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DOWNSIZING
It's time. Maybe the children
are all finally gone. Perhaps a job is taking you to a city where square
footage is more precious and expensive than before. Maybe your life situation
or health has changed and the home you are in no longer makes sense. Or perhaps
you are just plain ready for the next chapter and want to lighten your load.
There are many reasons to plan a move that includes moving into a smaller
space, or, downsizing.
"Downsizing" has
become a popular term, especially among Baby Boomers who are making lifestyle
moving decisions at a younger age than their parents did.
Whatever the reason, the
realities are the same: before you move, you are going to have to decide what
possessions to take with you and what to leave behind. You'll have to decide
what to sell, what to donate and what to give to friends or family.
Here are ten tips for
downsizing your possessions so you can move into a smaller space:
1. Calculate, don't guess. Get the
exact dimensions of your new space - room by room. Then measure what you have
now in similar rooms in your current home. You'll quickly start to see what
will fit and what will not.
2. Make a list of all
the things you do not plan to move with you to your new space. Once that list
is compiled, it will be easier to start deciding which of these items you want
to sell, donate or gift to family members or friends. If you have adult
children, it will also help them decide what they might want.
3. Come up with a system. Whether
it's putting color-coded stickers on items as you decide where they go,
creating room by room lists or even using a spreadsheet, decide what system
works for you and use it.
4. Start with the easy stuff. No matter
your reason for moving, there is emotion involved and some rooms and items will
be more emotional than others. Start with the less sentimental rooms (like the
laundry room) and work your way up to those more memory-laden ones.
5. Ask yourself the hard questions. We've
all done it - moved boxes and clothing from home to home without ever opening
the boxes or wearing the sweater. Ask yourself, honestly, when was the last
time you used this item? Will it really fit in with your new home and
lifestyle?
6. Ask a friend to help.
Downsizing decisions can be difficult and tiring. Invite the most organized
friend you have to come over and help. Sharing your memories with a friend as
you make the hard choices can relieve a lot of the stress of this process.
7. Hire a professional. There
are people who do this for a living. Some organizers even specialize in helping
people move and downsize. The National Association of Professional Organizers www.napo.net
is a good place to find one in your area.
8. Set aside specific blocks of time. The
sooner you start the better. Try setting a schedule and working on your
downsizing decisions a couple of hours at a time. Try not to overwhelm yourself
by pushing too hard for too long at a stretch.
9. Keep your eye on the prize. There
are good reasons you have decided to downsize. Remind yourself of the
excitement and benefits of your new destination to pull you through the
downsizing process.
10. Talk to your mover. Your National Van Lines moving counselor will be more
than happy to assist you in making good decisions about what to keep, what to
find a new home for, and what to discard.
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