Have you ever looked around your house and thought about what a huge job it would be to organize everything you own and to get your household under control? For older adults, it can be a truly overwhelming undertaking, both from the standpoint of sheer physical exertion and the emotional toll that a purging of one’s longtime possessions can take. Without careful planning and organization, an effort to downsize may well fail. However, your home isn’t the only thing worth downsizing. What about your finances or stress? By following a few simple steps, you can achieve your objectives and pave the way for stress-free Golden Years.
Downsize your items and home
Whether or not you plan on moving, downsizing your items (or clutter) can ease stress. You don’t really know what tools you need for storage and organization until you’ve gone through everything and determined how much you’ll keep and what can be gotten rid of. Begin by going through the process of deciding what to do with everything. Going room by room, separate each item according to whether you’ll hang onto it, give it away, or throw it out. Take the time to handle each object and consider whether you’ll need it. A good rule is to donate or throw away anything you haven’t used for at least a year, and definitely purge any duplicate items (you don’t really need three shoehorns, after all).
Some people make the mistake of trying to do everything in a day. That’s a good way to lose focus and interest and mistakenly throw in something you’d rather keep with the “Donate” or “Throw Away” pile. These are your personal belongings, accumulated over the course of a lifetime. They’re worth the effort and careful consideration you’d give to any important and impactful endeavor. Remember, you’re trying to simplify your life, not throw everything out the door just because you hate giving up some leisure time.
Financial decluttering
Whether or not downsizing your home is something you are considering, the very first item you’ll want to cross off your to-do list is to do a little financial decluttering, if you haven’t already. Not only will it make your life more organized, but it will also help you plan for the future, whether that be downsizing your home, taking a trip, supplementing your retirement, or putting away savings for a rainy day or week. Work with your financial adviser (if you don’t currently work with one, check with your bank about the services they offer — most provide financial guidance at no charge to customers) to see what makes sense for you:
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- Can you downsize to one vehicle in order to save money on auto loans?
- Should you tweak your investment portfolio?
- Are there any accounts you can cash out so you can put the money elsewhere, like a life insurance policy or CD?
- Do you need to adjust your budget and spending habits to achieve your financial goals?
- Should you consolidate any of your accounts, such as multiple savings or investment accounts?
Stress less
So you’ve downsized your stuff and your finances, but what about your stress? After all this work, you might be feeling a little frazzled. Mental health is important for everyone, regardless of their age, but stress during your senior years can lead to premature aging, depression, anxiety, and various health issues. If you haven’t already, find your go-to stress reliever. There are plenty of options to try out to get you started such as meditation, yoga, reading, journaling, or drawing, but chances are you already have something in mind. It could be something you once did and stopped, or something totally new that you’ve always wanted to try. In addition to finding new hobbies and activities, explore other ways to reduce the stress in your life such as learning to say no or asking for help.
Organization should always be the first step in your effort to downsize no matter what area of your life you are downsizing. Create a plan, seek out help, and tackle one thing at a time. With each change comes an opportunity for another, so embrace it.
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