I’m getting ready to move across the country. We’re going to start out in an apartment that is 250 square feet smaller than our current home. However, we will also be without the under-house crawl space we’ve had for storage. So this new state of affairs has been interesting as we get ready to downsize.
However, it’s not just the house we’re hoping to downsize in this move. We’ve also got a few life issues we’d like to downsize as well. There’s a lot of clutter in our lives and in our home, and we’re hoping to get rid of it.
1. Decide What Really Matters
The first step to any type of downsizing is to decide what really matters. Figure out what items are most important to you, and figure out why. You want to keep only things that fulfill you, and that truly enhance your life. The same is true of activities and commitments in other areas of your life. If it’s mindless tedium, downsize from your life.
2. Get Rid of Things You Haven’t Used/Looked At in a Year
This is one of the best ways to downsize items in your house. If it’s been sitting in a box for the last five years, and it’s not a family heirloom, chances are that you don’t need — and probably don’t even want — it. Get rid of it. The same method can be used for clothes, dishes, and just about anything else. If you aren’t interested enough to need it during the year, you can get rid of it. It’s a quick way to eliminate a great deal of clutter.
3. Spend Your Time According to Your Values
Once you know what really matters to you, it’s possible to decide to spend your time according to your values. Figure out your deep-seated values, and then make it a point to downsize meetings and activities that don’t reflect those values. It’s possible to let your life get so cluttered up with meetings and obligations that you forget what you value in life, and pretty soon you’re moving from place to place without truly accomplishing anything, or feeling good about what you do.
Cut out the time obligations that don’t mesh with your values, and make it a point to focus on the activities that really resonate with you on a personal level.
4. Remind Yourself of The Benefits of Downsizing
One of the best things you can do is remind yourself of the benefits of downsizing. When you are having trouble sending something to the thrift store, or throwing out an old piece of junk, remind yourself of the benefits you are about to enjoy. The same is true of downsizing your life. When you feel bad about saying no, remind yourself of the benefits you are about to have.
These benefits might include more space in your home, less money spent on keeping your stuff in good condition or storing it, and more time to do the things that matter most to you.
I’m excited for a new start in a smaller area. I think it will enhance my life.
What do you think? How do you go about downsizing?
There are many benefits of downsizing. We are sort of looking at houses (just online) for potential places that we may want to move to in the next few years. At first, I thought I wanted a larger house but now I’m pretty positive that I want something of a similar size that has a great layout instead. You can save so much money on maintenance, utilities, and repair this way!
I agree with your ideas. De clustering the room has a lot of advantages. We can mention ease of access for necessary items as well as making the place neat and smart.