Downsizing on Purpose, At Your Pace
It is a joy (and sometimes a challenge!) to own a home. We watch our children, pets, gardens and projects grow and change in our home, and feel tremendous gratitude for the shelter, safety, warmth and love we experience while living there. In most of our lives there will come a day when we realize that the home we cherish is no longer right for us, and that it’s time to embark on the next phase.
Often this process involves downsizing – paring down our possessions to allow for a smaller, simpler life. We receive many questions about downsizing at Mindful Decluttering & Organizing and have supported many many clients in downsizing. We actually helped one couple to downsize not once but twice! They first moved from their home of 33 years to a smaller home and then moved from that home to another country. So many decisions to make!
If you anticipate downsizing in your future, or are helping someone through the process, consider these tips to keep you moving forward!
Start with the end in mind: the more specific you can be, the better. Find clarity about why you are downsizing and set a clear intention: to save money, to simplify, to move somewhere warmer, to live where you don’t need a car, etc. Put this goal somewhere where you can see it, perhaps on the fridge or the bathroom mirror, so you are reminded of your why regularly. It is much easier to tackle a big project when the goal is defined and something to look forward to!
Tailor your process: ideally you have a floor plan of the home you’re moving into, or an idea of the number of rooms or the square footage. With a floor plan you can make to-scale footprints of your furniture and see what will fit in your new home and what won’t. You can use that information to identify the keepers in a practical manner. (Without a floor plan, simply select the pieces you love that will meet your anticipated needs.) Speaking of choosing keepers…
Start big: start with big stuff (furniture), and then decide on practical items such as dishes, pots and pans, and linens. You can take cues from the big stuff to determine how to downsize easier categories: keeping the queen bed but not the full? Downsize all the full sheet sets!
Pro Tip: don’t start with sentimental or emotionally charged stuff! Going through the things to which we are emotionally attached is the most challenging category. Prime yourself for that process by starting with easier categories.
Make lists: as you begin making these decisions, you can start a “keepers” and a “leftovers” list. The leftovers list can be used in multiple ways: you can code each item (donate, give away, sell, consign, Freecycle) and use it to identify next action steps. You can also circulate the list among family and friends to discover if there are items that others are interested in. Many find it helpful to use sticky labels to designate items for certain people or purposes. In fact, you can start this process well in advance of downsizing! Did your daughter mention loving that antique clock last time she was home? Throw a label with her name on it!
As you look around your beloved home, the prospect of downsizing may be daunting. Take a deep breath. No project is too big when it’s broken down into steps. Choose one place to start, whether it be a category, a room, or even a shelf. Remember, the presence of a “body double” to keep you focused and accountable can work wonders. A family member, friend, or professional organizer are perfect candidates! We are here to support you, and have over ten years of experience supporting folks in improving and downsizing their spaces. Email or call us at 301-270-0969 any time!
Have you downsized your home? What was the hardest part?
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