You’ve experienced those times when things just don’t fit anymore — whether because your style or needs have changed, or because something has become too small or too big. While it’s relatively easy to change your wardrobe or even your car, moving to a Life Plan Community because your current living situation no longer fits your lifestyle or goals can feel a bit more complicated. We’re here to help with suggestions on how to downsize your home.
Benefits of Downsizing for Retirement
- It’s a fresh start: Downsizing allows you to reimagine your living space by ensuring your home is filled with things that truly matter and reflect your personal style.
- Makes moving easier: After decluttering, you’ll have less to pack, unpack, and organize in your new space.
- Reduces maintenance: A smaller or less cluttered space requires less upkeep, freeing you up to do the activities you enjoy.
- Simplifies your life: Letting go of things you no longer need or want can create a more organized and peaceful environment in your new home.
Moving to a Retirement Community Checklist
- Create a plan: Measure your new space and take inventory of your furniture. If something won’t fit, consider donating, selling, or discarding it. A good way to start is by eliminating rooms you won’t have in your new home. For example, if you’re moving to an apartment, you might not have a garage or office.
- Break it down: Break large tasks into smaller steps that you can tackle a little at a time each day.
- Start simple: Eliminate items you know you don’t want or need. Toss expired medicines, pantry items, and food from the fridge and freezer. Recycle old magazines, newspapers, and obsolete technology like old phones or computers.
- Start small: Avoid diving into the most sentimental areas like the kitchen or bedrooms first. Begin in a space with little emotional attachment, such as the laundry room or linen closet.
- Dealing with unwanted items: If they’re in good condition, sell them at a garage sale or online, or donate them to someone who can use them.
- Dump the duplicates: Especially in the kitchen, where you may have multiples of spatulas, ladles, oversized pots, and cookie sheets.
- Make only “yes” or “no” piles: Take a hard look at each item. If you use it regularly, keep it. If it’s been sitting untouched for over a year, let it go. Avoid creating “maybe” or “if I have space” piles—they tend to grow larger than either of the other two.
- Creatively reduce collections: It can be hard to part with a collection you’ve built over time. Keep a few favorite pieces and take high-resolution photos of the rest. Turn those into a coffee table photo book you’ll enjoy.
- Take your time: Don’t try to downsize every room in a day. As part of your senior move planning, create a timeline based on your home’s size and how much stuff you have.
- When downsizing, remember: Don’t feel obligated to keep something just because it was a gift — especially if it’s not something you use. This is your home, and it should be filled with what matters most to you.
As the only nonprofit Life Plan senior living community in Southeastern Connecticut that combines a vibrant lifestyle with breathtaking waterfront views, Vista Point helps you live a bigger life than you might have ever thought possible.
To learn more, call (860) 968-VIEW (8439) or contact us here.
