I have a confession. I was a little too lazy to do the packing party, so I've experimented with a couple different ways to figure out what you do and do not use on a regular basis. Long story short, a packing party is definitely the way to go when doing your initial downsizing. But here are the methods I've tried in the past few days:
Basically, I write all of this out to tell you one thing: don't try alternate methods, because you are almost guaranteed to miss something. Instead, focus on one method that you know works. Simplify the way you simplify your life!
Simply yours,
Sarah
- Writing it down. The only problem with this was time. Even if I remembered to write it all down (which I typically did), it took a lot of unnecessary time, making it seem like I could write down everything I used, but from writing "bed" to "hair straightener," I was getting tired of having to write something down every time I wanted to use it. Regardless of whether I remembered or not, it was tiring work.
- Post it notes. I tried putting post it notes on everything in my room, and immediately ran into problems. First of all, I overlooked possessions- from my nightstand to my mirror. Those items were so much a part of my space that I didn't see them until I used them. The more my bedroom filled with tiny neon green squares, the less I noticed the things that weren't "marked." Then I'd forget to take off the little post it note. Essentially, this did nothing but made me look like I have an obsession with sticky notes.
- Both writing it down and post it notes. Again- major fail. Not only did I not flag everything, but I was forgetting when I did take the post it note off, and then I'd question whether I had even flagged it in the first place. There was no rhythm to what I was doing, and it certainly wasn't working- just turning into a whirlwind of papers.
- Making a list. Even with making a list, I'd forget things- there's just too much to write down! I forgot things like a second laundry hamper (don't ask me why a high school girl who does only her own laundry needs two baskets, but somewhere along the way I had "needed" a second one.
- Packing party! I finally resorted to a packing party. It was the only surefire way to make sure that I accounted for every single possession and that I didn't use unnecessary furniture. Some of my possessions I had already decided I needed to donate or sell- so I put an old collector's doll and a couple bookshelves by the door, beginning my "why the heck do I even have this" pile.
Basically, I write all of this out to tell you one thing: don't try alternate methods, because you are almost guaranteed to miss something. Instead, focus on one method that you know works. Simplify the way you simplify your life!
Simply yours,
Sarah