Moving to a smaller place can actually be a transformative experience, offering a myriad of benefits like reduced expenses, less maintenance, and an overall simpler lifestyle. If you’re having a hard time grappling with downsizing, simplifying your life and decluttering before you move can help you better see the positive and make the transition smoother and more manageable. To learn how to streamline the process for an easier transition, here are six ways to simplify your life before downsizing.

Start early.

The old saying “the early bird catches the worm” isn’t just applicable to school or work. It can also be applied when downsizing your home. When you plan ahead, you have more time to sort through your valuables to determine what to keep, donate, or discard.

So if you want to be ahead of schedule, be sure to set aside dedicated time each day or week to tackle decluttering tasks. But be sure not to overwhelm yourself. Instead, start small with less-used areas of your home before slowly working your way through each room.

Declutter methodically.

When preparing to downsize, taking a systematic approach to decluttering can keep you from feeling overburdened. To do this, the key is to move from room to room, removing or replacing expired or unused items from your kitchen, bathroom, and pantry.

Then, sort through your clothing, books, and other household items, moving some items into bins for donation or sale. As you declutter, consider the space constraints in your new place so that you can make keeping only what you need a priority.

Embrace minimalism.

Minimalism is more than just a design aesthetic, it’s a way of life. It encourages you to concentrate on what truly matters to you and eliminate anything that doesn’t. And adopting minimalist principles can be super helpful when you’re planning to move into a smaller place.

The best way to create a peaceful, uncluttered living environment is by prioritizing quality over quantity, investing in multifunctional furniture, and valuing experiences over material items.

When you live with fewer possessions, not only do you help simplify your current lifestyle, but it helps reduce the anxiety and stress that commonly occur when moving.

Digitize your life.

Technology is an integral part of our everyday lives, making much of our daily responsibilities a lot easier to shoulder. Such is the case when you’re planning to move as well. For example, you can reduce physical clutter by digitizing important documents, photos, and paperwork.

All you have to do is scan your important paper documents and then store them electronically in a secure digital format. There are cloud storage services that you can use to organize and back up your digital files. This makes it easier for you to retrieve them from your devices.

Downsize your furniture and appliances.

Moving to a smaller home means letting go of the larger, more bulky furniture pieces and appliances that you own. In their place, shop for space-saving, multi-functional furniture — i.e. sofa beds, nesting tables, and folding chairs. You can sell or donate any items that don’t fit in your new place so that you save only what you absolutely need.

As for appliances, be sure to invest in energy-efficient appliances that are compact while still meeting your needs.

Create a transition plan.

Developing a transition plan when moving to a smaller home can ensure the move is smooth and comfortable. This is especially important if you have children or live with elderly relatives.

To create a transition plan, there are four important boxes you’ll need to check off:

• Label boxes clearly
• Pack strategically
• Declutter as you pack
• Coordinate with movers

After you’ve finally settled into the new space, give yourself ample time to adjust to your new surroundings, and embrace the simplicity and freedom that comes with downsizing.