The Minimal Mom

How do you declutter when you have little kids at home and no extra time or energy to dedicate to it? Today we'll answer two listener questions. The first is about finding motivation when there seems to be no extra time to declutter. The second is about knowing how far to go with minimalism and how to maintain it.

Today I'm joined by Tyler from Tidy Dad. Tyler is a New York school teacher, writer, husband and dad to three young girls. Through his Tidy Dad blog and Instagram account he shares tips to help you develop systems, rhythms, and routines for tidying, cleaning and organizing. His tactics are practical and inspiring and he offers great advice for involving all of our family members in the keeping of our homes. You can find Tyler here: Tidy Dad on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tidydad/ Tidy Dad Website: https://thetidydad.com/

Kids stuff! There is SO much stuff that comes along with having kids! The good news is: you don't have to keep it all! Today we'll talk about how you can very confidently know what to keep and what to let go when it comes to children's items.

Today I'm joined by Courtney Carver from Be More with Less and Project 333. Courtney says that Be more with less means: Be more you. Give yourself all the space, time and love to remember who you are. Living with less clutter, busyness, stress and simplifying your life will help you make the room to do what you need to do. Simplifying my life gave me the space, time, and love to be more me, and the following practices led me back.  Find Courtney here: https://bemorewithless.com Learn more about project 333 here: https://bemorewithless.com/project-333/

I never set out to be a "YouTuber"...in fact, as an introvert and always happiest behind the scenes, that actually sounds horrifying to me! But, apparently it was meant to be and today I'll share the story of how I got here!

Are your kids suffering from digital overload? Do you wonder if it’s too late for your already addicted kids? Listen as Dawn speaks with Melanie Hempe on screen addiction and how to help our kids thrive in a digital age. ABOUT MELANIE:    Melanie Hempe helps parents prevent screen addiction, rescue their kids, and enjoy family life again. After her oldest son dropped out of college due to his video game addiction, Melanie Hempe, BSN, utilized her nursing degree from Emory University to warn families about the dangers of screen overuse and founded ScreenStrong. Melanie simplifies medical science for parents, empowering them with the reasons to skip not all screen use but the most harmful screen use—social media, violent video games, and pornography—through adolescence.  IN THIS EPISODE:    2:39 - How Melanie became interested in screen safety  15:45 -  Kids 0-5 23:02- How long will it take to detox?  29:40 - The science behind screens 33:07 - Kids 6-12 year olds  42:40 - “I want to reduce screen-time, where do I begin?”  44:44 - “What if it’s my spouse who is addicted?”  48:40 - Kids Brains and Screens book    LINKS MENTIONED:    Kids Brains and Screens book - https://amzn.to/3U4p1uX The Screen Strong Solution book - https://amzn.to/3xFckPD Be Screen Strong IG - https://www.instagram.com/bescreenstrong/ Canopy - https://canopy.us/ Melanie’s son’s perspective on growing up without screens - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/live-teen-q-a-on-growing-up-without-addictive-screens-179/id1474681355?i=1000641960104 How to teach young kids to play on their own - https://youtu.be/6BlKIluXMcE?feature=shared  Welcome to The Official Minimal Mom Podcast. Thank you so much for listening and could I ask a favor? Would you mind following? It helps podcast apps recommend this podcast to more friends. Thank you! Dawn  

Take Your House Back (Just $94): https://cli.re/Take-Your-House-Back-Dawn The Next ALL DAY DECLUTTER is Saturday, April 27 The Take Your House Back Course is a powerful way that I can come along side you and make sure you get your home simplified in the new year! (And it's only $94 right now - normally $597!) *Replays available if you can't join us live (Payment plan available, too!) Does the fear of getting rid of something you might need later paralyze you from decluttering? Are you holding on to items so that you can sell them for top-dollar? How many baby clothes should you keep for future kids? Listen in as Dawn answers all this and more!    IN THIS EPISODE:    1:50 - How do I downsize my craft projects?  7:18 - How can I declutter confidently when I know I can’t afford to replace anything? 13:11 - How do I find the best top-dollar buyer for my mothers old collectables?  16:04 - Have you found that decluttering helps your family value what you have more?  18:34 - How many baby clothes do I keep? 22:20 - I don’t want my baby to be bored! How do I have enough toys without it being chaotic?    LINKS MENTIONED:  Minimalism Masterclass: https://www.theminimalmom.com/minimalism-masterclass How to Get Kids to Play Independently Video: https://youtu.be/6BlKIluXMcE?si=om0XITGkPn-4-nyb Keep the Memories, Lose the Stuff Book: https://amzn.to/3TPotJo

Do you have a closet filled to the brim with nothing to wear? Are you looking for a way to test out a minimalist wardrobe? Today, Dawn is joined by Courntey Carver, the originator of project 333, a minimalist fashion challenge that invites participants to dress with only 33 items of clothing for 3 months. ABOUT COURTNEY: Courtney Carver is a writer, speaker, and minimalist lifestyle advocate known for her work on simplifying life and embracing minimalism. She gained prominence through her blog, "Be More with Less," where she shares her personal journey of living with less stuff and less stress.  IN THIS EPISODE:  -What surprised dawn about project 333   - Recap of project 333 and common objections  -Encouragement for the woman feeling like she’s doing too much    Links: One Sec app: https://one-sec.app/ Courtney’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/bemorewithless/ Courtney's Website: http://bemorewithless.com More details on Project 333: https://bemorewithless.com/project-333/ Project 333 https://amzn.to/4aq7vIq Soulful Simplicity https://amzn.to/4aNn0dA   Welcome to The Official Minimal Mom Podcast. Thank you so much for listening and could I ask a favor? Would you mind following? It helps podcast apps recommend this podcast to more friends. Thank you! Dawn

Do you want to live  in a home that actually helps you enjoy being a mom, but don’t know where to start? Have you given up on decluttering after not seeing improvement? Today, Dawn is joined by Zoë Kim to delve into strategies for moms wanting to cultivate a peaceful home environment.  IN THIS EPISODE:  -Where in your home should you start?  -Zoë Kims start to minimalism  -Managing inventory that relates to kids  -How to manage sentimental items  -How do I get my spouse on board? Want to join Dawn and Zoe for  6 Hours of Guided Decluttering & “Body Doubling? Check out their Going Deeper Minimalism MasterClass: A Chance to Fully Declutter a Room in Your Home & Experience the Joy & Freedom of Minimalism! - https://www.theminimalmom.com/minimalism-masterclass  ABOUT ZOE: Zoë’ Kim is  the author of Minimalism for Families, minimalist mom of four, and the voice behind Raising Simple. She partners with individuals to tackle the challenges of a cluttered home and life, and believes in developing a minimalist lifestyle through positive perspective changes and practical solutions.  LINKS MENTIONED: Minimalism for Families by Zoë Kim https://amzn.to/4867IyC 7 Questions to Help You Let Go of Sentimental Things- https://raisingsimple.com/let-go-of-sentimental-things/ Zoë’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raisingsimple/?hl=en Zoë’s Blog: https://raisingsimple.com/ Matt Paxton’s interview: https://youtu.be/5K-ests_bDk?feature=shared

Are you completely overwhelmed by the amount of digital photos saved in multiple places, on multiple devices? Do you dream of quickly and easily creating yearly photo books for your family, or simply being able to enjoy the memories?  Today, Dawn and Casey von Stein (known online as Miss Freddy) share organizational strategies for digital photos so that you and your family can stop being stressed and start enjoying the memories.  ABOUT CASEY:  Casey is a professional photo organizer who took the organizational skills she fine-tuned during her 10 years as a professional photographer and created simple workflows that allow her clients and students to conquer their photo overwhelm and enjoy their photos again.  IN THIS EPISODE:  -If you can only do one thing… -The positive emotional affect digital organization can have -GEM Where to even begin making yearly yearbooks (minute 12:40) -How to handle working through family photos  -What trends are coming in the photo world LINKS MENTIONED Ollie photo organizing app - https://get.goodones.app/yVeZ/pmmissfreddy Miss Freddy Courses - https://shop.missfreddy.com/products Instagram -  https://www.instagram.com/miss.freddy/

How can I encourage the value of decluttering without it pushing my kids in the opposite direction? Is it even possible to stop the constant flow of things from coming into our homes? Listen in as Dawn answers real questions from listeners! Want to record a decluttering question? You can do so here: https://sayhi.chat/MinimalMom
 Find Candace at Simply this Life here: https://www.youtube.com/@FancyThatwithCandice    IN THIS EPISODE:  -equipment sometimes fixes problems - but sometimes it doesn’t! -GEM: how to encourage your family to declutter without causing resentment or leading to more attachment to things (minute 6:25) -how to stop the influx of constant things entering your home  -where to start when working through others/inherited belongings LINKS MENTIONED:  Dyson Cordless Vacuum: https://amzn.to/3TeEyIe Keep the Memories, Lose the Stuff by Matt Paxton: https://amzn.to/3I3zOQJ Matt’s podcast with Dawn: https://youtu.be/5K-ests_bDk?si=FJGm6gJNiUFreUj_ Welcome to The Official Minimal Mom Podcast. Thank you so much for listening and could I ask a favor? Would you mind following? It helps podcast apps recommend this podcast to more friends. Thank you! Dawn  

Why are so many of our kids showing signs of trauma when they live in relative safety? How do we raise counter-cultural kids in a world of excess? Today, Dawn is joined by Kim John Payne, M.ED., who has been a counselor, educator, consultant, and researcher for over thirty years.  IN THIS EPISODE:  -The one thing Kim would say to parents right now -What lead Kim to study simplicity in parenting -A formula for unstructured playtime -Importance of rhythms vs. routines  -Parenting as a governor, gardener, and guide  ABOUT KIM JOHN PAYNE: Kim John Payne is an Australian who has, for 24 years, worked throughout the world as a counselor, consultant/researcher and educator of both children and adults. He has been helping children, adolescents and families explore issues such as social difficulties with siblings and classmates, attention and behavioral issues at home and school, and a range of emotional issues such as defiance, aggression, addiction and self-esteem. BOOKS: Simplicity Parenting Book: https://amzn.to/4c9P7VQ Being at Your Best When Your Kids are at Their Worst: https://amzn.to/3T5Tokh The Soul of Discipline: The Simplicity Parenting Approach to Warm, Firm, and Calm Guidance -- From Toddlers to Teens: https://amzn.to/3VahD3p Reset Your Child's Brain, 4 Week Screen Detox: https://amzn.to/3wVCxsM Welcome to The Official Minimal Mom Podcast. Thank you so much for listening and could I ask a favor? Would you mind following? It helps podcast apps recommend this podcast to more friends. Thank you! Dawn  

How do I get myself out of the messy middle? How many kids books should I keep? How can I move towards minimalism with with chronic illness, young kids, busy schedules, etc. etc? Listen in as Dawn answers from listeners on these topics and more!    Want to record a decluttering question? You can do so here: https://sayhi.chat/MinimalMom   In this Episode:  How Dawn manages to keep up with daily cleaning tasks in about 40 minutes How to minimize with a chronic illness Get out of the messy middle  Sharing small living spaces with kids and their friends  Deciding what kids books to keep in the house Welcome to The Official Minimal Mom Podcast. Thank you so much for listening and could I ask a favor? Would you mind following? It helps podcast apps recommend this podcast to more friends. Thank you! Dawn

What would your reaction be if you heard, “We don’t have to own all this stuff”? Do you dream about a life where less time is spent cleaning and organizing and more time actually living? This simple phrase jump started Joshua’s journey to minimalism. Listen in as he and Dawn reminisce about his early days of minimalism and the benefits he’s seen in his life and family through it.  IN THIS EPISODE:  -Joshua’s introduction to minimalism  -Biggest friction between his spouse when decluttering  -GEM: Joshua’s best advice for raising kids with less (minute 17:50) -What Joshua has been up to recently   ABOUT JOSHUA: Joshua Becker is a prominent author, speaker, and minimalist advocate. He is known for his practical advice on simplifying possessions, relationships, and priorities to foster a more fulfilling and purposeful existence. Books: Things that Matter: https://amzn.to/49BaugC The More of Less: https://amzn.to/42F3rkF The Minimalist Home: https://amzn.to/3OOrJmG LINKS MENTIONED:  Article that kickstarted Joshua’s Minimalism journey: https://zenhabits.net/a-guide-to-creating-a-minimalist-home/ The Hope Effect: https://www.hopeeffect.com/ Becker Method Certified Professional Training Course: https://www.becomingminimalist.com/becker-method-certification/ Welcome to The Official Minimal Mom Podcast. Thank you so much for listening and could I ask a favor? Would you mind following? It helps podcast apps recommend this podcast to more friends. Thank you! Dawn

Why do so many of us struggle with moderation and pursue the unpredictable? Why do we constantly crave more, when we have enough?  In today’s episode, Dawn is joined by Michael Easter, a New York Times Bestselling author, journalist, and professor who wrote the books The Comfort Crisis and Scarcity Brain. Together, they discuss how our society's pursuit of ease has drastically changed the way in which we think and live - and tactics of how to not fall into the scarcity mindset trap!  ABOUT MICHAEL EASTER:  Michael's work explores how we can leverage modern science and evolutionary wisdom to perform better and live healthier and more meaningful lives. His ideas have been adopted by NASA, MLB teams, NCAA D1 athletic programs, US Special Forces units, Fortune-500 companies, top tier universities, and millions of people worldwide. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Scarcity Brain: https://amzn.to/42xvJO2 Comfort Crisis: https://amzn.to/49qZqT6 Newsletter Signup: https://www.twopct.com/ Clearspace app: https://www.getclearspace.com/ IN THIS EPISODE: -How pursuing ease has changed our society -Scarcity brain -Why are we bad at moderation -Our focus on unpredictability -The relationship between scarcity and creativity -When to introduce social media to our kids -Gratitude journals are probably not the answer! Welcome to The Official Minimal Mom Podcast. Thank you so much for listening and could I ask a favor? Would you mind following? It helps podcast apps recommend this podcast to more friends. Thank you! Dawn

Are you struggling to downsize a home filled with memories? Does the fear and guilt of purging family keepsakes keep you from decluttering? In this episode, Matt Paxton shares helpful insight on how to discern what heirlooms are worth keeping, and what to do with the rest.     IN THIS EPISODE:  -helping loved ones dealing with hoarding  -the most misunderstood thing about hoarders  -dealing with the guilt of stuff -how does this actually work?  About Matt Matt Paxton is a downsizing and cleaning expert, speaker, author, radio personality, and host of the 2-time Emmy nominated television show Legacy List with Matt Paxton. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Keep the Memories, Lose the Stuff by Matt Paxton: https://amzn.to/3I3zOQJ More info about Legacy List: https://www.mylegacylist.com/ Save the stories with Artifacts: https://artifcts.com/ Minimalism for Families by Zoë Kim https://amzn.to/4867IyC Zoë Kim’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raisingsimple/?hl=en Welcome to The Official Minimal Mom Podcast. Thank you so much for listening and could I ask a favor? Would you mind following? It helps podcast apps recommend this podcast to more friends. Thank you! Dawn  

Do you want to involve your kids in decluttering but have trouble figuring out how? Have you ever shared your excitement over living with less only to be told, “good for you, but I could never!” Do you find it nearly impossible to say, "no" something free?  Listen in as Dawn answers real questions from her listeners and helps navigate some of the sticky situations that can come up when decluttering. Want to record a decluttering question? You can do so here: https://sayhi.chat/MinimalMom IN THIS EPISODE: - how to get kids on board with cleaning - dealing with guilt of, “good for you, but I could never” - when you just can’t say no to free - how to keep pushing through the layers of decluttering Welcome to The Official Minimal Mom Podcast. Thank you so much for listening and could I ask a favor? Would you mind following? It helps podcast apps recommend this podcast to more friends. Thank you! Dawn

Have you ever had the thought, “why do these decluttering tactics work for everyone BUT me?” Is it possible that emotional or psychological trauma has contributed to the clutter and disorganization in your life? Listen in as Dawn and Anna Runkle from The Crappy Childhood Fairy address how clutter can often be a symptom of trauma and give encouragement on how to start the process of overcoming these hurdles in your life or in the lives of those you may know.   IN THIS EPISODE: -Anna’s motivation in starting Crappy Childhood Fairy  - Encouragement on the “doability” of starting to heal and where to start - Why It can be more helpful to write it out rather than talking it out!  - Removing mental clutter in order to help reduce physical clutter  - Theories on helping others who struggle with clutter  - Encouragement for the woman who always feels like an outlier  About Anna  Anna Runkle is not a doctor or therapist; she’s someone who grew up in a rough family that was deeply affected by addiction and all the problems that tend to go with that – poverty, violence, neglect, and shame. Everything changed for her in 1994 when she stumbled upon two techniques that unexpectedly made her feel better – dramatically better. With that little bit of healing, she was able to, at last, begin changing the self-destructive patterns she had learned (common for trauma survivors) and change the course of my life.  Today, almost half a million people follow her work and participate in her training. Her mission is to change the paradigm of what’s possible for people “like us” and to help all I can to heal and lead lives of joy and purpose. See Anna’s video: Clutter as a Trauma symptom: https://youtu.be/FZwY4tAfX1A?si=As4YXzXeG0rJ-Jkn IG: https://www.instagram.com/crappychildhoodfairy/ YT: https://www.youtube.com/@CrappyChildhoodFairy FREE course: the daily practice: https://courses.crappychildhoodfairy.com/daily-practice?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=daily-practice Welcome to The Official Minimal Mom Podcast. Thank you so much for listening and could I ask a favor? Would you mind following? It helps podcast apps recommend this podcast to more friends. Thank you! Dawn

Do you feel stuck waiting for motivation to show up? Are you struggling to answer the elusive “why” in hopes it will propel you into transformative lifestyle habits? Is the work of decluttering even worth it? Listen in as Brit Frank, a licensed Neuropsycholotherapist, shares WHY decluttering can be the most powerful mental health practice that you can do and HOW to get started! IN THIS EPISODE: - (GEM) Our misunderstanding of motivation 3:12 - A prescription for decluttering - Self compassion vs. self permission - How changing your self talk can change your life! - Why kids don’t need perfect parenting - The question you should be asking to find friends - You don’t need motivation - you need momentum! About Brit: Britt Frank, LSCSW, SEP is a licensed neuropsychotherapist and author of The Science of Stuck. In this new book, Britt offers an eclectic and customizable plan, addressing old habits, trauma, and the paralyzing nature of incessant "why" questions. Recognizing that simply thinking our way forward is often insufficient, this book is a guide for anyone feeling stuck in their lives and wanting to break free of old habits and patterns. Check out Britt’s book here: https://amzn.to/421Kzfl Welcome to The Official Minimal Mom Podcast. Thank you so much for listening and could I ask a favor? Would you mind following? It helps podcast apps recommend this podcast to more friends. Thank you! Dawn

Take Your House Back (Just $94): https://urlgeni.us/TYHB The Take Your House Back Course is a powerful way that I can come along side you and make sure you get your home simplified in the new year! (And it's only $94 right now - normally $597!) The Next ALL DAY DECLUTTER is Saturday, Jan. 13 - replays available if you can't join us live (Payment plan available, too!) IN THIS EPISODE: Are you struggling with post-holiday letdown, discouragement over credit card statements, and navigating a sense of unease as the new year unfolds? While getting out of debt is hard, listen and hear Dawn and Christine of Frugal Fit Mom encourage you to start taking steps to replace the weight of debt with the lightness that comes from debt-free living!  IN THIS EPISODE:  -Christine and Dawn’s personal stories of getting out of debt  -How to start your debt-free journey  -Motivating yourself and others towards paying off debt -The freedom that comes from minimizing access to social media and streaming services ABOUT CHRISTINE: Christine from Frugal Fit Mom has garnered a loyal following by sharing her practical insights on budgeting, frugality, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle on a dime. Her journey is a testament to the transformative power of mindful spending, sensible budgeting, and strategic money-saving tactics. Whether it's expertly navigating the grocery store aisles for budget-friendly yet nutritious meals or offering ingenious tips to maximize savings, Christine's approach is both relatable and inspiring. Through Frugal Fit Mom YouTube channel, Christine invites her audience to join her on a journey towards financial resilience, overall well-being, and the joys of a balanced, intentional life. https://www.youtube.com/c/FrugalFitMom