We refer to downsizing a home as a bad thing. Your kids are out of the house. You can't keep the home clean anymore. You can't afford to stay in the large empty house. But, if you change your attitude and downsize before you need to, it will then be a positive change on your own terms.
It is important to let go of things that do not need to be with you. Those shoes from your grown child when they were a baby. Will they really want an old pair of shoes? I think not. By letting go of unused and unwanted items in your home, it will make room for the things you do want to have around you. It will help you clear out any distractions and help you focus on what you want.
So, downsizing to a smaller space doesn't have to be a bad thing. Think of it as a means to help you move to where you want to be. Here are reasons to downsize and benefits to downsizing your home.
Reasons to downsize your home:
1. Not enough time to do all the chores that need to be done to maintain the house.
2. Your business changes and you need to change the space.
3. You want to reach the goals you set for yourself.
4. You do not use extra space anymore.
5. You may need one level, not two.
6. You want to get rid of stuff so you can be more of a minimalist.
Benefits to downsize your home:
1. Being able to clean the house quickly as compared to larger homes - less to care for.
2. It takes less money to repair items in a smaller house.
3. Smaller space equals a smaller amount of stuff in it.
4. Smaller homes are generally fewer expenses.
5. You are actually helping your children by downsizing before you get too old or pass. Have you heard about "The Gental Art of Swedish Death Cleaning" by Margareta Magnusson? (This link is an Amazon Associates like, if you purchase this book through this link, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.)
Downsizing shouldn't be a bad thing. It doesn't have to be a negative statement by any means. Look for the bright side and the benefits of the downsizing process. Think of it this way, your goals are more important than your larger home. To make it a better experience, make the change your decision, not the circumstances that surround the reason for downsizing.
Visit our downsizing posts to start your process.
HOW TO DOWNSIZE THE HOME WITHOUT MOVING
HOW TO FIND THE PERFECT HOME WHEN DOWNSIZING
Visit our entire section on our blog for downsizing for other posts related to how to get rid of your stuff.
Where to donate unwanted stuff?
Locations to Donate Your Stuff
RECYCLING LOCATIONS AND SHREDDER EVENTS
HOW TO GET RID OF HOUSEHOLD ELECTRONICS
PLACES TO DONATE JEWELRY YOU DO NOT WANT
Nancy Haworth
Thanks for sharing these benefits of downsizing your home. With so many people self isolating, now is a good time to focus on decluttering. Downsizing can certainly make life easier, lower stress, and save money!
Deb Lee
"Not enough time to do all the chores that need to be done to maintain the house." <-- Such a great reminder. Lots of us probably think of downsizing when we're moving or leaving or home to go to a smaller one. Downsizing can be very helpful when we're staying. It can make life so much easier and help save time with maintaining and keeping up with household tasks.
Linda Samuels
I like the proactive, positive approach you have about downsizing. One of the terms I've heard as an alternate to downsizing is "right-sizing." I like that because it implies all of the positive attributes that you mentioned. And it sets the stage for a forward-thinking choice rather than a punishment or sad time.
Recently, one of my friends moved to another state and right-sized. She's now in a home a quarter of the size and is SO happy. She's experienced some health challenges and said that it's so much easier NOT to have a big place to manage and care for. It's easier for her to focus on caring for her self and enjoying life.
We live in a relatively small house. But as small as it is, sometimes I think about going even smaller. A fantasy is living in a "tiny house." Have you seen those shows? I am fascinated by how they are so well designed. I'm sure that isn't where we'll end up. My husband thinks we would need two of them (a his and hers.) For now we're staying put. But I still think that it's useful to let go of the extraneous whether you are planning to move or not.
Seana Turner
This is a great time to go through accumulated memorabilia or other things and make decisions if downsizing is in your future. Time is always an asset, and something we usually run short on!
Janet Schiesl
You write about a lot of the reasons that people move into tiny houses. The change of lifestyle can free up time and money.