“When we decided to move to Wyoming, we knew our 2,100 square foot home’s worth of belongings wouldn’t fit into our new 980 square foot space. What we didn’t know was how quickly and dramatically we’d need to downsize – or how liberating it would turn out to be.
We had just 2-3 weeks to decide what would make the journey with us to our new life. It sounds overwhelming, right? But sometimes, a deadline is exactly the motivation you need to make tough decisions. Our method was surprisingly simple: if I hadn’t touched something in six months or needed it in the past year, it had to go.
The process taught us some unexpected lessons about possessions, stress, and what really matters in a home. Here’s what we learned:
Time Is Your Truth-Teller
Looking at a box or item and honestly asking ‘When was the last time I opened this?’ became our decluttering north star. Six months became our cutoff point – if we hadn’t needed it in that time, we probably didn’t need it at all. This simple question eliminated countless hours of agonizing over individual items.
Kids and Clutter: The Stealth Approach
One of our most successful strategies, especially with kids’ belongings, was what I like to call the ‘Out of Sight, Out of Mind’ method. We discovered that if we sorted and removed items while our children were at school, they rarely remembered or missed what was gone. It’s fascinating how many toys we think our kids ‘need’ when they actually don’t even remember having them.
The Kitchen Reset
Perhaps our boldest move was completely emptying our kitchen. We knew we had a budget from our home sale to replace essentials, and we were committed to transforming our eating habits. This clean-slate approach meant every new item in our kitchen would be intentionally chosen for our new lifestyle. Surprisingly, there hasn’t been a single kitchen item we regret letting go of.
The Fast-Track Farewell
Without time for a traditional yard sale, we got creative with distribution. Local Facebook groups, generous gifts to neighbors, and yes, several trips to the dump helped us quickly pare down our possessions. The time constraint actually worked in our favor – it forced quick, decisive action instead of prolonged deliberation.
The Lasting Impact Months later, this massive declutter has completely changed how we approach possessions. Before making any purchase now, we ask ourselves:
- Do we really need this?
- Do we need it right now?
- Can we find it locally?
- Could we borrow it instead? (Having family nearby is a bonus here!)
The most profound revelation? The less physical stuff we had, the more our stress levels dropped. It’s not just about having fewer things to clean or organize – it’s about the mental clarity that comes with living more intentionally.
For anyone feeling overwhelmed by their possessions but nervous about letting go, here’s my advice: your life will feel less stressed if you just let go. We’ve experienced firsthand how reduced physical clutter leads to reduced mental clutter, and ultimately, to greater happiness.
Remember, everything you own demands a piece of your attention, your space, and your energy. Choose wisely what you allow to take up residence in your home and life. Sometimes the best path to peace is through the donation box.
Starting fresh in Wyoming with less stuff has given us more of what really matters – peace, happiness, and family connection. And isn’t that what home is really about?”
About the Author: If you’re new here, check out my first post about our family’s journey from Utah to Wyoming and how downsizing changed our lives. When I’m not writing about our adventures in simple living, you can find me in our cozy kitchen, reinventing comfort food classics into healthier versions.
Tyson Brooks is a 36-year-old creative who traded Utah’s bustle for Wyoming’s wide-open spaces in 2023. When he’s not crafting stories through technical theater lighting or working on his space exploration novel series, you’ll find him in his cozy 980 sq ft home, experimenting with healthy comfort food recipes or discovering how much richer life can be with less. Follow his family’s journey into intentional living, simple cooking, and finding joy in the unexpected.
