You have finally found the perfect retirement community in Collin County, TX and decided on it. What’s left now is just moving in, but you have no idea where to start. Downsizing is an inevitable part of transitioning into a new residence, and it can be overwhelming to think of how many things you need to pack or throw away. Here are some tips to make downsizing less impossible than it seems.
Planning Ahead
Being familiar with your new environment is key in planning the downsizing process. If you are someone who cannot bear to leave too many things behind, choosing a bigger living space would be ideal. This can always be done by scheduling a tour to familiarize yourself with the area and floor plans. Additionally, obtaining a copy of the floor plan with measurements can go a long way, helping you decide on what goes where.
Making Lists
Downsizing does not have to be a messy process even if you think there are too many things to rummage through at home. The best and most efficient way to plan what you want to bring is by creating lists. Not just one list, but a few. It could be a list of things you need or want to bring or those that will be provided for you in your new community, which is essentially what you can do without. By doing so, it is easier for you to sort out your belongings into several piles for more conducive and neat packing. This will surely solve your dilemma of whether to bring the jacket you purchased from a sale years ago.
Clearing Away Unnecessary Items
After piling things, the hardest part is probably clearing what you don’t need. As tempting as it is, you shouldn’t set aside the ‘maybe list’ for later because most of the time, they just end up rotting in a corner since we never take a look at them again. Like they say, out of sight, out of mind. Once you have decided on what you can do without, it is good to clear them immediately before falling back into the dilemma stage as you ponder more about what you could afford to squeeze into your bag of things to bring.
Another good habit to incorporate is labeling your piles or boxes, so as to not mix your things up accidentally, also saving you the possibility of unnecessary grief should you accidentally throw away something you want.
Asking for Help
Remember, you can and should ask for help if you need it. Decluttering and packing are tough, but you need not go through it alone. Approaching your family to help you out will make the task easier. As for the moving process, you should contact the retirement community for assistance. With a dedicated team, arrangements can be made to move your belongings over without even needing to lift a finger.
Making the Move Smooth
Downsizing really isn’t as tough as people make it out to be. Decluttering and packing doesn’t have to be a roadblock for you even though it may be overwhelming to think about letting go of the items you’ve gathered over a lifetime. Therefore, planning, being organized, and asking for help are keys to making your move smooth.
