How to complain less and appreciate more
Unless you are someone who is really introspective, most of us don’t pay attention to whether we are constantly complaining or expressing appreciation. We don’t notice what we say and what we think about, because we’re used to the way we are and it seems normal. We can focus on the negatives in life and…
Read Full PostDo you self-sabotage your decluttering in this way?
This post is the written version of Day One of the Minimalist Mindset course. We all have these stories that we tell ourselves and much of what we say in our mind is only a belief, a story. And as humans, we like to be right. We’ll go to great lengths to prove ourselves right-…
Read Full PostWhy is it so hard to get rid of stuff?
Do you find it hard to declutter and let things go? I was having coffee with a friend the other night and she was talking about what a different season of life she is in now. As a mom of 13 she now only has 6 kids at home and there are changes in the…
Read Full PostA simple how-to of minimalist decor
If you’re wanting a minimalist aesthetic and struggling to get there- make sure you have actually embraced minimalism. It’s too hard to achieve the look of less when the cupboards and closets are overflowing. *wink wink* Ok- let’s assume you’ve already decluttered the excess, you have only the essentials left in your home and you’ve…
Read Full PostI don’t want to be known as a minimalist
A few years ago I was at an event and ran into a friend. As we were visiting, she paused the conversation to introduce me to someone else she knew and said, “This is Rachel, she’s a minimalist.” I was shocked. Although I refer to myself as a minimalist here on the blog and teach…
Read Full PostHow to declutter and organize your home
You want to declutter and organize your entire home, right? Sounds great! And I have a plan for exactly how to do just that! First off, let’s talk about decluttering. What does it mean to “declutter?” When I’ve done Pinterest searches on decluttering the house, I got a ton of articles… that all talked about…
Read Full PostHow to have a fun-filled toy-free Christmas
If you’ve been contemplating a toy- free Christmas, you may wonder if it would still feel like Christmas to your children? And is it possible to give them gifts they’re excited about that aren’t toys? What kinds of gifts can we give that won’t leave them disappointed? Before you go all-in on changing Christmas up,…
Read Full PostFeeling overwhelmed with your home? Do this.
Have you been feeling overwhelmed with your home lately? I get it. I have 6 kids… and all the stuff that goes along with them. When I think back 15 years ago, I was in the thick of it all: The stuff, the dishes, the laundry, the school work, plus church commitments and school activities.…
Read Full Post4 simple steps to help you live more intentionally
My purpose for embracing minimalism was to live with intention, and I thought that once I got rid of all the excess I simply would live with intention. If I close my eyes and think about what I imagined “living with intention” to be, I pictured a mom baking bread with her perfectly behaved children…
Read Full PostWhere do I start decluttering?
You know you need to simplify, but with all the stuff around the house… where do we even start decluttering?
Read Full PostHow to get rid of paper clutter
Of all the clutter that we have in our home, paper seems to be the worst. Here are specific strategies to help you overcome paper clutter and live a life of freedom.
Read Full PostYour belongings should help you live in the present
Many times we make decisions on what to keep based on the past or the future, without considering too much the effect our things have on our present life. As you work through your decluttering, consider your present situation and what the items do for us right now. There are those of us who live…
Read Full PostHow to Declutter and Organize the Garage
The garage… it tends to be the dumping ground of all the things we don’t actually want to deal with. Whether that’s things we need to rehome, items that need to be taken to the dump, or decisions that we just don’t want to make, so we set them aside and hope the old adage…
Read Full PostClean With Me: join me as I clean the house!
Want to see how minimalism makes a typical Saturday cleaning time easier? Having less means I don’t have to spend as much time managing, moving, sorting, organizing, maintaining or cleaning stuff.
Read Full Post2020 in 2020 Decluttering Challenge
So, you’ve been thinking of simplifying and need some motivation to make serious changes this year, right? Here’s my challenge to you: Get rid of 2,020 items in 2020. Back in 2008, I was overwhelmed, and my emotional state was controlled by the cluttery-chaos that ruled my life. There was stuff everywhere. So…
Read Full PostMenu planning for the holidays and how to keep it simple
Planning out meals ahead of time definitely takes work, but it saves labor as well as mental energy in the long run. The easiest way I have found to do this is to sit down and write out all the meals your family enjoys. If you can’t think of many, ask the kids. For my…
Read Full PostHow do you tell your bossy mom you got rid of her gifts without feeling guilt?
I recently had a webinar and someone asked this question: “How do you tell your bossy mom you got rid of her gifts without feeling guilt?” And I wanted to answer it here because I’ve been asked this question frequently. Don’t try to control what someone else will feel First off, you need to know:…
Read Full PostHow to get into the “zone” and get stuff done
Tricks that I use to get into my zone. What I do to get ready so I have a decent day and accomplish things that I want to accomplish. It doesn’t matter if it’s decluttering, cleaning, organizing, writing, just feeling better about the day, if I want to accomplish something, it helps to set myself…
Read Full PostMinimalism Can Help You Conquer Your Fears
Minimalism helped me face my fears. First off, getting rid of stuff made me realize I don’t have to fear not being prepared. How many times have you decided to keep something “just in case?” I had this idea that I had to hold onto things in case I needed them. But that is a fear-based decision.…
Read Full PostHow the 5-Second Rule will help you gain control of your home
Mel Robbins came up with the 5-Second Rule to help herself get out of a very dark place in her life. I read her book, I’ve watched her videos and I think it’s a wonderful tool to use! Especially when we are overwhelmed with our home and we need to tackle certain projects like decluttering,…
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