I moved from a five-bedroom house on half an acre in Texas to a two-bedroom furnished apartment in Portugal. That's an 80 percent downsize! The hardest part was standing in my house, looking at decades of stuff, and not knowing where to start.

Vivian Najib has done this three times. She's a professional organizer who's moved from New York to Italy, Southeast Asia, and now Portugal. In this conversation, she walks us through her Bucket System. Her framework takes the stress out of downsizing by giving every item a next destination instead of asking "keep or toss."

We cover her buckets, learn why "I love it" is not a destination, and find out how and why to set limits before you start sorting. If your stuff is the thing standing between you and your move, this is the episode.

Work with Vivian: ftbhomeorganizing.com/moveabroad

Join the We're Moving to Europe Community (free): skool.com/were-moving-to-europe

00:00 Introduction to the Journey of Moving Abroad
02:21 Personal Experiences with Moving and Downsizing
06:06 Understanding the Emotional Impact of Letting Go
09:24 The Bucket System for Organizing Belongings
13:15 Logistical Challenges of Moving: Fly, Ship, Store
16:50 Financial Considerations in Shipping and Storage
23:28 Setting the Foundation for Downsizing
24:13 Getting the Boat in Motion
26:09 The Simon Cowell Sweep
28:20 Making Thoughtful Decisions
32:51 Clarifying Your New Life
33:59 Approaching a Quick Move
35:49 The Not on My New Album Filter
38:44 Bringing Meaningful Items
42:10 Embracing the Adventure of Downsizing
44:14 Introduction to Moving to Europe
44:16 Practical Steps for Relocation

Music and production by @Sage Barton