It sounds backwards, but it may be true: the more decluttering advice you take in, the harder decluttering can start to feel. That is the opening idea from Don, the host of @TheMinimalMom, a channel with about 883,000 subscribers, in a long, chatty episode she recorded while working in her own basement storage space.
Consuming Is Not The Same As Doing
Don says that taking in too many tutorials about tidying up can make the job feel heavier, because consuming information without acting on it overloads the brain. She did not want anyone to turn her episode off. Instead, she invited people to declutter a space alongside her, whether that is a single kitchen counter hot spot or a big area like the one she was tackling. She promised one tip that works no matter what, plus a life update, because she says a chatty conversation makes the work feel less lonely.
She cited a learning expert who explains that learning has two parts, consuming and digesting. Digesting, in this case, means acting. Without it, she says, information does not stick and the result is overwhelm. In other words, the tenth tip you read will not help if you have not yet tried the first one.
The Basement Project
Don said her basement had a messy storage area at the bottom of the stairs. She had a reason to hurry, too. Her kids want workout equipment that folds up against the wall, and some of the pieces were already sitting in the garage waiting for space.
To stay organized, she taped category signs to the wall. Her categories included household items, holiday decor, things moved from her small second dwelling, organizing containers, winter gear, and office supplies. Giving every pile a destination, she says, keeps the work from turning into shuffling things around.
Step One Is Categorizing
When someone feels overwhelmed, Don says the first step is to categorize. She explained that without categories, you face what she described as a thousand decisions with no reference point. Once you sort by type, the decisions rest on what you actually own.
Her example was memorable. She said that when you can see clearly that you own 84 coffee mugs, you can easily let 12 go without missing them. She also mentioned a poker player and author who points out that a good decision does not guarantee a good outcome, which she used to remind herself that making a decision is better than freezing.
The Five Minute Trick
Don shared a simple method for people who cannot face a whole room. Set a timer for five minutes and only categorize. Take the quick wins, such as breaking down stacked boxes you have been keeping around for no reason. She said the brain works on wins, so each small success builds momentum. Her own quick win was removing a stack of boxes she had kept for thumbnails.
Later in the episode she returned to the same theme, saying that action brings clarity. Most decisions turn out to be clear yeses or clear nos, she said. Storage items that have been sitting untouched and forgotten can usually go, and having less stuff means less waste. She also quoted a line she borrowed from a coach, “Any excuse will do,” and applied it to the excuses people make about pantries and laundry.
A Life Update In The Middle
True to her promise, Don mixed the decluttering with news from her own life. She said she had just turned 44 and had a twin sister to celebrate with. She also gave herself permission to lower the bar on bigger projects, such as a planned house tour that would take about three days of work.
She gave an update on a book she is finishing. She said final edits were due the following Monday and that the book gathers lessons from about 800 of her episodes, blending mindset with practical tips, at roughly 70,000 words. She expects it to come out in August of next year.
She also told a funny story about a homecoming dress shopping trip at a huge mall. By her account, a fitting room line took about an hour and a half, and only at the register did she learn that only items with a purple dot were non returnable. She said they had stood in line for nothing, though the family came home with three dresses to choose from.
Putting It To Work
Here is how to apply her ideas this week.
Pick one small space. A drawer, a counter, or a single shelf is plenty. Decide on the categories before you start so every item has a place to land.
Set a timer. Five minutes of sorting is better than an hour of planning. If you want to keep going, set the timer again.
Stop researching. If you notice yourself saving more tips than you are using, pause the reading and pick up a trash bag. Let the first tip do its job.
Say what you see. Counting how many mugs, towels, or storage bins you own makes the decision concrete. A number is easier to act on than a feeling.
Plan a drop off. Keep a donation box nearby and drop it off within a day or two, so the items do not creep back into the house.
Whatever you take from her episode, the main message holds. Advice is only useful once you act on it, and the best time to start is with a timer and a single pile.
