TIPS ON HOW TO EMOTIONALLY DOWNSIZE
DOWNSIZING can bring with it a host of emotions, regardless of whether you’re moving for financial, health or lifestyle reasons.
Not only will there be feelings of excitement about the prospect of a more carefree lifestyle, there’ll also be moments of sadness, grief, stress or anxiety.
Understanding and accepting these feelings may help the downsizing process go smoother, says Dr David Mischoulon, the director of the Depression Clinical and Research Program at Harvardaffiliated Massachusetts General Hospital.
“Letting go of your home and belongings can feel like you’re letting go of a particular part of your life,” he said.
“There’s a realisation that you can’t get the past back. If you’re feeling sad about your move or about letting go of possessions, understand that you’re going through a process of mourning. It’s not a sign of weakness or mental illness.
“Know that it will pass and not much is needed to be done except to stay connected to friends and family and talk about your feelings.”
Dr Mischoulon says staying socially connected is as important as taking medicine and he recommends downsizers engage with their new community and find activities that interest them.
“Maintaining meaningful social relationships makes people happier,” he said.
“Volunteering is associated with mental wellbeing. Isolation and loneliness, however, are associated with a decline in thinking skills and longevity, and an increased risk for developing chronic health problems, such as heart disease.”
When it comes to anxiety about all the unknowns that are associated with downsizing, particularly in regards to which belongings to keep and which to leave behind, Dr Mischoulon suggests people keep things based on whether they bring happiness.
“It may ease your worries if you can pass on your belongings to your children,” he said.
“But let them decide if there’s anything they’d like to keep for the long term. If there isn’t, it’s all the more reason to let go of something.
“And when it comes to worrying about how you’ll cope in the next phase of life, you didn’t have all the answers when you were young and you may not have them now.
“But if you make an effort to be active and engaged in your new community, you may find that this next stage will offer plenty of interest and fulfilment.”
• This is the fourth in a series of monthly columns.