My husband and I are brutal. We know that our son will not want to keep our old crap like school reports and old cds etc . We got rid of it all. Just don’t think too much let it gooooo ❤.  He will inherit our house and holiday house that are tidy and clutter free and some genuinely valuable items . I always think would I want my parents old crap = no thanks it will end up in the bin and that is the truth of it.

Minimalism the antidote to consumerism. Thank you for the great content!

I went to a yard sale, )I live in France) I saw all the stuff people were selling and bargaining and I suddenly felt so overwhelmed ... and strangely unwell. I just didn't want to have stuff anymore, that will ultimately end up in landfills and I felt so bad for mother Earth. So I came home and start packing only the things that really matter to me. I know I won't be bringing anything I don't absolutely need in my new home. It's taken me years to try and be minimalist but I think it finally clicked that day. 💖🙏🕊️🌅

I am 61 years old and very good at decluttering.  Unfortunately, no one else in my life agrees with my outlook and make fun.  I have decluttered as much as I can possibly without my husband's things.  I wouldn't do that to him.  Our last child moved out last weekend and I would like to downsize but hubby isn't ready, so I have set up our room minimally, a spare room minimally, and an office/playroom for grandbabies minimally and closed off the other two bedrooms completely.  They are empty and I will only have to go in and vacuum the carpet occasionally.  I do not want a silent to do list of dusting and everything else in those rooms.  This is my way of downsizing and I don't care if anyone thinks I'm strange. :))  My friend 72 years old, has a 7 bedroom, five bathroom house for her and her husband and it chockers from top to bottom.  Her daughter in law and son asked her to start getting rid of things now in case they have to downsize due to health while they are still here, and her response, if you want the inheritance of the house, then you clean it out.  I like my things and I am keeping them.  It's so funny, I love spending time with them and never give my opinion, but everytime I go visit her, I come home and start decluttering again.  It is so overwhelming for me.  Best wishes everyone xx

Paper reproduces quicker than rabbits!!!

Joshua is so good at explaining why we struggle with decluttering. Oh my, if my kitchen had half as many cabinets and drawers as the kitchen he is standing in, my small countertop would have nothing on it too, lol. However, I have learned from Dana K White her container concept.  My three drawers and three cabinets are all the containers I have to work with in my kitchen, so if items don't fit in them, they have to go.

You forgot one of the obstacles in your listing -  not sure if you meant it to be exhaustive, but I think grief is too big to not mention. It is one of the largest contributors to my troubles.

I totally agree with the weight of clutter.  I felt like I was smothering in all my stuff. It’s so much better now that a lot of stuff has left my house. Still more to go.

Bravo.  79 years old.  Nearly that amount of time putting people into rest homes and cleaning after they are gone.
The following is what I have done, years before getting to the present age:
1.  representative photographs were taken from the albums and put on usb keys;
2.  Old tapes/vcr tapes were put on usb keys
3.  old electronic gear, old tax backup documentation, work form files purged.
4.  stopped doing the leather and metal working - tools donated.
5.  very few saved books.
6.  safety features like grab bars, rails put up a decade before being needed.
7.  when the clothes don't fit or get stained -gone.  no "let's wear it one more time".  When the wash clothes, the towels or the bedding is strained they are turned into rags.  And the dirty rags are freely tossed.
8.  My maid disappeared in November 2024.  I have a new maid come in every three weeks.  Thus I gain the time and energy to throw out more things.  I can no longer clean and throw out.

I do mention this.  I was widowed, raised a baby and worked.  My son never cleaned his room, even when he left home.  My brother had 4 daughters.  Same thing.  Initially I put boxes of his junk into commercial storage.  Then, after many warnings, I went to UPS and learned the largest box sold and the maximum weight.  I sent 6 boxes to my son's warehouse in Delaware.  I have nothing from him, my late wife or parents around except a rocking chair and a baby cradle made by my dad.

Joshua, I (and probably others) would love to see a full home tour!

I live according to most of the principles mentioned here, but what frustrates me and holds me back is that my family doesn't share the same values and principles. Great insights, thank you.

I love this video! Thank you Joshua!

Talk about 🎶 That's my story and I'm stickin to it 🎶

Really eye opening as to why my progress is slow. I take heart in the fact that I do recognize #5 the sheer weight of it all. I really want to move forward and appreciate your resources to help me get there. Thank you Joshua! You are so knowledgeable in this area and looking forward to meeting you on your summer city visits.

Let's talk about tangible items! Those also build up and become overwhelming. Daily cleaning and grooming products. Anyone can get rid of visual, non essential clutter.

After watching the video, I reflected on what may be the #1 reason people hang on to things that are not serving any purpose in their lives and are getting in the way to what minimalists, obviously, would say is a better way of living. And that reason, it appears, is the "sunk cost fallacy", which is driven by "loss aversion".

Thanks for the video.

I love your encouragement videos.  I have a problem with decisions.....

Thank you💛

Love all your videos. I find this one particularly informative. Thank you!

Thank you, Joshua, this was a spectacular topic to touch upon.  - Stacy