Embracing change is not always the easiest thing to do but it can often lead to exciting new chapters in our lives. One of the most common and biggest changes you may experience as you step into retirement is downsizing your home. This can feel overwhelming or even daunting at first, with many details that need to be sorted like disposing of some items, donating others, and basically just decluttering to get rid of as many possessions as possible. It is never easy to part with our precious belongings but it needs to be done. Here are some tips to help you declutter easily.
Recognize Your Emotions
One of the first steps that you need to take toward your downsizing journey is to recognize your emotions and accept how you feel about the situation. This is important if you are feeling hesitant about the move. Acknowledge any stress you feel and any other emotions. Have honest conversations about them with your loved ones. Once these feelings have been resolved, you can move on to focusing on the benefits of the move and enjoy the next exciting chapter of your life.
Focus on Your Accomplishment
Consider the new location where you will be moving to and what you stand to accomplish there. For instance, the new place offers plenty of social and recreational opportunities, lets you lead a maintenance-free lifestyle, and generally improves your quality of life. Focus on these accomplishments that you are set to enjoy.
Get Support from Friends and Family
Downsizing is a huge task that may not be possible to complete on your own. Instead of trying to do it alone, get support from friends and family. They can help you sort your things out and pack them or even help to declutter and dispose of unwanted possessions. They can also help with heavy and bulky items that require at least 2 people to move. This way, you can accomplish the different tasks within a much shorter timeframe and with much lesser effort. Family and friends are always happy to help. All you need to do is ask.
Declutter Space
Start off with decluttering your space through a room-by-room approach. Sort through the things you have one room at a time. Get rid of anything that you have not used for a long time and have no emotional attachment.
Organize Belongings
After decluttering, start organizing your belongings into boxes. Remember to label them accordingly so you know which boxes to keep, donate, and discard. This will help you to know exactly what to take along with you during the move.
Be Familiar with the New Place
It is important to be familiar with your new place. Learn the different amenities that are offered there and how much room you will have so you know how much to dispose of.
Get Professional Help
Sometimes family and friends can only offer so much. You can consider getting professional help like movers and logistics services or even storage facilities to help you with the move. Professional help can really help to reduce stress during this already stressful period.
