Playing with a lot of packs is overwhelming

I kind of feel like that but it is pleasant for me I bought it cause I am a die hard simmer but I would really have to step away if I only liked new things but never felt I got enough. Something else is trying basic challenges have a legacy maybe on short and filter through base game and whichever pack you want to focus on until you feel you've had time for everything.

I definitely wish I had started with fewer packs lol. I got Eco Living, City Living, Dine Out, Cats & Dogs, Realm of Magic and one or two others along with the basegame when I started out. It was very overwhelming figuring out how the heck everything worked when I was getting Eco Lifestyle NAP behavior, inspectors, City Living festival messages, and my first sim I made in Story Mode and it made him a spellcaster so it took me a long time to figure out why his needs panel looked so different from his daughter's...

Since I only started in 2020 there still are a lot of available packs that I haven't added yet.
There are a few more on my list to get sometime when I feel like making my game more complicated. (Looking at you, Vampires and Parenthood.)
Some others that I'm dubious I'll ever want to spend the money on. Either because they're underdeveloped, or riddled with bugs, or because I don't want to support the basic premise of the pack.

I think I'd be overwhelmed all over again if I had everything in my game. (Also a lot poorer)

Definitely recommend @graecyn 's advice above about disabling packs of your choice.
Just be aware that if you play a save game with fewer packs than you previously played that save game, sims or lots that you play might be missing objects from those packs, like hairstyles, clothing, furniture etc. And then you will have to put each of those back manually when you re-add the pack.

Like another simmer mentioned I could never do this. I don’t use mods or CC and I would miss the furniture, CAS, and buy items, and also the worlds too much. Probably the only world I haven’t used much is Batuu, and you can’t live or rent there, and I do plan on using it at some point, I use some of the build buy. I started playing in 2014, and after a few years of playing I needed to save for a couple of years to get a new gaming computer, so I had a lot of catching up to do for awhile! Although I don’t really play the occults much ( I do have a pair of twin witches ), I do use the build/buy and CAS a lot from those packs. And at some point plan to play occults. When I started back after taking a couple of years figuring out what computer I wanted and saving for it, it was a bit over whelming for awhile as I bought many of the packs in about a six month interval. I really miss stuff packs a lot, as they always kept my game refreshed every couple of months or so with new items, stuff, new hair, and CAS. I almost always started a new family with an expansion pack the first several years to add to my rotation. Then I also started a rotational scenario save.. I play rotationally and my families are different so I make pretty good use of jobs and things. I would miss just about every pack in some way so I wouldn’t want to disable them.

I personally don't rush myself, I play with generation's so what one generation doesn't do, the other will, the sims 4 is an never-ending game so you have plenty of time to play all the packs

I buy the packs that I'm interested in so that I have them upon release. To date, I believe I don't have 6, which includes the kits that didn't interest me. I have to say, I have never felt overwhelmed, though. I tend to use whatever parts of a pack that I need/like. I don't much like taking my Sims to Sanselvadora? It just doesn't hold my attention as WA did. But I do use some of the objects that came with it. I would miss things were I to disable it. Same with the other packs I own. Oh, well, I hope you get it sorted out for yourself. The whole idea is to have fun.

Ironically there are packs gameplay I've barely touched. My main reason for buying packs was for the worlds, the clothing (CAS), and build items.

Some of the packs though I would consider almost necessary for a good game. Those I would classify as the "core" packs.

And as @Nikkih said., no to need to rush it. Do what you feel like. I've been playing the Goths again for out load, lol! ;)

Honestly, the only pack I could probably disable and not miss is Journey To Batuu - and I have all but a couple of kits. Don't think I use anything from that pack, frankly.

"WildIrishBanshee;c-18253224" wrote:
Honestly, the only pack I could probably disable and not miss is Journey To Batuu - and I have all but a couple of kits. Don't think I use anything from that pack, frankly.

Haha! Nice! B)
I do like the 'steam-punk' looking build items in it though. And that pack is one I have not actually played the 'adventure' in yet.