Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living – Details, episodes & analysis

STOP, book lovers! Don't scoff and say "No way am I listening to this episode because books are something I'll never declutter!"

I mean, you can absolutely say that and we can still be friends and it's all good.

However, I think this episode will surprise you! I'm a huge book lover myself, so I want to 100% validate readers by recognizing exactly why it's so hard to declutter our precious books.

I offer 5 top reasons we want to hold onto them, then ONLY once those reasons are fully understood and accepted do we dive into mindset shifts or new perspectives that may help you lighten your load in a way that heightens your love for books rather than diminishes it in any way.

My book: ⁠You're Completely Normal⁠

My newsletter: ⁠The L.E.S.S. Express⁠

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: ⁠⁠@paring_down⁠

Paring Down Website: ⁠theexpertbeginner.com⁠

⁠⁠⁠Free Know Your Why Worksheet ⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Free Baby Essentials List⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠⁠⁠

Instagram Growth Basics

No one wants to end up on their death bed and say, "I wish I hadn't spent so much time on my phone."

Founder of FreeWyld vacation cabins, Eric Moeller helps shed light on the importance of unplugging in a practical (not unrealistic) way.

His 6 steps for entering into what he calls "Wyld Mode" help us break out of our screens and embrace experiences with our loved ones that truly feed our souls and help us live the life we know we want to live.

In this episode, we also talk about finding purpose in what we do with our time, alongside the benefits of spending unplugged time building healthy relationships.

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@paring_down⁠⁠

Paring Down Website: ⁠⁠theexpertbeginner.com⁠⁠

FreeWyld Website: ⁠www.freewyld.com⁠

FreeWyld Instagram: ⁠@stayfreewyld⁠

Eric Moeller Instagram: ⁠@ericdmoeller⁠

Paring Down Resources:

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Know Your Why Worksheet ⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Baby Essentials List⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram Growth Basics

Screen time is a really sensitive subject.

I cover why these sensitivities are important to respect and address in the beginning of this episode - there are very real dynamics that have NOTHING to do with how much parents love their kids as to why some families use more screen time than others.

With that in mind, decluttering and minimalism are rooted in intentionality - and that intentionality piece is the focus of today's episode as we talk through screen use as parents.

I share exactly where we've landed with screens in our home at this stage in life and how we can all approach our decisions about screen time with flexibility, foresight, and deliberate consciousness.

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: ⁠@paringdownpodcast⁠

Episode of Minimalism Podcast: "A Life More Engaging Than the Algorithm"

⁠Free Know Your Why Worksheet ⁠

⁠Free Baby Essentials List⁠

⁠Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠

I don't know about you, but I want getting dressed to feel easy.

I want to feel good in my clothes, no matter how casual or dressy the occasion.

I don't want to feel overwhelmed by choices or frustrated that I have "nothing to wear."

I also want to know that my closet isn't a result of someone else in this world barely scraping by. Cheap clothes that fall apart are not only annoying, they're usually a representation of mistreatment.

The older I get, the more I know it's up to me to put in slightly more effort into how I acquire clothing, because while I can't fix every problem in this world, I CAN look at my own choices and evaluate if they're something I'm proud of.

As always, this podcast is a no-judgment zone, so if you consistently partake in fast fashion - don't be alarmed. This episode is to help ALL of us be less stressed when we get dressed in the morning, and may provide a few new ideas to chew on!

Our guest, Lacey Woodroof of Basic (abasicshop.com), speaks to the heart of why women's fashion can be such a pain, and offers creative and practical ways to start dressing in a less overwhelming, more sustainable manner.

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: @paringdownpodcast

Basic Instagram: @abasicshop

Lacey Woodroof Instagram: @laceymwoodroof

Basic Website: www.abasicshop.com

Color Remover: ritdye.com

Machine Dye: dylon.co.uk

Brands with ranged sizing:

Alabama Chanin

NLT

Ni Thomas

Harly Jae

Corinne Collection

Proclaim

Pact

Jamie & the Jones

MIAKODA

Want to avoid that terrible feeling when your house just feels like this giant weight on your shoulder?

There's laundry to fold, the counters have stuff all over them, your closet looks like a tornado ran through it, and the inside of your microwave looks like a murder scene.

On today's episode, I walk you through 20 general habits you can begin to implement in order to keep your home from being a source of stress and overwhelm!

*picture of my daughter's hair organization will be in my Instagram stories today 6/11/24, and I'll save it in the my highlight on Instagram titled "Organize"

Frugal Friends Podcast Episode: Grocery Store vs. Warehouse Club Savings Analysis

Book: The Year of Less by Cait Flanders

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: ⁠@paringdownpodcast⁠

⁠Free Know Your Why Worksheet ⁠

⁠Free Baby Essentials List⁠

⁠Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠

Ready to get personal?

Living with less goes a LOT deeper than having a less stressful, decluttered home. This week's guest, Sona Avetisyan, is a professional organizer whose focus on intentional living is deeply reflected in her own life.

Sona shares about her own journey of discovering what she actually cares about - even though it's counter cultural - and what that looked like in the wake of a divorce. She speaks vulnerably and passionately about creating a life that represents our personal core values, no matter how unconventional it may be.

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: ⁠@paringdownpodcast⁠

Sona Avetisyan Instagram: @theminimalist.me

Sona Avetisyan Website: theminimalist.me

Sona Avetisyan Facebook

Sona's book recommendations:Simplicity ParentingThe Artist's Way

Paring Down ⁠Free Know Your Why Worksheet ⁠

⁠Paring Down Free Baby Essentials List⁠

⁠Paring Down Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠

For the sake of savings and convenience, so many of us fall into the trap of keeping too much backstock in our homes.

It's become all too common to treat our homes as a store, instead of letting stores be the store and our homes be our home - with just enough that we need for daily living inside it.

So what IS the right amount of backstock?

We'll explore that question on today's podcast through different lenses in regards to waste, finances, and the stress caused by clutter...because backstock is a BIG culprit of the clutter in our homes.

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: @paringdownpodcast

Free Know Your Why Worksheet

Free Baby Essentials List

Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff

The question we often forget to ask ourselves even though it is central to our wellbeing:

Is this working for me?

Does this pace of life feel good? Am I spending my time how I’d like? Are my routines helping me or cycles I’d like to break out of?

If our basic needs like food and shelter are met, then where we spend our time is up to us!

Sometimes it doesn’t feel that way, does it?

In this episode, Stephanie Seferian of the Sustainable Minimalists walks us through what it means to slow down and truly live a life that’s aligns with each of our unique wishes, needs, and temperaments.

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: @paringdownpodcast

Sustainable Minimalists Podcast Sustainable Minimalists on Instagram: @sustainableminimalists Stephanie’s book: Sustainable Minimalism: Embrace Zero Waste, Build Sustainability Habits that Last, and Become a Minimalist Without Sacrificing the Planet Stephanie’s website: https://mamaminimalist.com

"How do you find the time to declutter?"

I hear this question on repeat - and I get it! Between kids and jobs and just...life...it's hard to find time to eat a meal sometimes, much less tackle decluttering the house.

So I hope this episode gives you some ideas of how to find the time as I share what has worked for me during 3 different stages in my life: As a full time "working" mom, as a SAHM, and as a hybrid of both. Because I've been all 3, and each comes with its own challenges for finding the time!

My FREE Know Your Why Worksheet

My Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: @paringdownpodcast

Episode that talk about decluttering with kids around:

Mistakes We Make While Decluttering

Permission to Declutter

Does Minimalism Deprive Our Kids

Well, folks. It happened.

My first tears on the podcast.

Sarah Horgan of the Simple & Intentional Podcast is one of those people who makes you feel completely seen and heard, and I am so grateful we had such a personal and honest conversation.

Sarah's story of being diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer 10 years ago and how that led her to live a more intentional, minimal life is powerful.

We also went in deep about these deeply ingrained notions of perfectionism and people-pleasing that often paralyze use from taking the action we need to in order to see change in our lives.

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: @paringdownpodcast

Sarah Horgan Instagram: @simpleintentional

Simple + Intentional website: simpleintentional.com

Simple + Intentional Podcast