Preparing to Downsize
Plan early, decide where you’ll move, and set goals with a timeline. Give yourself enough time to plan ahead, even as much as a year in advance. Not only is it important that you physically prepare for a big move, but mentally as well. Going through all your things last minute and rushing into a relocation decision last minute only adds stress. How much you downsize depends on the new location, as moving to a new facility or apartment will have you disposing of more than a house would. Here is a decluttering checklist to help you know where to start:
1. Start at the very least, 3 months ahead- Packing always takes longer than you think it would and if you are moving out of state, movers will need a notice several months in advance.
2. Create a floor plan- Know the layout and size of the new space, room by room. This will help you decide if it will all fit and then you can determine where it all goes!
3. Tackle the task room by room- compare the size of the rooms with the rooms of the new space to determine what to keep and throw away.
4. Start small- Get rid of all things that are unimportant and carry little weight in your life first, so that you can take your time to make decisions on the sentimental things like photographs.
5. Prioritize problem areas- If you can, have family or friends assist you with the places in your home that are difficult to navigate and get it done as soon as possible. It will offer you mental and physical relief!
6. Sort everything by keep, toss, give away- No maybes!
7. Digitalize all your photos- Save yourself some space, get your photos on a hard drive so it is more organized and stays in great condition!
In Conclusion…
At the end of the day it is up to you to decide whether you would like to downsize or not. Downsizing has proven to benefit most senior citizens, as many choose to make small sacrifices to move into a care facility, closer to their family, or even move to warmer weather. There is nothing wrong with moving into a smaller space with less possessions, if it means you get to live closer to the people you love or get the medical help you need from a care facility.