Greetings! I hope this finds you well and enjoying life.
Sometimes retirement involves downsizing your home and it can be because of a host of reasons. So, let’s just sum those up by saying sometimes the need OR DESIRE to downsize happens. And when it happens it is a process not an event. And you are going to want to be strategic about it to make it as uncomplicated as possible.
I have several retired clients who have done it and in fact as I write this have one right in the middle of the process. I have seen situations where downsizing was a really good idea but wasn’t followed through on leading to a decline in quality of life. Therefore, as a retirement planner I’ve had the opportunity to study it firsthand. I’ve also researched downsizing your home later in life. (I’d like to say up front that one of the best books I’ve seen on the job of downsizing is titled Downsize Your Life Upgrade Your Lifestyle by Rita Wilkins.) It is an excellent read and the title does a great job of describing the ultimate result of what downsizing can do for you. Here are some relevant things I’ve observed and learned thus far about the process; dare I call it journey of downsizing your home later in life.
The process can be an emotional roller coaster if you allow. It may involve separation anxiety about parting with possessions as obviously you can’t take a lifetime of accumulation with you. You may have reservations about parting with things wondering if you will need them in the future. And obviously you will be in a new environment and space and you’ll need a little time to adjust and to fully appreciate the benefits of your new lifestyle. Acknowledging emotions involved in getting to a new and better place is critical. But, don’t focus on the emotional aspects. Acknowledge that they are a natural part of it and move on focus on the task aspects at hand. Shift your emotions to the basics of what’s involved in downsizing a shelf and a drawer, then a closet and then a room. In other words, redirect the emotion of it to the activity of it as a way to use the energy of the emotions involved.
Be cautious about getting caught up in trying to do all the steps involved at the same time. Be strategic and do it over time. From the onset let’s fully come to terms with the importance of proper timing in this process and journey and so carefully consider timing based on where you are in life. Strategy involves things like where you are going, what lifestyle you are seeking and what to take or not. The pros and cons of the financial aspects are important to study as well as other issues involved in your unique financial identity and situation. All these considerations take time and strategy.
Be cautious about trying to accomplish downsizing alone. You may well benefit from and need a team. Don’t be hesitant about asking relatives and friends to help and support you with getting you to a new place in life. Your children and siblings may well be direct beneficiaries of your newfound quality of life and, this is what family is about. If you are strategic about the task that you really need help with and leave them out of what you can accomplish on your own it may lead to fun, memories relived and stronger better relationships.
Be cautious about trying to bring too much stuff to a smaller home. Be deliberate and thoughtful in your choices of items. Be mindful about less space and storage area.
Be cautious about waiting too long to downsize and declutter. You may find too late that you wasted time, money, freedom and good health. It’s worth repeating that timing is critical to success in downsizing. It’s a good idea here to mention the value of a parent not leaving the responsibility of decluttering your life while you are alive or after you are gone. After all, you accumulated the stuff not them!
Be cautious about accumulating more and continuing to spend. Why do you? What are you trying to fulfill that’s missing? Figure it out and make this accomplishment a pillar in your enhanced quality of life that comes from downsizing and decluttering.
With a healthy mindset about gaining a new life and being willing to let things from your past go, downsizing can be extremely satisfying and provide serious peace of mind when you need peace of mind most… in your golden years.
Here are five action items to write down on an index card to focus on as you move toward newfound quality of life in this stage in life.
- Start small. Complete one area of the process at a time. Build on accomplishing more as you develop your downsizing and decluttering muscles. Staying motivated is key. Set realistic goals and enjoy checking them off your list.
- Make sorting and categorizing a part of your strategy. You’ll have a lot more satisfaction if you think in terms of what you’ll keep, what you’ll donate and what you will just discard. And discarding is aok! I had a friend when I was younger who had a garage sale every three years with the mindset of if she hadn’t used it in three years it was for sale…
- Find peace with the emotional aspects of this process and journey to a better, more appropriate place in life. Look at these items you release as memories that brought you to where you are today and that really made you who you are. That is something that you can’t ever lose. You can keep those things in the memory of the love of your life and what you stand for.
- Focus on the awesome results of peace of mind and the freedom in your new life that suits and matches the reality of where you are in in life.
- In many respects this is as much about decluttering and liberating your mind and emotions as is it is about decluttering your possessions and downsizing your life.
- The end result in the process and journey is really about being true to who you are and continuing to live responsibly.
Get busy with your new dream!
Best regards,
Jeff Christian CFP, CRPC
Grab your courage with both hands.
Anonymous