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​Downsizing In the Golden Years
(Quality Life Forum Support Series) ​
Health Coaching Session, August, 2019

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:
  • 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. ​
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:


  1. With strong rationalized reasons, identify clear goals for downsizing.
  2. Make sure you are comfortable and committed to take on this uneasy task.
  3. Focus on the present and take actions begin with small things
  4. Be aware of your emotional attachment to your belongings. Evacuate each item objectively without emotions and decide what’s important to you now.
  5. When you feel overwhelmed, stop and take a break.
  6. Keep what you love and make you happy. For anything bring up a pain, let it go. Remind yourself for happiness, not sadness.
  7. 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.
  1. Start with the most important items and keep them secure.
  2. Label each box packed with numbering and content marked and label the rooms 
  3. Sorting by room and consolidate into categories (see some examples below), then decide to keep, sell, donation, or trash:
  • Furniture Home décor/arts
  • Home décor/art
  • Bedding
  • Clothes/foot wear
  • Books
  • CDs and DVDs
  • Sports gear and old hobby materials
  • Bags and luggage
  • Kitchen gadgets
  • Collection item from vacations and special events, gifts
  • Consider scan all Paperwork –photos, Kids’ Art, Legal Documents, Etc. and Then Shred It
  • Tools
  • Miscellaneous
Picture
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/

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Disclaimer: This information is for educational and informational purposes only. 
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  • Home
  • Forum
    • Mind and Body
    • Feeling well
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  • Coaching
    • Coaching Programs >
      • Loneliness Breakthrough
      • Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes
      • Time-Restricted Feeding for Healthy Aging
      • Patient-centered Health Navigation Program
      • Customized program
    • 2022 health coaching monthly >
      • Health: the Cornerstone for Quality of Life
      • Aging Eye Facts
      • Age-Related Hearing Loss
      • Aging and Oral Health
      • Aging Skin and Sun Safety
      • Making Transition From A Patient To An Educated Healthcare Customer
      • Daily Routine for Healthy Aging
    • 2021 Health Coaching Monthly >
      • Hew Year Brings New Hope
      • Pandemic Winter Blues
      • Make a Self-Care Plan for Your Golden Years
      • Are You Fully Vaccinated?
      • Less is More
      • Managing Chronic Insomnia
      • Range of Motion Recovery from Frozen Shoulder
      • The Milestone of Age 65
      • Aging Brain
      • Muscle Memory and Cognition
      • Navigation for Healthcare Needs
      • Gratitude Power for Wellbeing
    • 2020 health coaching Monthly >
      • The Key Role of Protein in Healthy Aging
      • Healthy Fat for Healthy Aging
      • Healthy Aging Energy Source Carbohydrate
      • Transform Pandemic Fear to Self-Care
      • Hope endures
      • Breathing and Blessing
      • Listening to your body
      • Keep Fit for Your Age
      • Time-Restricted Feeding Is A Healthy Lifestyle Choice
      • Process and Results
      • Moderation
      • Invest In yourself
    • 2019 Health Coaching Monthly >
      • Empty Nest
      • Food Safety and H. pylori Infection
      • Body Image and Self-Care After Midlife
      • Exercise is Medicine
      • Cognitive Health
      • Dietary Supplements Are Not Drugs
      • GERD
      • Downsizing in the Golden Years
      • Time for change
      • Action is what counts
      • Osteoporosis in Women
      • Dealing with Difficult Emotions in Holiday Season
    • 2018 Health Coaching monthly >
      • The Golden Keys for the Golden Years
      • loneliness Breakthrough
      • Regulate Blood Pressure
      • Lowering Cholesterol
      • Blood Sugar Self-Management
      • TLC Transformation
      • Golden Mindset
      • Nourish Your Body for Healthy Living
      • Keep Life in Motion
      • Tough Fight for the Belly Fat
      • Dealing with chronic stress
      • The Most Valuable Gift
    • 2017 Health Coaching monthly >
      • Willness Attitude and Winterizing Fitness
      • Live with Thyroid Nodules
      • Exercise for Blood Sugar Regulation
      • Longevity and Quality of Life
      • How to Reduce Aging Eye Fatigue
      • Sleep Well
      • Intermittent Fasting
      • Facing a life-threatening illness
      • Music Learning for older adults
      • Better to Eat Meat or Plant Food
      • Immunity and Aging
      • A Special Holiday Gift
    • 2016 Health Coaching Monthly >
      • Wellness Mindset
      • Get Active
      • Balance Training
      • Emotional Healing
      • Vitamin D Deficiency
      • Weight Management
      • Health Literacy
      • Prevention
      • Significant Health Indicators
      • Gratitude for life
      • Home Coming for Holidays
  • Health Product Guide
    • Choices for Healthy Living
    • Vitamins and minerals
    • Digestive Health
    • Heart Health
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  • About
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  • Blogs
    • Blog How much water to drink in a day?
    • Blog What’s Good to Eat?
    • Blog Are You Motivated for a Healthy Life Style?
    • Blog A Green Tea Invitation
    • Blog The Value of Vitamin and Dietary Supplements
    • Blog Holiday Edition 2015
    • Blog Travel album of Switzerland
    • Blog A Mourning Dove Story