81: The Art of Making Friends & How it Helps Us Declutter

81: The Art of Making Friends & How it Helps Us Declutter

Author: Cloud10 April 22, 2025 Duration: 46:25
Does it sometimes feel impossible to make real friends in adulthood? And what does that have to do with paring down our lives? As a military wife, I have to build a new community for our family every three years. And I've found that not only do friendships help us enjoy life, but they're a big reason it's easier to live a life with less. When we know we can rely on neighbors and friends to lend us things, come to our rescue when needed, and generally be a support system, then we are less tempted to use physical possessions as a form of security. In today's episode, I walk you through tactics I use to make new friends wherever we move, and dive into the power of different types of relationships using "bridging" and "bonding." PARING DOWN (SHANNON LEYKO): Sign up for my newsletter! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The L.E.S.S. Express⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.shannonleyko.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@shannonleyko⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@shannon_leyko⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@shannonleyko⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/shannonleyko.paringdown⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Blog & Additional Support (free trial!)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Ep 6: Creating Community in Small Spaces 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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Baby Essentials List⁠⁠⁠⁠ CODES: 10 Free Meals from Hello Fresh: www.hellofresh.com/paring10fm For Hers Hair Growth: https://www.forhers.com/paring 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 Only $1.99 per meal with EveryPlate meal service - code paring199: www.everyplate.com/podcast 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

Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living is for anyone who feels overwhelmed by their possessions but finds the idea of an empty, stark home equally daunting. Host Shannon Leyko approaches these conversations with the warmth and directness of a close friend, focusing on the mental shifts needed to let go of clutter without adopting an all-or-nothing philosophy. Each episode feels like a supportive chat that acknowledges the emotional weight of our things, whether it's a crowded garage, an overstuffed closet, or a schedule packed with obligations. The discussions move beyond simple organizing tricks to explore a more intentional way of living that can create space-both physically and mentally. Leyko brings in a range of voices, from well-known authors to people navigating everyday challenges, all sharing actionable advice and perspective. This podcast digs into the real reasons we hold on to stuff and how to cultivate a home environment that genuinely serves you. It’s a practical guide for making incremental, sustainable changes that reduce stress, not a rigid doctrine to follow. You’ll find a balanced, compassionate take on creating calm in your living space and your daily routines through realistic steps.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
Podcast Episodes
165: The 15 Best Questions to Ask Yourself to Make Decluttering Easy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:02
It's much easier to declutter when we filter our choices through certain questions, so I've compiled the best 15 questions to ask yourself when decluttering. Some are famous ("Does this spark joy?") and some are recent v…
158: Burn It All Energy, How to Write a Book, & Bad Dogs [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:41
Here's what you'll find in this week's mini episode, a.k.a. Chai Chat! I answer: 1. How do I channel the burn it all energy into something useful? 2. Any advice on how to go from dreaming about writing a book to actually…