The beauty of downsizing

First published on stuff.co.nz

How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.

It’s no secret that breaking a big job down into manageable steps makes it much easier, and this approach is also perfect when considering downsizing your belongings before moving into a retirement village.

There’s a reason decluttering experts like Marie Kondo have become household names over recent years. Sorting through possessions you’ve probably kept just because you had the space to store them may be daunting, but it’s also energising. Less clutter means less stress and will make your new space easier to look after.

While there’s certainly no need to get rid of everything, it’s helpful to remember you’re parting ways with stuff, not memories, and making room for an exciting new phase in life that will bring new hobbies, new friends, and new opportunities.

Firstly, think about how you’ll spend your time in your new home. If you’ve always enjoyed gardening, chances are you’ll still be able to do that, but won’t need an entire shed full of spades, trowels and seed trays.

Consider all the wonderful perks you could enjoy. Perhaps you’re gaining a heated swimming pool to relax in, a modern and stylish kitchen to prepare delicious meals for your guests, or even a spacious walk-in wardrobe you’ve never had before. You’ll be able to enjoy all the benefits of your own space without spending so much time on the hard work – like mowing lawns and clearing out gutters (you’ll also notice a reduction in the costs associated with running a larger home).

Fitting everything from a multi-bedroom home into a retirement villa or apartment simply isn’t going to work, you’re going to need to downsize. There are plenty of sustainable solutions for parting ways with things you no longer need. Selling excess furniture can bring extra money to go towards something new that’s a better fit for your new home or help fund that holiday you’ve always dreamed of.

“When I move in, I’m going to treat myself to a brand-new bed with a lovely mattress… it’s my reward for dealing with all the stress and chaos of moving house,” says a prospective Metlifecare resident.

Donating to charity is another option, and it’s rewarding to know items you’ve enjoyed will bring pleasure to others. Supporting a circular economy is one of the feelgood by-products of downsizing.

It’s one thing to get rid of excess furniture and household items (one tip is to hand on your ‘everyday’ stuff and start using the fancy guest towels and crockery you’ve always saved for ‘best’), but it’s another thing to part ways with memorabilia.

That’s why it’s a good idea to start with less personally significant items and when you get to the sentimental stuff you’ll be used to asking the essential questions; Will it fit my new space? Will I use it (or wear it)? Can I live without it? Could it get better use with someone else? Can I enjoy the memory without the physical reminder?

There are plenty of options for maintaining memories while maximising limited space. Photo albums can be digitised and stored online. A digital photo frame can rotate multiple memories displayed in a single frame. There are companies that specialise in helping people preserve their life memories.

You don’t need to downsize alone. It’s a good opportunity to have a frank discussion with family members about what personal items they might want to inherit. You may have been holding onto things assuming your daughter will want them one day, but her tastes could be entirely different.

Remember, decluttering is not just about clearing space, it’s about creating room for new memories and new experiences.

Download the Tips for Stress-Free Decluttering Guide or make an appointment with a Metlifecare sales executive at 0800 909 303.