When I first hear from someone inquiring about downsizing or decluttering, the conversation often goes like this: “I’m moving. How can I possibly sort through all of this? I’m completely overwhelmed. Where do I start?” To which I respond: “One step at a time.”
As obvious as that is, many people faced with the prospect of downsizing their home truly have no idea where to begin. If that sounds like someone you know, here are a few ideas:
- Use a timer.
Keep yourself focused and the mange the task by sorting for a short amount of time: 30 minutes is a great place to start; then work up to an hour or two. Set a timer, and don’t allow anything to distract you while you’re working. When the timer rings, you’re done for the day.
- Start small.
Begin with a single shelf or drawer. Take everything off/out and go through it piece by piece. Put everything you’re ready to let go of in a box, and everything you want to keep back on the shelf or in the drawer. If you have several of something and want to keep them all, tie or box them together.
- Gather similar items.
When you’ve started building your sorting skills (deciding what to keep is a skill!) the next step is to gather like items throughout the house. Think of it like a scavenger hunt: For example, look for all the glass vases, and put them together in one place. When you see them all sitting together, it will be easier to decide which one/s you want to keep.
- Don’t start more than you can finish.
Having things out in disarray can create a feeling of exhaustion and a sense of confusion. So even as you become a super-sorter, it’s important to only sort through as much as you can complete at one time. Take one small bite at a time, and you’ll make steady progress.
- Get help.
For many people even little bit of downsizing seems like an overwhelming task. Or, it may be that you want to get done faster.In that case, getting assistance from a Senior Move Manager who is trained and can make a lot of sense.
If you know someone who needs ideas about how to get started on downsizing their home, call me for a complimentary 1-hour consultation. I’m here, and I’m happy to help!
