Scaling Down summary

Hopefully, the SDMS has helped you figure out your goals. Nonetheless, the execution of the plan can still be daunting. If you’re feeling apprehensive, rest assured that this is perfectly normal.

Maybe you’re thinking, “But I might regret throwing this out later on!” Most people have done this – thrown something out only to regret it a few days later, so this is definitely an understandable mentality.

Do you have hundreds of records or books that you dread schlepping around next time you move? If you’re a collector, you probably invested countless hours and dollars into your collection, not to mention a great deal of emotional energy.

Some collectors love the thrill of the hunt. Desiring that rare item, searching for weeks, months, sometimes even years, and finally getting it and adding it to the collection is a rewarding and satisfying experience.

Okay, maybe you’ve resolved to collect memories instead of shoes. That’s great! But there’s still the business of getting rid of all the excess that you’ve already accrued, so let’s explore some of the most common scaling-down strategies.

One strategy is called grouping. It consists of grouping together all the duplicate items to get a grasp of what should stay and what should go.

Everyone is different, and different people will prefer different scaling-down methods. So, in addition to grouping and skimming, try out these two additional strategies to find the best fit for you.

Performing triage means collecting all the items in question into one spot, then picking out three from the pile randomly.

You’ve now successfully found a strategy that works for you and have culled the best from the rest. But the idea of trashing all your old belongings is still pretty distasteful, right? Well, the good news is that you don’t have to!

Finding good homes for your stuff is actually an important part of scaling down in a happy, healthy way.