Have you just begun to think about a move in the not-too-distant future? Or are you paralyzed by a to-do list for a pending move that just keeps growing? Procrastination is the enemy of both situations.
You may be stuck because of perfectionist tendencies that command that everything be done flawlessly or not at all. Perhaps you just can’t seem to “get in the mood” for the decluttering necessary for downsizing. You may be tired or have set unattainable goals for yourself that fuel procrastination even more.
Whatever the reason, one thing is for sure … it is better to start now than to wait.
- Start with a plan. Think about your goals. Do you want to declutter the closets or the attic or the whole house? If you are planning a move, you have deadlines that need to be considered.
- Shift your attitude. Change is difficult. It can also be exciting. If your home is too large to be maintained properly or if your move means you will be closer to family members, then a change is a positive one. A new lifestyle will make your move much easier and a bright outlook will get you off the starting block.
- Start with the closets. Just like with all downsizing decisions, you will need to look at your clothing and sort it in three categories: Keep, Donate, and Discard. Think about the space you will have in your new home for clothing – closets and drawers. If you don’t love it or haven’t worn it in a year, then it shouldn’t go in the Keep pile.
- Clearing bookshelves. If you are like me, you hang on to books you’ve read, just because you loved them or might want to read them again … but I rarely do. Think about which books you really need to keep and which ones you can give away so someone else can enjoy them as you did. Libraries usually welcome donations, but during these times when the Corona Virus is a concern, they may no longer be accepting books. A charity like Goodwill may be an option.
- The kitchen comes next, followed by each room in succession. Years of living in your home and preparing meals in your kitchen usually means a collection of utensils, gadgets, and small appliances. Which ones are go-tos and will be again in your new home? Which ones are no longer needed and can be given to family members or donated?
Each area you undertake needs to be treated the same, remembering that this whole endeavor is really a “math problem.” For example: if you are living in a 2,500 sq.ft. home and you are moving to a 1,200 sq.ft. home, some things just can’t go with you. If you have accumulated over 30 or 40 years of living, it will take time to go through it all and make decisions, some more difficult than others.
In this effort, procrastination is not your friend. We don’t know what will happen in the future. Today, it is more likely that couples will qualify to move to an assisted living community together. If you delay your move and one person develops health problems later, you will not be able to move in as a couple. Today, assisted living communities are dealing with the fallout from COVID-19 and even though they have imposed strict cleaning protocols, they have seen their waiting lists dissolve, which can be good news for you.
If you need assistance in planning and implementing a decluttering or downsizing endeavor, call upon the expert move managers at Transition Liquidation Services at 617-513-0433 or by email. We’ll be pleased to answer your questions and help you get started.