More and more older adults are realizing the upside of downsizing. Moving to a smaller home means a smaller mortgage, lower taxes and utility bills, fewer household chores and extra time to do what matters most.

Nevertheless, relocating from a family home to a one-bedroom apartment or cottage can feel uncomfortable. The prospect of donating your possessions may tempt you to stay put. In fact, 75 percent of seniors say the amount of stuff they have makes them "somewhat" to "very" reluctant to move. But you should never let "things" limit your happiness.

Whether you're planning a move to a senior living community in Concord, New Hampshire or simply looking to simplify your life, downsizing can be easy and even cathartic when you follow our guide.

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Why Downsize? 

Saying goodbye to a family home is tough. You may have raised your children under that roof or even lost a spouse. However, downsizing is an effective way of cutting monthly costs and stretching your retirement nest egg. Besides the mortgage, homeownership requires outgoing expenses like taxes, insurance and upkeep.

Speaking of which, home maintenance can become difficult as we age. You may not always be able to cut the grass or clean the gutters. When mobility issues threaten our independence, outsourcing tasks like yard maintenance and housekeeping can be expensive.

Moving to a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) like Havenwood Heritage Heights offers immense peace of mind. At most CCRCs, residents are offered a robust lineup of services and amenities for a flat rate. They are also afforded access to a continuum of care, should their needs change in the future.

Letting go of the items you no longer use can actually give you a sense of relief! Downsizing doesn't have to be all doom and gloom. In fact, it can be a fun and liberating process as you celebrate the possessions that mean a lot to you and say goodbye to the ones that no longer serve a purpose in your life.

When Is It Time To Downsize?

There is no “right” time to move to a smaller space. However, most seniors agree that earlier is always bThere is no "right" time to move to a smaller space. However, most seniors agree that earlier is always better. Waiting until you face a mobility problem or serious health issue will only make the transition harder.

If you are toying with the idea of downsizing, here are some questions to ask yourself:

If you find yourself feeling isolated or only using a portion of your home's square footage, now may be the best time to start downsizing.

Downsizing Step-by-Step

Step 1: Plan Ahead and Start Small

If a move is in your near future, it's best to start working sooner rather than later. Decluttering can be overwhelming, especially if you are moving from a large family home to a one-bedroom apartment in a senior living community. To avoid feeling overburdened by the task at hand, start small.

Get an idea of the size difference between your current home and your new space. A floor plan will help you to determine how much furniture you'll need and what kind of storage space you'll have. Give yourself time—we suggest at least three months—to tackle one closet, one cabinet or even one drawer at a time.

Making a plan can be helpful as well. Get out your calendar and set goals for each week. Schedule several one- to two-hour work sessions per day and stick to this timetable. If you overwork yourself, you are more likely to feel stressed and fatigued. Recruiting friends and family can ease the burden as well. Pro tip: Ordering pizza makes the decluttering session feel more like a party than work.

Step 2: Make a List and Stay Organized

Creating lists to help keep the downsizing process organized and flowing is a must. Sit down and write out a list of important possessions that you wish to keep, items that can be given away to family members, anything that you'd like to donate to charity and which items should be tossed. Make your list while sitting down in a comfortable spot and avoid going from room to room. If there's an item that was left off of your list, you won't miss it when you move!

Begin by creating three piles: keep, throw away and donate. Garbage should be put directly into trash bags while other items should be placed in labeled boxes.

Step 3: Start with the Unsentimental Items First

Sometimes it's best to ease into the downsizing process, so go ahead and toss out those old dishes and kitchen appliances first. Typically, the garage, kitchen and washrooms are the easiest places to begin your work. Once you get the ball rolling, you may be surprised how much you're willing to let go when you move on to the bedrooms and living areas.

Step 4: Be Decisive and Make Fast Decisions

It will be tempting to hold onto knick-knacks, photographs and other possessions with sentimental value. Being decisive helps you let go. While sorting, use the OHIO rule. This stands for "Only Handle Items Once." For instance, avoid moving an old sweater from the donate pile to the keep pile. It is also important to avoid a "maybe" pile. "Maybe" piles only foster indecision and sap your emotional energy.

Spending a great deal of time determining what to keep and what should go can really slow you down. If you find yourself hesitating quite often, take a moment to think about the purpose of each item. Simply pick an item up and ask yourself, "Does this bring me joy?" If it doesn't, then it can be set aside. If an item is no longer useful in your life, it should be donated or thrown away.

Selling your stuff is another great way to declutter. If you have high-dollar items, consider hosting a yard sale or taking them to a consignment shop. Websites like Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace are also great places to make an extra buck. Save the money you make or treat yourself to something nice.

Step 5: Don't Get Rid of Things Immediately

You don't need to go through your house and start throwing things away without rhyme or reason. As you go through a room, set items aside and out of sight. Then see how you are able to get along without them for a few days or so. You may just be surprised at how little you notice their absence. If that is the case, you know you made the right decision to let them go.

Step 6: Look Forward, Not Back

Sifting through a household of memories is bittersweet. Photographs will remind you of your daughter's first birthday. A trinket will remind you of your 50th wedding anniversary. Though you should recognize these emotions, you should also remember the "why" behind your move. Downsizing will better your future and place less stress on your family if and when your health changes.

One way to stay positive is by imagining your new space. Think about the layout of your apartment home or cottage. How will you decorate it? Where will you hang your photographs or paintings? What rug will look best in the living room? Get excited about the opportunity for a fresh start.

Packing a "first day" box can also ease the transition. Placing toiletries, prescriptions, cutlery, dishware and other essential belongings in one place will help you feel more at home on your first day.

Additional Downsizing Tips

If paring down your possessions feels like a gargantuan feat, here are a couple more suggestions to soothe the stress.

Getting Help with Your Transition

To help with the anticipation of downsizing your belongings, Havenwood Heritage Heights offers future residents a service through All in the Details Interior Design to assist in making the big decisions. When moving into a smaller space, a common question becomes, where am I going to fit all my stuff? All in the Details helps make the hard decisions when it comes to your belongings (what do you keep, donate or store) and helps lay out a plan to arrange furniture, decorate and more to make your new space a home.

This professional design service takes the stress out of visualizing your new living arrangement and ensures that your most cherished possessions find the perfect place in your new home.

Upsize Your Retirement at Havenwood Heritage Heights

Havenwood Heritage Heights is a continuing care retirement community in the charming city of Concord, New Hampshire. As a CCRC, we offer a continuum of care, ensuring that residents receive the support they need no matter what happens in the future.

At Havenwood Heritage Heights, we understand that downsizing a family home is difficult for many seniors. With that in mind, our dedicated and compassionate staff works tirelessly to ensure that the move to senior living is as seamless as possible. Our senior living community provides maintenance assistance and more so you can take advantage of your golden years in beautiful Concord, NH.

Interested in more great lifestyle tips for seniors? Check out our blog or contact us online for more information about life at Havenwood Heritage Heights.