This
article is designed to offer seniors pertinent advice on the subject of
“getting organized” in your golden years. For most seniors, this is a process
of “downsizing” and taking stock of affairs and priorities.
A
LIFETIME OF ACCUMULATION
Human
nature compels us to collect and guard our resources, and society has taught us
to own and consume. So it is not surprising that by the time many people reach
“senior citizen” status at the age of 65, they have accumulated an impressive
amount of stuff. Beyond the living spaces of our homes, our attics, basements, garages,
and storage units have become filled with the stored treasures of time. For
many, these belongings are an important reflection and reminder of the lives they’ve
led and ultimately “who they are.” There can come a point, however, when these belongings
become more of a burden than a blessing for seniors, and for a variety of
reasons – often relating to practicality and safety – they eventually feel a
strong, natural compulsion or experience a sudden, pressing need or to downsize.
DOWNSIZING
Downsizing
is commonly understood to be the process of simplifying one’s life by reducing
the volume of your belongings through a sorting and purging process. Downsizing
can also involve reducing the number of commitments, activities, or other
“things” which require your time, energy, money, and other resources. Fundamentally,
downsizing involves reviewing, evaluating, and re-organizing your stuff,
affairs, and priorities so that you can free up space in your life – both
physical and mental. There are many reasons that that seniors elect to
downsize. Not wanting to burden loved ones with having to “deal with their
affairs” once they’ve passed away is one common reason. Moving into a smaller
space that cannot accommodate all of their belongings – such as to a
retirement, assisted living, or nursing home – is another common reason.
Whatever your reason, there are seven tips that I’d like to share as I believe
they will make your downsizing experience more successful.
7 DOWNSIZING
TIPS
(1)
Honor Yourself
Society often
makes the insulting and very unfair error of assuming that all seniors are “incapacitated”
in some way or that they are no longer able to make decisions for themselves.
As a senior endowed with all of your mental faculties, it is very important for
your dignity that you do not let these false assumptions influence your downsizing
efforts. If you feel pressure from your family to downsize but have no interest
in doing it, or if you and your family have different ideas about what your
downsizing project should entail, speak your mind. It’s your life, your stuff,
and no one has the authority to boss you around. This is not to say that I
recommend excommunicating your family: I recommend thoughtful, sensitive
dialogue and clear, open communication. Ultimately, you must be on board for whatever
downsizing changes you are making in your life (or others are making on your
behalf).
(2)
Articulate Your Goals
At the start
of any organizing project, it is very important that you identify your reasons
for undertaking the project (what’s been bothering you about your ‘status quo’?
, why do you want to make a change and get organized, and why now?). It’s also
critical that you outline a set of specific goals for the project (at the end
of this project, I will have achieved X, Y, and Z). By articulating these
things up front and putting them on paper, you give yourself a measuring stick
to work against and an important written reminder of why you are doing this
hard work. It can be inspiring and reassuring to look back at these written
goals if, and when, you feel yourself losing heart partway through the project.
Having these things on paper also helps the important people in your life who
are involved in the project – family, caregivers, etc – to understand and feel
in sync with your priorities.
(3)
Recognize Your Limits
It’s
taken a lifetime to acquire the things you own, so it is not realistic to
expect that you can sort and purge them in a week or two. Downsizing is
generally a big job. It is going to take time. If you tire easily or have
certain health conditions, it may take even more time. The process of handling
your belongings – emptying closets and cupboards, lifting and sifting through
boxes, etc – can be physically draining.
And deciding what to keep versus what to get rid of, as well as how to
get rid of it, involves a tremendous amount of decision making that can be very
tiring and emotional. It will be important that you acknowledge your emotions
and pace yourself at a comfortable rate so that you don’t burn out.
(4)
Build and Rely On a Support Team
Whenever
we go through big changes in our lives – marriages, births, deaths, divorces,
moves, new jobs, etc. – we are best served when we reach out, ask for, and
accept help. None of us is a superhero, so the support of loved ones and
experts is key to making these transitions go more smoothly and be less
stressful than if we try to go it alone. Beginning a major organizing project
is one of these times: you are going to need the physical, emotional, and
professional support of others. Family and friends may be willing to work side-by-side
with you as you sit and sort through your belongings. If you’re open to it,
they may also be able to offer insights for what to keep or divest yourself of,
and perhaps they can do some of the heavy lifting, reach the items that are
stored up high, take the trash and recycling out, drive your donation items to
the local charity, etc. If you are committed to addressing not just your
belongings but also your day-to-day and/or estate affairs as part of your
downsizing project, you will want to consider adding folks to your team who can
serve you in the areas where you need help. If you are physically disabled, do
you need assistance with meal preparation, housekeeping, or personal hygiene?
If you no longer drive, do you need the services of a transportation company?
If you have difficulty with memory, do you need help managing your calendar and
appointments? If your estate affairs are not in order, do you need the counsel
of a lawyer or financial advisor? Getting professionals lined up to support you
is an important part of getting organized. Professional Organizers can assist
with identifying these needs and recommending service providers. As
experienced, objective professionals, Professional Organizers are also able to
provide hands-on help with your sorting and purging work, and we can coordinate
the removal of items so that they get to the destination (charity, resale shop,
etc.) of your choice. Moreover, an Organizer can teach you organizing skills, make
recommendations to optimize your use of space, and design custom systems that address your unique organizing challenges.
(5)
Schedule Work Sessions
For your
downsizing project to be a success, you are going to need to devote time. To make
sure this happens, I suggest that you make formal “work sessions” (2-3 hours
per session is typically a good length, though you should go with what feels
best for you) and get these onto your schedule. If you keep a paper or
electronic calendar, records your sessions into it; if you keep track of your
appointments in some other way, make sure that you get these work sessions on
the agenda. Take them seriously, as you would a doctor’s appointment or meeting
with your accountant, and I guarantee that you will see progress!
(6)
Roll Up Your Sleeves & Achieve
To make
your sorting and purging work as enjoyable and efficient as possible, I
recommend that you pick a finite “zone” to address during each given work
session – perhaps a closet, a dresser, a desk, a bookshelf, or a small area
within the basement or garage. Always set up your work area for the day by
introducing up a comfortable chair, a card table or other work surface, good
lighting, and trash and recycle bins. Also make sure that you have the tools
at-hand that you will need, such as post-its, markers, boxes, and tape. Then
gradually work your way through the items in the zone: for each item, decide
whether to keep it or divest yourself of it. If you decide to part with the
item, you will need to determine where it goes – options typically include:
-
Donate the item to charity
-
Gift the item to a family member or friend
-
Sell the item via a yard sale, at a resale shop, on
Craigslist, or through some other channel
-
Consign the item at a consignment shop
-
Throw away the item in the trash
-
And for papers: If no longer needed for tax, legal,
financial, or others reasons, Recycle or Shred the paper based on the presence
of sensitive personal information such as account numbers, date of birth, etc.
If you
encounter items which stir up emotions and leave you unsure whether to keep or
divest, asking yourself these questions might prove helpful in reaching a
decision. Also, try to think of things in this way: the idea isn’t to focus on
getting rid of stuff, it’s to identify and retain the items which are most
essential and precious to you.
-
Do I use it? When was the last time I used
it?
-
Do I love it?
-
Do I have space to reasonably store it?
-
Could someone else use it or enjoy it more
than me?
-
What’s the worst case scenario if I get rid
of it?
As your
boxes fill up with items for charity and items to give to family, etc, I
recommend that you don’t let them sit for too long – get those items out of
your home as soon as possible, otherwise they may have a tendency to end up
sitting around for a long time.
(7)
Prioritize Your Safety
Earlier
I mentioned that people make assumptions about seniors. I hope I am not making
an unfair assumption now, but I want to talk about the importance of
prioritizing safety as you work through your downsizing project. For example, be
mindful of trip and slip hazards in your living space: remove cords that are in
pathways on the floor, reposition furniture and other items that pose an
obstacle to your movement, relocate your most frequently used items to
easy-to-reach places, and so on. Also be mindful of fire hazards and
ventilation: keep counters and stovetops clear, and make sure that heating
vents and fans are unblocked. And if you are taking stock of your day-to-day
affairs, be mindful of things like food safety (make sure you have a system in
place for reviewing & throwing our foods which have passed their expiration
dates) and medication safety (have a reliable system for ensuring that you take
the right medicine in the right dosage at the right time of day).
CONCLUSION
Whether
you’ve just turned 65 and are spry as a spring chicken, or whether you are 95
and slowing down a bit, downsizing can have a place in everyone’s lives. It’s
all about freeing up space, time, and energy so that you can then devote
yourself to the activities, people, and passions that bring you the greatest
joy. I wish you well in your project!
For more organizing tips, visit www.napomichigan.com.
