What to Take With You

Time is limited in our lives, and sometimes we need to leave thing behind. Sometimes by deciding what to Take With Us.

What do we Mean

You might decide you want to take your book collection, your family, a pet and leave most other things behind.

Times to Consider

When you move home, after a break-up or making a longer-term commitment, when you change job, the people living in your home change, when you change country. Or any other personal circumstances change.

Or just when you want to make a change in your life.

This can be done at any time but some find it easier to combine along with a change in setting or other live event.

Things to Consider

Think about all the elements of your life. You can do this on an emotional or more logical manner. Or one at a time or combined. You might have a friend or family member who can help you with the process.

Do you need them? Do you want them? Do they add value to your life? Have you made a commitment that means a lot to you? Do they make you smile? Is it preventing you from doing other things in your life?

Relationships with friends and family
More casual relationships
Hobbies
Affiliations
Things you have a strong (or weak) identity with
Your things. Clothes, ornaments, tools, surf boards, luxuries, books, dvds
Cars and other vehicles
Digital things on computers, mobiles or digital storage
Social media and other online accounts
Subscriptions
Payments, loans and other financial drains and responsibilities
Any activity that takes up time in your life. Or mental space.

How to Do It

This is a big question. You know yourself better than I do.

There will be things you are sure you want to keep, others you know you want to leave behind. And some in the middle!

What big changes have worked in the past.

Is it a change you can combine with other changes such as moving somewhere, starting new hobbies or a big clearout.

Some people like dramatic shifts and others prefer small changes done step by step.

And choosing what to leave behind is just the other side of choosing what to take with you.

Finishing Up

I'm someone who does these things step by step. Moving country has meant it's easier to think about what things I value.

Recent examples include handing over ownership of a Discord server, leaving behind books and other things I don't need in the UK and reducing down my gaming commitments.

But keeping my Devon gaming group, keeping in touch with UK friends and family, continuing with Polish language and moving over my Coffee Creatives meetup.

Duncan