Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living

One of the hardest categories to declutter? Clothes that no longer fit. But just because it's complicated doesn't mean we can't tackle it and make progress (without the overly simplistic approach to just get rid of anything that doesn't fit right now). In this episode, we’ll start with validation—why it makes sense to feel stuck when your closet doesn’t match your current body—and then move into p...

Do we even realize that we're creating a life based on what other people like, instead of our own preferences? I loved this casual, relatable conversation with Courtney Florey of Declutter & Dwell to explore a surprisingly powerful way to prevent clutter before it starts: Getting clear on your personal preferences. Together, we unpack: Why developing contentment is key to simplifying your home and...

Kids' clothes get out of hand FAST. Which is why in this episode, I share seven practical strategies to help you stay ahead of the kid clothing chaos. It's so refreshing when drawers close easily, laundry feels manageable, and weekends aren’t spent sorting piles of outgrown stuff. You’ll learn: • Why we accumulate too much kid clothing — and how to stop the cycle • How a simple 3-bin system (Too S...

We are being influenced by way of comparison more than we even realize, and this episode is a really inspiring and uplifting conversation about learning to live in a way that we love—not letting advertising or insecurity drive our choices. I sat down to talk with Amy Slenker-Smith, founder of Simply Enough, about how comparison quietly drives both clutter and overspending. We explore how advertisi...

Can you live a minimalist lifestyle in a big house? In this episode of Paring Down, I explore what it really means to live minimally in a large home—and whether buying in bulk actually helps you save money or just adds more clutter. Discover how American home sizes have changed over time, why the “bigger is better” mindset often backfires, and how to practice realistic minimalism and intentional l...

Whether you're an adventure junkie or totally risk-averse, this episode is a fun and motivating listen because it highlights how living with fewer possessions can help you live a more fulfilling life. I chat with Shannon and Gerry Arner of the popular podcast and blog, Arner Adventures, about how their decision to pare down what they own opened the door to more adventure—both in everyday life and...

Getting a little personal this week. Living with PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder)—or ANY chemical imbalance, hormonal sensitivity, or particularly difficult season of life—can feel overwhelming, especially when it comes to keeping up with your home. In this episode, I’m sharing practical ways to manage your space while living with a recurring shift in your energy and emotional bandwidth. You...

What would life look like if you didn't have to decide what's for dinner? If you had a communication system that actually worked with your spouse? If you weren't trying to squeeze in work and family at the same time? Today's episode with Chelsi Jo from Systemize Your Life is a game-changer. You'll look at your life completely differently and wonder, how can I be more intentional so that I actually...

I hope this episode feels like a warm hug—the embodiment of sweatshirt weather—inviting you to shed clutter from a place of romanticism, not panic. Fall is a natural invitation to slow down, reset, and create a home that supports rest and connection. Today, you'll learn how to create space for warmth, peace, and simplicity by taking cues from the changes in nature during the autumn season. PARING...

We made it to 100 episodes of Paring Down! For this milestone, I wanted a super practical episode that will change your life. So I sat down with the incredible Tech Whisperer, Amanda Jefferson, to talk about simple, life-changing hacks that help you make technology your personal assistant (instead of your enemy). *No apps mentioned in this episode are sponsored. But we get to the nitty gritty with...

Has decluttering become more overwhelming than freeing? You’re not alone. In this episode of Paring Down, I share how to reset when your'e completely burned out. I hit some major burnout of my own this week, so hopefully the examples from my own life will give you fresh ideas to move forward. Inside this episode, you’ll hear: Why decluttering burnout happens (and why it doesn’t mean you’ve failed)...

If your house feels like it's working against you—or you can't seem to keep the clutter from coming back—this episode is for you. After her divorce, today's guest Mia Danielle realized she needed to create a home that supported her, somewhat like a partner in life. That transition sparked her journey into minimalism and intentional living, where she began designing a home that worked for her, not...

In this episode of the Paring Down podcast, we uncover the surprising science of how enthusiasm can fuel your decluttering journey—and why your excitement matters more than you think. You’ll discover: How mirror neurons influence everyone in your home to get on board with decluttering Fredrickson’s broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions and how joy leads to even more progress The importance...

In this episode of Paring Down, I’m joined by etiquette coach Alison Cheperdak to talk about how to create a home that feels warm, inviting, and deeply welcoming, which includes motivation to declutter (without going overboard!), as well as emotionally intelligent ways to create personal connection. She lets us know: What to do if someone gives you a gift you don’t love (without feeling rude) The...

In this jam-packed episode of Paring Down, I walk you through how to declutter three common types of storage units—with actionable, step-by-step tips to make the process easier, lighter, and way less overwhelming. We cover how to declutter: A storage unit filled with items from a deceased loved one A storage unit full of your own things that you want to clear out completely A functional storage un...

Can you believe THE Gretchen Rubin is on the show?? She's a 7x NYT bestselling author, and one of my professional heroes. Her work dives into human nature and happiness, which boils down to understanding ourselves better in order to discover areas for personal agency. From there, we can create lives we love. So much of her wisdom lends itself perfectly to decluttering our homes and lives, and you'...

Here's what went down on our 3-week road trip to Alaska, insight into our new life in Kodiak, and what we've decluttered since we arrived! Isn't it amazing how it feels like so much more arrives in the moving truck than what came out of your last house? Today's episode is more of a personal update than my usual decluttering lessons, but at this point, we feel like old friends and I wanted to fill...

Today's episode is a little different from our typical conversation, leaning heavily into intentional living. After all, when we drown out the noise and clutter, we have time to focus on what truly matters - and what could be more important than the healthy and safety of our children and grandchildren? We welcome Kristen A. Jenson, author of the book Good Pictures, Bad Pictures - a children's book...

Sometimes we fail to declutter because of a silent pressure that tells us we're breaking an unwritten rule. Today's episode explores different categories of items that feel illegal to declutter, and how to push past the unreasonable fear of letting them go. PARING DOWN (SHANNON LEYKO): Sign up for my newsletter! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The L.E.S.S. Express⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

What does a licensed therapist have to say about how clutter affects our mental health? You're about to find out! Today's episode with my dear friend and licensed therapist, Dr. Brittany Pope, will help you not only feel inspired to pare down on behalf of your mental health, but will leave you feeling seen, validated, and hopeful as you figure out how to move through life amidst our sometimes-help...

Have you ever found yourself in the middle of a pile while decluttering, having lost all motivation? Or have you ever felt like it's impossible to keep the clutter at bay? There's one key factor to stay motivated on ANY journey - including our mission to live with less - and we're going to cover exactly how to harness this motivation in today's episode of paring down. PARING DOWN (SHANNON LEYKO):...

If anyone knows about the underbelly of the beauty industry, it's Miss America 2014, Nina Davuluri. Nina's documentary COMPLEXion (available on Prime Video) sheds a light on her personal experience with colorism, which led to a deeper dive into international beauty standards and how companies create new insecurities just to get us to buy more and more stuff. The intersection of the beauty industry...

You've heard it said that we shouldn't focus on having a perfectly tidy home 24/7...rather, we should focus on having a home that's EASY to tidy. What, exactly, does that entail? Well, today you'll learn specific systems and ideals to implement so that your home doesn't feel overwhelming to keep tidy. PARING DOWN (SHANNON LEYKO): Sign up for my newsletter! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

"How do I get my kids to declutter if they're super attached to all their stuff?" "Should I include my kids or do it myself?" "Where should I start?" Today we're diving into a bunch of practical strategies for decluttering kid stuff, covering things like: - Gamifying - Setting physical boundaries - Specific conversations to initiate Plus, I'll share the research that reveals the benefits of helpin...

NYT Bestselling author Greg McKeown is on the show!! (WHAT?!) Buckle up for one of the most special, exciting, and insightful episodes of Paring Down yet as we dive into his two mega-hits, Essentialism and Effortless. In this episode, you'll grasp a deeper understanding of how to identify what's important in your life and what's unnecessary excess (i.e. clutter). But we're not just decluttering ou...