To most people, the term ‘downsizing’ conjures images of grandma and grandpa leaving their large family home. They are physically moving into a smaller home and have years of accumulated possessions that need to be reduced. Downsizing is something old people do.
Well, I’m not old and I’m not a grandmother and I downsize all the time!
To me, downsizing means letting go of possessions that no longer serve me. And what better time to take stock and remove items than during a move. Afterall, you are touching everything as you pack. Isn’t this the ideal time to make those decisions?
No, and I’ll tell you why. It’s simple: you don’t have a system.
Packing up your entire home to move is a major undertaking by itself. Add downsizing to the list of things to do and your level of stress will be off the charts. But there’s a solution.
Our Smartly Organized downsizing system will guide you through the steps, greatly speed up the process and eliminate frustration and make your ultimate packing process easier.
Does this sound familiar? Your move date is looming and you decide to start packing. You know there are things you don’t want to move to your new home. You begin by pulling things out without a plan for segregating or removing them. Random piles are created, your energy wanes, and then your attention is diverted elsewhere. Next time you return you can’t recall what you did, why you did it, and what you intended to do, and you may end up starting over. Was this pile for donation or consignment or did you intend to give to your best friend? Boxes are half packed and you have no recollection about what is buried under the packing paper or bubble wrap. Has this ever happened to you?
It can become a confusing mess.
What’s the solution? Simple → Sort First, Pack Second
Sort First
When there is a lot of stuff to review we recommend separating the decision-making from the handling. If we can’t work directly with our clients we ask them to simply “decide and divide.”
Create two piles:
Yes, I want to keep this item
No, I do not want it.
Once the decisions are made, the Do Not Want pile can be quickly handled: clothing bagged for donation or consignment, fragile items boxed for charity pick up, trash removed by a junk hauler.
Pack Second
After removing the unwanted items it’s far easier to pack what remains.
Explain this system to other members of your household so they can help. Sharing the burden of decision-making saves you mental energy and ensures that everyone is happy. They can also help with the removal of unneeded items and the eventual packing.
Set yourself up for success: take the time to create a workspace, gather the right supplies, and designate a staging area for items to be removed. Keeping clear piles with labels will minimize start-up time each session.
We have so many other insider tips we’ve learned over time and with experience. Your team at Smartly Organized stands ready to help guide you through this daunting process.