The 5 easiest things to let go of when you first start downsizing (Tiny Transition & Downsizing starts this week!)

Guest post from Mariah Coz.

Tiny Transition and Downsizing, the 8-week e-course that shows you step by step how to downsize, de-clutter, clear your mind and space is currently open for registration (class starts on June 28th!).

The number one thing people ask me before taking the course is:

“Where the heck do I even start?! I’m so overwhelmed!”

I get it! I was overwhelmed by my stuff once too. It took me years to dig out from under it and get downsized to where I could live in the COMET Camper and then in my fun little Honda Element van. Let me tell you, the freedom is my favorite part 🙂

So today, I’m going to give you the answer to the “where the heck do I even start?” question. In the e-course, we call this “low-hanging fruit”.

It takes the pressure off to start with some easy stuff. It also builds up your confidence, momentum and motivation for tackling the tough stuff down the road. We get into all this stuff in detail in the Tiny Transition + Downsizing course, so if you need a kick in the pants and some stellar support, accountability and community, you should join us.

Downsizing your stuff to prepare to live in a tiny home or other small space is probably the hardest part of the whole process of “going small”.

There are a few reasons why it’s so difficult to downsize: emotional attachment, money or time invested, and the fact that many of our “things” represent an identity we want or used to want (we dive deep into each of these in the course).

But, as hard as downsizing can be for some of us – I’ve found a few good, easy places to start. And that’s the hardest part – getting started!

So here are five things you can purge this weekend to feel awesome about making progress towards a simplified lifestyle. And if you’re ready to take it further, come join us for class on June 28th!

1. Luggage and Bags
How many pieces of luggage do you have? How many purses? Probably more than you use! I used to have a bag problem. I had ALL different shapes and sizes – one for each occasion. But ultimately, you only need one or two great bags to make most of your luggage collection seem obsolete. If you’re hoarding this kind of item in your attic, time to let it go.

2. Craft supplies
This is a big one for a lot of people. Maybe you started a project or collection of quilting, sewing, or other craft supplies years ago but never found the time to actually use them. You keep telling yourself you’ll use all that yarn someday, when you have more time. Then you look at it and feel guilty – so you stuff it further back into the closet.

Sound familiar? Craft supplies often represent a “sunken cost” of either time or money and therefore are difficult to let go of. BUT – once you DO let go of them – you’ll feel so much lighter and more free. You won’t have that guilt hanging over you. So if you haven’t picked up the half-done quilt, the knitting needles, or the yarn in a few years – give it away to someone who WILL use it. You’ll feel so much better!

3. Sample-sized lotions + bathroom stuff
Those tiny tubes and little hotel-sized shampoos and lotions? Get rid of them! That stuff is gunky, funky, and probably past it’s expiration date. You don’t need a drawer full of “just in case” lotions and stuff. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a simplified, relaxing bathroom? This is an easy item to toss. Ask yourself, “why is it so hard for me to let of things that were FREE?” And while you’re doing this, throw away any old makeup or the lotions and products that are more than a few years old. That stuff DOES expire!

4. Your “some day I’m going to get this tailored” pile
I used to have a bag of clothes that were “going to have tailored” – dresses that were a little too big, pants that needed hemming, and other things that just didn’t fit me quite right. If you’re holding on to a pile of things you haven’t made the time to bring to the tailor, ask yourself why. Are you really willing to spend money making those things fit you? Do you have enough clothes in your closet already? Why haven’t you had them tailored yet? This also goes for shoes that you’ve been meaning to have cobbled but haven’t found the time to get them fixed.

5. Quitters
If you have a sock and underwear drawer that you haven’t seen the bottom of in years, it’s time to find and toss the quitters. Quitters are the underwear whose elastic has given out, so they no longer stay up. Quitter socks just droop down on your ankles all sad and uncomfortable. No one likes quitters. So go through your underthings and socks and get rid of all the old ones, stained ones, orphans (one of the pair is lost) and the quitters. This can be a yearly exercise to keep your undergarments in check.

These are just a few things you can downsize this week without getting into too much emotional territory.

Downsizing is a LONG and sometimes very difficult process. My journey from 1200 square feet (plus storage) into a 100 square foot vintage camper and then into a backpack for extensive travel took me almost 2 years! It doesn’t happen overnight.

BUT the good thing about starting now is that every tiny little baby step you make gives you momentum and confidence to keep making progress.

Once you’ve tackled the easy stuff, you’ll have the tools you need to start the big bad stuff – heirlooms, paperwork, personal items, clothing and more.

If you want to downsize your stuff, clear out the clutter, create mental and physical space in your life for more joy and happiness, you can join us for the next session of the Tiny Transition and Downsizing E-Course. Class starts on June 28th. You’ll get 8 weeks of practical lessons and challenges, guided step by step help, lifetime access to the private class forum, accountability, support and motivation from me and your classmates, and the tools you need to simplify your home and life.

The practical weekly lessons and private student-only forum allow you to make progress at your own pace within a group of like-minded friends on the same journey. We not only go through how to eliminate all sorts of crap from your life and space, but we fundamentally change your relationship with “stuff”. It has the cascading effect of positively influencing every area of your life.

“This class is changing my entire life. For the good, too. So glad I made the decision to spend the money to take this course!”
— Becky R.

“This class has single-handedly changed my thinking and life. The email course is rocking my world with the “how” to do this, the access to the associated Google group is invaluable. You could lurk and never post with this group and it’ll change your thinking and life. Even if you just want to tread more softly on this beautiful jewel of a planet we live on, you will benefit from this course.” – Andrea M.

“This was the most helpful and inspiring course I have ever taken! I have learned so many things, gained new friends and have become more inspired to downsize my life. My life is forever changed (all for the better) after this course!” – Shelby

“In fact, I am more convinced than ever that taking this course to figure out how to ease into the whole downsizing process thoughtfully and gradually was one of the best moves I could have made, especially because of all the incredible support that this group provides in so many ways.” – Jack

I hope you’ll join us and I look forward to supporting you on this journey!