Make a list of all the items you love and can't live without. By keeping what's on your want list, you won't be upset about the things you can't keep.
Start organizing your belongings at least a couple months before the move and throw out what you can. Take some time each day or week, to go through closets; such as coat closets or filing cabinets. (Paper can be the worst, it stacks up and is huge for clutter), so recycle as much as you can.
Start with rooms next. When you begin, start by looking at items that are kept in rooms that are not used often. Most items under the bed or at the back of the closet buried are most likely things you rarely use. If you haven’t used an item for a couple of years, get rid of it – you probably won’t miss it. As well, get a feel for the size of your new rooms by comparing rooms in your present home. For instance, compare your living room to your new living room and visualize what furniture will fit comfortably in your new home, if you have too much furniture now.
Analyze areas with items of less sentimental value. For example, the kitchen; over time kitchen ware can really accumulate and 50 coffee mugs or 10 mixing bowls for instance, is just not needed, so these things will be easy to get rid of. If you're downsizing from a house to an apartment/ condo, target the garage and storage space. Things like the lawn mower, shovels, etc - you won't need them.
Make piles and don’t just throw away everything. Sell, donate, give away, recycle, etc. You can sell some of your items; have a garage sale and make back some money for your things. You can donate your items to goodwill or shelters, these items will come in good use. Give away items that you want to maybe keep in the family to a close family member or friend who may need these things and will cherish the item as much as you did. Recycle whatever possible you can. For example, you may have an old T.V. no one wants, so recycle this item where electronics are recycled and feel good knowing you’re helping the environment too.
Get rid of items immediately. The faster you get rid of these things the better! If you keep these items around you’ll be more reluctant to get rid of them.
Where do you start? How do you pick what belongings should stay and which ones should go? Downsizing can be stressful in so many ways; since we build a life full of memories around our belongings. 
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