The life-changing magic of downsizing

Decluttering for retirement can help you keep hold of meaningful memories, but remove the stuff that holds you back from making room for new adventures

Whether you’ve moved several times during your adult life, or have remained in the same family home for most of it, chances are if you’re planning to downsize perhaps to a lower maintenance home, or into a retirement village, you’ll need to say goodbye to some of the stuff you’ve accumulated over the years.

You may be doing so out of necessity, but you’ll actually be joining a global trend with people all over the world discovering the benefits of downsizing and decluttering. Experts such as Japanese tidying guru Marie Kondo have helped people simplify their lives by sorting their possessions, keeping only what they truly need and love.

That’s not to say it’s easy. Moving is an emotional process and it’s perfectly natural to feel a range of emotions as you decide what to keep and what to part with. But getting ready for the next phase of life in an inspiring new environment is also exciting. Less clutter means less stress and will make your new space easier to look after.

Or a new space could be the excuse you need to treat yourself to a new lounge suite, a brand new kitchen or a fancy new coffee machine.

As with any big task, breaking the process down into small, manageable tasks will make it easier both emotionally and physically.

It’s a good idea to request a scale floor plan of your new retirement unit or home and check the size of any large items you want to take. That way you’ll know ahead of time whether they’ll fit and the best way to arrange them.

The Marie Kondo method of decluttering suggests you ask yourself if each item you own ‘brings joy’. Some other questions to ask are: Will it fit? Will I use it (or wear it)? Can I live without it? Could it get better use with someone else? Another good tip for letting go is to turn all your hangers back to front and as you wear the item, turn the hanger around. By the end of a six month period you’ll know what your go to items are and what never gets worn.

Enlist the help of family in the sorting process. They may be keen to take some heirlooms or sentimental items to their own homes. Conversely, they may not actually want things you’ve been planning to hand on one day. Family, or even some experts who do this for a living, can help you work out what you can sell, what to donate to charities, and what needs to be thrown out. They can also help with unpacking at the other end.

This next phase is all about living your best life. That means keeping your best and parting with anything that merely takes up space. Give your everyday dinner set and sheets away and enjoy what you’ve always saved for special occasions. There’s no point taking anything that doesn’t work, is broken, or you never really liked anyway.

Books, knick-knacks and pictures that hold memories are important, but there are plenty of ways of preserving the memories without being overwhelmed by stuff. Edit collections down to a few special pieces, and reduce photos to highlights from each year.

Hone your skills by starting with the rooms with the least sentimental items. You’ll probably be surprised at the doubleups and expired items lurking at the back of the kitchen and bathroom cupboards.

Retirement village living is about removing the complexities of a larger property, thus freeing you up to do the things you love. Decluttering is not so much about getting rid of the things that won’t fit, but about making a new space for the things that matter.

For downsizing tips and more free guides to living your best life in retirement, check out the MetGuides library at metlifecare.co.nz/guides