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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

Let’s talk about self care. How good are you at it? If you’re like the majority of moms, the answer is clear. We’re not good at it! In fact, a joint survey done by HealthyWomen and Working Mother, reports that 78% of moms say they put off taking care of their own health because they’re too busy looking after the needs of their loved ones. I’d like to say I’m shocked, but I too have been in that 78% (although I am actively working on creating a better balance). And that very large number is why I was so excited to have Suzanne Falter on as my guest this week. She has been writing on the topic of joy for nearly a decade and is well versed in helping women carve out a self care practice for themselves. Suzanne’s essays have appeared in O Magazine, The New York Times, Elephant Journal, Tiny Buddha and Thrive Global among others. Her non-fiction work includes the Joy Series books and The Extremely Busy Woman’s Guide to Self Care. She also hosts the podcast Self-Care for Extremely Busy Women. Her story is heartbreaking and inspiring and we talk about her recovery from a devastating year and how self care helped her heal. Her passion shines through, but I love how real Suzanne is. She walks the walk and it was refreshing to get her perspective on some of my struggles that I am sure you can relate to as well. This episode of the Wannabe Minimalist Show will also help you discover: What self care actually is Why it’s so important to make time for self care The #1 thing most people get wrong about self care How you can implement self care that works for you Simple ways to set boundaries for your self care ********************* Links mentioned in this episode (some may be affiliate links): Get more show notes and ALL THE LINKS at wannabeclutterfree.com/126 Suzanne’s Website Suzanne’s Books Read for free on Audible Join Suzanne's Facebook Group 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

Are you looking forward to the holiday season? The song tells us that it’s the most wonderful time of the year, but I think most families - especially busy moms - would tell you that’s a bunch of baloney. In fact according to a 2019 study, 88% of Americans feel the holidays are the most stressful time of the year. From all of the obligations we feel like we need to attend to, the decorations to put up, the traveling to family, the gifts to buy, and all the clutter we tend to accumulate, it’s no wonder we find ourselves more burdened than ever. The good news is, it doesn’t have to be this way. We can be intentional and make changes for the better. I’m talking today about 5 ways we have simplified the holidays in our home while still being extremely festive and I’m sure they can help you too. If you are looking for a companion to this podcast episode, download your free Simple Holiday Planner with worksheets, checklists, and more to keep you on track and less stressed this year. This episode of Wannabe Minimalist will also help you discover: How picturing your life like a movie can help you set your holiday goals Why creating a robust list of activities will help you feel less stressed Simple ways to plan ahead and create more space in your schedule Why I recommend creating a budget for the season Several ideas for clutter-free gifts ********************* Links mentioned in this episode (some may be affiliate links): Get more show notes and ALL THE LINKS at wannabeclutterfree.com/125 Simple Holiday Planner Episode 80 - The Easiest Way to Declutter Holiday Decor Episode 74 - Staying Organized at Christmas Q & A Episode 5 - Clutter Free Christmas Gifts 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

Would you love to minimize the product in your bathroom - specifically the products in you makeup bag? Turns out you can apply a lot of the same aspects of a capsule wardrobe to you makeup bag and skin care products. The reality is that once you understand what colors look best on you and you embrace your lifestyle, it’s much easier to curate the products that work best and declutter those that are not right for you. Just like with your clothes. But, since makeup is not my area of expertise, I brought in a professional to help walk us through the must have products, how to make the most of the products we already have, and specific brands that work well in a capsule makeup bag. Natalie Setareh, is a well-established professional makeup artist and makeup educator who has developed an international fanbase in the US and Europe, starting her business in Monterey, CA and moving it to Wiesbaden, Germany. Natalie has a love for education and empowerment, and believes that makeup is a piece of the lifeskill pie we should all have access to. She prides herself on keeping her entire beauty brand gender neutral in her copy and enforces the fact that makeup is for everyone! She believes that it's not about wearing makeup everyday or wearing a lot of makeup in general, it's about knowing how to wear makeup for the moments in life that matter. Those moments when it’s so important that your inner confidence matches your outer confidence. Natalie wants keep us from getting misled by the beauty industry or gimmicky advertising while also making makeup fun again! This episode of the Wannabe Minimalist Show will also help you discover: How to make sustainable makeup choices Tips for making your makeup do double duty What to do if you feel like you’re in a makeup rut The difference between skin care and skin prep, and how makeup fits in The cosmetics brands Natalie swears by both personally and professionally ********************* Links mentioned in this episode (some may be affiliate links): Get more show notes and ALL THE LINKS at wannabeclutterfree.com/124 Natalie’s Website Natalie’s Book Read for free on Audible Follow Natalie 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

You’ve probably noticed that, when your home is filled with clutter, things are not the best - you have a difficult time concentrating, you don't feel at peace in your space, or even enjoy spending time in your home. And that’s sad because your home should be your sanctuary. The best remedy for a messy home is decluttering the items you no longer want, need, or use. But, I can already hear the rebuttals…”I already have a thousand things on my plate. I am so overwhelmed and busy that there is no way I can find the time to declutter.” And that makes sense until you realize that decluttering is one of the easiest things you can do to simplify your life and gain a little more joy and time in your day. That’s right! By doing a little more work now, you can be paid back with dividends in the future. This episode of Wannabe Minimalist will show you how you can squeeze decluttering into your already busy schedule so you can take back control of your days and your home. This episode of Wannabe Minimalist will also help you discover: 5 strategies for finding 15 minutes in your day to declutter A hack for figuring how you you're spending your time Simple solutions for asking for help How to make habits work to your advantage The temporary change that will make the biggest difference ********************* Links mentioned in this episode (some may be affiliate links): Get more show notes and ALL THE LINKS including picture examples at wannabeclutterfree.com/123 Episode 116 - Decluttering in 15 minutes with only 3 supplies 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

We’ve all been there… A long day that wore our patience down, the house was a mess again, and then suddenly something our family member does triggers us and sends us spinning. Before we know it, anger has gotten the best of us, we’ve yelled, lashed out, and probably said something we didn't mean. It’s not our finest moment as a parent and although we cannot go back in time, we can apologize and work on being more mindful so we react better in the future. My guest this week is well versed in helping parents become more mindful so they can be present for their families. Hunter Clarke-Fields, is the host of the Mindful Mama podcast, creator of the Mindful Parenting course, and author of the bestselling book Raising Good Humans: A Mindful Guide to Breaking the Cycle of Reactive Parenting and Raising Kind, Confident Kids. Through these resources, she helps parents bring more calm and peace into their daily lives. Hunter has over twenty years of experience in meditation practices and has taught mindfulness to thousands worldwide. She is the mother of two active daughters, who challenge her everyday to hone her craft! I learned a lot while recording this episode and again during the editing process. It felt healing to hear her advice again after I had processed it the first time so I could process it again and go deeper. This episode of the Wannabe Minimalist Show will also help you discover: What mindful parenting means How to avoid the trap of trying to be supermom Tips for raising kind, confident kids Moments when Hunter felt triggered and how she handled it Simple steps to follow when we feel like we’re about to lose our temper ********************* Links mentioned in this episode (some may be affiliate links): Get more show notes and ALL THE LINKS at wannabeclutterfree.com/121 Hunter’s Website Hunter’s Book Read for free on Audible Read for free on Libby Follow Hunter 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

Minimalism has many benefits. I have found that to be true in my life and my home. Some of these benefits (that get a lot of attention) include: a home that’s easier to clean an aesthetically beautiful home the ease of living in a home with less being able to have people over and not worry about a mess But, there are also other benefits. Perhaps even more important benefits like the impact buying less has on the environment. And these benefits are encapsulated in the topic of sustainable minimalism that I discuss on my show this week with a fellow minimalism podcaster. Stephanie Seferian is a former teacher-turned full-time podcast host of The Sustainable Minimalists podcast. She’s also the author of the non-fiction book Sustainable Minimalism and is an avid distance runner and a lover of fiction. Stephanie lives just outside of Boston with her two daughters, a yellow Labrador Retriever, 10,000-ish bees, and a husband who loves to compost almost as much as she. I loved getting to geek out with another minimalist and we shared some really great moments of honesty and human-ness. This episode of the Wannabe Minimalist Show will also help you discover: What led Stephanie to her path of minimalism How sustainable minimalism is different than main stream minimalism Tips for diving deeper into sustainable minimalism Moments when Stephanie felt like she messed up and what she did about it Simple house rules that make living with less easier ********************* Links mentioned in this episode (some may be affiliate links): Get more show notes and ALL THE LINKS at wannabeclutterfree.com/121 Stephanie’s Website Stephanie’s Podcast Stephanie’s Book Read for free on Audible Read for free on Libby Follow Stephanie on Instagram 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

Who says Halloween has to be filled with plastic trinkets, decorations, and disposable costumes to be fun? Not me! The sad fact is that on average, Americans buy $3.4 billion worth of costumes every year and most of those will be thrown out after just one use. In the UK, an estimated 2,000 tonnes of plastic waste is generated from throwaway Halloween costumes. The decor that we collectively put up in our homes isn’t much better. Between Halloween and New Year’s, Americans throw away 25% more trash during the holiday season, which amounts to an extra 25 million tons of garbage. A significant portion of that comes from decorations. We can do better. Plus, when we are intentional about the items we use in our homes and to dress up, we can cut back on clutter, bring more attention to how we are celebrating, and enjoy it all a lot more. This episode of Wannabe Minimalist will also help you discover: 6 ideas for getting costumes and decor (without buying new) Non-plastic decoration ideas for both the inside and outside of your home Simple costume ideas you can find in your closet How to make costumes the easy and sustainable way Several ideas for plastic free goodies for Trick or Treaters ********************* Links mentioned in this episode (some may be affiliate links): Get more show notes and ALL THE LINKS including picture examples at wannabeclutterfree.com/120 Halloween waste statistics: https://nrf.com/resources/consumer-research-and-data/holiday-spending/halloween-headquarters https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/oct/18/scariest-thing-about-halloween-is-plastic-waste-say-charities https://lbre.stanford.edu/pssistanford-recycling/frequently-asked-questions/frequently-asked-questions-holiday-waste-prevention 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

For a long time women have been fed messages that they can (and need to) “bounce back” after pregnancy. It’s as if growing a human is a temporary inconvenience and your body should snap back into place like a rubber band that has been stretched out and is now allowed to recoil freely. At most, we’re told that things should be “back to normal” at 6 weeks after birth, but for many women that is not the case. In fact, the frightening statistic is that “in 2018, there were 17 maternal deaths for every 100,000 live births in the U.S. — a ratio more than double that of most other high-income countries.” And what’s more, 52% of those deaths occurred postpartum. Sadly, we do not talk about postpartum healing enough - thankfully postpartum depression is getting some time in the spotlight - but all mothers need time to heal and the right resources to do so. That’s why I was thrilled to chat with my expert guest on Wannabe Minimalist this week. Maranda Bower is the CEO and Founder of Postpartum University®, supporting both professionals and mothers in health and whole-body healing. She is a renowned expert and top educator in the fields of functional nutrition and coaching in relation to postpartum and nicknamed the “Womb Whisperer”. Maranda has also been named as a best-selling author, is an international speaker, and has appeared in over 50+ publications. We dive into so many fascinating topics and I am ashamed to say that I was not as educated on this topic as I feel I should have been - since I am a mother and have been through the postpartum phase. buries my face in my hands. But that all changes today! I learned a lot (as well as gained an appreciation for my own experience) and I know you will too. This episode of the Wannabe Minimalist Show will also help you discover: How to define the postpartum phase The warning signs to look out for postpartum Why decluttering is essential for postpartum life What we can learn from other cultures about postpartum healing How to be an advocate for other moms in the postpartum phase ********************* Links mentioned in this episode (some may be affiliate links): Get more show notes and ALL THE LINKS at wannabeclutterfree.com/119 Maranda's Website Postpartum University Podcast Follow Maranda on Instagram Postpartum statistics: https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/issue-briefs/2020/nov/maternal-mortality-maternity-care-us-compared-10-countries 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