Shannon Leyko of Paring Down | Decluttering | Mindful Consumer
@shannonleyko.bsky.social
Host of The Paring Down Podcast
• Tips for less stuff & less stress
• Realistic minimalism & decluttering
• Tips for less stuff & less stress
• Realistic minimalism & decluttering
A high volume of items that represent a person or memory tends to feel sad. It’s a like a big reminder of a past you sorely miss.
But if you choose just the few favorites to represent that person/memory best, the stuff can elicit happy memories. It’s not a big pile of sadness.
But if you choose just the few favorites to represent that person/memory best, the stuff can elicit happy memories. It’s not a big pile of sadness.
November 26, 2025 at 4:06 PM
A high volume of items that represent a person or memory tends to feel sad. It’s a like a big reminder of a past you sorely miss.
But if you choose just the few favorites to represent that person/memory best, the stuff can elicit happy memories. It’s not a big pile of sadness.
But if you choose just the few favorites to represent that person/memory best, the stuff can elicit happy memories. It’s not a big pile of sadness.
When starting out, consider decluttering a space that has these 3 elements:
1. Obvious: it should be somewhere you see every day
2. Non-sentimental: don't start with stuff that will pull at your heartstrings
3. Zonable: in other words, easy to zone down and take one chunk at a time
1. Obvious: it should be somewhere you see every day
2. Non-sentimental: don't start with stuff that will pull at your heartstrings
3. Zonable: in other words, easy to zone down and take one chunk at a time
November 22, 2025 at 6:24 AM
When starting out, consider decluttering a space that has these 3 elements:
1. Obvious: it should be somewhere you see every day
2. Non-sentimental: don't start with stuff that will pull at your heartstrings
3. Zonable: in other words, easy to zone down and take one chunk at a time
1. Obvious: it should be somewhere you see every day
2. Non-sentimental: don't start with stuff that will pull at your heartstrings
3. Zonable: in other words, easy to zone down and take one chunk at a time
In psychology, a "success spiral" means if you do one little thing in a positive direction, that win motivates you to continue making progress.
So if the clutter in your house feels overwhelming, don't look at the big picture. Choose one task to complete, and let the success spiral propel you.
So if the clutter in your house feels overwhelming, don't look at the big picture. Choose one task to complete, and let the success spiral propel you.
November 19, 2025 at 3:57 PM
In psychology, a "success spiral" means if you do one little thing in a positive direction, that win motivates you to continue making progress.
So if the clutter in your house feels overwhelming, don't look at the big picture. Choose one task to complete, and let the success spiral propel you.
So if the clutter in your house feels overwhelming, don't look at the big picture. Choose one task to complete, and let the success spiral propel you.
Getting my kids to declutter toys before
Christmas stopped being a dramatic struggle when I gamified it like this:
"Fill the box before this song ends!"
"Find one blue, one soft, and one loud thing to give away."
As I like to say, a lot of parenting is just creative marketing.
Christmas stopped being a dramatic struggle when I gamified it like this:
"Fill the box before this song ends!"
"Find one blue, one soft, and one loud thing to give away."
As I like to say, a lot of parenting is just creative marketing.
November 14, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Getting my kids to declutter toys before
Christmas stopped being a dramatic struggle when I gamified it like this:
"Fill the box before this song ends!"
"Find one blue, one soft, and one loud thing to give away."
As I like to say, a lot of parenting is just creative marketing.
Christmas stopped being a dramatic struggle when I gamified it like this:
"Fill the box before this song ends!"
"Find one blue, one soft, and one loud thing to give away."
As I like to say, a lot of parenting is just creative marketing.
The 5 biggest myths about decluttering:
1. You can't keep sentimental items
2. Your kids will feel deprived
3. Your house will look boring
4. It’s financially irresponsible
5. It’s just about aesthetics
1. You can't keep sentimental items
2. Your kids will feel deprived
3. Your house will look boring
4. It’s financially irresponsible
5. It’s just about aesthetics
November 11, 2025 at 10:02 PM
The 5 biggest myths about decluttering:
1. You can't keep sentimental items
2. Your kids will feel deprived
3. Your house will look boring
4. It’s financially irresponsible
5. It’s just about aesthetics
1. You can't keep sentimental items
2. Your kids will feel deprived
3. Your house will look boring
4. It’s financially irresponsible
5. It’s just about aesthetics
Just a reminder that if you want to save money, you can switch out following accounts that tempt you to buy cute things with accounts that encourage you to be content with what you already have.
November 9, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Just a reminder that if you want to save money, you can switch out following accounts that tempt you to buy cute things with accounts that encourage you to be content with what you already have.
Future you doesn't want the clutter either: that dress you've only worn once, that appliance you never use, that lotion you've never opened. It's time to let them go.
November 4, 2025 at 3:55 AM
Future you doesn't want the clutter either: that dress you've only worn once, that appliance you never use, that lotion you've never opened. It's time to let them go.
It’s within our power to adjust the labels we put on ourselves that hold us back from living in a less stressful, decluttered home: “I’m indecisive,” “I’m too sentimental,” “I’m not naturally organized.”
🙅🏻♀️ Change the thoughts themselves and see how that changes the outcome.
🙅🏻♀️ Change the thoughts themselves and see how that changes the outcome.
November 3, 2025 at 6:32 PM
It’s within our power to adjust the labels we put on ourselves that hold us back from living in a less stressful, decluttered home: “I’m indecisive,” “I’m too sentimental,” “I’m not naturally organized.”
🙅🏻♀️ Change the thoughts themselves and see how that changes the outcome.
🙅🏻♀️ Change the thoughts themselves and see how that changes the outcome.
Just your daily reminder that decluttering is a way better dopamine hit than shopping. 🫶
October 31, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Just your daily reminder that decluttering is a way better dopamine hit than shopping. 🫶
Our brains retain information about unfinished tasks far more than they store information about completed tasks, which is why clutter feels like such a mental drain.
It truly IS a mental drain, because clutter is a bunch of unfinished tasks or postponed decisions that our brains are holding onto.
It truly IS a mental drain, because clutter is a bunch of unfinished tasks or postponed decisions that our brains are holding onto.
October 28, 2025 at 4:42 AM
Our brains retain information about unfinished tasks far more than they store information about completed tasks, which is why clutter feels like such a mental drain.
It truly IS a mental drain, because clutter is a bunch of unfinished tasks or postponed decisions that our brains are holding onto.
It truly IS a mental drain, because clutter is a bunch of unfinished tasks or postponed decisions that our brains are holding onto.
If you’re over-organizing with painstakingly detailed label systems and containers and bins, it’s probably a sign that you just have too much stuff.
October 24, 2025 at 2:55 PM
If you’re over-organizing with painstakingly detailed label systems and containers and bins, it’s probably a sign that you just have too much stuff.
Hot take: The ultimate cleaning hack is to get as much stuff out of your house as possible.
October 20, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Hot take: The ultimate cleaning hack is to get as much stuff out of your house as possible.
Parents always tell me that one of their biggest struggles with toy clutter during the holidays is loving family members who *over-buy* for their kids.
I created a *free* email/text Gift Request Template with fill-in-the-blanks to help you graciously request gifts that won’t become clutter.
I created a *free* email/text Gift Request Template with fill-in-the-blanks to help you graciously request gifts that won’t become clutter.
October 17, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Parents always tell me that one of their biggest struggles with toy clutter during the holidays is loving family members who *over-buy* for their kids.
I created a *free* email/text Gift Request Template with fill-in-the-blanks to help you graciously request gifts that won’t become clutter.
I created a *free* email/text Gift Request Template with fill-in-the-blanks to help you graciously request gifts that won’t become clutter.
“Too much stuff” is wayyyy too abstract. Instead, use a ~PHYSICAL BOUNDARY~ like a bin, a drawer, or a set number of hangers that sets the limit for how much you can keep of a certain type of item.
When it’s at *comfortable* capacity, it’s time to declutter.
When it’s at *comfortable* capacity, it’s time to declutter.
October 15, 2025 at 3:17 PM
“Too much stuff” is wayyyy too abstract. Instead, use a ~PHYSICAL BOUNDARY~ like a bin, a drawer, or a set number of hangers that sets the limit for how much you can keep of a certain type of item.
When it’s at *comfortable* capacity, it’s time to declutter.
When it’s at *comfortable* capacity, it’s time to declutter.
We are being influenced by way of comparison more than we even realize. It’s taking our money AND cluttering up our homes…all from the fear of being left out or not enough.
Which is exactly what today’s episode of Paring Down is all about. 🎧
Which is exactly what today’s episode of Paring Down is all about. 🎧
October 14, 2025 at 6:34 PM
We are being influenced by way of comparison more than we even realize. It’s taking our money AND cluttering up our homes…all from the fear of being left out or not enough.
Which is exactly what today’s episode of Paring Down is all about. 🎧
Which is exactly what today’s episode of Paring Down is all about. 🎧
Taking the box to the donation center: 30 minutes
The box hanging over your head because you haven't taken it yet: 6-12 months
MAKE GOOD CHOICES!!
The box hanging over your head because you haven't taken it yet: 6-12 months
MAKE GOOD CHOICES!!
October 13, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Taking the box to the donation center: 30 minutes
The box hanging over your head because you haven't taken it yet: 6-12 months
MAKE GOOD CHOICES!!
The box hanging over your head because you haven't taken it yet: 6-12 months
MAKE GOOD CHOICES!!
When it comes to decluttering sentimental belongings, don’t feel like you have to get rid of everything that makes you YOU.
Instead, consider—can you keep a smaller token of the memory to represent the love and joy? A picture, or just one item instead of a set?
Instead, consider—can you keep a smaller token of the memory to represent the love and joy? A picture, or just one item instead of a set?
October 11, 2025 at 4:07 PM
When it comes to decluttering sentimental belongings, don’t feel like you have to get rid of everything that makes you YOU.
Instead, consider—can you keep a smaller token of the memory to represent the love and joy? A picture, or just one item instead of a set?
Instead, consider—can you keep a smaller token of the memory to represent the love and joy? A picture, or just one item instead of a set?
It’s honestly SO WEIRD but true that the more clothes you have in your closet, the less you have to wear.
(Hence why I decluttered mine big time and now help other people do the same. Kicked that decision fatigue right out to the curb. BYE.)
(Hence why I decluttered mine big time and now help other people do the same. Kicked that decision fatigue right out to the curb. BYE.)
October 8, 2025 at 5:03 PM
It’s honestly SO WEIRD but true that the more clothes you have in your closet, the less you have to wear.
(Hence why I decluttered mine big time and now help other people do the same. Kicked that decision fatigue right out to the curb. BYE.)
(Hence why I decluttered mine big time and now help other people do the same. Kicked that decision fatigue right out to the curb. BYE.)
I did a deep dive on when buying in bulk is actually cost-saving, and when it’s not.
Turns out you can’t just say “I buy in bulk because it saves money!” 🫣
I break it down on the Paring Down podcast:
Ep 105: Can You Live Minimally in a Big House? (And the Truth About Buying in Bulk)
Turns out you can’t just say “I buy in bulk because it saves money!” 🫣
I break it down on the Paring Down podcast:
Ep 105: Can You Live Minimally in a Big House? (And the Truth About Buying in Bulk)
October 7, 2025 at 2:45 PM
I did a deep dive on when buying in bulk is actually cost-saving, and when it’s not.
Turns out you can’t just say “I buy in bulk because it saves money!” 🫣
I break it down on the Paring Down podcast:
Ep 105: Can You Live Minimally in a Big House? (And the Truth About Buying in Bulk)
Turns out you can’t just say “I buy in bulk because it saves money!” 🫣
I break it down on the Paring Down podcast:
Ep 105: Can You Live Minimally in a Big House? (And the Truth About Buying in Bulk)
Realistic minimalism is not about never finding meaning in items—it’s about curating a home that honors that meaning.
Instead of letting sentimental things pile up in dusty boxes or get lost in chaotic displays, we cherish and highlight the few things we love *most.*
Instead of letting sentimental things pile up in dusty boxes or get lost in chaotic displays, we cherish and highlight the few things we love *most.*
October 4, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Realistic minimalism is not about never finding meaning in items—it’s about curating a home that honors that meaning.
Instead of letting sentimental things pile up in dusty boxes or get lost in chaotic displays, we cherish and highlight the few things we love *most.*
Instead of letting sentimental things pile up in dusty boxes or get lost in chaotic displays, we cherish and highlight the few things we love *most.*
3 ways to make decluttering sentimental items easier👇
1. Bring them somewhere that you know they’ll be cherished
2. Take a photo of the item, or consider if the memory is already preserved in a photo
3. Display and use the best sentimental items you own, so letting go of others isn’t so bad
1. Bring them somewhere that you know they’ll be cherished
2. Take a photo of the item, or consider if the memory is already preserved in a photo
3. Display and use the best sentimental items you own, so letting go of others isn’t so bad
October 3, 2025 at 2:20 PM
3 ways to make decluttering sentimental items easier👇
1. Bring them somewhere that you know they’ll be cherished
2. Take a photo of the item, or consider if the memory is already preserved in a photo
3. Display and use the best sentimental items you own, so letting go of others isn’t so bad
1. Bring them somewhere that you know they’ll be cherished
2. Take a photo of the item, or consider if the memory is already preserved in a photo
3. Display and use the best sentimental items you own, so letting go of others isn’t so bad
Potentially useful stuff isn't actually useful.
If we want to live in homes that aren't bursting at the seams with clutter, it's time we part with the things that are only useful in theory.
If we want to live in homes that aren't bursting at the seams with clutter, it's time we part with the things that are only useful in theory.
October 2, 2025 at 5:28 AM
Potentially useful stuff isn't actually useful.
If we want to live in homes that aren't bursting at the seams with clutter, it's time we part with the things that are only useful in theory.
If we want to live in homes that aren't bursting at the seams with clutter, it's time we part with the things that are only useful in theory.
A few questions to ask your kids when helping them declutter their stuff:
• What do you love about this item?
• Do you know what it means to give it to someone who “needs it”? (Kids often don’t really make this connection)
• Where does this fit if you want to keep it?
• What do you love about this item?
• Do you know what it means to give it to someone who “needs it”? (Kids often don’t really make this connection)
• Where does this fit if you want to keep it?
September 27, 2025 at 7:18 PM
A few questions to ask your kids when helping them declutter their stuff:
• What do you love about this item?
• Do you know what it means to give it to someone who “needs it”? (Kids often don’t really make this connection)
• Where does this fit if you want to keep it?
• What do you love about this item?
• Do you know what it means to give it to someone who “needs it”? (Kids often don’t really make this connection)
• Where does this fit if you want to keep it?
If decluttering feels like a drag, it’s because you’ve decided it’s a drag.
Take a deep breath and say “How could I shift how I’m looking at this?” “Why do I want to do this in the first place?” “What new strategy could I try that would make this more fun?”
Take a deep breath and say “How could I shift how I’m looking at this?” “Why do I want to do this in the first place?” “What new strategy could I try that would make this more fun?”
September 27, 2025 at 12:07 AM
If decluttering feels like a drag, it’s because you’ve decided it’s a drag.
Take a deep breath and say “How could I shift how I’m looking at this?” “Why do I want to do this in the first place?” “What new strategy could I try that would make this more fun?”
Take a deep breath and say “How could I shift how I’m looking at this?” “Why do I want to do this in the first place?” “What new strategy could I try that would make this more fun?”
5 Signs Your Organization Solution Won't Turn Into Additional Clutter
1. It fits into the natural rhythms of how you already operate
2. It creates less work, not more
3. It's designed for items you use regularly
4. You've considered all measurements
5. You'd use it even if no one else saw it
1. It fits into the natural rhythms of how you already operate
2. It creates less work, not more
3. It's designed for items you use regularly
4. You've considered all measurements
5. You'd use it even if no one else saw it
September 24, 2025 at 10:52 PM
5 Signs Your Organization Solution Won't Turn Into Additional Clutter
1. It fits into the natural rhythms of how you already operate
2. It creates less work, not more
3. It's designed for items you use regularly
4. You've considered all measurements
5. You'd use it even if no one else saw it
1. It fits into the natural rhythms of how you already operate
2. It creates less work, not more
3. It's designed for items you use regularly
4. You've considered all measurements
5. You'd use it even if no one else saw it