There will come a time in life when you need to downsize your home. Whether your children have all left the nest and you’re relocating to a smaller home, or you’re making the move to a senior living community, downsizing can be an overwhelming process. However, it doesn’t have to be an impossible task, and there are plenty of ways to adapt to a smaller space.

With this in mind, here are some tips to downsize your home effectively

1) Start Early

Starting early is the most important step when downsizing so as not to feel overwhelmed. Whilst many people think that one month is enough to plan everything, you will need more time than that. We recommend extending that timeframe to 3 months minimum so that you have enough time to plan for everything. Remember that when moving to a new home, packing is only one step in the whole process. You will also need to organise removalists, a potential garage sale if you’re selling some items, and also give yourself time to process the change! By getting ahead and not procrastinating, you are taking advantage of time, which in-turn will make you feel less stressed.

2) Sort through your belongings

It’s easy to underestimate how much we’ve accumulated through the years. From those countless albums of family photos to that random vase you once bought at the market, there are some items that you will want to keep and others that you can part with. When it comes to deciding whether you want to dispose of certain items or not, you will need to implement a method. The easiest way is to assign them to one of three piles: to keep, to throw away, to give. And remember, don’t overthink it and always stick to your first decision!

3) Tackle it room by room

So you’ve taken care of all the admin tasks, and now it’s finally time to brave the actual packing…If you feel overwhelmed and don’t know where to start, remember that you’re not alone! It’s always a good idea to tackle it room by room and write a checklist before starting. Starting small may seem unproductive, but it’s a great step towards finishing the task in a timely manner without feeling overwhelmed.

4) Ask for help

Change is always difficult to deal with, no matter what phase of life you’re in. Moving to a smaller home and leaving one behind where so many memories have been made is challenging. But you don’t have to go through it alone. It’s always a good idea to reach out to family and friends to help you pack. Not only will this take away some of the physical burden, but it will also give you an opportunity to reminisce on some treasured memories.