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Have you thought about downsizing? Say you have a 3,000-square foot home with 3 bedrooms and it’s just the two of you rattling around in there. Or, you are the son or daughter of such a couple. Either you or your parents are in the 70s with good health and are still pretty active. Now is the perfect time to start ‘downsizing in place’.
Are you one of those people who likes to plan ahead, or do you wait until things happen to you? The former is called being proactive, the latter is reactive. As Steven R Covey so aptly put it:
The time will come, sooner than you think, when you will have to make some decisions. Is it time to move yourself or your parents into a smaller home or even a retirement community? And when that time comes, will help be needed? Are you willing to spend every weekend purging 20 to 30 years’ worth of belongings? And if you are separated from your parents by distance, how is this even to be accomplished?
Now is the time to ask yourself these questions, start to plan, and start to downsize in place. Do not procrastinate!
The first step, even before contacting a real estate agent, is to contact a professional organizer or senior move manager. The good ones will be members of NAPO or SMM. I am a member of NAPO, the National Association of Professional Organizers.
A professional organizer trained in move management can help you handle every aspect of the move, from the estate sale to deciding what furniture will fit in the new, smaller residence. Most organizers will even draw you up a floor plan, showing you how it all fits together, and see to all the little details you haven’t even considered yet. It’s truly a smart ‘MOVE’ to engage an expert in this complicated and stressful time. Having someone guide you through the process and take care of the details brings great peace of mind.
Also, find a way for grandkids to get involved, especially younger grandkids who are in junior high or early high school. My son Jacob was assigned a ‘heritage project’ to interview his oldest living relative, my grandmother, for a middle school project. She has had a really interesting life. (She still dyed her hair blonde well into her 70s.) My Grandmom and Jacob really connected. It was a blessing for them both. Which brings me to #6:
These are all great ideas, and my challenge to you is: pick one of the actions I mentioned in this blog and do it THIS WEEK! Be proactive, like the productivity guru says! It really will pay off.
Resources: Steven R Covey: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. www.brainyquote.com/authors/stephen_covey
https://efficientspacesco.c.wpstage.net/services/downsizing/
https://efficientspacesco.c.wpstage.net/2014/08/stress-moving/
https://efficientspacesco.c.wpstage.net/2017/09/good-advice-letting-downsize/
I recently spoke at a senior fair about downsizing. When I asked everyone ‘what is the hardest thing about downsizing?’ many answered: the memories. Another reply that resonated: the decisions.
When downsizing is a must, the time to let go of some memories has come. I know a lot of clients who save things from their children’s childhood and high school years. This is a burden for most parents, because it sometimes fills an entire room in their home.
Other times, the mementos that get saved are family heirlooms like furniture, quilts, and photos.
It is difficult for most of us to let go of possessions which stir memories. I think some of us grow more sentimental as the years pass. I know it’s hard, but sometimes has to be done, especially if you need to move to a smaller place. To make it easier, I have some advice that has helped my clients.
From a recent article, Organizer Jodie Watson shares her favorite trick. “In any given category, let’s say artwork that you have hung on the wall, ask this question, ‘If I could only take three pieces with me, which three would they be?’ With books, the question might be, ‘If I can only take 20 with me, which 20 would they be?’ This will help you discover the ones that are more meaningful than the others. These are the ones to take with you, the rest are negotiable.” (Watson owns Supreme Organization)*
If you’ve tried these ideas and you’re still having a hard time letting go, this means you are “stuck”. It is a good time to look into hiring a professional organizer to help you. Organizers are skilled in helping people come to decisions that they will be happy with. Downsizing is much easier and less stressful with a professional to guide and assist you. You may even start to enjoy it!
link to Jodie Watson’s webpage: http://www.supremeorganization.com/wordpress1/
It is summer. Lots of people are moving. Are you one of them? If you are stressed, this post will help you.
The question is, how do you have a SMART move? If you follow these steps, I guarantee you a lower stress level during your move!
S : START EARLY
It is never too early to start purging. Even if you are just thinking about putting your house on the market, get started. Some easy things to purge include:
Look to thrift stores to donate items. Salvation Army even picks up donations!
M : MAKE A PLAN
One of the most useful tools I use with any client, moving or organizing, is a plan. With a plan, you avoid running around from room to room, and waking up in the middle of the night because you forgot to have the mail forwarded. You get the point. To do this, make a list of all the tasks you need to do before you move. Many of us have items that need to get returned to friends, or household repairs to be done before the move. Plus, moving companies and websites have great checklists for all the details you need to take care of when leaving one home and entering the next. Check it out! Why reinvent the wheel when a professional mover has already put a great list together?
Once you have a plan, and it is WRITTEN DOWN, your peace of mind increases dramatically.
Have a system for labeling. Some people color-code for different rooms in the house, which you can do with just a colored marker. Or just write the room the box needs to go to right on the box.
A : ASK FOR HELP
Trying to do everything yourself and then realizing a day before your move that you are not ready is a horrible feeling. Instead, ask for help early. Ask friends to come and help out a week before the move or earlier. You can order some pizza for your helpers to show your appreciation!
There are several things that friends can pack quite easily. Books, videos, children’s toys, for example. Packing up a kitchen is easy to have help with as well, as long as you are there to supervise what needs to stay out until the last minute.
And if you are still feeling overwhelmed, go ahead and call a professional like me for help. It is great to have a professional on your team for such a big undertaking.
R : Gather your RESOURCES
Take 15 minutes to list your resources. It is well worth the time.
Can you think of other resources you have?
Now list the moving resources you still need. Have more newspaper, bubble wrap and boxes than you think you need. I usually budget 1 small box for each shelf of books, for example. Keep in mind unless you have a mover, you have to LIFT these boxes, too!
Tip: make sure to keep your towels, dish cloths, sheets and blankets accessible to fill the tops of book boxes. They are also really handy for packing your delicate china, glasses and serving dishes.
T : TAKE A BREAK
Now I’m not saying to pack one box and sit down to look at what a good job you did, but do take a break when you need it. If you are starting to get stressed and are flitting from room to room, you are not effective any more. It is time to clear your head for 15-20 minutes.
Call a friend, take a shower, watch something funny, have a cup of tea or a snack, etc.
Then when you get back to work, your brain will be rested and you will come back with renewed energy for packing. It really works!
So, for a less stressful move, be SMART and start early, make a plan, ask for help, gather resources, and take a break when you need it.
Please don’t be shy. Share this blog post with some friends who can use it!
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