Downsizing Your Life? Here are 10 Hacks for a Smooth Transition

Have you ever found yourself staring at your bedroom in confusion and disgust because of all the toys, books, and clothes? What about picturing a life with less stuff, a less hectic, and more liberated lifestyle? That is what most people call life downsizing!

The downsizing concept is mainly at the forefront of people's minds these days. It is not just a matter of moving to a smaller house (even though that is still the most prevalent choice). Giving up is a deliberate decision: your items, your time, and your worries, even.

If you and your family have the question, “What is the best way to downsize and simplify your life?” then you are definitely in the right place! We have compiled a list of 10 extremely easy hacks that will not only help with this huge move but also make it feel great and even enjoyable.

What Exactly Is Downsizing Your Life? (And the Reasons People Do It)

Firstly, let's clarify the core concept before we discuss the hacks.

What does it mean to downsize? It represents a process of reducing something's size or amount. In the case of downsizing life, we are referring to a decrease in possessions, the size of living space, or the time spent on unpleasant activities.

There are two main reasons why people do this:

Stress Reduction

Having fewer possessions translates into fewer things to clean, organize, and worry about, hence less stress.

Financial Savings

How to downsize your life and save money is the primary reason for many adults! A smaller house implies a lower cost, and less purchasing means more cash in the bank for enjoyable activities like traveling or education.

Let’s then move on to the easy and practical steps!

Decluttering Hacks (The Most Difficult Step!)

Determining what to keep and what to part with is the main obstacle in the process of downsizing. Try to implement these three tricks at the beginning to facilitate your hard decisions.

Trick 1: The "Reverse Hanger” Trick

This trick works best for the wardrobe! All the hangers have to be turned around in the closet in such a way that the hooks are directed to the person standing in front of the closet. After each wearing of a piece of clothing, it should be washed, put on the hanger of the appropriate direction (hook pointing away), and then the hanger should be turned to the correct direction (hook pointing towards the person in front).

The Result

After half a year, the garments on the hangers still facing you are the ones that you have not worn.

Practical Example

Most of decluttering professionals advocate for this method. It is because the method relies on actual data of your living space usage rather than making assumptions.

Trick 2: The "One-Year Rule"

If you discover an object that you never knew existed, ask yourself the question of: “Have I used this in the last year?”.

The Rule

In case of a negative answer (provided it is not a family photograph or a so-called ‘special memory' item), it is better off not existing anymore. The rule is perfect for disposing of redundant items that still lie around “just in case” but never get used.

Trick 3: The "KonMari Spark" Method

This is a method of a well-known professional minimalist organizer and consultant, Marie Kondo. When you ‘touch’ an object, ask: "Does this spark joy?"

If it does, then keep it!

If it does not, then thank the item and let it go.

The reason it works  

It shifts the inquiry from "Will I ever use this?" (which is generally a yes) to "Is this something I really like?" (which enables you to retain nothing but the most precious and quite a few really helpful items).

The Transition Hacks (Moving and Organizing) 

After making up your mind on what to keep, the next thing that you have to think about is the smart ways to organize it, as well as moving it into your new, smaller space. 

Hack 4: The "Box Method" for Moving 

It would be best if you would not just throw things in boxes while packing. You should label each box with the contents and give it a number from 1 to 3. 

Box 1 (Must-Have) 

Daily use items (Toothbrush, uniform, favorite book). 

Box 2 (Use Soon) 

Seasonal items, décor, or hobby stuff. 

Box 3 (Store/Sell) 

Items you want to keep but won't need for a long time. 

When you prioritize only the "Box 1" items, the process of downsizing and simplification of your life becomes much easier! 

Hack 5: Digitizing the Paper Pile 

Old school reports, birthday cards, and letters take a lot of space. Digitize them! 

You can take clear pictures or utilize a scanning app on your phone. 

Transfer the digital files either to a pen drive or the cloud. 

The only original materials you should keep are the very important ones, such as birth certificates. This trick creates a large amount of cabinet space for you.

Hack 6: Go Vertical with Storage

When you have a small space, the main trick is to look up!

Use tall and narrow bookshelves rather than the wide and low ones.

Put shelves on the top of the walls.

Moving to a smaller place does not mean giving up storage; it means using up the height of your room smartly.

The Money & Mindset Hacks (Long-Term Success)

These hacks will support you in sticking to your new simplified life and concentrating on the main goal: How to downsize your life and save money and stress.

Hack 7: The "One-In, One-Out" Rule

This is a good practice to keep the clutter away.

If you buy a new T-shirt, you have to get rid of an old one.

If a new board game comes into your house, then you must donate an old one.

Thus, your belongings are kept in a manageable and fixed number.

Hack 8: Sell, Donate, or Gift

Do not simply throw away your old stuff! You can benefit from it in three ways: making money, helping others, and being environmentally friendly.

Sell

Selling through online apps is an option for selling valuable items like electronics or designer clothes. It can be quite a beneficial amount of money to fund your relocation!

Donate

Send your clothes and books to local charities.

Gift

Share your toys or games with younger friends or cousins. This way your items will have their second life.

Hack 9: Choose Experiences Over Things

This is the mindset shift that genuinely characterizes the downsizing life.

Rather than putting aside money for a new device or a pair of costly shoes, lavish it on something that will stay in your mind forever: a journey, a culinary class, or a music concert.

Timeless moments occupy no space at all, and they usually provide more happiness than possessions do!

Hack 10: Start Small and Celebrate Success

Do not attempt to empty your entire house in one day—you will become exhausted and quit!

Start Small

Select one minor spot, such as one drawer or your bag. Completely eliminate everything from it.

Celebrate

Admire that spotless drawer and take pride in it! The momentum from that minor win will enable you to deal with the next area. This will make the process less of a burden and more like a sequence of small triumphs.

Downsizing: A Simpler, Happier Path

Downsizing is a lifestyle that has fewer material possessions and more personal freedom. It requires being intentional about what you allow into your life and being courageous about getting rid of what you do not need. It is a wise decision in terms of downsizing your life, as well as saving money and reducing stress.

With these 10 hacks, you are guaranteed a transition that is smooth, organized, and ultimately rewarding!