Box? What box? Oh, the one in the back of the closet that has an inch (mild exaggeration) of dust on it?

We all have a “box” – or in many cases, many boxes – that are collecting dust in closets, basements, garages, and attics. When we reach the point in our lives that we are ready to rightsize our living space – which means live somewhere that has just the amount of space we actually need require – we feel that it is a monumental task because we have too many “boxes” that we have to sort.

So here’s a little tip.

Instead of waiting until you are ready to downsize and move, start looking though the boxes now! On the next rainy or snowy day when you find yourself not wanting to go anywhere, open your closet and select one of those “boxes.” Take it to a comfortable spot in your home, maybe turn on some music or the TV and relax. Take your time going through the items in your box and separate them into “keep,” “give to family,” “donate” or “trash.” And then, get rid of the trash on your next pick-up date, drop off the donations to your favorite charity, and share the items you identified for family with them when you see them next. Then congratulate yourself for dealing with one of your “boxes.”

Once you see how much you enjoyed looking through that box and making choices, the next one will be a lot easier!