Q: Where Do I Start Downsizing?

Get a quick win. Find the place in your home where you feel the least emotionally attached to things. The place that would make the biggest bang for your time , the biggest impact on your daily life. For me, it was laundry and dishes. I started in my own and my kid's laundry because it was the easiest for me to see a win. And with fewer dishes and laundry to keep up on I had more time to commit to the rest of the house. What are you the least attached to? Where would it make the biggest impact to have it streamlined? The quickest return, the least mentally draining to check it off your list? Start there.

Question 1

How Do You drastically downsize?

Accepted Answer

In the last decade, I have easily gotten rid of 80% of the stuff that was in the house. So I feel qualified to tell you that drastically downsizing is doable. The best way to do it is to create a plan of attack, room by room. Be as brutal as you absolutely can. You won't get it in the first or second sweep. The idea is to make this an intentional regular part of your monthly routine. Once you get through your whole house, rest, then go back around again with fresh eyes. Limit yourself in categories to an amount or a specific space (bin, container, box, drawer, etc.) This helps you make harder decisions by creating a line you can't cross.

Question 2

How Do You Get Rid of Feeling Overwhelmed?

Accepted Answer

The trick to downsize when you're overwhelmed is to understand, generally speaking, overwhelm is the symptom, and too much stuff to keep track of is the disease. You work through it to eliminate it.

Overwhelm is just your brain telling you there is too much for it to process. But with practice, time, and intentionality you will eliminate enough and train your brain to problem solve much more efficiently. It's also important to stay positive. Even if your situation seems impossible, I promise you it isn't. Make a good plan of attack, get a support system, and take reasonable steps habitually to change your situation.

Create a safe space. For me, I had to completely empty and create one space where I could feel in control and see enough blank space that my mind could rest. There is such a thing as visual clutter and it is exhausting. I chose to complete my master bedroom to be a haven and my living room as my absolute control space. The kids' bedrooms can be filthy, but as long as the living room (my domain) is clean I can handle overwhelming situations with much more ease. Find an area where you are in control.

Question 3

Where Do I Start Downsizing?

Accepted Answer

Get a quick win. Find the place in your home where you feel the least emotionally attached to things. The place that would make the biggest bang for your time, the biggest impact on your daily life. For me, it was laundry and dishes. I started in my own and my kid's laundry because it was the easiest for me to see a win. And with fewer dishes and laundry to keep up on I had more time to commit to the rest of the house.

What are you the least attached to? Where would it make the biggest impact to have it streamlined? The quickest return, the least mentally draining to check it off your list? Start there.

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