Paring Down: Realistic minimalism to live more intentionally

There are two major pieces to living a decluttered life: 1) What we get OUT 2) What we let IN On today's episode with Brad Nelson from Debt Free Dad, we talk about how to make smart choices with our money that not only decrease financial stress, but help us stay mindful about what we let IN during our decluttering journey. Brad also shares ways we can make money while decluttering as a tool for getting out of debt or creating a rainy day savings account. Paring Down Podcast Instagram: ⁠⁠@paring_down⁠ Paring Down Website: ⁠theexpertbeginner.com Debt Free Dad website: debtfreedad.com Debt Free Dad Podcast Brad Nelson Instagram: @debtfreedad Paring Down Resources: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Instagram Growth Basics ⁠⁠⁠Free Know Your Why Worksheet ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Free Baby Essentials List⁠⁠⁠ Free 15 Clutter-Free Gift Ideas ⁠⁠⁠Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠⁠ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

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 --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

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 --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

Ask and you shall receive! When I polled the audience a few weeks ago about areas you'd like to declutter, lots of you said that your garage or your basement were hanging over your heads. Sometimes these huge projects can feel impossible, so we never start them out of a state of overwhelmed paralyzation. I hope today's episode gives you the encouragement to start on your own garage, basement, or doom room - to hear how my husband and I tackled ours, and to know that it CAN be done! You CAN do it! 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 --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

Paring down what's important in our life sounds nice and all, but HOW? So often, pretty much everything feels important. We'd love to say that not everything is a priority, but most of the time it can feel anxiety-provoking to not *do it all.* Business owner (x5) Ashli Pollard is at the top of her field - her agency working with celebs from Brooke Shields to Bethenny Frankel - and reaching thousands of entrepreneurs with her podcast, The Unfiltered Entrepreneur, and her online membership, The Doers. If anyone knows about determining priorities, it's Ashli. She offers practical approaches we can take to figuring out what needs our attention NOW, and what can wait - both in our work and in our personal life. Plus she's been one of my favorite humans and friends for 12 years. It's a fun episode - we both love to laugh, and hope you do too! Paring Down Podcast Instagram: ⁠⁠@paring_down⁠ Ashli Pollard Instagram: @ashli_p Ashli's podcast, The Unfiltered Entrepreneur Paring Down Website: ⁠theexpertbeginner.com⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Free Know Your Why Worksheet ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Free Baby Essentials List⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠⁠⁠ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

Do you have an area of your house that can't seem to stay decluttered or organized no matter what you do? Same. Today I walk you through the four biggest clutter problem areas in my own home, and hope that you find inspiration as I brainstorm how to keep the clutter at bay! 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 --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

One of the most efficient ways to simplify your life so your life becomes exponentially easier is to implement household rhythms. Each new rhythm (i.e. routine, habit, etc,) takes away the mental load of problem-solving and decision fatigue. When you don't have to think through what to do, you're left with way more brain space and a lot less stress. Ben and Brianna Folkman of Folklife Rhythms have spent years learning best practices for implementing their "flexible frameworks" in order to create a more peaceful home - even during the chaotic years of little kids. They walk us through their understanding of how rhythms create security in our relationships (for our kids, too!), as well as their Parenting and Teamwork Series that sets couples up for success as they navigate life as a unit. Paring Down Podcast Instagram: ⁠⁠@paring_down⁠ Paring Down Newsletter: The L.E.S.S. Express Paring Down Website: ⁠theexpertbeginner.com⁠ Ben & Brianna Instagram: ⁠@bribenfolklife⁠ Ben & Brianna Website: ⁠folkliferhythms.com⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Free Know Your Why Worksheet ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Free Baby Essentials List⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠⁠⁠ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

This episode doesn't list things to avoid temptation, like unfollow influencers or take the Amazon Prime app off your phone - though those are great ways to save money! Instead, we're talking about actionable steps that will save you money - from small choices to big life decisions. Why should we bother paring down our spending? Does spending less and saving more truly matter? Don't worry, we'll cover that, too! Paring Down Podcast Instagram: ⁠⁠@paring_down⁠ Paring Down Website: ⁠theexpertbeginner.com⁠ Print photos: printique.com Gen Z vs. Millennial Blog Post ⁠⁠⁠Free Know Your Why Worksheet ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Free Baby Essentials List⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠⁠⁠ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

How do you know an idea is true? That's a pretty big question, but I've found that the best way to know if an idea is worth exploring is to find out how long it's been around. Because, as Mark Twain famously said, "There's no such thing as a new idea." Sage wisdom usually comes in the form of a repetitive idea that respected spiritual and thought leaders have landed on independently over hundreds - even thousands - of years. Today on the podcast, we welcome Suzanne Johnson, whose book Vital Simplicity pulls on the work of Charles Wagner - who authored The Simple Life in 1895. Living simply as a means to internal fulfillment is a timeless truth - a conclusion that dates back as far as 600 BCE. If that's not motivation to at least explore the principle of living with less...I don't know what is! 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 Suzanne Johnson Website: suzannesjohnson.com Suzanne Johnson Blog: avitalsimplicity.com Blocks  by Suzanne Johnson Child plays  Hour after hour  Stacking blocks  Knocking down  Holding wooden  Cubes in his  Tender hands  He is  Entertained  Leave the  Floor bare  Except for  These sturdy  Pieces  He finds his  Way  His interest is  Held  Add Legos  To the mix  And coloring  Books  Trains and trucks  And why not  Screens?  He soon becomes  Bored Let his  Amusement  Be in the  Simple things  Let his  Vision sharpen on  One thing at a  Time  Cut through the  Clutter  And find  Joy  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

What do you do when there just aren't enough hours in the day? I've got you! Time blocking might sound intimidating, but in this episode I break down exactly how to block out your schedule in order to - avoid burnout - accomplish your goals - avoid time-sucking distractions This episode also covers brain-dumping and checklists, which are tools you can use no matter how structured or flexible you prefer your days. Paring Down Podcast Instagram: ⁠@paring_down Planner: So Typical Me ⁠Free Know Your Why Worksheet ⁠ ⁠Free Baby Essentials List⁠ ⁠Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

The benefits of living with less can be discovered through as many avenues as there are people - and today, we hear how ultralight backpacking was the catalyst for Glen Van Peski to embrace a lighter load in his every day life. Glen's wilderness stories are inspiring (I can't help but laugh at his hiking story with Matthew McConaughey), but his lessons about generosity as a result of minimalism are even more profound. We often think "But I need MORE in order to give to others," but Glen's hard-won wisdom and experience proves otherwise. When we live with only the essentials, we make space for showing up for others in ways that we'd be blind to otherwise. This is an episode that I think will stick with you for a very long time. Glen's book Take Less, Do More: Surprising Life Lessons in Generosity, Gratitude, and Curiosity from an Ultralight Backpacker is available wherever you buy books! Paring Down Podcast Instagram: ⁠@paring_down Buy Take Less, Do More: ⁠glenvanpeski.com⁠ Email ⁠glen@glenvanpeski.com⁠ to request signed book for $25 ⁠Free Know Your Why Worksheet ⁠ ⁠Free Baby Essentials List⁠ ⁠Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

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 --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

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 --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

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 --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

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 --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

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 --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

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 --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

"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 --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

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 --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

FIFTY-EIGHT SQUARE FEET, people. It's nuts and we love it! This week I share with you a bit more behind-the-scenes of van life in our camper van that is 58 square feet of "living" space, and how spending time in such close quarters with 5 humans and 2 dogs really highlights the beauty of living with less. I also offer some tips and ideas for your next road trip - especially if you have kids in tow! Paring Down Podcast Instagram: @paringdownpodcast --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support