The Do’s and Don’ts of Downsizing and Moving

Posted: June 20, 2017

President Abraham Lincoln said, “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” I share this same philosophy when advising my clients who are downsizing and moving – time spent planning to downsize and move makes it all manageable. Once you’ve chosen a senior living floor plan, you’ll need to think about how you’re going to move into your new space.

Having a plan and timeline in place is important for any downsizing and move. Outlining what needs to be done and when it needs to be done by helps relieve stress and make the process less overwhelming.

Regarding do’s and don’ts of downsizing and moving I recommends the following:

Do:

• Keep the best and let go of the rest
• Let family and friends know you are downsizing and you have items they can take
• Think and stay positive – be confident with your downsize decisions, don’t second guess yourself
• Do it when it’s your choice and you have a say where your possessions go
• Enlist help (e.g. friends, family, church group or professional help) – you’re not in this alone
• Star small- make a plan to go through 1 drawer a day

Don’t:

• Put it off for a rainy day otherwise it won’t happen
• Don’t donate immediately – what you think may not have value could – pros can give you an overall assessment
• Don’t assume family will want everything – or anything for that matter
• Don’t try to downsize in a rush or when you are in a crisis

I’ve learned over my 10+ years of helping seniors and their families that downsizing and moving requires compassion, patience and being a good listener – downsizing and moving isn’t just about getting boxes and items from point A to B, it can raise a mix of emotions from feeling excited to feeling overwhelmed.

If you take the process one step at a time and not try to “eat the whole elephant in one bite” you truly can have an enjoyable experience with downsizing and moving.