Managing your downsizing – or helping your parent(s) downsize – and a move can be complicated. Where adult children see a houseful of “stuff” and “junk” to sort and toss, parents see treasures, essentials, and a lifetime of memories. Holding onto possessions brings comfort, which is often overlooked by family members who just see items that are impeding progress. For adults over 60, only a spouse’s death and divorce are considered more stressful than moving. Here are several “expert-tested” ideas that can make downsizing less stressful.

1. Begin with one room – or even one box – at a time. Although you may feel that it’s more efficient to tackle downsizing quickly, this can actually be stressful both emotionally and physically. Instead, be realistic and plan to spend weeks or even months, not days, tackling this downsizing effort. Focus on one room or area at a time. Sort items into “keep,” “sell,” “donate,” and “trash,” and then manage them accordingly. Be decisive – brave and fearless – in making choices and handle things only once. Then, take a break and celebrate! Once you have completed your first task, that feeling of accomplishment will propel you to tackle the next.
2. Create a floor plan that illustrates the available space. Measuring your new space (or asking for a copy of the floor plan with measurements) will help you make good decisions about what will fit, especially in closets! It also helps the movers place things where you want them on moving day.
3. Focus on most-used items. Items that may seem old and useless to others may be a source of comfort to you. So … take them with you! New and best do not always bring joy. Take what makes you happy. As we age, we tend to use fewer rooms in our homes. It’s okay to leave behind your expensive furnishings in favor of more comfortable and familiar items instead!
4. Keep representative bits of favored items instead of trying to take them all. Photos, memorabilia, and collections can occupy a lot of space! There are services available that digitize images and papers for reasonable prices – you can even share these files with your family members. Pick key prints to display on the walls; large tabletop displays take up a lot of precious space. Take photos of the rest of a collection and display them in a special book or collage.
5. Deal with paper! This can be a time-consuming task. You do not need to keep every bill you’ve ever paid or old cancelled checks. Keep important papers related to work on your home for the purchaser. Keep only as many years of tax returns and documentation as your tax advisor tells you to keep. Shred papers containing sensitive information (i.e., your Social Security Number, account numbers, name, address, etc.).
6. Share your legacies. Give those gifts now so you can experience the joy of giving and be able to share the story of each item you give. Children and grandchildren cherish this!
7. Think twice before selling items on your own. There are many outlets for selling items on your own. Keep in mind, though, that people will need to come to your house to pick up or you will have to ship items you sell. Remember, too that you will only get what people are willing to pay. So weigh your options carefully, and if you are unsure of the value of your items, seek a professional opinion before you sell.
8. Get rid of things that should be replaced or someone else can use! There are many items that you should not move or donate, such as outdated food items, old magazines, stuffed toys, pillows, open toiletries, etc. Many communities do not allow residents to burn candles or use heaters or heating pads, so get rid of those, too! Old prescription medications should be delivered to approved collection sites.
9. Hire someone to haul away large amounts of refuse. While your local trash collection company may pick up large amounts of bagged trash, they often have limits of what they will take. If you have a lot of items to be removed, contact a hauling company to do this for you, for a fee. It will save you time and your back will appreciate the support, and you will feel that you have accomplished a lot when you have cleared some space!
10. Know when to bring in the pros. Family cannot always be as helpful as you may want or need. Or, perhaps they mean well, but they are too helpful! Professional senior move managers understand how to navigate the path that leads to successful downsizing and transitioning to a new home, both from physical and emotional perspectives. These experts can handle everything from sorting and packing through unpacking and setting things in place in your new home, for a fee. Their main role is help make this transition to a new home as stress free as possible for you, and your family.

Bonus Tip: Keep your eye on the end result. Try not to overthink the process of downsizing. Understand that you will need to make a few concessions and accept that you will not have space for all of your “treasures” in a smaller home. Make peace with your changes and remember that your goal is to enjoy your new surroundings.