Moving to a new senior living residence is a big change, but it can also be an exciting opportunity to start a new chapter. One of the biggest steps toward your dream retirement lifestyle is decluttering and downsizing your current home.
But if you’re like many older adults, it’s difficult to know where to start and how to maintain motivation throughout the process. In this guide, we’ll offer practical downsizing tips for seniors and helpful advice to make moving to a smaller space less stressful.
Consider Your Needs and Routines
Before downsizing, it’s important to consider your needs and regular routines. This ensures you’re making the best decisions for your new lifestyle in senior living and helps you set realistic downsizing goals.
Here are 4 questions to ask yourself to discover what downsizing means to you:
- Is my new space a landing pad between social events, wellness activities and traveling?
- Do I plan on entertaining guests or do I prefer my home to be a private oasis?
- Which areas of my current home seem the most difficult to downsize? Which seem the easiest?
- Would I like to have a separate sorting and donation process for sentimental items to ensure they’re going to a good home?
Consider writing answers to these questions in a journal, or discussing them with your friends and family to get an even better perspective on what downsizing means to you.
Set Achievable Goals
Large, hard-to-attain goals make downsizing feel overwhelming. Setting small, easily achievable goals can help you stay motivated, maintain focus and measure your progress.
These are 4 downsizing tips to help you set goals:
- Start earlyWhile there is no one-size-fits-all method to downsizing and everyone moves at their own pace, it’s best to create a timeline with realistic milestones, and start the process early. It’s much less stressful to be finished downsizing a few days early than rush to get things done right before your move to senior living.
- Begin with simple areas firstStarting with the easiest areas first will allow you to quickly see progress and find the motivation to stick to your timeline. Gradually building up to more difficult areas is also a great way to fine-tune your sorting method.
- Divide goals into smaller tasksFocus on one goal at a time and break each down into smaller tasks. For example, if your goal is to declutter your kitchen, your tasks could include sorting through unused utensils and appliances, deciding what to keep or donate, and organizing the remaining items.
- Get help from the professionals when you need itConsider professional services for a less stressful move to senior living. Professional organizers, moving and packing services, and scheduled donation pickups are all great ways to make the downsizing process much easier.
Downsize According to Your Floor Plan and Community Features
Downsizing to your new floor plan means inspecting the size and layout of your new home, and making informed decisions about what furniture and other household items will fit in a smaller space.
Consider these 4 tips when downsizing according to your new floor plan:
- Measure your new spaceTake accurate measurements of your new home, including bedrooms, living areas, bathrooms and doorways, to determine what furniture and appliances will fit.
- Think about storageWhile many floor plans in senior living feature plenty of closet space, you’ll still likely need to reduce the amount of clothing, linens, holiday decorations, and other items you would typically store in areas like a closet, attic or basement.
- Get rid of duplicates and clunky appliancesDuplicate items and clunky appliances take up valuable cabinet and counter space. Consider replacing outdated appliances you use often with new, smaller versions.
- Consider community featuresSenior living communities like Friendship Village provide abundant ways for you to pursue your passions. Features like fitness centers, libraries, creative arts studios, and woodworking shops can help you cut back on supplies required to maintain your hobbies.
Create a Sorting System that Works
One of our best downsizing tips for seniors is finding a sorting system that works for you. A solid sorting system can provide you with peace of mind by giving you a clear plan of action and a sense of control over the situation. Plus, a sorting system that works for you helps you stay organized and focused throughout the downsizing process.
Here are 4 efficient sorting methods many people use to downsize:
- The Room-by-Room methodThis method involves decluttering one room at a time until each room is finished. The Room-by-Room method is a great way to set small, achievable goals and measure your progress.
- The Four-Box methodThe Four-Box method is a great method for rooms you consider easy to downsize, because it can help you make quick decisions about what to keep and what to get rid of. It involves sorting items into four categories: keep, donate, sell, and trash.
- The KonMari Method™Developed by Marie Kondo, this method is a mindful and intentional approach to decluttering and downsizing. It involves sorting items by category and asking yourself if each item brings joy to your life. This method also includes assigning a designated place in your new home for an item once you decide to keep it.
- The Sentimental Items methodThis method involves thoughtfully sorting sentimental items separately from other belongings. Categorize each item based on their level of importance. Items that hold the most sentimental value should be kept and displayed in a way that honors their significance. Other items that may not be as meaningful can be donated or sold.
Finding the right sorting method also helps with packing and moving. Your belongings will already be safely packed in organized, labeled boxes, which also prevents you from losing or misplacing items during your move.
Discover Floor Plans for Any Retirement Lifestyle at Friendship Village
Our senior living communities in Chesterfield and Sunset Hills feature studio, one- and two-bedroom floor plans designed for any lifestyle. Whether you want a cozy apartment or a spacious villa, there’s a home for you at Friendship Village St. Louis. Contact us online to schedule a tour or learn more about our senior living communities in St. Louis, MO.