Moving can be one of the most stressful things you will do in your lifetime. However, moving to a smaller home and having to downsize can be even more challenging. So exactly how do you go about sorting through what you should and shouldn’t keep without losing your sanity? Well, the actual process is not that hard, if you have a system in place to help you. However, for some, there is an emotional hurdle to get past, if there are attachments to certain belongings. The good news is, we are here to help you sort things out and give you some tips and tricks that will help you get through the downsizing process with ease.
How Do I Begin the Downsizing Process?
Well, most people will tell you to begin by sorting through your things. However, there is one step you will need to take before you can begin the sorting process. The first thing you need to do is to go through each room and ask yourself what you would replace if you lost everything and you can do that by imagining yourself going through your daily routine. That will give you a good idea about what you need and can’t live without. Now you can begin the sorting process.
How Should I Begin Sorting My Belongings for Downsizing?
The best way to start sorting is to have a plan. The goal is to never handle anything more than once. The more you handle something, the harder it will be to let it go. Additionally, you should never try to sort through your entire home all at one time. Start with a room or two then stop for the day. Try to spread out the sorting process over an extended period of time, so it won’t become too much of an emotional drain on you. The next step in your downsizing plan should be to only have two piles while sorting, a yes pile and a no pile. It’s not a good idea to have a maybe pile because as we mentioned above, you don’t want to handle any item more than once. Now you are ready to begin.
How Can I Make the Sorting Process Easier?
Sorting is one of the hardest parts of moving to a smaller home and downsizing, especially when you are talking about things that have fond memories attached to them. However, it can be done, if you go about it the right way.
1. Memorabilia
Believe it or not there is a fantastic method you can use to have your cake and eat it too, so to speak. The best way to sort through memorabilia is to take a picture of each memento you are going to sell, give away or toss and put those pictures into a memory book or some type of digital file so you will be able to look at and remember them any time you want to. This is a great way to ease any emotional ties you might have to just about anything. The next thing you can do is to give away or sell as many of your things as possible. Mentally, if you’re giving or selling your things to someone, they are going to someone who will enjoy them as much as you did. This is a great way to let go of something you are attached to because, in your mind, you know it’s going to a “good home,” so to speak. Now, with that being said, you should allow yourself to keep a few things (try not to keep more than three to five items if possible) so you don’t feel as if you’ve given up everything.
2. Family Heirlooms
For obvious reasons, you don’t want to get rid of your family heirlooms. However, if you’re moving to a smaller home and downsizing, you are going to need to make other arrangements for them. It’s usually customary for a person or family to hold onto an heirloom until they have passed on, at which time it’s given to its intended receiver, but if you have to downsize, that might not be possible. Therefore, why not go ahead and give those family heirlooms to their intended receivers now rather than waiting until what might be many years later when you’ve passed on.
3. Replaceable Items
This one is easy and you will probably wonder why you hadn’t already thought of it. While sorting through your things, ask yourself if any given item can be easily replaced. If the answer is yes, then get rid of it. You don’t really need to keep anything that can be easily replaced later should you need that particular item sometime in the future.
How Should I Decide What I Should and Shouldn’t Keep?
The best way to decide what you should and shouldn’t keep, aside from the suggestions we’ve already covered above, is through the use of tactical questions. For example, are you really ever going to wear those old concert t-shirts again? Probably not. Do you really need to physically keep all those awards you got in high school? Probably not, especially if you use the suggestion above and take a picture of them and put them in a memory book or some type of digital storage file. What about all of those spices you never use that are probably out of date anyway? Do you really use all of those pots and pans that have been in the back of the cabinet for years? The use of tactical questions will help your mind think about things rationally, which in the end will help the sorting process go much smoother.
Should I Toss, Sell or Donate the Things in My “No” Pile?
You should toss anything that is old, torn, tattered, stained or has no useable life left in it. And that’s pretty much the easy part of the sorting process. However, when it comes to selling your items, you might want to think hard about how much something is really worth before you go this route. Selling your things is quite time-consuming and you will probably get a lot less than what you anticipated it would sell for anyway. When you sell your things on sites like Craigslist, Ebay or other online sites, you aren’t going to get anywhere near what you paid for it. In fact, you probably won’t even get anything near what it’s really worth either. Therefore, sometimes it’s best to just donate most of your things to your favorite charity or contact the Salvation Army, Goodwill or any other local donation site for a pickup. Local charities are in dire need of donations so you can feel good that your things are going to someone who really needs them and will put them to good use versus sitting in the back of your closet or garage for another 10 years or more. If you would like more ideas for moving to a smaller home and downsizing, why not check out pinterest.com for some great ideas you can use to get you through the downsizing process quickly and easily.
2 Point Highlight
1. We are here to help you sort things out and give you some tips and tricks that will help you get through the downsizing process with ease.
2. Sorting is one of the hardest parts of moving to a smaller home and downsizing, especially when you are talking about things that have fond memories attached to them.
