My 20/80 Rule for Downsizing

My 20/80 Rule for downsizing is a rule of thumb I use when deciding what to pare down. If you’re traveling in a rig, space is everything. The less you have to dig through, the more time you spend actually enjoying the journey instead of managing your stuff. But most of us approach downsizing backward—we let go of 20% when we should be keeping 20%.

A lot of advice on downsizing suggests starting small—tackling one drawer or one bin at a time. That’s great for getting started, but I believe in making each downsizing session count. Instead of aiming to get rid of just 20%, aim to keep only 20%. Most people are happy when they purge a little, but if you truly want to see a transformation in your lifestyle, let go of 80%.

Breaking the Cycle of Endless Sorting

When I first started downsizing, I found myself sorting through the same bins, cabinets, and storage spaces over and over. Each time, I’d set slightly stricter rules for what to keep, but I kept ending up in the same cycle. I’d ask myself, Do I need this? when the real question should have been, Why did I think I needed this in the first place?

One day, I got fed up. I emptied my closet for what felt like the hundredth time and finally snapped: How many times am I going to do this? If I wanted to live simply, why was I dragging it out? So I stopped playing the game. I chose my favorite two pairs of pants, a few interchangeable tops, one work outfit, and bagged up the rest.

Yes, it was scary. Yes, I kept the bag in storage just in case. But in the end, I only pulled one item back out—and over time, I kept adding to the donation pile instead of taking from it.

In two years, I had sorted my clothes at least 40 times. At my worst, I had over 400 pieces. Now, I have less than 50 across all seasons. And not once have I regretted it.

Why Letting Go of 80% Works Better Than Keeping 80%

The whole point of downsizing isn’t just to make a little more space—it’s to change the way things are happening around you. When you’re constantly managing too much stuff, it drains your time, energy, and even your sense of freedom.

I have felt this way for many years, and every time I purge—or help someone else purge—keeping only 20% always leads to more relief and freedom than keeping 80%. If you’re holding on to most of your things, you’re still stuck in the same habits. But when you let go of more, you free yourself from the weight of constantly reorganizing and making decisions about your stuff.

If you want to make life on the road easier, rip the Band-Aid off now. Do the mental work ahead of time. Set the bar higher on what deserves space in your rig. The less time you spend sorting and re-sorting, the more time you have for the real adventure.