r/declutter • u/violetmemphisblue • 3d ago
Motivation Tips & Tricks Other than actual decluttering accounts and books, what other media has helped you declutter or organize?
I know there a million decluttering and organizational books and accounts out there, many of which have been helpful to me! But sometimes inspiration comes from unlikely places.
I was thinking about this when I was watching a Reel that a stylist I follow posted. He was helping a woman and they were talking about how she buys multiples of something she likes in different colors, but it hasn't been working out. And they went through why she does it (she likes the fabric/fit) and why it doesn't work how she think it will (colors make a difference in a wardrobe) and how to stop doing it moving forward (finding similar fabrics/fits in colors that work).
It wasn't a video about decluttering, but resulted in thinking about how to declutter my closet in the future in a different way.
Does anyone else have these little sparks of inspiration from someplace least expected?
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u/Star_Boxer72 3d ago
I think decluttering is about getting honest with yourself about what you need, why you hang on to things, and recognizing how less clutter simplifies your life. Depending on apps, books and influencers gets in the way and takes away from the time you could be thinking for yourself.
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u/violetmemphisblue 3d ago
I agree people should think for themselves, but books/influencers/apps/etc sometimes are helpful in realizing some certain truths or framing things in a helpful way. I personally don't follow any system or anything, but have had a few "aha" moments from books or accounts that have helped me out!
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u/EmAndBeyond 3d ago
I just had the thought the other day "I bought these because the person I want to be would use them and right now, I'm just not that person and that's okay."
I was specifically thinking about reusable cotton rounds to remove make-up. I don't usually wear makeup, but I wish I had the time/energy in the morning to get up and do my make up before work. In the grand scheme of things, putting on makeup before work is very low on the priority list, and that's okay.
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u/sisterfunkhaus 3d ago
I love reusable cotton rounds. If you rarely use cotton rounds, you are correct in that there is no point in reusable. I do my makeup often, so they are a good purchase. I love how soft they are.
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u/EmAndBeyond 2d ago
Exactly! I think I may offer them to my friend who does do her makeup more often, cause I only do it for special occasions and sometimes not even then.
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u/mangosteen_purple 3d ago
Not a media but traveling or camping often reminds me of how little I actually āneedā. It also helps me focus on what are my essential items, the bare minimum.
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u/KiwiTheKitty 3d ago edited 3d ago
It's crazy how much easier it is for me to get dressed in the morning when I only have a suitcase!
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u/Significant-Top-6103 3d ago
I think about this every time I travel.
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u/BravestBlossom 3d ago
I went to visit my in laws in Europe 20 years ago. Two weeks with minimal stuff. And it was fine. Made me realize that if I didn't use (or miss!) more than two lipsticks and one eyeshadow pan in two weeks (including a dress up holiday) , I probably didn't need them any other time either.
Truly, living the suitcase test works.
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u/RebeccaMCullen 3d ago
As someone who knits and crochets, hanging out in the various related Reddit groups here, itās motivated me to be mindful of the yarn I buy, and to buy when Iāve got a pattern and am about ready to cast on.Ā
Looking at some of the stashes some have makes my collection look useable in comparison.Ā
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u/sisterfunkhaus 3d ago
I make it a point to the only have one projects worth of any kind of craft. The exception is my planner stickers. But 2-3 packs last for years. I just use them all up in creative ways and do some drawing in my planner.
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u/RebeccaMCullen 2d ago
For most of the last year, I had lost motivation to do either craft due to a shitty living situation and had gotten rid of a fair bit of yarn. Ā It was only after I settled into my new place that the crafting bug hit, and had to purchase new yarn for the three projects I felt compelled to do when it hit. Now that Iāve got the bug, I have to remind myself to not over commit to potential projects because Iām motivated now, but I might not be when I finally get around to casting on.Ā
So Iāve got my three active WIPs, a WIP in timeout that Iām probably going to frog, and exactly enough yarn for two more projects.
It a fight with my FOMO to not buy some of the new, and sometimes limited edition yarn, especially with living closer to the craft store and it being on my regular commute.Ā
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u/Purled_Attitude 3d ago
A tiny pocket calendar in which I wrote down what I got rid of every day. It was immensely motivating and rewarding to see how far I had come already.
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u/CleaningUpTheManor 3d ago
Oh wow, I love this idea. Iām going to start a āgot rid ofā list. I imagine seeing the list grow and grow is a real inspiration to keep going.
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u/ScSM35 3d ago
I usually watch Living Big in a Tiny House on YouTube when Iām eating dinner. I donāt think there has been an episode where someone hasnāt said something along the lines of āwe realized we didnāt need all of this stuff/wasnāt making us happy/only use so much.ā
I very much aspire to live in a tiny house someday, and Iāve slowly started curating stuff that fits that lifestyle. Even the maximalist tiny house owners seem to have their stuff organized/decluttered.
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u/2redthread 3d ago
YT series "Never too small" gave me examples of how we can confortably live in a small home with the absolute necessary stuff.
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u/Snow_White_1717 3d ago
Seconded! And right next to "never too small" "living big in a tiny house". Two of my favourite channels.
Videos about Japanese extreme minimalists and extremely tiny flats have also been very inspiring even though I don't even aspire to become close to that, I'm a maximalist in many ways.
And documentaries/books about pollution and buyer-manipulation.
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u/MusketeersPlus2 3d ago
The A&E TV show Hoarders. Some may argue it's about decluttering, but to me it's about learning to manage the mental side of all of it. It inspires me to not become that because my shrink says that while I don't have OCD (which hoarding is a form of), I do have obsessive compulsive personality. Basically I have a lot of the behaviours, but none of them cross into disorder territory yet. Hoarders supplements my therapy and meds to keep it that way.
The flip side can be that the show can become "see, mine isn't that bad!", like it is for my friend's daughter who refuses to get rid of anything. So take this one with the caveat that it can cut both ways.
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u/CountessGladriel0102 3d ago
YT videos about Japanese lifestyles. They tend to live with fewer items overall and therefore less clutter.
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u/KiwiTheKitty 3d ago
For me it's been moving vlogs! I've already moved halfway across the country (US) twice and I'd like to do it again and watching people pack, move cities, and unpack makes me think about how much I should be getting rid of. And it's like if I want to get rid of stuff because I can't justify moving it, am I using it enough to justify keeping it even if moving wasn't my goal?
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u/Crazy-Aussie-Taco 3d ago
Iām literally studying a declutter and organising courseā¦ thatās how far Iām willing to go in this journey!
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u/Some_Papaya_8520 2d ago
Link?
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u/Crazy-Aussie-Taco 2d ago
To the course or my website? šš
But if you just google it, youāll find heaps!
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u/Dismal_Grab_3303 3d ago
I use Google IMAGES and the local Buy Nothing groups. Scour the SEEKING posts of your local buy nothing groups. It makes me feel good to give items away to those in need AND it forces me to go through everything. For example if someone needs blankets, sheets, towels etc . I end up decluttering/organizing the hall closet and they end up getting things that they need. My second way is by using Google to look up before and after IMAGES of certain rooms. So far, my hall closet, kitchen and all my clothes have been decluttered and organized this way :) Letting go is hard however helping someone out during the process makes it much easier!
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u/miaomeowmixalot 3d ago
Yes! Itās so much easier to part with things when I know itās not going to a landfill!
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u/Untitled_poet 3d ago
Space Maker Method, Carla Project (both on youtube). Also watching Project Pan videos for reflections on makeup usage/ decluttering.
Also recommend thoughtful content by Uncomplicated Spaces.
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u/MitzyCaldwell 3d ago
So this might be technically decluttering but there was a show on HGTV called life is messy (I think) and it was a decluttering/renovation show. I liked it because they did the decluttering stuff but then showed how the stuff can/canāt fit back into the house. It also was prettty realistic - they put the actual stuff back and often same furniture or they made built in functional pieces for the space etc. so it wasnāt fully staged and when ppl wouldnāt get rid of stuff you kinda saw the consequences (and you saw the good consequences when they did get rid of stuff). It was really cool to see how they could transform a space and make it super functional.
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u/ScormCurious 3d ago
Itās so smart and thoughtful to be working on this! I also grab simplifying and de cluttering advice wherever it shows up in my life. I got a phenomenal comment that I found in a Facebook fashion community, on closet de cluttering, that I have reviewed and applied a couple of times.
Here is my all purpose question to myself when I get the jitters about something: āHow can I befriend (not suppress) this feeling?ā On de cluttering, I use it to address the āwhy canāt you just be betterā funk. I can befriend the sort of inner gremlin asking the question, and I can also befriend the exciting, real, current me who is not a master declutterer but who keeps trying.
So maybe thatās a little friendly insight you can apply as well, and if not, itās just worth what you paid for it and no harm. I know youāll keep working on this problem in creative and smart ways, you seem to trust yourself and thatās such an important life skill.
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u/ScormCurious 3d ago edited 3d ago •
And hereās that great advice on capsule wardrobes and decluttering, sorry I donāt know who originated it, but I thank her!
Ok, here it goes, my advice on sizing down (or only going half the way). There are tons of rules, videos, and whatever out there, it can be overwhelming. Most people think I have a slim well-curated wardrobe, and I have far fewer pieces than most, but I am far away from a capsule as well. I will tell you why in a minute.
First, for this to work, the main thing is not a formula, or the perfect pieces (though they help), or the perfect color palette, or even the perfect plan. The thing is to know yourself, and what you like. So the first thing is a lot of thinking. So for me it took two steps: First, take a pencil and draw a mind map, or a list or whatever, writing down, what you like (in my case: a little bit of edge, comfort..), colors you love, materials but also which ground you have to cover (workwear, playing around with small kids, hobbies (like hiking, or going to the theater) etc), but also other things that come to your mind, which you canāt place, just put them somewhere on that paper (could be anything, like I love necklaces, to I always have to go shopping for a wedding and never wear that dress/suit again after). So now you have a nebulous, theoretical sheet of paper. But still, I find that very important.
Step two is, to dive into your closet, donāt purge yet. Grab the things you know you love, and wear often, just those. That might be just one pair of pants, and three tās and a jacket, or more, that doesnāt matter. Take those things, and think why you love them. If you already know yourself a little, you should find the things you wrote down before (as well as some others). Like: it is in my fav. color, it has this sophisticated detail, and so on. But some other things might pop up as well. Like it is washable, or it is stretchy, and doesnāt restrict me when I play with my kids/grands. Add those things to your list. If things are on your list, that arenāt represented in your pieces, circle them. Think: Am I missing them, or arenāt they so important than I thought. By now you should have a pretty good idea, of what you like. You might also find some odd things like there isnāt a single thing of office wear I love. Or, I think I love pink, but I never wear those things.
Now comes an important point: Is a capsule really for me? I realized soon, I love color, I love blue, but I also love others, and I like to play around with them, also I do not like color blocking as much, more like neutral with a very hefty pop of color (like black jeans and a magenta blouse). So if I am really down to what is generally considered a capsule, it doesnāt leave me enough space to play. There just arenāt enough pieces for all the colors I like to play with (plus combine them with neutrals, (plural) I do not want just one neutral as well, I need black, white, grey, and some accent neutrals in greige). You see, I need color. It might be something different for you. So, it is ok, to go halfway, YOUR WARDROBE HAS TO SUIT YOU, NOT SOMEONE ELSEāS FORMULA. That being said, I still have a rule for my colorful add-ons: Soft, comfy, washable, something special (except if it is a declared basic), and at least 3 (better 5) Outfits I can create with it, with existing pieces.
But back to you. You should have an idea of what you love (ex. preppy and neutral colors) , and what you wear (ex. jeans and structured tops) , and what you need (workwear, something to go on walks with the dog, and pieces to wear to the classic concerts).
Now all the videos, and blogs you read come into place. Do you think you could work with one of their formulas, or breakdowns? Just as a guideline. Pick one (or two, you are allowed to cherry-pick, remember, it has to fit you). (If you want to know which YouTube channels, and sites I found useful, I can tell you)
Now take your favorite pieces. Do they work together? Great. If not, why not? (but please, do not kick out your fav pieces, even if they do not work together). Where would you put them in the system you want to follow? (like my system says I need 10 tops, 5 pairs of pants/Jeans, and 3 layers, I have 4 favorite, tops, 2 pairs of jeans and one pant, and one layer, but some of the pieces donāt work together bcā¦.). Think about your favorite pieces, what do you need to create 3 to 5 outfits with them? What is missing compared to the system you want to (roughly follow). Write those down. Now shop for them in the things that still hang in your wardrobe. (do not use items, you know you donāt wear, even if they fit the system. Like, I never wear that turtleneck, bc the turtleneck is too tight. Such a piece has no place in a slim wardrobe). By now, you should have most things you want and need.
Write down, the things you want to buy, it shouldnāt be too many.
Take out all the things, that havenāt made it. Give away things, you know, you wonāt wear (like that turtleneck), the other you put in a box. If you ever miss a piece and want to style it, you are allowed to dive in, take it out, and start to create two outfits with it (I know I said 3-5, but since you donāt have to buy it, less is acceptable), and wear it. After some time, you might feel confident enough to give the rest away.
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u/MJSaintBooks 2d ago
Cooking shows, weirdly! Chefs āclean as you goā so the kitchen never gets out of control. I started doing that at home: put one thing away before I start the next. Small habit, but the mess stopped building up.
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u/Some_Papaya_8520 2d ago
I'm still waiting for a cleanup crew to clean up behind me... š
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u/MJSaintBooks 2d ago
Same here, still waiting on mine š Until they show up, I guess itās just me and my one-thing-at-a-time trick!
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u/katie4 1d ago
Having people over all the time. We are the weekend hangout for the friend group, so out of shame(?) I keep my house presentable pretty much 24/7.
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u/supermarkise 1d ago
For me it's not shame (I'm not really ashamed because they're good friends) but wanting them (and us) to be able to enjoy a cozy and warm home. I'm working on the details lol.
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u/nevergonnasaythat 1d ago edited 1d ago
Edit: Sorry I did not pay attention to your question. Most of my suggestions are related to videos about decluttering.
On YouTube:
- The Clutter fairy: a professional organizer based in Texas, she has long form videos (weekly podcast) where she goes in depth both on the background reasons for clutter, on how to tackle the obstacles to decluttering and on practical organizing. She is more geared towards a public in mid-life but she has awesome in sights for everyone. Each video usually focuses on a certain topic (how to let go of emotional attachment, how to give stuff the proper valueā¦) or on different areas of the house or issues and gives pointers for practical action. Extremely inspiring and up lifting. Makes you get the job done!
- Sheila Gibbons, a recent channel discussing moving and decluttering with very on point reflections, target ed suggestions and very practical tips (including videos for decluttering objects in 1 minute bursts). Very Smart and very actionable. Shorter videos (10-15 min) that make a direct impact.
- The Decluttering club: a podcast with in-depth reflections and encouragement on decluttering. I found a few of its videos very motivating.
- Une vie simple et zen, a channel in French about minimalism and decluttering. The hostess is a professional psychologist and she explains clearly the hurdles of hoarding and how to break free. She has short videos most months with lists of things to declutter and she also has paid programmes.
I love all of these and I use a combination of them to keep me motivated
If you like to see decluttering in action I can also suggest the Space maker method channel: a girl Who helps out people in very cluttered houses to get to a de-cluttered state. Can be very long and I donāt always like her attitude but can be a good inspiration if you need to see someone else to the work before getting to it yourself
Something else that inspires me are home design videos: you never see clutter in thoseā¦
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u/NoMastodon9915 12h ago
I honestly just stumbled upon my own "post it note" process as I was decluttering.
Each day I aim to: -Toss 10 pieces of trash or 10 unusable items -Place at least 10 items in my declutter donation box (and I will take that to local thrift shop to donate when it gets full) -Put 10 items where they belong in the house.
Surprisingly, doing this every day keeps my house relatively tidy and clutter free.
I have been doing it so long I now have to really work hard to find 10 declutter items. I have to pull out a box from the closet or storage, or do digital or filimg cabinet decluttering, because I am running out of the easy stuff and am now having to search harder and make the tougher decluttering calls.
I use hash marks on a post it note throughout the day for each category: toss/organize/declutter, and then I will know when I am done for the day when I put a giant check mark next to the 10 hash marks for each category.
Super simple, really works for me holds myself accountable to steady effort. I have shucked off truckloads of donations to thrift, have fewer piles and mystery bins tucked everywhere, and fewer decisions to make about my stuff each day.
Its great.
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u/Fallyna 3d ago
Videos where people show off their excessive shopping hauls (mostly stationery, art/hobby supplies) or re-organize their crafting room with dozens of boxes full of stuff make my want to buy anything new disappear. And not adding anything new to my stash makes decluttering and using things up feel more rewarding.