By Laurie Pearl Cain
You know who you are, with the closets filled to the gills, and basement with towers of boxes you haven’t looked at in years. Bring on the purge! It’s time to Downsize!
You have no plans on moving? No worries! Downsizing can be synonymous with “Spring Cleaning” with a little more intention to reduce and free up your potential opportunities.
Goals for downsizing go beyond selling your home or moving. Having less reduces stress, while the process of downsizing can be stressful, the long-term effects will greatly alleviate stress in the future. As a result of having less to take care of and store, some find increases in their financial freedom.
Downsizing starts with the content of your home—first step is to eliminate unwanted and unused possessions. If your goal is to move to a new home, it is best to downsize as much as you can before even looking at a new home. You need to put in perspective how much you own, how much space it takes up, and be able to visualize it in a new space.
Remember that downsizing possessions can be an emotional process. It can be difficult to go through the mountain of past memories, but surrounding yourself with supportive people can help ease this process.
The most important part of the process is to give yourself enough time to go through your possessions; a general agreed upon time frame is six months. Some people make it a goal to go through one box daily. If you are unsure of where to discard unwanted items, many nonprofit organizations, such as Goodwill and Salvation Army, will take gently used clothing, electronics, and furniture. Another good way to eliminate items is to have a garage sale or post an ad online, giving you the opportunity to make a little cash. Other items can be recycled depending on your area’s disposal rules.
Most importantly, downsizing opens the future to new opportunities. Maybe you need to move for a new job, or maybe you just want to retire to a warm island. How easily could you take these new opportunities with the amount of belongings you currently have? Don’t wait until the last minute; it will make your transition more stressful. Moving things you no longer need or want is also expensive and time consuming. Don’t let your baggage weigh you down! Be prepared for life as it comes!
Need help? Don’t be afraid to hire a professional. Many staging companies have professional organizers who can come in and help you reduce clutter and downsize. Be sure to interview different companies and professional organizers to find someone who best suits your needs.
If you are considering selling or buying a new home, feel free to contact me at 309-208-8787, or visit my website at www.lauriecain.net. As always, I strive to connect home and community in the Peoria Area.
Photo credit: FredFroese/iStock