If you’re planning on downsizing for retirement, you’ll know that the prospect of editing your belongings can be daunting. So it’s a good idea to remind yourself that letting go of some of the ‘stuff’ you’ve accumulated over the years can be liberating – and it’s part of the process of giving yourself a fresh start. And hopefully, once you’ve completed your downsizing project, you’ll be left with only the things you truly need and love. Here are three tips to help you get started.

“Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.” – William Morris

1. Give yourself a head start
Don’t wait until the last minute to start your downsizing journey. Instead, save yourself the stress and allocate enough time to work through each area of your home thoroughly.

“The question of what you want to own is actually the question of how you want to live your life.” – Marie Kondo

2. Tackle a bit at a time
When you look at your home as a whole, decluttering and downsizing your ‘stuff’ can seem like a mammoth task. So, rather divide your home into zones and tackle one zone at a time. Once you get stuck in, you’ll find that you gain momentum with each area that you complete.

“The first step in crafting the life you want is to get rid of everything you don’t.” —Joshua Becker

3. Persevere
Downsizing does mean rolling up your sleeves and getting to work, but it will be worth it in the end. So do whatever you need to do to motivate yourself – turn up the volume on your favourite playlist, promise yourself a delicious dinner out, book a trip to the spa – and just keep going.

Retiring in the near future?
Why not explore the benefits of purchasing a life right in an Evergreen Lifestyle Village? Our Partnership for Life promise means that we are committed to offering our residents financial peace of mind, physical security and continuous care, and that we nurture a strong sense of community in each of our villages. For more information, contact Sharon on 087 808 7000 or email info@evergreenlifestyle.co.za.