Introducing my brother, Jim Oliver!! We talk about losing our mom 12 years ago, and what that has meant for both of us in terms of living our lives with clear intention - even though that intentionality looks different between the two of us.

Jim also shares about his fascinating career as a booking agent for celebrities and major motivational speakers, offering us insight to how to make the most of "self-help," along with answering my questions about the potential underbelly of the self-help industry.

Paring Down Instagram: ⁠⁠@paring_down⁠

Paring Down Newsletter: The L.E.S.S. Express

Paring Down Webiste & Blog

Paring Down YouTube

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Baby Essentials List⁠⁠⁠⁠

PARING DOWN RESOURCES:

Treasures of the Heart: A 7-Day Bible Study on Breaking Free from Material Attachments (free)

Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Free 15 Clutter-Free Gift Ideas⁠

Free Gift Request Email Template

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Know Your Why Worksheet ⁠⁠⁠⁠

CODES:

50% off your first box of EveryPlate meal service with code paring50: www.everyplate.com/podcast

15% off all Lume products like aluminum-free deodorant at lumedeodorant.com- use code PARING

Ethical, luxury women's clothing at Quince.com/paring for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order!

10 Free Meals from Hello Fresh: www.hellofresh.com/hellofreshpodcast

20% OFF any AquaTru water purifier when you go to AquaTru.com and use promo code PARING

This show is brought to you by BetterHelp. Get 10% off your first month of Better Help therapy: www.betterhelp.com/paring

40% off luxurious bedsheets & loungewear from Cozy Earth: https://cozyearth.com - use code PARING

$300 off Air Doctor Pro air purifier: https://airdoctorpro.com/ - Use code PARING

15% off your first order at PACT (sustainable, ethical clothing): https://wearpact.com/ - Use code PARINGDOWN

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The beautiful part about intentional living is that we get to decide what resonates with us and what doesn't. Not all advice is for everyone, and that's A-okay.

In that spirit, there seem to be some generally-accepted viewpoints in the minimalism and decluttering world that I, personally, disagree with. So here are some of my hot takes! From sparking joy to the 20/20 rule...I have thoughts!

Paring Down Instagram: ⁠⁠@paring_down⁠

Paring Down Webiste & Blog

Paring Down YouTube

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Paring Down Newsletter: The L.E.S.S. Express

Treasures of the Heart: A 7-Day Bible Study on Breaking Free from Material Attachments (free)

Good news account: @sambentley

Ep 59: Busting Myths About Decluttering

Ep 22:: Doom Piles & Mail

Ep 70: Is Decluttering Just for the Financially Secure? with Aubrey High

Ep 5: Sentimental Items

Ep 50: The Guilt & Fear of Decluttering Gifts

Ep 24: Decluttering Photos on Our Phones & in Our Homes

Marie Kondo book: The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up

PARING DOWN RESOURCES:

Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Free 15 Clutter-Free Gift Ideas⁠

Free Gift Request Email Template

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Know Your Why Worksheet ⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Baby Essentials List⁠⁠⁠⁠

CODES:

50% off your first box of EveryPlate meal service with code paring50: www.everyplate.com/podcast

15% off all Lume products like aluminum-free deodorant at lumedeodorant.com- use code PARING

Ethical, luxury women's clothing at Quince.com/paring for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order!

10 Free Meals from Hello Fresh: www.hellofresh.com/hellofreshpodcast

20% OFF any AquaTru water purifier when you go to AquaTru.com and use promo code PARING

This show is brought to you by BetterHelp. Get 10% off your first month of Better Help therapy: www.betterhelp.com/paring

40% off luxurious bedsheets & loungewear from Cozy Earth: https://cozyearth.com - use code PARING

$300 off Air Doctor Pro air purifier: https://airdoctorpro.com/ - Use code PARING

15% off your first order at PACT (sustainable, ethical clothing): https://wearpact.com/ - Use code PARINGDOWN

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ready for some truly practical help that will change your daily life?

Shawn Lemon of The Digital Organizer delivers just that in today's episode as he shares with us practical steps we can take to make our email accounts, desktop, and digital storage less chaotic and far more streamlined.

I personally was so motivated after our conversation that I went to town on my own digital spaces as soon as our interview ended, and can say - without being dramatic - that his simple, understandable approach changed my life. I open email and my computer and feel like a new person.

I hope you will, too, when you're done listening to this episode and taking the easy steps to implement his advice into your life!

Paring Down Instagram: ⁠⁠@paring_down⁠

Paring Down Newsletter: The L.E.S.S. Express

Paring Down Webiste & Blog

Paring Down YouTube

SHAWN LEMON INFORMATION

Helpful resources: https://thedigitalorganizer.com/paringdown

Instagram: @thedigitalorganizer

Facebook: The Digital Organizer

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt

PARING DOWN RESOURCES:

Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠⁠⁠⁠

Treasures of the Heart: A 7-Day Bible Study on Breaking Free from Material Attachments (free)

⁠Free 15 Clutter-Free Gift Ideas⁠

Free Gift Request Email Template

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Know Your Why Worksheet ⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Baby Essentials List⁠⁠⁠⁠

CODES:

50% off your first box of EveryPlate meal service with code paring50: www.everyplate.com/podcast

Ethical, luxury women's clothing at Quince.com/paring for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order!

10 Free Meals from Hello Fresh: www.hellofresh.com/hellofreshpodcast

15% off all Lume products like aluminum-free deodorant at lumedeodorant.com- use code PARING

20% OFF any AquaTru water purifier when you go to AquaTru.com and use promo code PARING

This show is brought to you by BetterHelp. Get 10% off your first month of Better Help therapy: www.betterhelp.com/paring

40% off luxurious bedsheets & loungewear from Cozy Earth: https://cozyearth.com - use code PARING

$300 off Air Doctor Pro air purifier: https://airdoctorpro.com/ - Use code PARING

15% off your first order at PACT (sustainable, ethical clothing): https://wearpact.com/ - Use code PARINGDOWN

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Spring Break is right around the corner, and it's very tempting to buy new wardrobes for vacation or bring home plenty of souvenirs. (Especially if it means avoiding a toddler breakdown in the middle of public.)

So let's talk about ways to avoid all that vacation clutter -- both in shopping ahead of time, and while we're there!

Paring Down Instagram: ⁠⁠@paring_down⁠

Paring Down Newsletter: The L.E.S.S. Express

Paring Down Webiste & Blog

Paring Down YouTube

RENTAL COMPANIES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Resort/general:

Rent the Runway

Nuuly

Fashion Press 

Hiking clothes:

Kit Lender

REI

Outdoors Geek 

Snow clothes:

Kit Lender

Slope Threads

PARING DOWN RESOURCES:

Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Free 15 Clutter-Free Gift Ideas⁠

Free Gift Request Email Template

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Know Your Why Worksheet ⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Baby Essentials List⁠⁠⁠⁠

CODES:

15% off all Lume products like aluminum-free deodorant at lumedeodorant.com- use code PARING

10 Free Meals from Hello Fresh: www.hellofresh.com/hellofreshpodcast

Ethical, luxury women's clothing at Quince.com/paring for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order!

20% OFF any AquaTru water purifier when you go to AquaTru.com and use promo code PARING

This show is brought to you by BetterHelp. Get 10% off your first month of Better Help therapy: www.betterhelp.com/paring

40% off luxurious bedsheets & loungewear from Cozy Earth: https://cozyearth.com - use code PARING

$300 off Air Doctor Pro air purifier: https://airdoctorpro.com/ - Use code PARING

15% off your first order at PACT (sustainable, ethical clothing): https://wearpact.com/ - Use code PARINGDOWN

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Defining what is "sacred" is to determine what truly matters and to recognize the beautiful intersection of every living thing. In this realm, Jeff Golden has spent 30 years and won multiple awards for his work regarding the connection (or lack thereof) between money and happiness so that we can better reject the things that are NOT sacred.

On the podcast, Jeff shares fascinating studies and statistics that paint a picture of the lies that money and overconsumption tell us, and offers ways we can make the concerted effort to reclaim the things that truly matter -- including our own worth.

Paring Down Instagram: ⁠⁠@paring_down⁠

Paring Down Newsletter: The L.E.S.S. Express

Paring Down Webiste & Blog

Paring Down YouTube

JEFF GOLDEN INFORMATION

https://reclaimingthesacred.net/

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Atlas of the Heart by Brene Brown

PARING DOWN RESOURCES:

Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Free 15 Clutter-Free Gift Ideas⁠

Free Gift Request Email Template

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Know Your Why Worksheet ⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Baby Essentials List⁠⁠⁠⁠

CODES:

10 Free Meals from Hello Fresh: www.hellofresh.com/hellofreshpodcast

Ethical, luxury women's clothing at Quince.com/paring for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order!

15% off all Lume products like aluminum-free deodorant at lumedeodorant.com- use code PARING

20% OFF any AquaTru water purifier when you go to AquaTru.com and use promo code PARING

This show is brought to you by BetterHelp. Get 10% off your first month of Better Help therapy: www.betterhelp.com/paring

40% off luxurious bedsheets & loungewear from Cozy Earth: https://cozyearth.com - use code PARING

$300 off Air Doctor Pro air purifier: https://airdoctorpro.com/ - Use code PARING

15% off your first order at PACT (sustainable, ethical clothing): https://wearpact.com/ - Use code PARINGDOWN

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Whew, I kind of can't believe I'm pressing publish on this one. I grew up in a high control religious organization, and today I'm sharing my story after a lot of interest came in after I mentioned it in a reel!

I know this is.a bit off the subject of decluttering, but it ties in beautifully with the bigger message of intentional living. I hope this episode is not only interesting, but helps shed some light on the importance of being intentional about our beliefs by making them our own.

Paring Down Instagram: ⁠⁠@paring_down⁠

Paring Down Newsletter: The L.E.S.S. Express

Paring Down Webiste & Blog

Paring Down YouTube

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer

PARING DOWN RESOURCES:

Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Free 15 Clutter-Free Gift Ideas⁠

Free Gift Request Email Template

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Know Your Why Worksheet ⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Baby Essentials List⁠⁠⁠⁠

CODES:

15% off all Lume products like aluminum-free deodorant at lumedeodorant.com- use code PARING

10 Free Meals from Hello Fresh: www.hellofresh.com/hellofreshpodcast

20% OFF any AquaTru water purifier when you go to AquaTru.com and use promo code PARING

This show is brought to you by BetterHelp. Get 10% off your first month of Better Help therapy: www.betterhelp.com/paring

40% off luxurious bedsheets & loungewear from Cozy Earth: https://cozyearth.com - use code PARING

Ethical, luxury women's clothing at Quince.com/paring for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order!

$300 off Air Doctor Pro air purifier: https://airdoctorpro.com/ - Use code PARING

15% off your first order at PACT (sustainable, ethical clothing): https://wearpact.com/ - Use code PARINGDOWN

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Avoiding difficult subjects isn't something I want to do on Paring Down. Yet I want to make sure I approach them with humility, positivity, and an open mind - and I hope that tone comes through on today's episode.

I'm so grateful to have Aubrey High from The Reclaimed Home alongside me as we talk through insights she's gained while working with people who are financially insecure - and often recovering from trauma - to responsibly declutter and organize their homes. (Stories shared on this episode are done so with permission and anonymity.)

Paring Down Instagram: ⁠⁠@paring_down⁠

Aubrey High's Instagram: @the.reclaimed.home.co

Aubrey High's email: [email protected]

Paring Down Newsletter: The L.E.S.S. Express

Paring Down Webiste & Blog

Paring Down YouTube

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Aubrey's first appearance on Paring Down: Making Space for Things and People We Love

Episode 67: 5 Psychological Phenomena that Affect Decluttering & Consumption

Katy Joy Wells Instagram

PARING DOWN RESOURCES:

Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Free 15 Clutter-Free Gift Ideas⁠

Free Gift Request Email Template

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Know Your Why Worksheet ⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Baby Essentials List⁠⁠⁠⁠

CODES:

Ethical, luxury women's clothing at Quince.com/paring for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order!

10 Free Meals from Hello Fresh: www.hellofresh.com/paring10fm

20% OFF any AquaTru water purifier when you go to AquaTru.com and use promo code PARING

This show is brought to you by BetterHelp. Get 10% off your first month of Better Help therapy: www.betterhelp.com/paring

40% off luxurious bedsheets & loungewear from Cozy Earth: https://cozyearth.com - use code PARING

$300 off Air Doctor Pro air purifier: https://airdoctorpro.com/ - Use code PARING

15% off your first order at PACT (sustainable, ethical clothing): https://wearpact.com/ - Use code PARINGDOWN

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Finding a decluttering method that works for you is great, but identifying principles that can apply to any decluttering decision is even more powerful.

In this episode, I share 10 principles -- or established truths about life -- that can help guide our processes and decisions as we decide what should stay and what should go in our homes, schedules, and beyond.

Paring Down Instagram: ⁠⁠@paring_down⁠

Mentioned in this episode:

Shannon's Instagram post about decluttering clothing that doesn't fit

Effortless by Greg McKeown

Shannon's book, You're Completely Normal

Paring Down Newsletter: The L.E.S.S. Express

Paring Down Webiste & Blog

Paring Down YouTube

PARING DOWN RESOURCES:

Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Free 15 Clutter-Free Gift Ideas⁠

Free Gift Request Email Template

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Know Your Why Worksheet ⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Baby Essentials List⁠⁠⁠⁠

CODES:

20% OFF any AquaTru water purifier when you go to AquaTru.com and use promo code PARING

This show is brought to you by BetterHelp. Get 10% off your first month of Better Help therapy: www.betterhelp.com/paring

40% off luxurious bedsheets & loungewear from Cozy Earth: https://cozyearth.com - use code PARING

Ethical, luxury women's clothing at Quince.com/paring for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order!

10 Free Meals from Hello Fresh: www.hellofresh.com/paring10fm

$300 off Air Doctor Pro air purifier: https://airdoctorpro.com/ - Use code PARING

15% off your first order at PACT (sustainable, ethical clothing): https://wearpact.com/ - Use code PARINGDOWN

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode has been a long time coming, and I'm so happy it's finally here!!! I know so many of you struggle to help your parents declutter in their senior years of life, or perhaps you're a senior adult yourself and struggling to manage the possessions you've accumulated in life.

I'm honored that Jeannine Bryant of Easy Rightsizing joined me to share her 15 years of wisdom on this topic, having helped hundreds of seniors and their families downsize (or "rightsize") their belongings. Jeannine's approach is one of practicality, respect, and - above all - connection. You will feel seen. You will feel empowered. You will feel prepared. And you will LOVE this episode.

Paring Down Instagram: ⁠⁠@paring_down⁠

Jeannine Bryant Instagram: @easyrightsizing

Easy Rightsizing Facebook

Easy Rightsizing YouTube

www.easyrightsizing.com

Moving Day Planning Timeline & other resources

Jeannine's book: Keep the Memories Not the Stuff

Boundaries by Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend

The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning by Margareta Magnusson

The Regrets of the Dying blog post by Bronnie Ware

Leaning into the Season of Giving (Paring Down episode about where to donate)

Paring Down Newsletter: The L.E.S.S. Express

Paring Down Webiste & Blog

Paring Down YouTube

PARING DOWN RESOURCES:

Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Free 15 Clutter-Free Gift Ideas⁠

Free Gift Request Email Template

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Know Your Why Worksheet ⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Baby Essentials List⁠⁠⁠⁠

CODES:

20% OFF any AquaTru water purifier when you go to AquaTru.com and use promo code PARING

This show is brought to you by BetterHelp. Get 10% off your first month of Better Help therapy: www.betterhelp.com/paring

40% off luxurious bedsheets & loungewear from Cozy Earth: https://cozyearth.com - use code PARING

Ethical, luxury women's clothing at Quince.com/paring for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order!

10 Free Meals from Hello Fresh: www.hellofresh.com/paring10fm

$300 off Air Doctor Pro air purifier: https://airdoctorpro.com/ - Use code PARING

15% off your first order at PACT (sustainable, ethical clothing): https://wearpact.com/ - Use code PARINGDOWN

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's always SO exciting when I record something that immediately becomes one of my favorite episodes. This is one of those!! My degree is in psychology because I've always been fascinated with understanding human behavior, motivations, and emotions. So today, I explore 5 psychological theories and cognitive biases that affect WHY it's hard to declutter, and what we can do to move forward.

I hope you feel seen and empowered.

Remember: I am not a doctor of psychology, rather just sharing concepts I've found to be highly interesting!

Paring Down Instagram: ⁠⁠@paring_down⁠

Books related to this episode:

Scarcity Brain by Michael Easter

Subtract by Leidy Klotz

The Age of Magical Overthinking by Amanda Montell

Paring Down Newsletter: The L.E.S.S. Express

Paring Down Webiste & Blog

Paring Down YouTube

PARING DOWN RESOURCES:

Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Free 15 Clutter-Free Gift Ideas⁠

Free Gift Request Email Template

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Know Your Why Worksheet ⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Baby Essentials List⁠⁠⁠⁠

CODES:

20% OFF any AquaTru water purifier when you go to AquaTru.com and use promo code PARING

This show is brought to you by BetterHelp. Get 10% off your first month of Better Help therapy: www.betterhelp.com/paring

40% off luxurious bedsheets & loungewear from Cozy Earth: https://cozyearth.com - use code PARING

Ethical, luxury women's clothing at Quince.com/paring for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order!

10 Free Meals from Hello Fresh: www.hellofresh.com/paring10fm

$300 off Air Doctor Pro air purifier: https://airdoctorpro.com/ - Use code PARING

15% off your first order at PACT (sustainable, ethical clothing): https://wearpact.com/ - Use code PARINGDOWN

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices