Six Tips to Help You “Right-Size” for Your Future!

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Here are six tips to help you get started from one of The Landing of Collegeville’s business partners - Beth Lennon from Destination Decluttered.

1. Before starting, imagine your destination: If you’re moving to a new home or apartment, how big is it? How many rooms does it have? What do you plan on using those rooms for? The more you can envision what you want your future new home to look like, and what you will be doing in it, the easier it is for you to decide what you bring with you and what you can part with.
2. Declutter your surface clutter: Look at what currently accumulates on your surfaces and make a plan for those items. Unsubscribe from magazines/catalogs so they don’t follow you to your new place. Go paperless with credit card and bank statements, so paperwork doesn’t accumulate. The more you get rid of now, the more free and easier your life in your future home will be.
3. Declutter your stored clutter: From clothes closets to kitchen, garages to laundry rooms, begin to sort through what is hidden in drawers and behind doors, and ask yourself if you will be using that item in your future home. Perhaps this means reducing your wardrobe of work clothes, or selling your lawn mower, or that turkey roaster you only use once a year. Know how you want to live in your future home and align what you take with you with that.
4. Declutter your sentimental clutter: Moving into a smaller space means you usually can’t take everything with you, and if you’re holding onto family heirlooms and items to hand down, start that process now. Get the family involved and ask them what they want and pass it to them now. Share the stories of what these things mean to you, take photos of the items, and that will make it easier to part with.
5. Donate, recycle, sell: Get the word out to your friends and family that you’re downsizing and offer the items you won’t be taking with you to them. Donate useful items to charity, thrift stores. Get quality items appraised for selling. And know that some things will end up going into the trash, but that you did your best to minimize that.
6. Be kind to yourself! Going through a life’s worth of accumulated objects is bound to stir up feelings and memories and this will take a toll on your energy and mood. Be gentle with yourself when this process becomes too much and take breaks often to rest up. Just remind yourself this is not all about what you’re losing, or the life you had, but that you’re doing this to make the most of the life you are making for your future!

Join us at The Landing of Collegeville’s Open House on June 22 from 3:30-5:30 pm and get a “taste” of all of the possibilities. Here, life gets better with age – as do you! RSVP: (484)854-1600 or email Audrey at aguarnaccia@leisurecare.com.

The Landing of Collegeville: 1421 S Collegeville Rd., Collegeville, PA 19426.

Beth Lennon recently presented at The Landing of Collegeville’s Home and Garden show for Seniors. She is a decluttering life coach, helping you make space in your life for what is important to you. You can learn more about working with her at DestinationDecluttered.com.

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