Until next time, let's keep simplifying and moving forward.
00:00:01.199 --> 00:00:07.919
Welcome back to another episode of the Downsizing Roadmap Podcast with your hosts Jodi Rosko and Heather Fisher.
00:00:07.919 --> 00:00:13.439
We're talking about all things downsizing, from our own experiences with clients to guest experts.
00:00:13.439 --> 00:00:16.960
Let's make downsizing easier, one conversation at a time.
00:00:17.280 --> 00:00:20.800
Hi, welcome to the Downsizing Roadmap Podcast.
00:00:20.800 --> 00:00:25.120
10 sneaky categories that create the most clutter.
00:00:25.440 --> 00:00:32.320
Yeah, I think I think this is so brilliant because they're little things, but they're the little things that add up into all the big things.
00:00:32.560 --> 00:00:32.880
Yeah.
00:00:32.880 --> 00:00:49.359
I think there's a misconception sometimes that if you feel like your house is cluttered or you're trying to judge whether your house is cluttered or whether there's room to downsize things, you think that, well, if my house doesn't look like a hoarder, a hoarder house, I'm fine.
00:00:49.359 --> 00:00:49.920
Yeah.
00:00:49.920 --> 00:00:56.640
But I think there's so many places and things that don't need to look that way.
00:00:56.640 --> 00:01:00.799
They can look pretty and organized and still be clutter.
00:01:00.799 --> 00:01:03.840
So maybe we'll come across some of those categories in this list.
00:01:03.840 --> 00:01:04.319
Yeah.
00:01:04.319 --> 00:01:04.640
Okay.
00:01:04.640 --> 00:01:04.879
Yeah.
00:01:04.879 --> 00:01:05.920
I'm Jodi Rosko.
00:01:06.079 --> 00:01:07.040
I'm Heather Fisher.
00:01:07.040 --> 00:01:13.200
We listen to um in our class that we give, we listen to Jerry Seinfeld talk about um all clutter.
00:01:13.200 --> 00:01:13.920
And it's hilarious.
00:01:13.920 --> 00:01:14.640
You should look it up.
00:01:14.640 --> 00:01:15.359
It's on YouTube.
00:01:15.359 --> 00:01:26.400
Um but he talks about stuff and how there's too much stuff and how we shove it in our, you know, closets and, you know, garage and everywhere so that we don't see all the mistakes that we've made of the stuff.
00:01:26.400 --> 00:01:38.159
And I think that's exactly what you're talking about, is that the house can look clean, but behind those closed doors of closets and storage areas and drawers and all of that stuff, there's so much living in there.
00:01:38.159 --> 00:01:46.079
Um, because when you go to move and you start putting that stuff in boxes, you realize it just keeps coming out and coming out and coming out.
00:01:46.400 --> 00:01:46.640
Yeah.
00:01:46.640 --> 00:02:00.959
And I mean, we really, when we we've talked about the 80-20 rule, and I, you know, years ago, you could not have convinced me that I could give away 80% of what I own and still not see a change.
00:02:00.959 --> 00:02:17.680
But I I'm a pretty, you know, we talk about downsizing all the time, and I'm a thrower outer, and I have downsized so much stuff, and I still, you know, after moving just about a year ago, I was standing in front of my bathroom vanity, and you know, I've cleaned all that out.
00:02:17.680 --> 00:02:42.479
I cleaned it out before we moved, and I was standing there and I'm thinking, okay, I use the face products in this drawer, and I use this little one bin of, you know, some hair products, and I have this in in this drawer, and I'm like, okay, I have three more drawers and probably 70% of the cabinet underneath that I haven't touched that stuff either since I moved.
00:02:42.479 --> 00:02:45.120
And that was like my initial decision.
00:02:45.120 --> 00:02:48.319
I I think we all just have that everywhere.
00:02:48.639 --> 00:02:58.000
And I think that being comfortable with the drawers not being all full, yeah, or the you know, top shelves not having anything on them or any of that stuff.
00:02:58.000 --> 00:03:01.199
We I bought a dresser um that I put under the TV.
00:03:01.199 --> 00:03:05.840
So it it it's like a long well, it's drawer, it's a set of drawers or whatever.
00:03:05.840 --> 00:03:11.680
Um, but when I put under the TV, I like the way it looks, but I'm like, I should put nothing in those drawers.
00:03:11.680 --> 00:03:13.680
And so I still don't have anything in the drawers.
00:03:13.680 --> 00:03:14.560
I'm so proud of it.
00:03:14.560 --> 00:03:16.080
Like I have plenty of stuff everywhere else.
00:03:16.080 --> 00:03:19.120
Don't worry, I'm not the thrower outer, so it's how that goes.
00:03:19.120 --> 00:03:19.360
Yeah.
00:03:19.360 --> 00:03:23.840
But anyway, I have not junked up those drawers and they're empty.
00:03:23.840 --> 00:03:30.319
And I'm actually kind of like when I look at it, it makes me feel good to know that there's not a bunch of stuff in there that that it's it's calming.
00:03:30.319 --> 00:03:36.479
Like it's not, you know, it feels like, oh my gosh, if I look over there at the TV and then there's just, you know, a bunch of stuff in there, you know?
00:03:36.719 --> 00:03:42.719
Yeah, all of those unmade decisions when things are full just kind of weigh in your mind.
00:03:42.719 --> 00:03:54.800
But yeah, I have an empty dresser in my uh, well, my half is empty in my in uh, you know, our bedroom because you know, I just fortunate to have a closet that holds everything.
00:03:54.800 --> 00:04:04.000
And I need that dresser, that furniture piece to just kind of anchor the room and and live there, but it's empty.
00:04:04.000 --> 00:04:05.120
I don't need the drawers.
00:04:05.120 --> 00:04:12.159
So it is a a strange feeling at first, but then it is very freeing to just know, like, okay, it's okay.
00:04:12.159 --> 00:04:12.800
It's okay.
00:04:12.960 --> 00:04:14.639
It's okay to have it be uh okay.
00:04:14.639 --> 00:04:16.639
So let's talk about the sneaky stuff.
00:04:16.639 --> 00:04:20.399
So number one, um, just in case items.
00:04:20.399 --> 00:04:21.439
Oh my gosh.
00:04:21.439 --> 00:04:23.199
So I might need this someday.
00:04:23.199 --> 00:04:26.240
I might need um who has the box?
00:04:26.240 --> 00:04:27.920
Do you have the box of cords?
00:04:27.920 --> 00:04:29.439
Yes, the box of cords.
00:04:29.600 --> 00:04:29.920
Yes.
00:04:30.240 --> 00:04:31.279
We don't know.
00:04:31.279 --> 00:04:33.680
Some of them we don't know where they go to.
00:04:33.680 --> 00:04:37.199
Some of them are for phones that don't fit those cords anymore.
00:04:37.519 --> 00:04:42.000
Well, yeah, so it's a we do have it was a drawer at our old house.
00:04:42.000 --> 00:04:45.519
It's like a little plastic bin inside of a drawer at our new house.
00:04:45.519 --> 00:05:00.480
And it's very funny that you say that because in the last two weeks my daughter was traveling and she wanted um, you know, plug-in uh earphones that would work on the the different um jack on the airplane.
00:05:00.480 --> 00:05:01.040
Oh yeah.
00:05:01.040 --> 00:05:04.720
And so I was like, okay, well, if we own them, that's where they'll be.
00:05:04.720 --> 00:05:06.240
No, did not find those.
00:05:06.240 --> 00:05:11.040
And then my husband needed a longer cord for where he charges his phone.
00:05:11.040 --> 00:05:13.120
And he's like, Do we have one of them?
00:05:13.120 --> 00:05:14.959
I'm like, if we do, it's in there.
00:05:14.959 --> 00:05:16.079
He did not find one.
00:05:16.079 --> 00:05:19.839
So we had to, you know, she bought headphones, he ordered a new cord.
00:05:19.839 --> 00:05:22.959
So I was just thinking, what do we have in there?
00:05:23.439 --> 00:05:24.480
What is it useful for?
00:05:24.720 --> 00:05:25.600
And I think nothing.
00:05:25.600 --> 00:05:25.839
Right.
00:05:25.839 --> 00:05:29.680
Because when we actually needed things, we don't have those.
00:05:29.680 --> 00:05:30.800
And you bought them.
00:05:30.879 --> 00:05:32.720
You b you bought them, which is not very often.
00:05:32.720 --> 00:05:33.600
Not very often.
00:05:33.600 --> 00:05:37.040
And he's gonna have that longer charging cord now for quite some time.
00:05:37.040 --> 00:05:38.560
Like you don't need another one sitting there.
00:05:38.879 --> 00:05:40.480
But the shorter one's probably now in the book.
00:05:40.480 --> 00:05:41.199
I'm sure it is.
00:05:41.439 --> 00:05:41.920
I'm sure it is.
00:05:41.920 --> 00:05:43.279
We'll take it to the car or something.
00:05:43.279 --> 00:05:43.680
I don't know.
00:05:43.839 --> 00:05:46.639
Anyway, yeah, so this is what happens to all of us though.
00:05:46.639 --> 00:05:51.439
Right that what we have isn't quite right for the use we need.
00:05:51.439 --> 00:06:06.879
So we buy what we actually need, but we save that emotion, that feeling of I might need that, even though we've just proved to ourselves we don't, or it doesn't work for our home at that moment.
00:06:07.279 --> 00:06:09.199
Yeah, I think linens can be like that.
00:06:09.199 --> 00:06:16.079
Like, oh, somebody might come stay, so I need these extra towels, or I need these extra sheets, or and if you have somebody that comes stays all the time, great.
00:06:16.079 --> 00:06:20.480
But if you don't really have anybody that comes and stays, you know, linens can accumulate.
00:06:20.480 --> 00:06:23.040
Um, kitchen stuff like can accumulate.
00:06:23.040 --> 00:06:26.160
Like you have too many spoon, spatulas, blah, blah.
00:06:26.160 --> 00:06:27.680
We've talked about all that before.
00:06:27.680 --> 00:06:31.360
But um, you buy the new ones and the old ones don't go away because you might need it.
00:06:31.360 --> 00:06:33.120
You know, you know, you might need that someday or whatever.
00:06:33.439 --> 00:06:37.360
Yeah, and I think, you know, maybe one layer of that just in case works.
00:06:37.360 --> 00:06:41.120
Like may, you know, we need that one extra set of sheets or or whatnot.
00:06:41.120 --> 00:06:41.839
One, right.
00:06:41.839 --> 00:06:44.800
But the problem is it's all in, no out.
00:06:44.800 --> 00:06:48.319
So each time we get a new set of sheets, we keep the old.
00:06:48.319 --> 00:06:52.000
So suddenly, well, maybe 12 guests will come over.
00:06:52.480 --> 00:06:52.639
Right.
00:06:53.040 --> 00:06:54.399
Sleep on beds we don't own.
00:06:54.560 --> 00:06:56.319
And you know, that happens.
00:06:56.319 --> 00:06:56.879
Right.
00:06:56.879 --> 00:07:16.480
And I think the mental part of that, the psychology of that is um, you know, you back to you own it, and so you it has more value to you, but you're afraid um that you might need it, that um it's fear, it's fear-based that you aren't gonna have something that you need and that you kind of have to keep keep it just in case, you know, that that happens.
00:07:16.480 --> 00:07:20.480
And so I think what you'll find is if you let that stuff go, you'll feel so much lighter.
00:07:20.480 --> 00:07:23.680
Um, and the just in case will happen every once in a while.
00:07:23.680 --> 00:07:24.079
Yeah.
00:07:24.079 --> 00:07:26.079
Every once in a while it'll be like, ugh.
00:07:26.399 --> 00:07:26.560
Yeah.
00:07:26.560 --> 00:07:35.120
And if you're struggling, uh, you know, holding something in your hand and struggling what to do with it, just ask yourself, when is the last time I even remembered that I owned this?
00:07:35.360 --> 00:07:35.600
Right.
00:07:35.600 --> 00:07:39.759
I did go through my linen closet and there was stuff that I was like, oh, oh.
00:07:39.759 --> 00:07:47.120
Well, and if that's what you're thinking, like it's time for it to go because you clearly haven't seen it in so long that it's like new Christmas to you.
00:07:48.079 --> 00:07:49.680
And don't be swayed by that.
00:07:49.680 --> 00:07:54.240
You know, you've owned it and you didn't think it was cute enough to use all of that time.
00:07:54.240 --> 00:07:54.800
Right.
00:07:54.800 --> 00:08:00.160
So don't be swayed by that momentary, oh, this feels like something I haven't seen.
00:08:00.160 --> 00:08:00.879
It's cute.
00:08:01.199 --> 00:08:02.399
Right, but you aren't pulling it out.
00:08:02.399 --> 00:08:03.759
Like let's be real with ourselves.
00:08:03.759 --> 00:08:04.959
We aren't pulling it out, right?
00:08:05.199 --> 00:08:05.920
Right, correct.
00:08:05.920 --> 00:08:06.800
Correct.
00:08:06.800 --> 00:08:12.160
Uh, number two, sneaky category, gifts received and never used.
00:08:12.639 --> 00:08:12.959
Yeah.
00:08:12.959 --> 00:08:15.120
This is the guilt, not a gift, right?
00:08:15.120 --> 00:08:15.439
Yeah.
00:08:15.439 --> 00:08:24.000
So you kept it because somebody gave it to you and it didn't fit your life, or you know, or you just have too many of it.
00:08:24.000 --> 00:08:35.679
Like common offenders would be like mugs, yeah, candles, kitchen stuff, um, decor, little signs or things, you know, things that people gave you.
00:08:35.679 --> 00:08:39.519
Um throw blankets in my house seem to accumulate.
00:08:39.519 --> 00:08:44.399
Um kids love the throw blankets, and then we just get more and more and more throwing.
00:08:44.559 --> 00:08:45.519
I think yes.
00:08:45.519 --> 00:08:47.919
So this happens in my house.
00:08:47.919 --> 00:08:51.440
I am not, I am not a good creative gift giver.
00:08:51.440 --> 00:08:53.360
I feel like I should be, though.
00:08:53.360 --> 00:08:57.039
And so I try, and I'm sure I'm not giving great gifts.
00:08:57.039 --> 00:08:58.320
I'm sure you're positive.
00:08:58.320 --> 00:09:05.200
But my husband also, on the flip side, doesn't really I don't think like receiving gifts is his language.
00:09:05.200 --> 00:09:21.440
And so I try, I know he doesn't need all the everyday stuff, and so I try to get something that's just gonna be perfect, and there's a pile beside his desk of gifts, mostly from me, that just sit.
00:09:21.440 --> 00:09:24.320
And I it's a cycle we need to break.
00:09:24.320 --> 00:09:36.159
And it's just funny because you know, I feel the need to give well, and he's like, Okay, that's nice, and then it sits, and I think you know, that's the pile that needs to go.
00:09:36.480 --> 00:09:48.159
Well, and I think the main purpose of a gift is to feel appreciated, or you know, you you're trying to make somebody feel happy or feel appreciated or feel like you love them, and that's why you're giving them a gift in the first place.
00:09:48.159 --> 00:09:52.559
And if they felt like that when you gave it to them, like that has been accomplished.
00:09:52.559 --> 00:09:57.519
Like that they don't have to feel like that for the rest of their life when they look at that thing, right?
00:09:57.519 --> 00:09:57.840
Yeah.
00:09:57.840 --> 00:10:02.320
And so sometimes that might last just in the time that you gave it to them.
00:10:02.320 --> 00:10:03.759
They're like, oh, that was so sweet.
00:10:03.759 --> 00:10:09.120
She gave me something that was sweet that she gave something, not the thing, the sweet, the giving.
00:10:09.279 --> 00:10:09.519
Yeah.
00:10:09.759 --> 00:10:19.519
And and sometimes the thing that you give hits good, hits well, and you're like, oh, okay, I'm I that was sweet, and I I need this thing, or I love this thing, and I'm gonna use it.
00:10:19.519 --> 00:10:25.279
And sometimes it doesn't hit forever, and then you can let it go because it's already served its purpose.
00:10:25.519 --> 00:10:26.320
Yeah, yeah.
00:10:26.320 --> 00:10:28.639
It's always the intention behind that gift.
00:10:28.639 --> 00:10:34.320
Someone might not know that you already have something or you, you know, don't need something.
00:10:34.320 --> 00:10:41.919
So enjoy that moment of the giving, the receiving, um, and then you can move on and put it to better use.
00:10:42.320 --> 00:10:47.039
And remember that some of the gifts do hit and they're things that you will want to keep forever.
00:10:47.039 --> 00:10:51.200
And and so that is those are the ones that will remind you of that person and whatnot.
00:10:51.200 --> 00:10:55.120
And so you don't have to keep every single thing that anybody has ever given you.
00:10:55.440 --> 00:10:55.679
Yeah.
00:10:55.679 --> 00:10:56.159
Yeah.
00:10:56.559 --> 00:10:58.080
Just the ones you really love.
00:10:58.080 --> 00:10:59.440
So um, okay.
00:10:59.440 --> 00:11:11.759
Duplicates, um, you know, drawer, closet, entire room, doubles of everything, travel size lotions that you've can't you've kept from whatever.
00:11:11.759 --> 00:11:18.159
Um, you know, you don't need you don't need all of the you know, travel size lotions from any hotel that you've had.
00:11:18.159 --> 00:11:21.600
And um things that also I have a lot of scissors in my house.
00:11:21.600 --> 00:11:22.639
I have a lot of scissors.
00:11:22.879 --> 00:11:23.759
Yes, you do.
00:11:23.759 --> 00:11:24.399
You do.
00:11:24.399 --> 00:11:30.720
Um, screwdrivers, you know, some tape measures, like you're not gonna be measuring five things at the same time.
00:11:30.720 --> 00:11:34.000
Yeah, stuff that just kind of tends to accumulate.
00:11:34.159 --> 00:11:41.039
Lotion sunscreen, um, you know, like you were saying, face products, like that that kind of stuff can tend to accumulate.
00:11:41.039 --> 00:11:48.559
If you try something, it's not quite right, you didn't finish the bottle, you try something new, you don't throw away the old one, you know, those kind of things just easily accumulate.
00:11:48.879 --> 00:11:57.759
I think a lot of the things in this category accumulate because they're um kind of unique things that don't have a natural spot in a lot of times.
00:11:57.759 --> 00:12:05.440
Like where do you keep your scissors, where do you keep your tape measure, your screwdrivers, so that you know what you have and you go get them.
00:12:05.440 --> 00:12:08.799
And they're the things that end up in like five different junk drawers.
00:12:08.799 --> 00:12:09.200
Yes.
00:12:09.200 --> 00:12:12.000
Like we have a tape measure here and we have one in the garage.
00:12:12.399 --> 00:12:14.879
And then you couldn't find one, so you went and bought another one.
00:12:15.279 --> 00:12:16.399
Yeah, yes.
00:12:16.399 --> 00:12:28.080
And so one spot that's kind of um, you know, this category is great for like putting like things together and then giving however many you need to keep a home.
00:12:28.080 --> 00:12:30.720
Yes, that you know where to go look for it.
00:12:30.960 --> 00:12:41.600
Yes, yes, yeah, and I do think that multiples happen either because the spaces are disorganized, like you said, or because you buy a new one because you wanted it and then you don't let the old one out.
00:12:41.600 --> 00:12:43.679
Like it's only in no out.
00:12:44.000 --> 00:12:47.840
When I need to wrap a present, I could not find scotch tape for the life of me.
00:12:47.840 --> 00:12:51.679
But when I don't need to, there are 12 rolls all over the house.
00:12:51.679 --> 00:12:53.039
All over different places.
00:12:53.039 --> 00:12:54.559
I mean, that's that kind of thing.
00:12:54.879 --> 00:12:55.440
Right, right.
00:12:55.440 --> 00:12:55.679
Yeah.
00:12:55.679 --> 00:13:03.600
So yeah, the fix to this is knowing exactly where you're keeping things and um and and putting all the like things together in your house.
00:13:03.600 --> 00:13:06.559
If you have batteries all over the place or, you know, those kind of things, right?
00:13:06.639 --> 00:13:08.720
So yeah, and recognizing your needs.
00:13:08.720 --> 00:13:19.279
Like you said, the travel, it's great if you have um some, but then when you go for your next trip, are you taking it and using it or are you just accumulating more from the hotel you stayed at?
00:13:19.279 --> 00:13:19.600
Right.
00:13:19.600 --> 00:13:20.480
Right, right.
00:13:20.480 --> 00:13:20.960
Yeah.
00:13:20.960 --> 00:13:21.519
Right.
00:13:21.759 --> 00:13:24.320
Um, okay, uh, hobby and craft.
00:13:24.320 --> 00:13:26.399
Oh, hobbies, all the hobbies.
00:13:26.399 --> 00:13:26.879
Yeah.
00:13:26.879 --> 00:13:32.799
People have such the best intentions, such as such good intentions, right?
00:13:32.799 --> 00:13:40.960
Yeah, I'm gonna knit, I'm gonna make photo albums, I'm gonna, you know, scrapbook stuff, I'm gonna woodwork, I'm gonna whatever.
00:13:41.279 --> 00:13:51.840
I think it's in all of our nature, it at least in mine, to not like dip a toe in and be like, I wonder if I like needlepoint or whatever it is.
00:13:51.840 --> 00:13:54.799
It's like, oh, I want to like needlepoint.
00:13:54.799 --> 00:14:00.320
Let me buy all the supplies before, you know, accomplishing one project.
00:14:00.320 --> 00:14:03.919
Um, but I think, you know, that can happen as well.
00:14:03.919 --> 00:14:16.240
We go and outfit ourselves with the whole kit and caboodle without trying a class or borrowing someone else's supplies to, you know, test the waters.
00:14:16.720 --> 00:14:18.480
So I really wanted to knit.
00:14:18.480 --> 00:14:26.240
And I cannot do it because I am too like high strung or whatever it is.
00:14:26.240 --> 00:14:31.679
And so I'll get knitting and the needles will just get tighter and tighter and tighter until the needles can't move anymore.
00:14:31.679 --> 00:14:33.440
And then I have to pull it out.
00:14:33.440 --> 00:14:35.200
And I tried and tried and tried.
00:14:35.200 --> 00:14:39.600
And so knitting, if I had taken a class, maybe they would have taught me how to not do that if I'd taken a class.
00:14:39.600 --> 00:14:46.320
But um, but if I'd taken a class, I might have also learned that it's it's not my it's not my thing.
00:14:46.639 --> 00:14:46.960
Yes.
00:14:46.960 --> 00:14:48.559
I uh I really want to though.
00:14:48.559 --> 00:14:59.919
I I feel like I've had this kindred experiment with with you, and I, you know, finally accomplished a couple inches of like, you know, scarf size width, and I was so proud.
00:14:59.919 --> 00:15:05.679
And then something I did, suddenly it was all unwinding and like what done and done.
00:15:05.679 --> 00:15:06.240
Can't do it.
00:15:06.240 --> 00:15:07.759
Okay, not starting over.
00:15:07.759 --> 00:15:09.600
I want to, but that's not it for me.
00:15:09.759 --> 00:15:12.639
Yes, and my all of you, all of you knitters, I'm excited for.
00:15:12.639 --> 00:15:13.519
Oh my gosh.
00:15:13.679 --> 00:15:15.840
My daughters can both crochet.
00:15:15.840 --> 00:15:20.399
My daughter makes beautiful projects, and I just skipped a generation.
00:15:20.399 --> 00:15:24.159
I got that from their grandma, and I have not learned.
00:16:12.259 --> 00:16:25.860
But so ask yourself is this is a hobby that you were aspiring to do, that you are actually gonna do, or that you used to do, and that you have, you know, maybe moved into something else that you like better, which is fine.
00:16:25.860 --> 00:16:29.139
Um, but what are you know, let go of that if it's not serving you now.
00:16:29.459 --> 00:16:42.819
And looking back to um uh the other category of duplicates and and things like that, even if it's a hobby you still do, do you have way too many supplies for what you actually use?
00:16:42.819 --> 00:17:00.259
I mean, we've been to many homes where people have, you know, way too much fabric or yarn or whatever, and they're still quilting, they're still crocheting, they're still knitting, but do you have so much that you'll never get through all of the supplies?
00:17:00.259 --> 00:17:05.860
Do you have, you know, 50 sets of knitting needles that you don't need?
00:17:05.860 --> 00:17:12.259
That kind of application of of thought on the category can help too, even if you're still doing it.
00:17:12.259 --> 00:17:12.980
Yep.
00:17:12.980 --> 00:17:15.380
Okay, number five, old tech.
00:17:15.620 --> 00:17:17.620
Who who keeps all the boxes?
00:17:17.620 --> 00:17:20.740
We might have boxes in our basement.
00:17:20.740 --> 00:17:24.819
Who has ever revisited the box ever?
00:17:24.819 --> 00:17:25.860
Right.
00:17:25.860 --> 00:17:30.420
So uh VCRs, I mean, this stuff is coming back sometimes, some of it though.
00:17:30.420 --> 00:17:43.380
Like if you, you know, if you need to use the VCR, but um old phones, you know, old chargers, um, laptops that don't really run anymore because they aren't even strong enough to run anymore.
00:17:43.620 --> 00:17:58.099
Um Yeah, and making decisions um on those laptops when you stop using them early is your best bet because if there are things on there, photos or things that you want them, doing that before any of that gets lost.
00:17:58.099 --> 00:18:06.899
Um, you know, take it to someone who understands the tech, can get it off of there and where you need it, and then recycle that.
00:18:06.899 --> 00:18:12.019
There are ways to, you know, get that so that your information's no longer on there.
00:18:12.019 --> 00:18:14.259
Uh that can all be handled for you.
00:18:14.259 --> 00:18:20.659
There are places that will take it as recycling or um, you know, scrub all the data off of it for you.
00:18:20.899 --> 00:18:21.299
Yeah.
00:18:21.539 --> 00:18:24.579
Um personal experience.
00:18:24.579 --> 00:18:28.579
I have, I think, three laptops in a stack that I have not done that with.
00:18:28.579 --> 00:18:29.619
It needs to happen.
00:18:29.619 --> 00:18:30.899
Um or old phones.
00:18:30.899 --> 00:18:32.099
Yeah, it needs to happen.
00:18:32.099 --> 00:18:36.420
The phones, um, things like that, just get it out of your life.
00:18:36.740 --> 00:18:43.940
And I think some stuff, like I said, VCRs at first, and those could actually still work because the technology isn't something that needs to evolve.
00:18:43.940 --> 00:18:48.819
But old phones and old laptops and you know, all of that stuff, it will just not work.
00:18:48.819 --> 00:18:52.819
Like it will not run the new programs because it's just not strong enough and all of that.
00:18:52.819 --> 00:18:54.019
So that that's different.
00:18:54.339 --> 00:18:54.579
Yeah.
00:18:54.579 --> 00:19:01.700
And if it's something you have replaced with a newer version, then that is you don't need the old.
00:19:01.700 --> 00:19:10.019
If it's something that that is your only means to watch an old VHS tape or something like that, then that's a different story.
00:19:10.019 --> 00:19:16.659
But once you've replaced with a newer version of something and no longer have the need to get it out of there.
00:19:16.980 --> 00:19:17.619
Yeah, but yeah.
00:19:17.619 --> 00:19:18.420
Okay.
00:19:18.420 --> 00:19:19.859
Number six, papers.
00:19:19.859 --> 00:19:21.059
Paper.
00:19:21.059 --> 00:19:24.420
We see so many people who have so much paper.
00:19:24.659 --> 00:19:24.819
Yeah.
00:19:24.980 --> 00:19:28.339
Um filing cabinets full of paper that they're never gonna look at again.
00:19:28.339 --> 00:19:30.019
Um, and that they don't need anymore.
00:19:30.019 --> 00:19:44.259
So um, organize your super important papers all in one place, hopefully in a fireproof box so that you know where they are, you can tell somebody that you care about where they are, so that it's easy for them to find them if they need them, and the rest of it can go.
00:19:44.819 --> 00:19:45.700
I think that's key.
00:19:45.700 --> 00:19:55.700
What you just said is that the the organization of the important ones um will by default downsize how much you keep because it's organized.
00:19:55.700 --> 00:20:01.139
But the time paperwork is important because you need it at important times.
00:20:01.139 --> 00:20:10.339
And if it is just an overwhelming mess of disorganization, it's not serving you at that moment you need it either.
00:20:10.339 --> 00:20:29.779
So there's so much peace of mind, not only by having less and having it take up less space, but knowing that if you know that professional needs information from you, you know where it is, or you need, you know, someone else needs to take care of things for you, they can follow the path of that.
00:20:29.779 --> 00:20:33.779
Um, so there's so much peace of mind in that for sure.
00:20:34.099 --> 00:20:35.940
And there's so much stuff that's online now.
00:20:35.940 --> 00:20:39.940
Like you don't need your books to your refrigerator or you know, any of that stuff.
00:20:39.940 --> 00:20:47.700
You can find all of that recipes, um, unless they're grandma's recipes or something super special, you can find all of that online and search.
00:20:47.700 --> 00:20:50.180
And so yeah.
00:20:50.579 --> 00:20:53.940
It lets you know where the super special ones are.
00:20:53.940 --> 00:20:54.420
Right.
00:20:54.420 --> 00:20:54.899
Exactly.
00:20:54.899 --> 00:21:01.779
You know, always what we say, you can honor things by having less because what's left is the important stuff.
00:21:02.099 --> 00:21:07.059
But for the most part, old tax returns, receipts, you know, medical paperwork that's old, expired.
00:21:07.059 --> 00:21:08.180
Expired coupons.
00:21:08.180 --> 00:21:09.379
Oh my gosh, right?
00:21:09.379 --> 00:21:11.940
They go in the junk drawer and then they expire, they go there to die.
00:21:11.940 --> 00:21:12.420
Yes.
00:21:12.420 --> 00:21:17.139
Um, so yeah, so there's so much paper that we don't actually need anymore.
00:21:17.139 --> 00:21:20.980
So um all the important stuff in one place, and that's it.
00:21:20.980 --> 00:21:25.220
Uh number seven, sentimental um items.
00:21:25.460 --> 00:21:31.220
So I I think the caveat here is the uh pre-sential items.
00:21:31.220 --> 00:21:41.460
These are the items that aren't truly sentimental, but we're attaching that label to big, broad, sweeping categories.
00:21:41.460 --> 00:21:51.940
And I I've seen this in my own family, and I think it's thinking I need to save this because somebody might love it in the future.
00:21:51.940 --> 00:21:52.339
Yeah.
00:21:52.339 --> 00:21:59.619
Not saying, here's the story and here's why I love it now and enjoying it.
00:21:59.619 --> 00:22:02.740
It's sweeping, oh, we better keep all the baby stuff.
00:22:02.740 --> 00:22:03.139
Yeah.
00:22:03.139 --> 00:22:04.420
The kids' artwork.
00:22:04.420 --> 00:22:04.899
Yeah.
00:22:05.059 --> 00:22:05.379
Yeah.
00:22:05.619 --> 00:22:24.420
Every single like stuff that was grandma's, whether it was important stuff or not, just because it was Yeah, not curating, but just making sweeping broad strokes because the item potentially lives in somebody's sentimental category in some unknown future family member.
00:22:24.819 --> 00:22:25.059
Yeah.
00:22:25.059 --> 00:22:33.139
We had a whole bunch of trophies that um Maddie had gotten, and really like 95% of the trophies were participation trophies.
00:22:33.139 --> 00:22:40.180
And she had had a shelf in her room, and we started to change up her room, you know, at one point when she was getting a little older.
00:22:40.180 --> 00:22:46.259
And she took all those trophies and just armed basically, like almost like armed them off the shelf and put them in the trash.
00:22:46.259 --> 00:22:52.019
And she's like, These are all like They mean nothing to me because they weren't her actual, like, she didn't win.
00:22:52.019 --> 00:22:56.579
Like it wasn't something that was and so she was like, these are not important to me.
00:22:56.579 --> 00:22:59.220
And I'm like, okay, like I don't need to keep those, right?
00:22:59.220 --> 00:23:01.059
And so if it's important, keep it.
00:23:01.059 --> 00:23:04.259
But if it's really not, like you get given so many things.
00:23:04.579 --> 00:23:07.539
Yeah, I think that that's what this category is saying.
00:23:07.539 --> 00:23:23.700
That, you know, for somebody who really, you know, put all kinds of hours and time and and effort into a sport and you know, just won a trophy that they had worked so hard for, that is a sentimental item for them.
00:23:23.700 --> 00:23:29.139
But saying trophies are sentimental, don't throw them away can't be that broad stroke.
00:23:29.139 --> 00:23:29.460
Right.
00:23:29.460 --> 00:23:31.059
It's really curating.
00:23:31.059 --> 00:23:44.980
And so these are the categories that too many of us just apply that broad filter of, oh, we should keep all the baby clothes because every person on the planet was a baby at one time and we need to remember what they wore.
00:23:44.980 --> 00:23:47.619
You know, that's not a good filter.
00:23:47.619 --> 00:23:59.539
But if there's one outfit that is so important to you because of the story of that particular piece, that's something to curate and keep in your legacy box.
00:23:59.779 --> 00:24:00.099
Right.
00:24:00.259 --> 00:24:00.819
Exactly.
00:24:00.819 --> 00:24:06.819
So yeah, stuff that sounds like it should be sentimental, but maybe it actually isn't, but you haven't put any thought into that.
00:24:07.059 --> 00:24:07.379
Yeah.
00:24:07.379 --> 00:24:12.420
So just realizing that, you know, kids want stories, not items.
00:24:12.420 --> 00:24:19.220
And to check yourself if you're saving things for that general, well, somebody might want this, start asking people.
00:24:19.220 --> 00:24:19.619
Yeah.
00:24:19.619 --> 00:24:24.500
Their answer will maybe show you that they don't.
00:24:24.819 --> 00:24:25.460
They don't, right?
00:24:25.460 --> 00:24:25.779
Yeah.
00:24:25.779 --> 00:24:29.539
Okay, number eight, decor from past seasons of life.
00:24:29.539 --> 00:24:39.859
Um, so this is like you had a whole vibe of your house, um, and then you changed it to something else, but you still have all the old decor from the original vibe.
00:24:39.859 --> 00:24:54.259
And this happens um a lot with holiday decor because you put it out and then you put it back, and then you buy some new things for the next holiday, and you don't realize that you're not putting out everything that you have in your bin or whatever.
00:24:54.259 --> 00:24:59.619
And so then the bin just kind of starts not really coming out, and you're buying different things.
00:24:59.619 --> 00:25:07.299
And um, so that I feel like, you know, seasonal decor really can you can do that easily without really thinking about it.
00:25:07.619 --> 00:25:14.980
Yeah, and we have things um, you know, hanging on our walls or, you know, sitting on a shelf for a very long time.
00:25:14.980 --> 00:25:18.500
And so for a long time we're not noticing it at all.
00:25:18.500 --> 00:25:26.500
And then maybe it gets replaced, but we have back to that ownership, like, oh, we've had this for so long.
00:25:26.500 --> 00:25:34.259
We have trouble making that distinction that, like, oh, we we've replaced it because we didn't like it so much.
00:25:34.819 --> 00:25:40.019
And sometimes you can make your house fresh by like moving it to another room and you know, kind of doing that.
00:25:40.019 --> 00:25:44.819
But if you end up like taking it and then putting it in storage, like then there's no place for it in your house.
00:25:44.819 --> 00:25:47.619
Like it is not, it's lived, it served its purpose.
00:25:47.619 --> 00:25:52.899
Yeah, you loved looking at it for a whatever time, that time's over, it can go.
00:25:53.220 --> 00:26:17.460
Yeah, and if there's a move involved in dealing with all of these things, uh sometimes the vibe of the house dictates you know, the physical house itself, the the space um dictates what's going to feel like it's right again, and something that you had the perfect spot for in one location just is never going to feel right in the next.
00:26:17.779 --> 00:26:19.299
And I definitely had that when I moved.
00:26:19.299 --> 00:26:20.500
Um, you probably did too.
00:26:20.500 --> 00:26:23.299
Stuff that I had, and I'm like, oh, where am I gonna put this in the new house?
00:26:23.299 --> 00:26:27.460
And I tried it like four or five different places, and it just doesn't seem to fit in the new house.
00:26:27.700 --> 00:26:46.740
Yeah, the color scheme can shift if you know your woodwork's different or the flooring's different, all of those things shift and move, and sometimes things that you either have just had a long time and when you really think about it, you don't love it anymore, or things that you're like, well, it is pretty, they just don't work, and that's okay.
00:26:47.139 --> 00:26:48.019
Right, exactly.
00:26:48.019 --> 00:26:50.819
It can still have life in it and you can share it with someone else.
00:26:51.139 --> 00:26:52.099
Yeah, someone else will love it.
00:26:52.099 --> 00:26:52.659
Love it.
00:26:52.819 --> 00:26:53.299
Yeah, yeah.
00:26:53.299 --> 00:26:56.420
Um, okay, number nine, pending projects.
00:26:56.420 --> 00:27:03.220
So uh stuff that you're gonna fix or mend or return or finish or you know, all of that.
00:27:03.220 --> 00:27:08.500
You broke a vase, it's broken, you're gonna glue it back together five years ago that happened.
00:27:08.500 --> 00:27:09.940
Right?
00:27:09.940 --> 00:27:10.659
Yes.
00:27:10.659 --> 00:27:14.579
There's broken jewelry, there's stuff that needs to go to donation.
00:27:14.579 --> 00:27:19.619
Um, so either handle it or let it go.
00:27:20.019 --> 00:27:21.220
Yeah, yeah.
00:27:21.220 --> 00:27:36.339
I think that I mean, you know, I've said it over and over, I'm a systems person, but having that, you know, everything has a home, I think your projects need a mental home, like on paper, uh like a list.
00:27:36.339 --> 00:27:50.180
So if you've got things that need repair or return, you know, have that running to-do list somewhere because I think what happens is they just get put, you know, on the kitchen island the first day, you're like, oh, I need to return this.
00:27:50.180 --> 00:27:59.379
And then you need to, you know, use the island so it gets put, you know, over on the side counter or uh, you know, by the door, and then it gets moved.
00:27:59.379 --> 00:28:01.139
Oh, I need to pick up and clean in here.
00:28:01.139 --> 00:28:06.899
So it gets put, you know, on the desk or in a or in your trunk and you drive around with it forever, not returning it or whatever.
00:28:06.899 --> 00:28:07.379
Yeah.
00:28:07.379 --> 00:28:14.899
And so that shifting of it, it it gets stuffed and shoved and pushed back, and it's just not that priority.
00:28:14.899 --> 00:28:21.779
So if you just, you know, we always talk about just do, you know, one habit 15 minutes a day or whatever.
00:28:21.779 --> 00:28:25.940
This is that what's the one hat, what's the one check-in each week?
00:28:25.940 --> 00:28:32.500
You know, on Monday mornings I go run errands and do all of my returns or things like that.
00:28:32.500 --> 00:28:32.819
Yeah.
00:28:32.819 --> 00:28:36.339
Make it part of your weekly habit so they don't stack up.
00:28:36.659 --> 00:28:37.220
Yeah.
00:28:37.220 --> 00:28:41.859
Um, this is this is one you don't think about, but cleaning supplies can stack up.
00:28:41.859 --> 00:28:54.740
Um, and that can be because you most people have way more than they realize because it might be under every sink, you know, maybe in there's a closet, like in the laundry that you also have cleaning supplies and like they're just kind of in the garage.
00:28:54.740 --> 00:28:55.299
They're everywhere.
00:28:55.379 --> 00:28:59.619
Like they just I am I am wooed at the store by the cleaning supply aisle.
00:28:59.619 --> 00:29:00.659
That's my problem.
00:29:00.659 --> 00:29:07.220
I know this is for me because I like I like the advertisements.
00:29:07.220 --> 00:29:12.740
I am convinced they're all going to just have the perfect house.
00:29:12.740 --> 00:29:14.339
I enjoy cleaning my house.
00:29:14.339 --> 00:29:18.259
And so I have too many because I am wooed by the new products.
00:29:18.579 --> 00:29:23.460
But you don't get rid of the other half old bet, you know, thing that didn't do it as well as you thought it was going to do it, right?
00:29:23.460 --> 00:29:33.700
So then we just continue to um to I think that I think in all of these categories, the biggest problem is something comes in and nothing goes out.
00:29:34.019 --> 00:29:34.500
Yes.
00:29:34.819 --> 00:29:36.339
So that's something to think.
00:29:36.339 --> 00:29:38.659
If you're getting something new, what is leaving?
00:29:38.659 --> 00:29:40.420
Like what is it replacing?
00:29:40.420 --> 00:29:41.940
What it what's happening there?
00:29:42.339 --> 00:29:46.980
I think uh let's jump into we've got a couple bonus categories for you.
00:29:46.980 --> 00:29:56.099
And I think sometimes this next category becomes a problem when you're trying to solve the 10 previous categories.
00:29:56.099 --> 00:30:06.579
When you're trying to solve that top ten, the thing that happens is that we go get too many containers and organizing products.
00:30:07.059 --> 00:30:07.220
Yeah.
00:30:07.220 --> 00:30:12.500
So you try to fix the problem that there's too much by organizing it.
00:30:12.819 --> 00:30:13.059
Yes.
00:30:13.059 --> 00:30:21.619
So big distinction and you know the solution is never organizing too much and making it prettier.
00:30:21.619 --> 00:30:25.299
It is making good decisions and reducing a little bit.
00:30:25.619 --> 00:30:29.619
Which we're not saying you don't need organizing sometimes, because sometimes you do need organizing.
00:30:29.619 --> 00:30:35.460
But first, before you go by the organizers, you have to, you know, pare it down to what you actually need.
00:30:35.460 --> 00:30:40.740
So then you can see what kind of organization and what space you need to use and all of that.
00:30:40.740 --> 00:30:45.700
So um, you know, and sometimes organization can really give you good parameters.
00:30:45.700 --> 00:30:48.740
I want one bin of how of fall holiday.
00:30:48.740 --> 00:30:49.539
Like that's it.
00:30:49.539 --> 00:30:55.779
You get one bin for the fall or two bins or whatever that is instead of the seven bins that you have, you know, right now.
00:30:55.779 --> 00:30:59.379
So giving yourself a parameter and bins, we're not against it.
00:30:59.379 --> 00:31:13.299
But what we are against is not taking the time to go through it and then just thinking the more that I containers and organizing stuff that I can get, the more I'm gonna be organized or feel like I'm okay with this stuff.
00:31:13.299 --> 00:31:15.779
But you're it's still gonna, it's still gonna haunt you.
00:31:15.779 --> 00:31:16.500
It's still there.
00:31:16.500 --> 00:31:17.859
It's just in a bin now.
00:31:18.099 --> 00:31:18.420
Yeah.
00:31:18.420 --> 00:31:26.099
And when you don't do that first, then I think what happens is the bins become um that nothing has a home type bins.
00:31:26.099 --> 00:31:36.819
It's like the bin of random you were cleaning the garage, so you put a bunch of stuff in a bin because the bins look more organized than sorting through it and making good choices.
00:31:36.819 --> 00:31:49.299
But if you've made the choices first and then you're getting the organizing tools to fit what you actually need to store, then you can put, you know, right-size things.
00:31:49.299 --> 00:32:02.659
Okay, all the extension cords are in this box, this bin, all the uh, you know, craft supplies are in this, and it makes it much more sensical as to what everyone's home is.
00:32:03.059 --> 00:32:04.420
Yes, for sure.
00:32:04.420 --> 00:32:09.299
Um, and then our second bonus one is not actually a thing, it's a mindset.
00:32:09.299 --> 00:32:13.379
And the mindset is I paid too much for this to let it go.
00:32:13.379 --> 00:32:20.339
And so that could be clothing, it could be exercise equipment.
00:32:20.339 --> 00:32:26.259
We get a lot of that where there was an expensive, you know, moment when we felt like we were gonna work out at home.
00:32:26.259 --> 00:32:32.259
Um it could be it could be furniture that's not your style anymore, but it was really expensive when you bought it.
00:32:32.259 --> 00:32:44.099
Um, you know, anything that feels like, oh my gosh, I just I paid so much for this, and so I feel like I shouldn't let it go because that it's a hard dynamic in your mind to wrestle with.
00:32:44.259 --> 00:32:50.740
You probably had some talking yourself into taking the leap to spend the money on it.
00:32:50.740 --> 00:32:52.420
Like, oh, but I really want it.
00:32:52.659 --> 00:32:55.700
And maybe you didn't have quite the money to spend on it at the time.
00:32:55.779 --> 00:32:56.259
Or yeah.
00:32:56.259 --> 00:33:00.980
And you spent it and then it just doesn't fulfill you in the way you thought it would.
00:33:00.980 --> 00:33:01.779
Or any more.
00:33:01.859 --> 00:33:09.859
I mean, maybe I think one thought process is like I used all of that money up in the enjoyment of this thing over the however many years I've owned it.
00:33:10.099 --> 00:33:10.339
Yeah.
00:33:10.500 --> 00:33:10.819
Right?
00:33:10.980 --> 00:33:11.539
Yeah.
00:33:11.859 --> 00:33:15.859
Um, but yes, you're kind of grappling with that idea.
00:33:16.180 --> 00:33:16.500
Yeah.
00:33:16.500 --> 00:33:18.339
I should get more use out of it.
00:33:18.339 --> 00:33:23.940
I should get more enjoyment out of it before I throw in the towel and say I didn't.
00:33:23.940 --> 00:33:25.539
I'm a firm believer though.
00:33:25.539 --> 00:33:39.379
I make clothing mistakes, you know, I buy things and then, you know, for whatever reason, especially with more online shopping and it comes and I want to convince myself, like, oh, I love that.
00:33:39.379 --> 00:33:41.859
And it hangs there for a while.
00:33:41.859 --> 00:33:47.539
Maybe I've worn it once, but there's other things that I've never worn.
00:33:47.539 --> 00:33:56.899
And I'm just such a firm believer that if you've gone to the store or something has arrived and it's not a special occasion thing that you know that that is weeks off.
00:33:56.899 --> 00:34:04.579
If you're not finding a reason to wear something new in the first like week you own it, you don't love it that much.
00:34:04.579 --> 00:34:05.619
Yeah, because you should brand.
00:34:06.259 --> 00:34:10.340
It should be one of those things like you put it on like the next day because you're so excited about it.
00:34:10.740 --> 00:34:10.980
Yes.
00:34:10.980 --> 00:34:15.380
You're you, you know, if it's your everyday stuff, it should be worn right away.
00:34:15.380 --> 00:34:16.820
Like that's your excitement level.
00:34:16.820 --> 00:34:19.860
And if you've pushed it off and pushed it off, it's okay.
00:34:20.500 --> 00:34:26.019
Well, and if you try it on and you're like, it's a little like uh, I don't know, it's not quite you're done.
00:34:26.019 --> 00:34:28.420
In your brain, like you're not gonna pick that again.
00:34:28.420 --> 00:34:29.539
So just return it.
00:34:29.780 --> 00:34:29.940
Yeah.
00:34:29.940 --> 00:34:35.860
If you've got that habit from a few items ago on the returns, get it returned.
00:34:35.860 --> 00:34:42.340
If you didn't, if you missed that window and you're just looking at the guilt, like it's just time, like clear that out.
00:34:42.500 --> 00:34:42.659
Yep.
00:34:42.820 --> 00:34:44.740
We'll all somebody will love it.
00:34:44.740 --> 00:34:46.180
Yeah, pay it forward.
00:34:46.180 --> 00:34:49.780
Someone will be so excited to see those tags, like, oh, brand new.
00:34:50.019 --> 00:34:50.340
Right.
00:34:50.340 --> 00:34:54.579
Okay, so that's 10 and two bonus today.
00:34:54.579 --> 00:34:55.139
Yeah.
00:34:55.139 --> 00:34:59.059
Uh yeah, things to think about and ways that things can sneak up on you.
00:34:59.300 --> 00:34:59.539
Yeah.
00:34:59.539 --> 00:35:03.940
So these categories create 70 or 80 percent of our overwhelm.
00:35:03.940 --> 00:35:10.739
Um, you know, just because they require emotional decisions, not necessarily like logistical.
00:35:10.739 --> 00:35:12.579
Um, you know, they're kind of hidden.
00:35:12.579 --> 00:35:17.380
They're kind of ones we don't think about, um, but they're pinging around there in our brains.
00:35:17.779 --> 00:35:23.139
And they still require some mental, like they have some mental weight to them.
00:35:23.139 --> 00:35:23.300
Yeah.
00:35:23.300 --> 00:35:24.259
Like you know.
00:35:24.259 --> 00:35:26.980
You know that there's those clothes that you aren't wearing.
00:35:26.980 --> 00:35:27.380
Yeah.
00:35:27.380 --> 00:35:30.340
You know, you know that that area feels a little bit too much.
00:35:30.820 --> 00:35:30.980
Yeah.
00:35:30.980 --> 00:35:41.860
Logistically it might be okay, but mentally you're like, okay, why am I moving this hanger over out of the way every time I walk in here?
00:35:41.860 --> 00:35:42.500
Right.
00:35:42.500 --> 00:35:42.980
Yeah.
00:35:42.980 --> 00:35:43.619
Yeah.
00:35:43.619 --> 00:35:53.460
Um, so reasons to address these categories, especially if um there's a move, is the cost of moving all of this stuff that you don't need.
00:35:53.460 --> 00:35:57.779
That is an actual um, you know, physical cost.
00:35:57.779 --> 00:36:04.019
And then, like we just said, the emotional bandwidth that it's taking a toll on you every day.
00:36:04.259 --> 00:36:04.500
Yeah.
00:36:04.500 --> 00:36:09.860
I I think people really, really underestimate that because they've lived with it, it just snuck on up on them.
00:36:09.860 --> 00:36:15.619
You know, that emotional stuff, the stuff snuck up, but the emotional thing, it just slowly builds.
00:36:15.619 --> 00:36:23.139
Um, and that's why when people actually do this, they just feel so free because they didn't realize how unfree they were feeling.
00:36:23.139 --> 00:36:29.059
Like it just, it just you just live with it every day and you just don't realize how um what the emotional toll is like.
00:36:29.059 --> 00:36:30.980
So um, here's a couple strategies.
00:36:30.980 --> 00:36:33.619
Um, you can do a 30-minute sweep, right?
00:36:33.619 --> 00:36:40.980
Put the put the type the timer on, pick a sneaky category, and just do a sweep through the house.
00:36:41.460 --> 00:36:46.019
I think the timer is always good because it makes you make your decisions faster.
00:36:46.019 --> 00:36:52.420
We all, when there's a timer ticking on any activity, we're like, oh, I gotta go a little faster.
00:36:52.420 --> 00:36:56.420
Uh, and it takes a little bit of the lingering on emotion out of the equation.
00:36:56.739 --> 00:36:57.219
Yes.
00:36:57.219 --> 00:36:58.659
Um, one is enough.
00:36:58.659 --> 00:37:02.259
Tell yourself, you know, how many duplicates you have of whatever one is enough.
00:37:02.259 --> 00:37:03.059
Maybe two is enough.
00:37:03.059 --> 00:37:03.460
I don't know.
00:37:03.460 --> 00:37:07.860
It depends on what it is, but it you don't need 20 of anything, probably.
00:37:07.860 --> 00:37:09.619
And so t-shirts is another one.
00:37:09.619 --> 00:37:14.259
T-shirts, I think people really that's something that they'll have like 50 t-shirts.
00:37:14.579 --> 00:37:18.900
Yeah, I think setting that parameter and not looking at each one like, do I like this?
00:37:18.900 --> 00:37:22.500
That's such a question that will make you keep way more than you need.
00:37:22.500 --> 00:37:22.739
Yeah.
00:37:22.739 --> 00:37:30.099
And so instead deciding, okay, I think having three spatulas is what I need for my kitchen, which three do I like best?
00:37:30.099 --> 00:37:33.139
Right works so much better in any category.
00:37:33.460 --> 00:37:35.539
Yeah, and making that decision before you start sorting.
00:37:35.539 --> 00:37:47.219
I'm gonna have 10 t-shirts, I'm gonna have three spatulas, I'm whatever the number is for you, but then again, gives you a parameter to be like, okay, I have 10 here and I have 17 more.
00:37:47.219 --> 00:37:51.860
Which ones of these 10 are going to get to my favorite 10 or whatever?
00:37:52.099 --> 00:37:53.380
Yeah, absolutely.
00:37:53.619 --> 00:37:55.219
Um, future self-test.
00:37:55.219 --> 00:37:58.099
Would your future you be happy if this was gone?
00:37:58.099 --> 00:38:00.179
This happens with the guilt things.
00:38:00.179 --> 00:38:00.500
Yeah.
00:38:00.500 --> 00:38:04.659
Like the when when you're looking at the things that are guilt is not a gift, right?
00:38:04.980 --> 00:38:13.860
When you look at it and you think, that doesn't give me like I think a a good twist on that question would be would your future self notice if this item was gone?
00:38:13.860 --> 00:38:14.900
Oh, yeah, too.
00:38:14.900 --> 00:38:15.619
Yeah.
00:38:16.179 --> 00:38:16.500
Honestly.
00:38:16.500 --> 00:38:18.900
If you've pulled it from the top shelf of your kitchen, the answer is no.
00:38:19.139 --> 00:38:22.579
Well, yeah, you experienced that and you're like, I don't remember what it was.
00:38:22.579 --> 00:38:22.820
Right.
00:38:22.980 --> 00:38:23.779
So exactly.
00:38:24.099 --> 00:38:26.820
And I've I've done that with you know plenty of things.
00:38:26.820 --> 00:38:29.139
I've donated, like, what did I even give away?
00:38:29.460 --> 00:38:30.019
Yeah.
00:38:30.019 --> 00:38:33.860
Um, do you can you keep the story and not the stuff?
00:38:33.860 --> 00:38:43.059
Um, is the story enough to you remember the story without the things, you know, or is or or do you tell the story of the thing and it's not enough to keep it?
00:38:43.059 --> 00:38:43.460
Yeah.
00:38:44.019 --> 00:38:44.420
Either way.
00:38:44.420 --> 00:38:45.059
Yeah.
00:38:45.059 --> 00:38:49.460
Um, removing the barrier is back to those habits.
00:38:49.460 --> 00:38:54.179
When you know, what's your frequency for going to the donation drop-off?
00:38:54.179 --> 00:39:00.900
Do you have a bag, you know, in your closet like Jody does, that you're just filling as you go and taking it when it's full?
00:39:00.900 --> 00:39:03.860
What is your system around doing that?
00:39:03.860 --> 00:39:09.380
What is your system for taking returns or just moving anything out of the house?
00:39:09.380 --> 00:39:11.300
What's your habit around that?
00:39:11.300 --> 00:39:16.820
Are you doing one of our 15-minute a day, just do a little bit at a time?
00:39:16.820 --> 00:39:23.300
Anything like that can move you forward in progress instead of just continuing to accumulate.
00:39:23.539 --> 00:39:24.179
Yep.
00:39:24.179 --> 00:39:30.099
All right, so go check out your sneaky spots and get those cleaned out, and you'll feel much freer.
00:39:30.340 --> 00:39:30.579
Yes.
00:39:30.579 --> 00:39:31.139
All right.
00:39:31.139 --> 00:39:33.059
Next time.
00:39:33.059 --> 00:39:36.820
Thanks for joining us on the Downsizing Roadmap Podcast.
00:39:36.820 --> 00:39:45.300
If you found this episode helpful, be sure to subscribe, leave us a review, and share it with someone who might need a little downsizing inspiration.
00:39:45.300 --> 00:39:48.340
Have questions or ideas for future episodes?
00:39:48.340 --> 00:39:54.259
Reach out to us on our website, www.downsizingroadmap.com.
00:39:54.259 --> 00:39:58.019
Until next time, let's keep simplifying and moving forward.
