Moving into an Independent Living Community is an exciting time, but it can also be daunting. A key factor that can cause anxiety is the process of downsizing. Downsizing can be both an overwhelming and emotional process. These tips for downsizing will help you build a strong approach to downsizing so you can feel confident and joyful as you move into the next chapter at a Continuing Care life Plan Community like Treyton Oak Towers.

Plan Ahead

When you’ve decided to downsize, the first thing to do is create a plan and timeline. Creating a plan will help you stay on track with the tasks that need to be done throughout the moving process. Consider making a timeline with key dates and milestones. This is a process, so pace yourself to avoid feeling overwhelmed in the first few attempts or rushed in the final week. Additionally, take inventory of how much you currently have and set realistic goals for how much to keep.

Another key aspect of planning ahead is keeping copies of your new layout, amenities, and photos on hand. Having a good understanding of your new space will help you make informed decisions about what items you should keep; this is also a great way to get excited and visualize your new home. Keep in mind the amenities your new home will offer and how that will affect what you may or may not want to bring. For example, at Treyton Oak Towers there is a woodworking shop, an art studio, a greenhouse, and a fully equipped fitness center, so most residents don’t find it necessary to bring their own weights or other fitness equipment.

Sort & Organize

When you’ve completed your plan and are ready to get started, remember to tackle one area at a time. A quick way to get overwhelmed is by jumping from room to room. We recommend starting early in the lower-traffic areas of your home like a guest room, attic, or basement. Starting early is key to ensuring you don’t feel rushed in your decision making and beginning with lower-traffic areas of your home will minimize the initial disruption of your day-to-day lifestyle.

Additionally, establish categories to sort items into. We recommend “keep,” “gift,” “sell” “donate,” and “discard.”

–Keep: Consider keeping items that are of sentimental and functional significance. Prioritizing multifunctional items is a great way to make the most of your space. Consider things like an ottoman that doubles as storage. Another great method is the “one-year method;” if it has been a year or more since an item was last used, it may be a good item to let go.

–Gift: Think about offering family heirlooms, practical items, and sentimentally significant items to family and friends who would use and value them.

–Sell: Use tools like Facebook Marketplace, Nextdoor, or local consignment stores to sell high-value items like furniture and antiques that you do not want to gift.

–Donate: Donating items is a great way to feel empowered knowing that they are getting a second life. Any items that do not sell can be donated as well. Consider donating to a local women’s shelter, Salvation Army, Goodwill or local “Buy Nothing/Sell Nothing” groups via Facebook to know your items support people who need them!

–Discard: Items that are broken, missing parts, or have significant wear and tear are best suited to discard. Always consult your local government and trash provider to ensure you are disposing of potentially hazardous materials like paint cans and batteries appropriately.

Be Creative

Be creative when it comes to sentimental items. Many of our residents have found fun ways to convert old clothes or photos into thoughtful gifts or special items for their home. For example, swatches of old clothes can be turned into a blanket or stuffed animal to give it a second life that has a purpose. Additionally, a digital photo frame is a great way to organize old photos into one place. Physical copies can be passed down to family members to enjoy while you can enjoy all your photos in one place.

Ask for Help

Don’t hesitate to ask for help! Your family and friends want the best for you and a second perspective can help decide what is worth keeping and what it may be time to let go of. Additionally, Treyton Oak Towers can help ease the burden with trusted partners who are experts in helping seniors relocate. They have resources to help with packing, sorting, making trips to donation centers, and moving heavy items. Remember to keep an open line of communication with the team at Treyton Oak Towers. They will have solutions to inform your downsizing decision-making.

Personalize Your Space

Downsizing can be fun! Enjoy making your new space feel like home by incorporating your favorite artwork, photos and design elements. Many of our residents consider the “Feng shui” of their space while they are organizing and moving in. Feng shui is also known as “Chinese geomancy” and is a practice used to bring calm to the home and create a balance of design. Consider things like allowing open pathways, balance of color, and maximizing natural light.

We also recommend waiting to buy new furniture or decorations until after you’ve settled in. While a new home can be an exciting reason to buy new décor, start with what you have and slowly add in pieces to curate your home without cluttering it.

In the chaos of moving, it can be easy to get overwhelmed, but don’t forget to enjoy it! Moving to Independent Living at Treyton Oak Towers provides the opportunity to take on new hobbies, meet new people, and enjoy the comfort of your own space with peace of mind that a full continuum of care is there if you need it.