In the private Facebook group, a member recently asked about how to let go of the need to find the perfect recipient for the items she is decluttering. This has become a road block for her and is keeping her from letting go of her stuff and enjoying the benefits of a clutter free life. And if there is one thing I know, it’s that when one person has a question, others do too. They might ask it in a slightly different way, but the question is still there. Perhaps you’ve dealt with the guilt of letting something go in the past because it was expensive. Or maybe you want to make sure your donation doesn't end up in the landfill. Or perhaps you have a sentimental attachment to something and while you no longer want the item in your home you still care what happens to it. The way it generally comes up is that you want your stuff to go to a good home…whatever that means. This week’s podcast episode starts with a look at a few reasons behind why we feel this way and then gives you 4 ways to take action and start making those donations. This episode of the Wannabe Minimalist Show will also cover: What is the helper’s high and how it affects donating A little known tip for success when giving to a Buy Nothing Group 4 ways to find the right person to give to My favorite hack for avoiding Buyer’s Remorse A simple shopping tip to stave off clutter in the first place ********************* Links mentioned in this episode (some may be affiliate links): Get more show notes (including links to all the statistic sources) at wannabeclutterfree.com/146 The Home Systems Power Pack - This digital library is jam-packed with actionable workbooks, guides, pdfs, worksheets and more so you can start to make real progress in your home! Tidy Home Academy - When you're ready to take your home & life to the next level, Tidy Home Academy will get you there. This life-changing course will help you declutter, organize, & create systems so your home can run on autopilot. Wannabe Minimalist Family - come join my private group filled with amazing people just like you who are on their journey toward minimalism and simplifying. ********************* Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com ********************* Subscribe & Review Are you subscribed to Wannabe Minimalist? If you’re not, I want to encourage you to do that today. I don’t want you to miss an episode. I’m adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the mix and if you’re not subscribed there’s a good chance you’ll miss out on those. And if you enjoyed today’s episode, it would make my day if you left me a review on Apple Podcasts too. Those reviews help other people find my podcast and they’re also fun for me to go in and read. Let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Do you struggle with getting your kids to eat their veggies? Would you consider them picky eaters who only want to eat a few “kid-friendly” things? This is a common struggle with parents and can be extremely stressful when all you want is to do for your kids is nurture, care for them, and help them grow up to be strong and healthy. My guest this week on Wannabe Minimalist is well versed in helping parents bring magic and fun back to the table and make dinnertime a pleasant experience for the whole family. Dr. Sam Goldman supports parents in their dream of helping their child have a happy and healthy relationship with food. Because when children have feeding challenges and just won’t eat, parents are often left feeling lost, concerned, and like they’re doing a bad job. Through her 10 years of experience as an occupational therapist, she has seen first-hand how these eating difficulties not only affected a child’s health but their family dynamics. In her business she teaches parents how to create peaceful, no-pressure mealtimes where you can spend time connecting with your family instead of focusing on food battles snd how to help your child overcome “sensory issues” at the table so they can start exploring and trying new foods. This episode of the Wannabe Minimalist Show will also help you discover: What food rules you should ditch Tips for getting your kids in he kitchen What you can do make kids interested in meal time How a cluttered kitchen can affect our sensory processes Fun ways to encourage kids to play with their food without the mess ********************* Links mentioned in this episode (some may be affiliate links): Get more show notes and ALL THE LINKS at wannabeclutterfree.com/145 Sam's Website Follow Sam on Instagram Tidy Home Academy - This life-changing course will help you declutter, organize, & create systems so your home can run on autopilot. The Home Systems Power Pack - A digital library is jam-packed with actionable workbooks, guides, pdfs, worksheets and more so you can start to make real progress in your home! Wannabe Minimalist Family - come join my private group filled with amazing people just like you who are on their journey toward minimalism and simplifying. ********************* Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com ********************* Subscribe & Review Are you subscribed to Wannabe Minimalist? If you’re not, I want to encourage you to do that today. I don’t want you to miss an episode. I’m adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the mix and if you’re not subscribed there’s a good chance you’ll miss out on those. And if you enjoyed today’s episode, it would make my day if you left me a review on Apple Podcasts too. Those reviews help other people find my podcast and they’re also fun for me to go in and read. Let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Decluttering can be difficult and when you add in family and all the things life throws at you, it’s no wonder so many questions come up on your journey. Are you doing the right things? How can you get others to buy less too? What do you do when your kids don’t pick up after themselves? And since I hear these questions pretty often, I wanted to do another Q & A episode to help you all out. Because if there’s anything I know it’s that we are never alone when we have questions about something. If you are wondering and asking someone else is wondering about those things too. This episode of the Wannabe Minimalist Show will cover: How to get your kids to pick up after themselves Tips for dealing with baby gear Ways to talk to grandparents about buy too much Different approaches to clean up with kids Cleaning out your family home ********************* Links mentioned in this episode (some may be affiliate links): Get more show notes (including links to all the statistic sources) at wannabeclutterfree.com/144 Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning Episode 100 - Another Q&A episode The Home Systems Power Pack - This digital library is jam-packed with actionable workbooks, guides, pdfs, worksheets and more so you can start to make real progress in your home! Tidy Home Academy - When you're ready to take your home & life to the next level, Tidy Home Academy will get you there. This life-changing course will help you declutter, organize, & create systems so your home can run on autopilot. Wannabe Minimalist Family - come join my private group filled with amazing people just like you who are on their journey toward minimalism and simplifying. ********************* Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com ********************* Subscribe & Review Are you subscribed to Wannabe Minimalist? If you’re not, I want to encourage you to do that today. I don’t want you to miss an episode. I’m adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the mix and if you’re not subscribed there’s a good chance you’ll miss out on those. And if you enjoyed today’s episode, it would make my day if you left me a review on Apple Podcasts too. Those reviews help other people find my podcast and they’re also fun for me to go in and read. Let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In our time crunched lives as moms, we can get caught up in the cycle of guilt because we have high standards and even higher expectations. This is especially true when it comes to decluttering and organizing our homes. On today’s show I’m chatting with Kori Tomelden, a woman working to minimize and organizing as an ADHD and autistic mom. It’s a new topic that I have not discussed on the show so I was excited to have Kori on and learn from her life and perspective. I have often had listeners ask me about decluttering with ADHD and while I can speak to decluttering and organizing in a very distracting world where we feel like we’re being pulling in a hundred different directions at once, I felt I needed to have an expert in the field come on to talk more about their experiences so I am delighted Kori reached out to me about being a guest. We had a wonderful conversation and I appreciate her being patient with me as we had some technical difficulties while recording. I am hoping you do not notice them, but let me just say she is a very gracious guest. Kori is a late diagnosed autistic/ADHD mom. She is currently located in Albany, NY where she is raising a neurodiverse family with her partner Kyle. Her older daughter is non-speaking autistic (and also has ADHD and Anxiety) and her youngest daughter is HSP/Gifted. A blogger, podcaster, writer, product creator, and coach; Kori shares neurodivergent family life- the highs, lows, messy, and real. This episode of the Wannabe Minimalist Show will also help you discover: Kori’s tips for time crunched moms Ideas for transitioning to a new schedule when you’re already overwhelmed How Kori overcame her misdiagnosis as a teenager Why a broken routine can be a good thing Ways to use your 5-minute moments to their fullest How to stop the mom guilt cycle with reasonable expectations ********************* Links mentioned in this episode (some may be affiliate links): Get more show notes and ALL THE LINKS at wannabeclutterfree.com/143 Kori's Website Follow Kori on Instagram Subscribe to Kori on YouTube Tidy Home Academy - This life-changing course will help you declutter, organize, & create systems so your home can run on autopilot. The Home Systems Power Pack - A digital library is jam-packed with actionable workbooks, guides, pdfs, worksheets and more so you can start to make real progress in your home! Wannabe Minimalist Family - come join my private group filled with amazing people just like you who are on their journey toward minimalism and simplifying. ********************* Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com ********************* Subscribe & Review Are you subscribed to Wannabe Minimalist? If you’re not, I want to encourage you to do that today. I don’t want you to miss an episode. I’m adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the mix and if you’re not subscribed there’s a good chance you’ll miss out on those. And if you enjoyed today’s episode, it would make my day if you left me a review on Apple Podcasts too. Those reviews help other people find my podcast and they’re also fun for me to go in and read. Let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Most of us function everyday following habits, routines, and systems whether we realize it or not. You probably have a system for getting ready in the morning, a system for getting the kids to school, a system for grocery shopping...the list goes on and on. But what happens when that system stops working or we try to start a new routine? Maybe the kids have grown and the morning routine doesn't work like it used to. Or maybe you've just moved to a new house and nothing seems to be in its rightful place. Or maybe you’re ready to finally declutter and organize your home. Whatever the reason, when we start new habits, routines, or systems, there are likely to be some hiccups along the way. Here are a few tips to not just help you implement a new system in your home, but to be successful with it. This episode of Wannabe Minimalist will also help you discover: 6 ways you can be successful with a new routine What to do if and when you mess up Why it’s imperative to ask your family for input The 2 simple strategies I use to resist temptation How gratitude connects to your goals and new habits ********************* Links mentioned in this episode (some may be affiliate links): Get more show notes (including links to all the statistic sources) at wannabeclutterfree.com/142 Episode 138 - Creative Ideas for Getting Your Family on Board with Decluttering The Home Systems Power Pack - This digital library is jam-packed with actionable workbooks, guides, pdfs, worksheets and more so you can start to make real progress in your home! Tidy Home Academy - When you're ready to take your home & life to the next level, Tidy Home Academy will get you there. This life-changing course will help you declutter, organize, & create systems so your home can run on autopilot. Wannabe Minimalist Family - come join my private group filled with amazing people just like you who are on their journey toward minimalism and simplifying. ********************* Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com ********************* Subscribe & Review Are you subscribed to Wannabe Minimalist? If you’re not, I want to encourage you to do that today. I don’t want you to miss an episode. I’m adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the mix and if you’re not subscribed there’s a good chance you’ll miss out on those. And if you enjoyed today’s episode, it would make my day if you left me a review on Apple Podcasts too. Those reviews help other people find my podcast and they’re also fun for me to go in and read. Let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The nursery rhyme says, first comes love, then comes marriage, then comes the baby in the baby carriage. And whether you followed that path or not, there was never any mention of money in the equation. However, as any adult knows, money and how we spend it plays a big roll in our lives. By the time we settle down and start our families, we’re lucky if we have a few years of earning under our belts. We’ve learned how to tell the difference between our wants and our needs and we understand that if we buy the newest gadget on the market, it might affect our budget more than we’d like. But, often when we become parents (and our sleep schedule takes a beating) we can struggle to get our bearings. This can lead to the budget getting tossed to the wayside as we strive to provide the best upbringing to the newest addition to the family. My guest this week on Wannabe Minimalist is well versed in helping new parents during this new phase of their lives. As a financial coach, Sarah helps families with the transition to parenthood. Her approach is focused on aligning your spending with your values, ensuring that your money is helping you live the life you want, and building a strong foundation for your family. As a mom to 2 young girls, she enjoys helping parents feel more of a sense of control during this phase of chaos and sleep deprivation. I loved how much our conversation uncovered the connection between our money and our stuff and why it’s so important to use your values when it comes to managing both. This episode of the Wannabe Minimalist Show will also help you discover: The difference between a financial coach and a financial advisor Why we really spend more money when we become new parents How to get over “bad” purchasing decisions Tips to help your children navigate impulse purchases Easy ways to bridge the money conversation with your kids ********************* Links mentioned in this episode (some may be affiliate links): Get more show notes and ALL THE LINKS at wannabeclutterfree.com/141 Sarah’s Website Tidy Home Academy - This life-changing course will help you declutter, organize, & create systems so your home can run on autopilot. The Home Systems Power Pack - A digital library is jam-packed with actionable workbooks, guides, pdfs, worksheets and more so you can start to make real progress in your home! Wannabe Minimalist Family - come join my private group filled with amazing people just like you who are on their journey toward minimalism and simplifying. ********************* Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com ********************* Subscribe & Review Are you subscribed to Wannabe Minimalist? If you’re not, I want to encourage you to do that today. I don’t want you to miss an episode. I’m adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the mix and if you’re not subscribed there’s a good chance you’ll miss out on those. And if you enjoyed today’s episode, it would make my day if you left me a review on Apple Podcasts too. Those reviews help other people find my podcast and they’re also fun for me to go in and read. Let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

As we get older, we sometimes hear that digestive issues are just a part of life. After all, life gets a lot more stressful when you add a parter, kids, careers, activities, and any semblance of a social life to the mix. Getting busier often means that home-cooked meals (and healthier options) feel out of reach. But, when we do not prioritize our nutrition, the effects can be less than stellar and often embarrassing. We can experience gas, bloating, burping, lethargy, zapped energy, and all kinds of issues in the bathroom. That’s why, just like it’s important to be intentional about what we bring into (and keep in) our homes, it’s even more important to be intentional about what we eat and put into our bodies. Helping us make sense of all the nutrition lingo, buzzwords, and information is my good friend, Laura Marzen. Laura is a registered dietitian as well as a nutrition coach, recipe developer, health enthusiast, and creator of Fresh Food Bites. She is on a mission to help women feel their best and overhaul their lives through their nutrition and the food that they eat. But what I love about Laura is that she walks the walk. She is a wife and a mom of two busy kids, so she knows how challenging it can be to not only get food on the table when everyone is super hungry, but also how difficult it can be to get the kids to eat the well-balanced healthy meals that she makes. Over the course of the past several years, Laura has made big shifts in her eating mindset and lifestyle to improve her overall gut health and overcome some pretty annoying digestive symptoms of her own. I love that I can ask her anything about nutrition. This episode of Wannabe Minimalist will also help you discover: The 4 pillars of health that Laura says we all need to focus on Simple habits you can start doing right now to improve your energy Why Laura hates the saying everything in moderation How you can work your favorite foods into your diet The easy way Laura recommends creating meals ********************* Links mentioned in this episode (some may be affiliate links): Get more show notes and ALL THE LINKS at wannabeclutterfree.com/140 Laura’s Website Follow Laura on Instagram Tidy Home Academy - This life-changing course will help you declutter, organize, & create systems so your home can run on autopilot. The Home Systems Power Pack - A digital library is jam-packed with actionable workbooks, guides, pdfs, worksheets and more so you can start to make real progress in your home! Wannabe Minimalist Family - come join my private group filled with amazing people just like you who are on their journey toward minimalism and simplifying. ********************* Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com ********************* Subscribe & Review Are you subscribed to Wannabe Minimalist? If you’re not, I want to encourage you to do that today. I don’t want you to miss an episode. I’m adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the mix and if you’re not subscribed there’s a good chance you’ll miss out on those. And if you enjoyed today’s episode, it would make my day if you left me a review on Apple Podcasts too. Those reviews help other people find my podcast and they’re also fun for me to go in and read. Let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Over the years I have tried several decluttering methods in search of giving the best advice I could. That has lead to a lot of successful tips and tricks. However, it has also lead to some not so great advice that I sadly held onto for too long. I cringe inside when I think back to some of the advice I gave early on in the life of this podcast so I wanted to help set the record straight. That’s why I’m looking back on 5 pieces of old decluttering advice that I no longer recommend. A lot has changed for me and my family on this minimalism journey and I want to do my best to steer you in the right direction. So, if you’ve tried to declutter and get organized, but you’ve struggled, perhaps one of these bad pieces of decluttering advice is to blame. But, all hope is not lost. I also share with you what we are doing in our home now that we know better. This episode of the Wannabe Minimalist Show will help you discover: What I recommend you do instead of declutter piles How piles have gotten me into trouble in the past Why organizing bins are not the best first step The reason I changed my mind on clear bins Why I gave up the 5 pile method ********************* Links mentioned in this episode (some may be affiliate links): Get more show notes (including links to all the statistic sources) at wannabeclutterfree.com/139 Avalanche Declutter Challenge - Let go of over 465 things in just one month with this fun challenge. The Home Systems Power Pack - This digital library is jam-packed with actionable workbooks, guides, pdfs, worksheets and more so you can start to make real progress in your home! Tidy Home Academy - When you're ready to take your home & life to the next level, Tidy Home Academy will get you there. This life-changing course will help you declutter, organize, & create systems so your home can run on autopilot. Wannabe Minimalist Family - come join my private group filled with amazing people just like you who are on their journey toward minimalism and simplifying. ********************* Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com ********************* Subscribe & Review Are you subscribed to Wannabe Minimalist? If you’re not, I want to encourage you to do that today. I don’t want you to miss an episode. I’m adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the mix and if you’re not subscribed there’s a good chance you’ll miss out on those. And if you enjoyed today’s episode, it would make my day if you left me a review on Apple Podcasts too. Those reviews help other people find my podcast and they’re also fun for me to go in and read. Let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

You want to declutter, but your family is not ready, so how do you get them on board? This is probably the most frequently asked question I get asked and so I’ve thought a lot about it. Yes, it’s true that you cannot force someone to do something they are not ready for, but you can still get their buy-in and help when it comes to getting stuff out of your home. The trick is to start with yourself and your own stuff. This way they can see what it means to declutter and learn from you along the way. I know, that’s not the news you were hoping for, but this approach has worked time and time again for me and my clients. Listen to this episode and give these 10 creative ways to make decluttering contagious a try. You might be surprised at how getting your family to help with decluttering without them actually decluttering anything, can be the thing they need to finally let go and join you. This episode of the Wannabe Minimalist Show will help you discover: How to approach your family about decluttering Why you need to start the ball rolling What item you should keep in a central place to make decluttering easier Why it’s imperative to make your decluttering efforts noticeable A simple trick to declutter your home one space at a time ********************* Links mentioned in this episode (some may be affiliate links): Get more show notes (including links to all the statistic sources) at wannabeclutterfree.com/138 Avalanche Declutter Challenge - Let go of over 465 things in just one month with this fun challenge. The Home Systems Power Pack - This digital library is jam-packed with actionable workbooks, guides, pdfs, worksheets and more so you can start to make real progress in your home! Tidy Home Academy - When you're ready to take your home & life to the next level, Tidy Home Academy will get you there. This life-changing course will help you declutter, organize, & create systems so your home can run on autopilot. Wannabe Minimalist Family - come join my private group filled with amazing people just like you who are on their journey toward minimalism and simplifying. ********************* Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com ********************* Subscribe & Review Are you subscribed to Wannabe Minimalist? If you’re not, I want to encourage you to do that today. I don’t want you to miss an episode. I’m adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the mix and if you’re not subscribed there’s a good chance you’ll miss out on those. And if you enjoyed today’s episode, it would make my day if you left me a review on Apple Podcasts too. Those reviews help other people find my podcast and they’re also fun for me to go in and read. Let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

"A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new." - Albert Einstein Who do you want to be in life? Do you want to be someone who tries new things, sets and achieves goals, and lives life to the fullest? If so, you better get used to being uncomfortable. When we set out to do anything different, try something new, or learn a new skill, being uncomfortable is not the result we want. However, just like we tell our children to get out there and see what happens we need to understand that discomfort and personal growth go together like cheese and crackers. Embracing discomfort isn’t easy, but it's necessary if you want to change, grow, reach your goals, or do anything other than standing still. The first step is recognizing the things that make you uncomfortable and identifying how they make you feel. Knowing what makes you uncomfortable and facing those challenges instead of running away from them is the best way to learn and grow. But knowing why you’re coming up against resistance is not the only way to embrace discomfort. This episode of the Wannabe Minimalist Show will help you discover: Why discomfort is an inevitable part of life 7 ways we can make it easier to embrace discomfort How your children can help you get more comfortable The 4 questions you can ask yourself to shift your mindset A simple trick to flip your internal dialogue ********************* Links mentioned in this episode (some may be affiliate links): Get more show notes (including links to all the statistic sources) at wannabeclutterfree.com/137 Avalanche Declutter Challenge - Let go of over 465 things in just one month with this fun challenge. The Home Systems Power Pack - This digital library is jam-packed with actionable workbooks, guides, pdfs, worksheets and more so you can start to make real progress in your home! Tidy Home Academy - When you're ready to take your home & life to the next level, Tidy Home Academy will get you there. This life-changing course will help you declutter, organize, & create systems so your home can run on autopilot. Wannabe Minimalist Family - come join my private group filled with amazing people just like you who are on their journey toward minimalism and simplifying. Loving What Is by Katie Byron Libby App - for free audiobooks ********************* Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com ********************* Subscribe & Review Are you subscribed to Wannabe Minimalist? If you’re not, I want to encourage you to do that today. I don’t want you to miss an episode. I’m adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the mix and if you’re not subscribed there’s a good chance you’ll miss out on those. And if you enjoyed today’s episode, it would make my day if you left me a review on Apple Podcasts too. Those reviews help other people find my podcast and they’re also fun for me to go in and read. Let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Paper clutter is one of the sneakiest forms of clutter. Each piece of it is incredibly small, yet as a whole it takes up a lot of space in our minds and can create a significant amount of stress in your life. But, it’s even trickier than just it’s small size. Paper clutter is one of the only forms of clutter that constantly comes into our homes without our consent. With nearly everything else that clutters up your home, there is generally an exchange - something purchased or given as a gift. But, paper clutter sneaks in through the mail, in our children’s backpacks, with purchased products as manuals, nice greeting cards, unsolicited coupons and catalogs, class and work notes taken, and art created at home. No wonder we’re drowning in the stuff! If we’re not making the decision to take the paper in the first place, we almost forget that we need to give it a home or get it out of ours as quickly as possible. One of the best ways to conquer paper clutter is to stay on top of it, but with everyone being busier than ever, it’s hard to get ahead of the game with the non-stop flow of papers. The 3 strategies in this podcast episode will show you how to conquer your paper clutter starting right now. This episode of Wannabe Minimalist will also help you discover: The easiest way to start taming your clutter today How to get your family to help you with paper clutter 5 resources to stop your incoming paper How to decide what papers to keep Why I don't need to shred my sensitive documents ********************* Links mentioned in this episode (some may be affiliate links): Get more show notes (including links to all the statistic sources) at wannabeclutterfree.com/136 Avalanche Declutter Challenge - Let go of over 465 things in just one month with this fun challenge. The Home Systems Power Pack - This digital library is jam-packed with actionable workbooks, guides, pdfs, worksheets and more so you can start to make real progress in your home! Tidy Home Academy - When you're ready to take your home & life to the next level, Tidy Home Academy will get you there. This life-changing course will help you declutter, organize, & create systems so your home can run on autopilot. Wannabe Minimalist Family - come join my private group filled with amazing people just like you who are on their journey toward minimalism and simplifying. CatalogChoice.org - to unsubscribe from catalogs OptOutPrescreen.com - to stop credit card & insurance offers DMAChoice.org - to stop most junk mail To avoid coupons for products and services you don’t need you can opt out at valpak.com Stop store circulars before they arrive at retailmenot.com ********************* Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com ********************* Subscribe & Review Are you subscribed to Wannabe Minimalist? If you’re not, I want to encourage you to do that today. I don’t want you to miss an episode. I’m adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the mix and if you’re not subscribed there’s a good chance you’ll miss out on those. And if you enjoyed today’s episode, it would make my day if you left me a review on Apple Podcasts too. Those reviews help other people find my podcast and they’re also fun for me to go in and read. Let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Have you ever found yourself stuck in a loop of negative self talk? Do you get down on yourself when you make a mistake or miss a goal? Negative thoughts can be difficult to escape from, but with the right tools and understanding, it is possible to move past them and start to embrace self-compassion. I used to be a negative self talker, but have gotten much better at positive thinking and self-compassion over the years. Letting go of my clutter was a big part of that for me and why I love helping and encouraging others who are ready to declutter and organize their homes too. Sadly, negative self-talk can be a major obstacle on the path to achieving our goals, and it can be difficult to break the pattern of negative thinking. On this episode of the Wannabe Minimalist Show, we take a closer look at how to recognize and overcome negative self-talk, why it is important, and how it can be an essential element of success. This episode of the Wannabe Minimalist Show will help you discover: How to recognize negative self talk 4 ways to overcome negative self talk How negativity keeps you from your goals The #1 realization that helped me be more positive A simple trick to flip your internal dialogue ********************* Links mentioned in this episode (some may be affiliate links): Get more show notes (including links to all the statistic sources) at wannabeclutterfree.com/134 Avalanche Declutter Challenge - Let go of over 465 things in just one month with this fun challenge. Tidy Home Academy - When you're ready to take your home & life to the next level, Tidy Home Academy will get you there. This life-changing course will help you declutter, organize, & create systems so your home can run on autopilot. The Home Systems Power Pack - This digital library is jam-packed with actionable workbooks, guides, pdfs, worksheets and more so you can start to make real progress in your home! Wannabe Minimalist Family - come join my private group filled with amazing people just like you who are on their journey toward minimalism and simplifying. ********************* Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com ********************* Subscribe & Review Are you subscribed to Wannabe Minimalist? If you’re not, I want to encourage you to do that today. I don’t want you to miss an episode. I’m adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the mix and if you’re not subscribed there’s a good chance you’ll miss out on those. And if you enjoyed today’s episode, it would make my day if you left me a review on Apple Podcasts too. Those reviews help other people find my podcast and they’re also fun for me to go in and read. Let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

I am a sucker for the New Year! I love the fresh start and the feeling of a clean slate, but can I let you in on a secret…it can take me a few days to embrace the new calendar and get motivated. That's why I love challenges. They give me the push I need to get going and once the momentum gets going, my success is inevitable. So, this year, I am resurrecting the Avalanche Declutter Challenge. It’s back by popular demand and it’s going to help you transform your home and your life, even if that’s been difficult in the past. This challenge works because it taps into our energy when we start something new. At the beginning we are excited and energized and so we can start with bigger tasks. As the challenge wears on, the amount of items we are asked to declutter decreases. This makes it easier to continue and finish the challenge strong. I completed the Avalanche Declutter Challenge for the first time in June 2021 and I was shocked at how it transformed my home and my relationship with stuff. I felt more free than I had felt in a very long time and my mind was clear. It’s a feeling I want for you too so I hope you will join me this month for this life-changing 30-day decluttering challenge. This episode of the Wannabe Minimalist Show will help you discover: 7 secrets to success with decluttering challenges What to expect over the course of 30 days How you can actually declutter over 450 items in one month What to do if life gets in the way and you get off track Where to join in the decluttering challenge ********************* Links mentioned in this episode (some may be affiliate links): Get more show notes (including links to all the statistic sources) at wannabeclutterfree.com/134 Avalanche Declutter Challenge - Let go of over 465 things in just one month with this fun challenge. Tidy Home Academy - When you're ready to take your home & life to the next level, Tidy Home Academy will get you there. This life-changing course will help you declutter, organize, & create systems so your home can run on autopilot. The Home Systems Power Pack - This digital library is jam-packed with actionable workbooks, guides, pdfs, worksheets and more so you can start to make real progress in your home! Wannabe Minimalist Family - come join my private group filled with amazing people just like you who are on their journey toward minimalism and simplifying. ********************* Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com ********************* Subscribe & Review Are you subscribed to Wannabe Minimalist? If you’re not, I want to encourage you to do that today. I don’t want you to miss an episode. I’m adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the mix and if you’re not subscribed there’s a good chance you’ll miss out on those. And if you enjoyed today’s episode, it would make my day if you left me a review on Apple Podcasts too. Those reviews help other people find my podcast and they’re also fun for me to go in and read. Let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

One of the things that holds people back from decluttering and embracing a more minimalist lifestyle are hosting big family gatherings. I hear this from readers, listeners, and clients. They want to get rid of the clutter, but there are a lot of unknowns. It can be scary to think that letting go of stuff will make it possible to open your home up to visitors. Will they be comfortable? Will we have everything we need? What happens if more people show up than you had planned for? This is where we found ourselves over the recent Christmas holiday when our gathering went from 2 house guests to 6 house guests (in addition to our family). And this is the recap of how it went…the good, the bad, and the surprising. This episode of Wannabe Minimalist will also help you discover: How less stuff makes it easier to say yes What to do when you run out of bath towels A solution that works in a pinch for additional sleeping How we managed without enough plates The answer to if we would do it again ********************* Links mentioned in this episode (some may be affiliate links): Get more show notes (including links to all the statistic sources) at wannabeclutterfree.com/133 Tidy Home Academy - When you're ready to take your home & life to the next level, Tidy Home Academy will get you there. This life-changing course will help you declutter, organize, & create systems so your home can run on autopilot. The Home Systems Power Pack - This digital library is jam-packed with actionable workbooks, guides, pdfs, worksheets and more so you can start to make real progress in your home! Wannabe Minimalist Family - come join my private group filled with amazing people just like you who are on their journey toward minimalism and simplifying. ********************* Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com ********************* Subscribe & Review Are you subscribed to Wannabe Minimalist? If you’re not, I want to encourage you to do that today. I don’t want you to miss an episode. I’m adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the mix and if you’re not subscribed there’s a good chance you’ll miss out on those. And if you enjoyed today’s episode, it would make my day if you left me a review on Apple Podcasts too. Those reviews help other people find my podcast and they’re also fun for me to go in and read. Let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

To Christmas card or not to Christmas card? That is a question I have been pondering this year and I find myself in a strange situation. Last year, I declared it would be a year of adulting and I swore I would finally stick to doing adult things like remembering people’s birthdays and sending annual holiday cards. But, when I started to examine the cards we received this year, I realized that there had to be a big environmental impact from our obsession with sending so many cards. I mean, there’s the paper, the guilt about what to do with the cards after the holiday season is over, the cost associated with buying the cards, the struggle to get a photo everyone likes, and the shipping from one side of the globe to the other. It’s a hassle for us, but my research showed me it’s worse for our planet. So, did I decide to send cards this year? And if not, what am I doing instead? You’ll have to listen to this week’s episode of Wannabe Minimalist to find out. This episode of Wannabe Minimalist will also help you discover: The full lifecycle of producing paper holiday cards How many Christmas cards are sent each year in the U.S. and U.K. The environmental impact of physical cards 5 alternatives to a physical paper card How emails compare to paper cards ********************* Links mentioned in this episode (some may be affiliate links): Get more show notes (including links to all the statistic sources) at wannabeclutterfree.com/132 Tidy Home Academy - When you're ready to take your home & life to the next level, Tidy Home Academy will get you there. This life-changing course will help you declutter, organize, & create systems so your home can run on autopilot. The Home Systems Power Pack - This digital library is jam-packed with actionable workbooks, guides, pdfs, worksheets and more so you can start to make real progress in your home! Wannabe Minimalist Family - come join my private group filled with amazing people just like you who are on their journey toward minimalism and simplifying. ********************* Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com ********************* Subscribe & Review Are you subscribed to Wannabe Minimalist? If you’re not, I want to encourage you to do that today. I don’t want you to miss an episode. I’m adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the mix and if you’re not subscribed there’s a good chance you’ll miss out on those. And if you enjoyed today’s episode, it would make my day if you left me a review on Apple Podcasts too. Those reviews help other people find my podcast and they’re also fun for me to go in and read. Let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Decluttering has been sold as the cure-all to people looking to simplify their lives. The promise of decluttering is that by getting rid of all your extraneous possessions, you will be happier, more organized, and more productive. While this may be true for some people, if decluttering was the only issue, I wouldn’t be in business. We’d all be able to comb through our belongings, keeping only the items we needed, and then go on to live our easy, stress-free lives. However, we all know that decluttering is hard. That’s just the cold hard truth. For most of us decluttering is hard because it forces us to confront our emotional attachments to our belongings. We get attached to things for a variety of reasons – they might remind us of happy memories, or we might think that they make us look successful or stylish. The reality though is that humans are really good at avoiding hard things and we're masters of procrastination, which is what clutter usually is - not dealing with our stuff in a timely manner. The science tells us that contrary to popular belief, procrastination is not laziness. If you’re struggling with decluttering or you've tried decluttering in the past only to have your home become messy again, please know that you are not alone. Here are the 5 problems I see the most when it comes to decluttering. Once you understand why decluttering is so difficult, you will understand why I do not suggest starting here and what I've seen work with much more success. This episode of Wannabe Minimalist will also help you discover: 5 hard truths with decluttering and organizing The proper use of organizing bins Why your family may not be on board with decluttering How decluttering compares to a leaky boat What I recommend instead of a big decluttering session ********************* Links mentioned in this episode (some may be affiliate links): Get more show notes (including links to all the statistic sources) at wannabeclutterfree.com/131 Episode 35: A listener's favorite Episode 129: Clutter Statistics Book: Life at Home in the Twenty-First Century Tidy Home Academy - When you're ready to take your home & life to the next level, Tidy Home Academy will get you there. This life-changing course will help you declutter, organize, & create systems so your home can run on autopilot. The Home Systems Power Pack - This digital library is jam-packed with actionable workbooks, guides, pdfs, worksheets and more so you can start to make real progress in your home! Wannabe Minimalist Family - come join my private group filled with amazing people just like you who are on their journey toward minimalism and simplifying. ********************* Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com ********************* Subscribe & Review Are you subscribed to Wannabe Minimalist? If you’re not, I want to encourage you to do that today. I don’t want you to miss an episode. I’m adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the mix and if you’re not subscribed there’s a good chance you’ll miss out on those. And if you enjoyed today’s episode, it would make my day if you left me a review on Apple Podcasts too. Those reviews help other people find my podcast and they’re also fun for me to go in and read. Let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The holidays are a super busy time of year. Not only is another year winding down, there are additional expectations of holiday festivities, decorations, school functions, travel, parties to attend, gifts to purchase, and everything else we put on ourselves from November through December. One of the best ways to deal with the extra pressure of the holiday season is to have good time management. This ensures you can properly plan and follow through with your plans instead of pressing out, getting overwhelmed, and missing the joy all around you. My guest this week on Wannabe Minimalist is well versed in helping chronically busy people, like us parents, with time management - not just at the holidays, but throughout the whole year too. Risa Williams is a book author, licensed therapist, and time management coach. She's the author of the self-help book series, The Ultimate Toolkits for Psychological Wellbeing, which includes: The Ultimate Anxiety Toolkit, The Ultimate Self-Esteem Toolkit, and The Ultimate Time Management Toolkit. She's also the host of The Motivation Mindset Podcast, which features productivity tools and examples of how they work in real life. She's been featured in Forbes Magazine, Business Insider, Parade Magazine, Real Simple, Wired Magazine, and HuffPost, and she writes articles for Breathe Magazine. This episode of the Wannabe Minimalist Show will also help you discover: How to lower your stress at the holidays Tips for how to measure the intensity of your to do list What you can do now to be ready for January and the New Year A unique look at how to give everything a home Ways to cut back on multitasking so you can get more done ********************* Links mentioned in this episode (some may be affiliate links): Get more show notes and ALL THE LINKS at wannabeclutterfree.com/130 Risa’s Website Risa’s Books Tidy Home Academy - This life-changing course will help you declutter, organize, & create systems so your home can run on autopilot. The Home Systems Power Pack - A digital library is jam-packed with actionable workbooks, guides, pdfs, worksheets and more so you can start to make real progress in your home! Wannabe Minimalist Family - come join my private group filled with amazing people just like you who are on their journey toward minimalism and simplifying. ********************* Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com ********************* Subscribe & Review Are you subscribed to Wannabe Minimalist? If you’re not, I want to encourage you to do that today. I don’t want you to miss an episode. I’m adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the mix and if you’re not subscribed there’s a good chance you’ll miss out on those. And if you enjoyed today’s episode, it would make my day if you left me a review on Apple Podcasts too. Those reviews help other people find my podcast and they’re also fun for me to go in and read. Let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Decluttering is important for a lot of reasons, not just because of the effect it has on our mental well-being. More and more research is coming out about how clutter also has a significant impact on our wallets and our relationships. We know clutter can lead to wasted money because it's usually one of the first reactions I hear when I help people go through their stuff. They look at all the money that was wasted on the items now in storage, heading to the donation center, or worse, headed for the landfill. We also waste time (arguably our most precious asset) when we spend hours looking for misplaced items. I can't tell you how many times I lost my keys before I got organized! But more than that, clutter can damage our relationships because it stresses us out so much. It's clear that decluttering is important not just for our happiness, but for our health and wellbeing as well. If you didn’t realize that there is a clutter problem or you need a reason to declutter, then listen up to these clutter statistics. Be warned though...the statistics on clutter are a bit shocking, but I think that having this information can help us make better choices going forward. This episode of Wannabe Minimalist will also help you discover: How clutter affects your well-being The numbers behind how much money is spent on stuff every year What the stats say about our “lack” of space The top 3 reasons why people have difficulties organizing their homes The shocking amount of clothing Americans discard every second ********************* Links mentioned in this episode (some may be affiliate links): Get more show notes (including links to all the statistic sources) at wannabeclutterfree.com/129 Book: Life at Home in the Twenty-First Century Tidy Home Academy - When you're ready to take your home & life to the next level, Tidy Home Academy will get you there. This life-changing course will help you declutter, organize, & create systems so your home can run on autopilot. The Home Systems Power Pack - This digital library is jam-packed with actionable workbooks, guides, pdfs, worksheets and more so you can start to make real progress in your home! Wannabe Minimalist Family - come join my private group filled with amazing people just like you who are on their journey toward minimalism and simplifying. ********************* Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com ********************* Subscribe & Review Are you subscribed to Wannabe Minimalist? If you’re not, I want to encourage you to do that today. I don’t want you to miss an episode. I’m adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the mix and if you’re not subscribed there’s a good chance you’ll miss out on those. And if you enjoyed today’s episode, it would make my day if you left me a review on Apple Podcasts too. Those reviews help other people find my podcast and they’re also fun for me to go in and read. Let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Decluttering is an emotional minefield. Some things are easy to declutter and we can move through the process quickly at times. Then there are other items that we just cannot bring ourselves to let go of even if that item is: broken not functional ugly according to everyone else not monetarily valuable There’s an emotional reason we’re holding onto it and it takes much longer for us to sort through these things and purge. My guests on the podcast today are skilled in this area because they’ve been professional organizers and declutterers for over 12 years. Ingrid Jansen and Lesley Spellman are the team behind The Declutter Hub. Lesley describes herself as the more impulsive one of the team. She likes to jump right in to see how things go - sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't but she is a firm believer in learning from your mistakes and always trying to keep moving forward in life. Ingrid is a cheese, cycling and pancake loving Dutch mum of 2 teens. She calls herself the list maker of the team and enjoys talking to everyone all the time. They’ve seen a lot and are here to help. This episode of the Wannabe Minimalist Show will also help you discover: What to do when decluttering is hard How to declutter with kids Tips for setting up house rules for cleaning and organizing Ideas for getting your spouse on board ********************* Links mentioned in this episode (some may be affiliate links): Get more show notes and ALL THE LINKS at wannabeclutterfree.com/128 The Declutter Hub Website The Declutter Hub Podcast Tidy Home Academy - This life-changing course will help you declutter, organize, & create systems so your home can run on autopilot. The Home Systems Power Pack - A digital library is jam-packed with actionable workbooks, guides, pdfs, worksheets and more so you can start to make real progress in your home! Wannabe Minimalist Family - come join my private group filled with amazing people just like you who are on their journey toward minimalism and simplifying. ********************* Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com ********************* Subscribe & Review Are you subscribed to Wannabe Minimalist? If you’re not, I want to encourage you to do that today. I don’t want you to miss an episode. I’m adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the mix and if you’re not subscribed there’s a good chance you’ll miss out on those. And if you enjoyed today’s episode, it would make my day if you left me a review on Apple Podcasts too. Those reviews help other people find my podcast and they’re also fun for me to go in and read. Let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

We live in a fast-paced, stuff-driven society. Even if you're not a minimalist, it's impossible to miss. The truth is though that it's easy to get caught up in keeping up with everyone around us, buy into the marketing messages, let life get away from us and forget what's truly important. When we get overwhelmed by it all minimalism can be a lifesaver - especially for busy parents. By decluttering your life and your home, you can not only let go of the stuff, but you'll let go of the stress and overwhelm too. You can stop just going through the motions, find more passion in life, and have more time for the things that matter most to you. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Minimalism gives families so many benefits and this week’s podcast episode covers my top 5. I have seen these benefits in my own life and I hear listeners, readers, and clients list these benefits over and over as well. If decluttering your life and trying out minimalism sounds appealing to you (or if you're even the slightest bit curious), I encourage you to give it a try! You might just find that it saves your sanity and gives you back control, even as a busy mom. This episode of Wannabe Minimalist will also help you discover: 5 benefits of minimalism that make life easier What minimalism is not Why minimalism is even more important at this time of year How to make minimalism work for you The surprising way a cluttered home affects moms (and not dads) ********************* Links mentioned in this episode (some may be affiliate links): Get more show notes at wannabeclutterfree.com/127 Episode 125 - No-Stress Plan for this Holiday Season Episode 126 - Self Care with Suzanne Falter Episode 110 - Willpower with Jenn Trepeck My Favorite Capsule Wardrobe Episodes Episode 115 - Ethical Capsule Wardrobe with Kristi Soomer Episode 105 - Love Your Wardrobe Like a Pro Stylist with Kim Hancher Episode 73 - Find Your Signature Style with Jennifer Mackey-Mary Episode 43 - Secrets About Capsule Wardrobes with Erin Flynn Book: Life at Home in the Twenty-First Century Book about Satisficer vs. Maximizer Tidy Home Academy - When you're ready to take your home & life to the next level, Tidy Home Academy will get you there. This life-changing course will help you declutter, organize, & create systems so your home can run on autopilot. The Home Systems Power Pack - This digital library is jam-packed with actionable workbooks, guides, pdfs, worksheets and more so you can start to make real progress in your home! Wannabe Minimalist Family - come join my private group filled with amazing people just like you who are on their journey toward minimalism and simplifying. ********************* Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com ********************* Subscribe & Review Are you subscribed to Wannabe Minimalist? If you’re not, I want to encourage you to do that today. I don’t want you to miss an episode. I’m adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the mix and if you’re not subscribed there’s a good chance you’ll miss out on those. And if you enjoyed today’s episode, it would make my day if you left me a review on Apple Podcasts too. Those reviews help other people find my podcast and they’re also fun for me to go in and read. Let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy