Tips for Downsizing House.

Most of us recognize the benefits of downsizing for seniors. But the truth doesn’t always make the actual process any easier. It can be both physically taxing and emotionally draining to downsize, so we often put the process off. But that only means we’re missing out on the benefits of downsizing for seniors — and there are likely more of those than you realize.

Why downsize your home? It’s not just about avoiding steps or having a smaller yard to take care of. Moving to a new home can also inspire a new era of creating, learning, socializing, and enjoying life. However, you have to get there. Here are a few tips to make the process go as smoothly as possible. 

1. Move on Your Own Timeline

What do we mean by that? Basically, move before an injury, illness, or accident forces your hand. The reality is that it’s all too easy to pull a muscle or temporarily throw out a back. Events like that — or maybe a knee or hip replacement — make it clear that walking up steps to go to bed is not a good long-term plan. Nor is having to go in the basement to do laundry or parking your car in your driveway during the winter. 

Moving before you need to gives you the time to choose your next home carefully. It also gives you time to slowly go through decades of stuff and make good decisions about what to keep, donate, give away, or discard. If you’re forced to move suddenly, everything will be more rushed, which isn’t ideal when making a big move. 

 2. Have a Plan

As we just mentioned, most of us have a house full of stuff that needs to be sorted. The question is, how do you tackle a task of that magnitude? The good news is that experts have all kinds of tips for downsizing for seniors. Here are a few of the most helpful:

• Some experts suggest sorting through belongings by prioritizing. First, decide which items you love and absolutely must keep. Then, think about the things you’d like to gift to someone else — and follow through on it. Next, go through your belongings and get rid of anything that’s broken or ruined. Also, get rid of duplicates (do you really need three staplers?). You’ve now cleared the way for the next step.

• You probably still have a lot of stuff. Experts used to suggest sorting these items into piles of things you want to keep, donate, throw away, and then also a “maybe” classification. But that “maybe” pile is just delaying your work. Eliminate that as an option.

• Decide to work room by room and set up a schedule for yourself. Maybe you commit to one room a week. Some people like to start with the hardest rooms; others like to start with something easy and get a quick win under their belts. Whatever you decide, hold yourself to that schedule.

3. Pack With Purpose

What’s the biggest predictor of how smoothly your move into your new home will go? It’s how efficiently you packed up your old home. You’ve already taken the first step by getting rid of things you don’t need. Now it’s time to label, label, label.

Get yourself a black Sharpie and pack up belongings by the room they will go into. Right off the bat, that eliminates a huge hassle. Next, in slightly smaller print, specify what is in the box. Once all your boxes are packed up, number them and make a succinct list of what is in each box. That way, if a box gets lost, you’ll know what you’re missing. It’s also a good idea to pack one box of things you’ll need for your first night in your new home, including toiletries, medicine, and things you just can’t do without (phone charger, tea kettle, etc.) 

4. Keep a Positive Mindset About Change

Big life changes usually have two sides, which is to say you will gain something and you will lose something. But there’s a pattern that typically happens when confronted with a new possibility. At first, people focus on what’s hard about the change. It’s when people shift their mindset to focus on what could be good about the change, that anxiety morphs into pleasant anticipation. 

The problem is that some people get stuck in a negative mindset — and don’t try to embrace what lies ahead. Experts recommend acknowledging what you may be losing, but also imagining the positives of what’s coming next — and always keep in mind what’s driving you to make this change. Here are a few quotes that have helped others shift into a more positive frame of mind: 

• “Some of us think holding on makes us strong; but sometimes it is letting go.” — Hermann Hesse

• “Change your thoughts and you change your world.” — Norman Vincent Peale

• “Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.” — Dale Carnegie

What Life Looks Like at Meadow Lakes

Imagine not having to drive to get a cup of coffee with friends, having an art studio where you can unleash your creativity, or stepping outside your door to be surrounded by nature. These are just a few of the positives you could enjoy at Meadow Lakes, which is set on a 103-acre wooded campus boasting more than 6,000 trees. Meadow Lakes also offers maintenance-free living, a state-of-the-art fitness center, indoor and outdoor pools, a performance hall, a library, a croquet court, lakeside dining, plus a calendar of events packed with everything from morning stretching to evening Jazz trios. Contact us today to schedule a tour and discover what your life could look like at our active senior living community in East Windsor, New Jersey.