After your children have grown and moved away, your big house became empty and quiet. Do you consider downsizing for retirement life? It’s a very personal choice.
Decision Making
Some are hesitant to take on this late life challenge. But staying in a large family home into retirement becomes costly and makes it difficult to age in place. Nearly 30% of retired homeowner expenditures are housing-related, which includes taxes, insurance, upkeep, and utilities.
Moving to a smaller home with less maintenance and/or a place where your retirement life is more relaxing with lowing cost of living can free up your physical and financial resources for happy golden years ahead. Now is your opportunity to relocate (not for work this time) to a more comfortable climate or a dream place elsewhere. Your will need time think through for making this important decision - location (where you want to retire with distance to family members, weather, convenience and other factors taking into consideration), property type and size of housing for an active retirement (community, facilities, and comfortable living space) and calculate the numbers with all taxes, insurance, utilities and HOA fees, etc accounted for.
Moving is a high-stress life event, especially when downsizing. You may have strong sense of attachment to your home and local community. You may fear to leave your comfort zone. An unknown neighborhood and change of life style can make you unconsciously anxious and uneasy. Both the house and personal possessions that you are sorting through are your memories and past lives. Psychologically, letting them go is a process of grief and it takes time to pass through. You may have resistance, resentments, indecisiveness, sadness before making the commitment for downsizing.
There are some positive thinking can help:
Decision Making
Some are hesitant to take on this late life challenge. But staying in a large family home into retirement becomes costly and makes it difficult to age in place. Nearly 30% of retired homeowner expenditures are housing-related, which includes taxes, insurance, upkeep, and utilities.
Moving to a smaller home with less maintenance and/or a place where your retirement life is more relaxing with lowing cost of living can free up your physical and financial resources for happy golden years ahead. Now is your opportunity to relocate (not for work this time) to a more comfortable climate or a dream place elsewhere. Your will need time think through for making this important decision - location (where you want to retire with distance to family members, weather, convenience and other factors taking into consideration), property type and size of housing for an active retirement (community, facilities, and comfortable living space) and calculate the numbers with all taxes, insurance, utilities and HOA fees, etc accounted for.
Moving is a high-stress life event, especially when downsizing. You may have strong sense of attachment to your home and local community. You may fear to leave your comfort zone. An unknown neighborhood and change of life style can make you unconsciously anxious and uneasy. Both the house and personal possessions that you are sorting through are your memories and past lives. Psychologically, letting them go is a process of grief and it takes time to pass through. You may have resistance, resentments, indecisiveness, sadness before making the commitment for downsizing.
There are some positive thinking can help:
- See downsizing is to simplify life, which less is more. The loss of a burden is a gain of new freedom. With proactive planning and preparations, simplified life is more meaningful and enjoyable.
- Think about your goals and needs in the next 10 years and taking it into decision making considerations. Downsizing can have many possibilities for your needs, i.e., from a mansion to a smaller house or from independent living to assisted living.
- Explore available options and evaluate your choices objectively. Downsizing does not mean to compromise quality of life. Write down the pros and cons of each option/choice for a clear view and be able to prioritize rationally.
- Learn more about the new location/housing for realistic expectations - the facilities, community, services (benefits and limitations), costs, reviews and feedback from local residents (be aware of paid testimonials). Openly discuss with your children and other family members for thoughts sharing and support.
- After all, the decision is yours. Make sure this is what you really want to do and this is the right thing to do. If you have doubts, don’t rush.
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The sooner you make the decision and start the process the more manageable it will be for you. Don’t wait. A move at age 70+ will not be easier than a move at age 65. When you are determined now is the time for the move, you may also realized “downsizing” is not an easy task. Downsizing and moving during retirement is a massive undertaking but with the proper planning can turn out to be a productive, life enhancing adventure.
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Preparation For Moving
By now, you have accumulated a lot of personal belongings from past life. You don’t know what to do with them now and it’s hard to let go. The reality is, there’s no way to avoid these hard decisions. Your possessions comes with a physical occupancy and a psychological cost, regardless of the size. It’s easily get lost in a cluttered life and unable to have a clear vision. Deciding what is important to us on a material level can lead to a better understanding of your values and priorities. The process of sorting through possessions and making conscious choices to decide how much and what you want to carry on will redefine purpose of life. Downsizing space can relieve financial worries and maintenance burdens, leaving more time and money to enjoy life.
The mindset is the first step in simplifying and downsizing your life. It may take some time to work with detach your emotions and let go of the items means a lot to you.
Practical tips:
Creating a system to keep organized
Downsizing is often easier if done over time. Make a plan to get done. One small job or an hour at a time is fine. Don’t rush, just keep making progress.
By now, you have accumulated a lot of personal belongings from past life. You don’t know what to do with them now and it’s hard to let go. The reality is, there’s no way to avoid these hard decisions. Your possessions comes with a physical occupancy and a psychological cost, regardless of the size. It’s easily get lost in a cluttered life and unable to have a clear vision. Deciding what is important to us on a material level can lead to a better understanding of your values and priorities. The process of sorting through possessions and making conscious choices to decide how much and what you want to carry on will redefine purpose of life. Downsizing space can relieve financial worries and maintenance burdens, leaving more time and money to enjoy life.
The mindset is the first step in simplifying and downsizing your life. It may take some time to work with detach your emotions and let go of the items means a lot to you.
Practical tips:
- With strong rationalized reasons, identify clear goals for downsizing.
- Make sure you are comfortable and committed to take on this uneasy task.
- Focus on the present and take actions begin with small things
- Be aware of your emotional attachment to your belongings. Evacuate each item objectively without emotions and decide what’s important to you now.
- When you feel overwhelmed, stop and take a break.
- Keep what you love and make you happy. For anything bring up a pain, let it go. Remind yourself for happiness, not sadness.
- Set your own standard for “enough” and break the never-ending cycle of buying new stuff. You have exempt yourself from idolize material possessions and a simplified life shall be more enjoyable.
Creating a system to keep organized
Downsizing is often easier if done over time. Make a plan to get done. One small job or an hour at a time is fine. Don’t rush, just keep making progress.
- Start with the most important items and keep them secure.
- Label each box packed with numbering and content marked and label the rooms
- Sorting by room and consolidate into categories (see some examples below), then decide to keep, sell, donation, or trash:
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This process can be tough and time consuming. Allow time for changing your mind back and forth. It is natural to feel guilty for throw away usable items or to be indecisive for future usage concerns. From practice, you will learn to letting go and feel the joy of de-clutter.
Have questions or need help? Contact QualityLifeForum@outlook.com for personalized support.
Summary
Downsizing is a personal choice. Moving to a smaller home with less maintenance and/or a place where your retirement life is more relaxing with lowing cost of living can free up your physical and financial resources for happy golden years ahead. Your will need time think through for making this important decision. Downsizing and moving during retirement is a massive undertaking but with the proper planning can turn out to be a productive, life enhancing adventure. The process of sorting through possessions and making conscious choices to decide how much and what you want to carry on will redefine purpose of life. Downsizing space can relieve financial worries and maintenance burdens, enhance quality of life in the golden years.
Reference:
https://www.homelight.com/blog/downsizing-for-retirement/
http://www.diamondgeriatrics.com/newsletters/2011-newsletters/making-the-decision-to-downsize-and-move/
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/10-tips-for-successful-downsizing-in-retirement-2018-10-10
http://sixtyandme.com/downsizing-key-to-happiness-after-50/
https://agingwithfreedom.com/2019/01/08/at-what-age-should-seniors-downsize/
© All rights reserved
Disclaimer: This information is for educational and informational purposes only.
Have questions or need help? Contact QualityLifeForum@outlook.com for personalized support.
Summary
Downsizing is a personal choice. Moving to a smaller home with less maintenance and/or a place where your retirement life is more relaxing with lowing cost of living can free up your physical and financial resources for happy golden years ahead. Your will need time think through for making this important decision. Downsizing and moving during retirement is a massive undertaking but with the proper planning can turn out to be a productive, life enhancing adventure. The process of sorting through possessions and making conscious choices to decide how much and what you want to carry on will redefine purpose of life. Downsizing space can relieve financial worries and maintenance burdens, enhance quality of life in the golden years.
Reference:
https://www.homelight.com/blog/downsizing-for-retirement/
http://www.diamondgeriatrics.com/newsletters/2011-newsletters/making-the-decision-to-downsize-and-move/
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/10-tips-for-successful-downsizing-in-retirement-2018-10-10
http://sixtyandme.com/downsizing-key-to-happiness-after-50/
https://agingwithfreedom.com/2019/01/08/at-what-age-should-seniors-downsize/
© All rights reserved
Disclaimer: This information is for educational and informational purposes only.
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To support healthy aging, all helps are sincerely appreciated. We hope more people to share the benefits and making contributions to support Quality Life Forum continued health coaching education and services. You can help now by sharing [passing on QLF valuable health coaching resource for other’s benefit] and giving [click here for a donation in any amount]. Your help will benefit many others in need and make you feel great for your kind act of giving.
To support healthy aging, all helps are sincerely appreciated. We hope more people to share the benefits and making contributions to support Quality Life Forum continued health coaching education and services. You can help now by sharing [passing on QLF valuable health coaching resource for other’s benefit] and giving [click here for a donation in any amount]. Your help will benefit many others in need and make you feel great for your kind act of giving.
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