Navigating the Emotional Landscape of Downsizing
Do you remember the days when your children were young, and your home was filled with laughter and children playing all about? Back then, you may have dreamt of a beach home near one of your favorite golf courses; a place of joy and tranquility for just the two of you. As the time comes closer to turning that dream into reality, it can be emotionally challenging to think about leaving your family home behind.
Downsizing is not easy. In many ways, you are creating closure with a lifetime of memories experienced in your home and the sentimental attachment to it as well as your belongings. However, it is a smart, practical, and financially wise decision that promises a simpler and more fulfilling life. You are closing one chapter and are free to embrace the new beginning that awaits.
To embark on this journey, it's important to prepare yourselves and create strategies to navigate the landscape of stress, emotions, and important decisions you’ll face during the downsizing.
Why is Downsizing so Difficult?
Leaving the home where you raised your children, hosted holiday gatherings for the different generations of your family, and shared precious moments with your pets is no easy feat.
The sheer number of decisions that need to be made can be overwhelming. The decisions aren’t just about where to live — are you building a home in your dream destination — will you decide to age in place in your current home and make modifications to your home — move to a smaller home to better fit your lifestyle — or perhaps you are considering moving to a retirement community.
Downsizing includes making a decision about the next destination of each item and personal belonging in your home. Deciding what to keep, sell, donate, give to other family members, recycle, or discard can be a physically and emotionally daunting task.
Strategies for How to Downsize with Less Stress
To make the downsizing journey less stressful, it's essential to start planning early.
Take some time to write down your downsizing goals. Consider creating a Vision board for your new life, home & aspirations.
Create a list of critical decisions that must be made and prioritize them. Setting a timeline and target date for your move will help other decisions fall into place.
Once you know where you are moving, get some help designing a floor plan for your new home to help you decide which furniture, art, and other items to keep.
Identify your most cherished family heirlooms to pass on to loved ones, and decide which ones to keep for yourself.
Remember to take regular breaks during decluttering to de-stress and practice self-care. Engage in activities like taking a walk, stretching, meditating, listening to your favorite music, or getting engaged in your favorite hobbies. A massage or a foot rub is always a good idea.
Downsizing evokes intense emotions, including grief, fear, anger, and even excitement for what’s to come. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and your emotions will be all over the place. Call on family, friends & your community to support you when things get emotionally challenging. Sometimes, just having someone there to listen to us helps us center ourselves.
Consider capturing a video of your home with your family or creating a simple ceremony to thank your family home and offer it a blessing for the good years it has provided for you and your loved ones. Invite your children, share stories, and bid your home a heartfelt goodbye.
Hire a reliable downsizing & move management company. They'll work alongside you, helping you sort through your belongings. They can establish a plan and have oversight for packing, moving, donating, selling, recycling, junk hauling, etc. And finally, they can help you unpack, remove packing materials, and set up your new house so it feels like home soon after you arrive.
Build a professional support team around you. I strongly recommend working with a financial planner to crunch the numbers and create a long-term financial plan, as well as a real estate agent to sell your current home and assist with buying your new one. Your move manager will be another key part of your team and can engage with the professionals who are supporting these other aspects of your downsize.
Embrace the Benefits of Downsizing
Welcome the opportunity to simplify your life and discover the peace that comes along with it.
Enjoy the freedom to explore new hobbies, travel to places you’ve been dreaming of, and spend cherished time with your children, grandchildren, and friends.
Relax in the knowledge that you are doing the right thing for you and your future. In addition to creating financial stability, you are creating a better quality of life for you and yours for the years to come.
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If you or a loved one are considering downsizing, please reach out to us at WayMaker.
We understand that moving isn't just about going from one address to another; it’s about honoring your life story, lifting the burden, empowering your journey, and lighting your way to new beginnings.
You can contact us at WayMakerDMM.com or Melanie at (770) 954-6622.
Your journey is our mission.