At some point in your life, you will probably be looking at downsizing your home. Once you hit middle age you might find yourself with too much home and too much stuff. In fact, one of the main reasons people over 55 sell their home is to downsize. But for many getting the ball rolling on a move to a smaller space is easier said than done, especially because of all the things that can’t come with you. Here are a few tips to make the transition a bit easier.
1. Think about your life in the future. Are you going to be travelling a lot? Do you want to focus on a hobby. Make a plan and decide how your current items are going to fit that future. It will be easier to know what to keep and what to get rid of.
2. Get into the right mindset. If you need too; talk to a therapist, family members or even friends that have gone through it. It is important to be prepared for all the emotions that downsizing is going to open as you go through decades of your life.
3. Sort your things by category. It takes a lot of time to go through items so don’t expect you can do it in one fell swoop. Clothes, books, papers, kitchen items, miscellaneous stuff is easier to tackle then sentimental items. So, start with the easier stuff first.
4. Get storage containers to fit your new space. Find out what storage containers fit in your closets and cabinets and only allow yourself to fill up those boxes. This will ensure you are not bringing clutter into your new space.
5. Make sure you love the things you are keeping. If something isn’t functional or you are not thrilled about it, ditch it. You will feel so much lighter.
6. Give yourself a timeframe and stick to it. If you don’t, the process might just keep dragging on or hire a professional organizer to help you get it done.
Simplify your life.
