Decluttering--A Gift to Yourself and Others

For many people, decorating for the holidays means pulling storage boxes from spare rooms, the basement, or the attic. 

If you're thinking of moving to a retirement community in the near future, why not pull all of them? 

In my experience as a planning and moving consultant, I've discovered that we all tend to accumulate things. Decluttering during this festive time of year presents the unique opportunity to gift someone else the items you no longer need or use.

It's also an opportunity to freshen and open up your living space, setting the perfect tone for the new year ahead. 

Start slow

While unpacking your holiday decor, you may come across some items with sentimental meaning, which can be hard to let go of. Rather than tackling those first, I suggest starting with a set or collection. 

Many people I've worked with find it helpful to keep a piece or part of something bigger. 

For instance, in a house with six front-facing windows, you may have six holiday wreaths. Reducing that collection to just one wreath is a great place to start. If you have an 8- or 12-person china set you never use, consider keeping one dish for candy or jewelry and giving the rest away. 

If you have several ornaments from a favorite travel destination, pick one and offer the others to family members. Another option is to take photos of the ornaments that carry a special memory, and then give yourself the gift of an album containing all the beautiful photos.

It's important to remember that giving something away does not mean you are letting go of the memories!

Filling a need for others

Going through your items and identifying the things you no longer need or use can also provide a welcome possession for others, especially for those in need during the holiday season. 

A good place to start is your linen and coat closets. Blankets and winter coats are in demand at many homeless shelters and other places of refuge. If you live in a warmer climate, look for extra carry-on or duffle bags that can be donated.

In addition, each Erickson Senior Living community is filled with resident clubs and groups that partner with local organizations throughout the year for food and clothing drives. The planning and moving consultant at your local Erickson Senior Living community is a great resource for connecting you with these groups. They can help identify the organization that will benefit the most from your generosity. 

Picture a fresh new space

Over the years, I've learned that one of the most impactful exercises when it comes to decluttering is visualizing what a fresh new space will look like. For Priority List members, a home visit with a planning and moving consultant helps facilitate this process. If you're not ready to schedule a home visit, however, you can still benefit from our support.

I recently began a program called Mondays With Mimosas that helps prospective residents visualize themselves in a new home, complete with refreshments! Each month, I select a new floor plan to highlight and host the event inside an apartment home that has that layout. 

Guests are encouraged to bring the dimensions of the furniture pieces they'd like to bring with them when they move. Then, together, using a magnetic board, we "place" their furniture into the space. Seeing a potential apartment home come to life with your own furniture really helps inform the process and has proven to be extremely helpful to future residents.

Planning and moving consultants at each Erickson Senior Living community host similar events that offer this key information and support.

Find an Erickson Senior Living community near you to learn more about the realty and moving services that can help you plan for a future move.