With age comes a myriad of changes, both positive and negative – and some in between! For many, relocating and downsizing is among these changes, whether it be to move closer to family, save money on home expenses, or just to make life a bit more simple.
If you’re considering downsizing in the near future, you might be feeling a little overwhelmed by the process, even if you know it’s the right choice for you. Well, that’s exactly why we’ve compiled this list of some of the best downsizing tips for seniors!
Change can be tough, but by using these tips for downsizing, you’ll be able to tackle the downsizing process head-on.
Let’s get started!

1. Choose Your Location

When downsizing, there are a few options. You can rent an apartment or purchase a condo, purchase a smaller home than the one you’re in now, or move in with a family member.
If you’re moving into a separate structure on a family member’s property rather than into a room in their home, Finding Reliable Granny Flat Builders is a must.

2. Determine Which Rooms to Pack

Depending on the location you’re moving to, you might not have all of the rooms your included in your current home. For example, if you’re renting an apartment but your current home has a garage, you won’t need to bring any garage-specific items with you.
Going through your belongings can be hard, but don’t worry, we have a few tips to make it easier! And if it’s too hard for you to get rid of your belongings, you can find some personal storage space nearby where you can store them instead.

3. Make Yes and No Piles

The best thing to do when evaluating your belongings is to be as ruthless as possible. Don’t create a “maybe” pile, force yourself to decide for sure whether you’ll be bringing an item or not.
For each item, think about the last time you used it. Was it yesterday, last week, or six months ago? Any item that you don’t use regularly should be a candidate for the “no” pile.

4. Leave Sentimental Items for Last

When going through your home, you’re inevitably going to run into items that you don’t necessarily use, but that has some level of sentimental value to you.
To make this easier, it’s best to build up some packing momentum before you get to them. It might sound strange, but if you start with the kitchen and bathroom (rooms with the lowest potential to contain sentimental items), you’ll find it less stressful once you get to your son’s childhood bedroom.

5. Ask for Help from Family

Last but not least, reach out to family members for help! Not only will this give you someone to reminisce and expressing feelings with, but you never know what your children or grandchildren might find and want to keep.
Giving sentimental items to family members can be less emotionally taxing than selling or giving them away to strangers.
Use These Downsizing Tips for Seniors to Avoid Overwhelm
Any major change in life has the potential to be an emotional experience. And there’s nothing wrong with allowing yourself to feel a bit of sadness or nostalgia as you’re going through your belongings.
Emotions are natural, but too much stress is a bad thing, both for your mental and physical health. Using these downsizing tips for seniors can help you stay organized and calm, even if you’re a little sad.
For more advice on moving and how to downsize, be sure to take a look at our blog!