When thinking about the future, most of us will come to a time in life when we realize it’s time to downsize. Whether your family home is too big with your kids grown or you are seeking a carefree lifestyle at an active adult community, like The Reserve, the very thought of downsizing can evoke a lot of emotions in an aging adult.
Here are some tips for dealing with the many emotions that come with moving from your family home and some practical ways to prepare for a positive downsizing experience.
Tip #1: Recognize your feelings.
As you begin sorting and organizing your belongings, give yourself permission to reflect on the memories you’ve created inside the walls of your family home. It’s normal to feel sad about your move. Take time to make thoughtful decisions about what items you will keep and what you will let go. Be patient with yourself and remember that downsizing is a necessary step in the transition to your new home.
Tip #2: Start early and have a plan.
The decision to downsize doesn’t happen overnight. Allow plenty of time to approach the process with care and attention. The process of downsizing, including decluttering, sorting and packing, will feel less stressful if you start months in advance. Set deadlines and goals on a calendar so that you can work toward accomplishing certain tasks. For instance, decide which room in the home you will start with and craft a plan to have the room sorted and packed by a certain date.
Tip #3: Sell, donate or discard.
Downsizing provides an opportunity to declutter and simplify your possessions. Start by asking yourself “Which of my belongings are truly important to me?”
As you begin going through your things, consider placing them in one of three categories: sell, donate or discard. It can also be helpful to have a floor plan of your new living space in order to visualize which of your belongings you should bring and which items you should leave behind. This approach not only streamlines the moving process but also allows you to create a more intentional and clutter-free living environment in your new home.
Tip #4: Ask for help.
Moving is a huge undertaking at any time of life. Ask for help from family and friends to lighten the workload and help ease your emotional distress. If you prefer, you can also enlist the help of an expert mover. A professional moving company can assist with every step of the process, including packing and transporting your belongings to your new home.
Tip #5: Look to the future.
Downsizing your home gives you the opportunity to focus on other goals and dreams as you plan your retirement years. At The Reserve, our residents enjoy fewer household chores and more time to enjoy new adventures, engaging activities, resort-inspired amenities and friendships.
Start Your Next Chapter At The Reserve
Thinking about downsizing? Consider a move to an active adult community. At The Reserve of Geneva, our residents enjoy maintenance-free living, a variety of resort-style amenities, scheduled community activities and social events and the most spacious active adult apartment homes in Geneva. If you’d like to learn more, contact The Reserve today for more details on how we can help you downsize and refocus your retirement years on what’s most important to you.
