If you have landed here, you are probably struggling with downsizing for nomadic living. Transitioning to a nomadic lifestyle means embracing minimalism and focusing on what truly matters. Downsizing my belongings to fit into a 16 foot camper felt overwhelming at first, but with a structured approach, I managed to simplify my life and prepare for full-time travel. Here’s how I did it in just three months.
Step 1: Set a Timeframe and Goal
Setting a clear deadline—three months, in my case—helped me stay focused and motivated. My goal was to pare down my belongings to fit into my new nomadic lifestyle, keeping only essentials that would serve me on the road. When I first did this, my ex wanted me moved out so I told him March 1st, and when that deadline passed and I still wasn’t out his patience was wearing thin. I thought he understood why it was taking longer, but the added pressure made me get it together. So I developed the following method.
Step 2: The Box Method for Downsizing
To manage the overwhelming task of decluttering, I adapted a simple yet effective closet cleanout method:
- I designated one box for each room in my apartment.
- For three months, I operated by a simple rule: if I didn’t use an item during that time, it wouldn’t come with me.
- Every time I used an item, it went into the box. If I needed it again, I’d take it out and then put it back.
- At the end of 30 days, everything in the box was deemed essential. Items I hadn’t touched were “at risk” and faced elimination.
At the end of each month, I reviewed the unused items and asked myself:
- Would I grab this in a fire?
- Can I sell it to fund my travels?
- Could I live without it?
If the answer to these questions was “no,” the item was either sold, donated, or discarded. Platforms like Facebook Marketplace, eBay, and Poshmark made selling easier. I priced items to move quickly, prioritizing efficiency over profit.
The Traveling Thistle was my previous blogs name by the way. 🙂
Step 3: Evaluate Sentimental and Unused Items
Sentimental items and long-ignored belongings were some of the hardest to address. I found that many things I had kept “just in case” were items I hadn’t touched in years. Old paperwork, for example, was something I’d been hoarding. To tackle this, I:
- Scanned important documents to a hard drive and uploaded them to a cloud storage service for redundancy.
- Discarded hard copies, confident that digital backups were secure.
For sentimental items, I considered their emotional value versus practical utility. If it wasn’t irreplaceable or functional, it didn’t make the cut.
Step 4: Create a Donation and Trash System
To streamline the process, I established a donation system and a trash removal schedule:
- Items in good condition were donated to local charities or thrift stores.
- Broken or unusable items went straight to the trash or recycling.
This system kept my space organized and prevented procrastination.
Step 5: Stick to a No-Spending Rule
During this period, I implemented a strict no-spending rule. My purchases were limited to essentials like bills, groceries, and gas. If I absolutely needed something new, I adhered to a one-in, one-out policy: for every new item acquired, something else had to go.
This rule not only curbed unnecessary spending but also reinforced the importance of valuing what I already owned.
Step 6: Reflect on Your Essentials
By the end of three months, I realized how little I truly needed. My essentials boiled down to:
- A suitcase of clothes
- A toiletry bag
- Basic tools
- Kitchen supplies
- Bed linens
Although I initially worried about parting with infrequently used items like tools, I decided to keep them for their practicality on the road. However, 90% of my one-bedroom apartment’s contents were eliminated—a liberating transformation.
Step 7: The Surprising Simplicity of Downsizing
To my surprise, the process became easier over time. By the second month, I barely added anything new to my “safe” boxes. The items I kept taking out and putting back were the things I truly needed, while everything else felt irrelevant. By the third month, I realized I didn’t even need to repeat the process—I had already achieved my downsizing goals.
Conclusion
Downsizing for nomadic living may seem daunting, but with a structured approach like the Box Method, it becomes manageable and even freeing. By letting go of excess, I created space for the adventures ahead and discovered how little I needed to live a fulfilling life on the road.
If you’re preparing to embrace nomadic living, remember: pack a suitcase, a toiletry bag, some tools, kitchen supplies, and bed linens, and call it a day. Everything else is just extra weight.
What’s the first step you’ll take to start your downsizing journey? Let me know in the comments!