In its broadest sense, it’s physically moving to a smaller home. It’s getting rid of rooms you don’t use, letting go of stuff that you’ve accumulated over many years, and alleviating yourself from chores associated with large yards, roof leaks, flooded basements, and moldy linens and stale books in the attic. It’s reducing your monthly utility bills (heating and cooling all those rooms is expensive!), and it’s reprogramming your mind, body and soul to start afresh, make new friends, and joyfully close the door behind you when you jet off to visit family and friends or explore distant lands.
Decluttering and Organizing
“My kids will just have to deal with it when I’m gone.” That’s the response often heard when people suggest to others (parents, neighbors, friends, siblings, etc.) that they should consider downsizing. Many follow that up with “feet first” comment: “I’ve lived here 40 years and raised my family in this house. I’m leaving here feet first and don’t care if I leave a mess.” Staying put is appealing. It’s comfortable. It’s safe. It’s HOME. But it’s often the case that people stay in their homes so long that they eventually fall and suffer injuries that result in hospitalizations and, perhaps, even lead to a stint in a rehabilitation facility. What happens to all that stuff in the event that they are never able to return? For the sake of their children, and to be considerate of those who will be responsible for cleaning up and clearing out their homes after they’re gone, many people are turning to professional organizers. “Decluttering” and “organizing” are easier said than done, … READ MORE about Decluttering and Organizing
Downsizing is Basically Moving to a Smaller Home
But downsizing is so much more than moving to a smaller home. Downsizing is also about simplifying life. It's about cutting expenses associated with landscaping and utilities. It's about untangling from years (maybe decades) of being in the same house, in the same routine, with (usually) tons of the same "stuff" that's been in the house forever that's no longer used, needed or wanted. It's about reinvention, renewal, refreshing change. And it's about meeting new people, developing new habits and hobbies, and changing the rhythm of the march through life. Many people want to stay in the communities where they've "lived large." It's understandable that some people want to downsize into their existing communities; a sense of the familiar is hard to beat. The same movie theaters, restaurants, neighborhood parks and grocery stores can be a source of comfort to many people, so they want to stay close to the communities where they had the big house, raised the family, and loved … Read More about Downsizing is Basically Moving to a Smaller Home
Downsizing=Rightsizing, and It’s So Good for So Many Reasons
The sometimes-negative connotation some people have when they hear the term "downsizing" is understandable. The term may conjure up images of that time twenty years ago when their Uncle Johnny lost his job and their cousins had to move to an apartment because they could no longer afford their house. Or it may make them feel uncomfortable if they've reached a "certain age" and they move to a smaller home because their large home became too much to take care of financially and physically. "Rightsizing" is so right now. Perhaps the term "rightsizing" should be substituted for the term downsizing. It may seem a little smarter, a little trendier, and a little more upbeat and positive. Another term that some people use to describe downsizing is "smartsizing." It's often applied to corporations and other workplace environments (including governmental, educational and institutional), but it can just as easily be used to describe a personal journey to a different life. Regardless of … Read More about Downsizing=Rightsizing, and It’s So Good for So Many Reasons