Blog #slow downsizing

During this past home-bound year, I appreciate the great headway I made on my downsizing and the benefit to others of some of my efforts.

To say goodbye to 2020, I share 20 paper items I came across this year in going through the family archives.

With more time during this pandemic to focus on downsizing, I find it harder to let go of things. I share some hard-earned principles for making the task easier.

Slow downsizing has some unique challenges, including priority issues, duplication of efforts, obsessiveness, regrets, and fatigue. I offer some solutions to my challenges.

Three tools are essential to the serious downsizer--a camera, a scanner, and a shredder--the former two to help preserve memories, the latter to safely reduce paper.

Reconnections, reactions, and learnings from my letter project, in which I read and returned to the writers letters sent to me over several decades.

I share some travel scrapbook pages I created that use pieces of memorabilia I've saved as well as text and other found imagery.

During my 17 weeks of self-isolating during the pandemic, I've had my ups and downs with downsizing, while still making progress.

To honor family members, I create memory collages using images that capture aspects of their lives. This process allows me to let go of some of the actual items that inspired my art.

Are you someone who saves the programs from various plays, concerts, and exhibits you attend? With live events on hold, I decided to tackle my own large collection.

Do you have remnants of old, unfinished projects that it feels like a crime to throw away? Here's my list and my ensuing downsizing trial for each project.

Letters and other correspondence from friends and family are one of the hardest sets of items to part with when downsizing but a good task to tackle when you have time on your hands, as during this pandemic lock-down.