To Declutter Faster, Start with What You Need

Hey guys! Just wanted to let you know that my new book, Things That Matter, is finally here. I put my heart into it, and I can’t wait to share it with you. You can pick up a copy at www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/676394/things-tha…

I just took 4 days off from work so I can declutter my apartment, so this video has been perfect!!!

I moved from my 2.5 storey home to a small 1 bedroom apt. I imagined what I wanted my new place to look like, kept those things, and got rid of the rest. In the end the only thing I really missed was my garden. My things didn't matter.

So I was planning to move to a new house. I packed all my belongings and for the last three weeks lived with the barest minimum of clothes, kitchen items, etc. - just enough to get by each day. Life was simple and easy. The last night before the movers were set to come, I disconnected the tv and the computer. And with no distractions, I turned back to my writing, which brings me JOY - and which I had scarcely done it in the past months as I house-hunted and cleaned and prepared to move. Thank God the move has fallen through. I know now what I can live without and what was draining my life away. I hope never to go back to those things and behaviors.

The question “ what do I need” is a game changer for decluttering…. Thank you for another wonderful video!

Here’s one idea that probably doesn’t come up too often. Make your home safe and accessible in terms of navigating through it on a daily basis. This idea only occurred to me when my husband and I got old and infirm. Nowadays, I make sure that our home has: * clear sight lines * clear pathways (also, we may use walkers or scooters in future, EMTs may need access) * clear doorways * no trip hazards * rounded furniture — and less of it * grab bars and tub stick-ons in the bathroom, non-skid floor mat near the tub * good lighting — LED ceiling fixtures (no ladders), and motion-sensor night lights — indoors and outdoors) * no candles * few decorative pillows or knickknacks, minimal seasonal decor (only quality, beautiful items that make you happy) * safe heaters (Dyson) * cleared tabletops (so we don’t accidentally knock things off, and so we can hold onto the tables if need be as we walk by) * few area rugs (trip hazards) * easy-to-clean window treatments (ladder-free cleaning) * fewer possessions so we no longer need to use our highest shelves or the basement or the garage for storage (unsafe) * etc., etc. These ideas keep our minimalist home tidy and safe for ourselves and our guests. Our estate will be easier for our surviving relatives to process when we’re gone.

Greetings from Germany to everyone!

I'm already a minimalist, but am always looking to maintain my clear space - especially as a parent!! Thanks for always posting good, helpful content! God bless!

💡💡💡I think I have a good idea!😌 whenever I feel like buying something or wanting to get something back I look at my photo album which has all the photos showing everything I got rid of, everything I gave and with of course the weight and dimensions of things that no longer weigh me. and then I remember all the time it took me to achieve this result🙂🙋🏻‍♀️

i love this concept. an idea that works well for my personality is i like to completely empty a space before i declutter, whether it's a drawer or a closet, so that i am starting with a blank slate. i am less likely to 'reclutter' the space once i see how nice it looks uncluttered.

I’ve really been struggling getting started on a major purge. I’ve never thought of minimizing by just thinking about what I need.. this is going to help me SO MUCH.. thank you!

My daughter had asked me what I needed for Father's Day, and I said, "Nothing". The end. ❤️

I really hope my husband wakes up one day and start living like this.. I love owning less but he is not that kind.. He keeps buying things that is no use and mostly for display even though there is no more space.. It hurts so much in the eyes. It messes up so much in my head seeing all the mess around. Instead of enjoying life you spend your time cleaning and arranging that shitty stuffs.

Spot on!!! I am going to declutter this way from now on! Thank you!

It's like choosing what you like to eat from a buffet and ignoring other foods though you paid for the whole buffet.

“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending...” ―C. S. Lewis I may not know you personally, but I believe in you my friend! 🙏

I've been following you mr. Becker for last 2 years I was already a pretty disciplined but have followed a lot of your suggestions on decluttering and got rid of many things that I never used or had too much of made it easier to clean and enjoy life and enjoy the things that really matter in life thanks for your videos they're great motivator thanks again

This is a brilliant approach! Makes so much sense, not sure why I haven't heard it before. Thank you!

You are the best — succinct and to the point. I value how well you distill your messages to the important points. Thank you!!

We are remodeling our kitchen so all of its contents are in a different room. Before I put things back in, I’ll ask myself this question. Thank you for your videos!