INVENTORY: The Key to Effectively Decluttering Your House (Ep. 3)

25 Replies to “INVENTORY: The Key to Effectively Decluttering Your House (Ep. 3)”

1. Even in my Granddaughter's room, when it's messy, the dog can't seem to settle down. I knew you were going to start with the kitchen – ugh! My island is packed and I think it's a lot of stuff that just doesn't go anywhere. Right now, I'm tempted to put all of it in a large box and go through the box.

2. Wonderful Dawn! My Season of Life has absolutely changed, but my brain wants to remain young, I can do it all, and so forth. This has been exceedingly beneficial to our household as our season is….more "mature" lol. Thanks for all your wonderful and helpful hints.

3. I used to work in retail and using inventory in my home makes since to me, I am loving less Arround the home and am working on the hidden areas that I forget about.closets, drawers oh and my garage is next????.Thanks Dawn.

4. I have type 1 diabetes, so true. I call diabetes my 5th kid and I only have 4 kids.
   I recently decluttered my garage wall of totes filled with kids clothes, homeschool activities and toys, decluttered my fantasy self and just in case items in the process. I don't spend my Saturday mornings reorganizing and putting things where they belong. My pool table doesn't get a mountain on top of it of things that I have to put away..

5. Dawn, your managing inventory revelation was to me what Joshua Becker's neighbor saying, "Did you know you don't have to have all this stuff" was to him.

6. Even after starting my downsize/declutter journey a few years ago (and getting rid of a LOT of inventory) I still have too much, I still answer YES to all 5 questions, and I still haven't fixed bad habits that contribute to the problem. I am a very organized person who can't seem to STAY organized. That's where the bad habits sabotage my efforts. I do help my elderly mother (I'm the only help she has that lives nearby) and I have diabetes (35 yrs) so that info shed some new light on the situation. I am divorced and live alone, so I care for pets, house, landscape, car, and me. And every time I list those things in discussion, I appear at the bottom of the list….something that begs more analysis. Your videos and discussions make me think and get me motivated. Thank you so much!

7. YES TO ALL THE THINGS!!! Working on it! I will watch a video and then go to something. Thanks for the motivation!

8. Yes, to everything you said. We do a combo of inventory by numbers or by the space/container. Instead of “5” play shirts, we may determine how many comfortably fit and can be kept easily organized in that specific drawer.

9. I just listened to your podcast yesterday, headed into my special needs son’s room and decluttered two-thirds of his toys. His room is always a disaster, and so I simplified his toys to the ones that I actually see him playing with often. His room feels a lot better now.
   I had to get honest about which toys were just sentimental, and which ones weren’t realistic for his developmental level. So it was harder than it seemed like it should be.

10. Love this! So good and so true!

11. Speaking of inventory, what about people who do reselling? How does one deal with that aspect and the concept of the barest minimum of "inventory"?

12. I love this. Thank you Dawn ????

13. Just curious…(not sure if this is self explanatory) …if you had 10 kids what would change in decluttering/minimalising? I always feel like I could pull off your advice if I had less kids. Would you advise having even less for each person in your house in order to decrease inventory ? Your videos, by the way, have been soooo helpful to me. Thank you

14. Got one garbage bag full of clothes done! It's a start! Thank you!!!

15. Loving this series!

16. I love this video and you Dawn❤️ I do find I am stressed and more anxious when there is clutter. I have done a lot of decluttering since finding your channel. I am currently decluttering my recipe book cabinet. I put it off, because I love recipe books and cooking. I have more to go on that. Because I have decluttered and simplified so many other areas I have the bandwidth to do this. I thank you so much Dawn for all of your help❤️

17. I hate clutter.
    I'm a homeschooling mom of 5 with 3 dogs ,I have alot going on.

18. Gotta love Dawn's extra enunciation when she says "imporTanT".

19. I love the concept of inventory in all areas but extra plates and bowls.
    I feel like if I just keep out what I’m using regularly and storing the rest somewhere else for guest. That’s just taking up space somewhere else. So my thoughts are to just keep all the plates and bowls in one spot. That way if guest comes you’re not looking at totes for them to eat dinner.

    I love less inventory all over the house just not sure the plate thing is a good way to go.
    Am I not seeing something??❤

20. Dawn! Same on the server brain. How did we do that??? I am on the rampage, reducing my inventory in EVERY area!

21. Three Rivers Homestead is doing a June pantry challenge on Instagram (they have a youtube channel too). It’s been fun and creative using up things in our pantry, fridge and freezer. I’ve thrown together some interesting meals yet all have been delicious! My husband is loving the home cooked meals and all the space they are creating. However, I have realized I need to stop buying so much extra. I will def be carrying the June challenge into July. ???????? I am enjoying the spaces I’m creating as we use up too much food inventory. More food than I realized has gone bad and I hate that!

22. Your idea of seeing all our belongings as inventory is brilliant and causes that "a-ha" moment for anyone struggling with trying to keep a home clean, organized and functional and stressed out chronically because of it, which is probably most people at some point. We all got stuck keeping things that we "might use" and potentially useful and that we like but without thinking about what actually fit reasonably and what we actually use, and that we do not actually have to keep all the extra items-and we SHOULD NOT keep them! I am very grateful to you for this concept!

23. Everyone with a chronic physical disability or in pain has the same problem regarding bandwithd as those with diabetes. Thanks for mentioning this because the able-bodied don't realize this.

24. Please provide advice on how to get others on board w this concept. In my household I encounter constant push-back. To the point of no progress to be seen. I feel guilty for getting rid of my own items bc I find they’ve been ‘salvaged’ from both the trash and the donations. Even found out my partner and friends went to the local goodwill store and purchased some of my items back!!! Yes, I said they paid to get my items back. I attempt to explain these ideas to help shift their mindset just as mine has changed from years ago. Btw: Thank you, for your gift of enlightenment w/o shame and judgement or condescending. However, when I try to describe and explain what I’m doing and why I’m doing it- it comes across as preachy. Even more so , especially , when I’m explaining the mental and physical effects of things. I’ve come to realize that those around me think they are saving me from making a big mistake when I know in my heart that if they just let me follow through with this, to completion- they will see and experience the lovely benefits it brings!! I wonder if some of them have a fear of ‘open’ or ‘empty’ spaces. The majority of them have this fear that I’m getting rid of something I’ll need later, or might need later , or could definitely use in the future or will have to spend money on to get more of eventually, but I know better.

25. The inventory concept has been life changing for me. Thank you.

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