Ep 28: How Decluttering Helped this Mom Quit Her Job

Are you feeling smothered, stuck, or like you’re suffocating in your home, but don't know why?

The answer may be the stuff you own.

Tired of the rat race and working so hard to buy ALL THE THINGS?

See why the answer may be as simple as saying no to shopping.

Our guest today, shares her journey from this exact spot. She was determined to live a better life and back at the beginning of 2017 she chose to define her year with simplicity. She never could have imagined how that goal would change her life. Hint: she started in her closet and it ended with her quitting her job (even though she was the breadwinner for her family!).

Brooke is a simple-living blogger, wife, and mom to two daughters. Her motto to “simplify, find more joy, and be intentional with her time” changed her life for the better. She writes about her experience at HappySimpleMom.com where she helps busy moms reclaim all the joys of their motherhood. Brooke believes by simplifying your life you can experience a home that brings you joy and happiness and stop letting the mess weigh you down.

And if you struggle with keeping your home free from clutter, Brooke shares her wildly popular Flat Surface Clutter Rule. I promise, it’s a good one.

This episode of the Wannabe Minimalist Show will help you discover:

how one simple goal can change your entire home and life
what to do (and not do) if you are a minimalist and your spouse is a maximalist
how to stop clutter creep with the Flat Surface Clutter Rule
ways to help your children keep their things organized
where Brooke would start if she was starting her simplifying journey again

HIGHLIGHTS

[00:00] – This episode is brought to you The QUICK Way to Declutter and Organize Your Home. This 5 part mini-course will help you declutter, tidy, and organize any room in your home. Get started today!

[00:53] – Deanna welcomes listeners back to the show and explains that today’s guest is simple living expert, Brooke Harris.

[02:20] – Brooke and I check in and comment on the Coronavirus craziness.

[02:53] – Brooke starts things off by talking about the BIG clean out of 2017 and her journey to living a better life through minimalism and decluttering.

[04:07] – She set a word for the year - Simplify. Starting in her closet, she set a goal to not shop for 30 days. After an amazing month, she extended her no-shopping resolution to the full year. Did she succeed?

[06:25] – Brooke discusses how not shopping for clothes showed her she did not need to shop for so many of the other things filling her home either. This cut back their family spending so much that she was able to make a major life change (hint: she talks about QUITTING her job)

[07:50] – Decluttering and minimalism has given Brooke and her family peace of mind during the Coronavirus crisis because they are able to be more flexible with school (they chose to homeschool for the rest of the year).

[08:55] – Brooke discusses the Flat Surface Clutter Rule and how it was the very first place she started because she didn’t know what else to do.

[10:38] – If the Flat Surface Clutter Rule sounds interesting, will you implement the slow or fast method?

[11:20] – We discuss hard-core minimalists versus more laid-back minimalists and the difference in how they look at counter tops.

[12:39] – Do you have a dumping ground area in your home? Here’s how Brooke dealt with her home’s dumping ground.

[14:19] – Deanna recaps and breaks down the Flat Surface Clutter Rule and shares why this is so important.

[16:04] – How do we avoid clutter creep?

[18:27] – The difference 10 minutes a day can make in keeping your home neat and tidy. Plus, the best time of day to use these 10 minutes to the fullest.

[19:41] – Brooke talks about how she got her family interested in decluttering too even with sentimental tendencies.

[21:20] – What to do after you have decluttered ALL of YOUR stuff.

[25:20] – We learn what Brooke would do on her journey to minimalism if she were starting over today. Would she start in her closet again?

[27:20] – Where can we find Brooke online?

[28:41] – What has been Brooke’s favorite simple pleasure this week? (This is it and I totally get it!)

[29:17] – What is the best advice about minimalism that Brooke has ever received?

[29:45] – And finally, what is making Brooke happy right now?

[30:50] – Deanna circles back to Brooke’s amazing story about quitting her job and her powerful Flat Surface Clutter Rule.

[27:40] – Don’t forget to get The QUICK Way to Declutter & Organize Your Home. It’s the perfect resource to help you on your journey to living your best life with less stuff. And remember that she loves hearing from listeners, so please get in touch by email at hello@littlegreenbow.com or by sending her a message on Instagram (@WannabeClutterFree) or on Facebook (@WannabeClutterFree)!