Rightsizing for Seniors: A Guide to Simple Downsizing

As we age and our children move away from home, it’s essential to know when it’s time to simplify your life to enjoy retirement and focus on the important things. You may no longer want to worry about mowing the lawn, cleaning gutters, or vacuuming a large house. If you’re ready to reduce stressors in your life, discover how downsizing can better help with the transition to retirement living.

What Is the Difference Between Rightsizing and Downsizing?

You may already be asking what the differences between rightsizing and downsizing are, which is a great question. They refer to the same concept; however, rightsizing is typically the word used by the experts involved in the process. In essence, rightsizing is the industry-preferred term while downsizing is more common for everyday use.

What is Rightsizing?

Rightsizing, or downsizing, is the process of sorting and simplifying your belongings usually in preparation to move to a community like Ovation Sienna Hills.

Many downsizing (or rightsizing) companies describe the steps as:

Sorting and organizing belongings
Deciding what to keep, give to family, sell, donate, or recycle
Decluttering to increase accessibility, and improve safety
Packing away items and arranging for shipping or delivery to family or charities
Selling items you no longer need or want

Parting with personal items can be difficult and even painful at times, especially if they’re associated with your past professional relationships, friends or family members. Finding an expert who can guide you through this process with compassion and thoughtfulness with a clear purpose in mind will make rightsizing easier and fulfilling.

How Can I Reap The Benefits of Rightsizing?

These steps may seem like work, but with the right downsizing experts and a clear goal, you’ll find that it’s worth the effort. Three primary benefits of rightsizing include:

Decluttering unused or unnecessary personal belongings can reduce stress in your life. You may not realize it, but to maintain and store of items that you no longer need or use can be impacting you more than you know.
Removing things that you don’t enjoy can alter your lifestyle. As Marie Kondo says, “Keep only those things that speak to your heart. Then take the plunge and discard all the rest. By doing this, you can reset your life and embark on a new lifestyle.”
Donating items to those who really need them can make your spirit soar. Downsizing can be more than just about simplifying for a move to a new home. By donating useful things to thrift stores or nonprofits, you can benefit people who may not be able to afford them otherwise.

Tips for Getting Started on Rightsizing

When you start this exciting process, it’s beneficial to keep a few things in mind:

Be realistic about how much cooking, entertaining, or exercising you’ll be doing in your new home. For example, do you still need a espresso machine? A stationary bike? Keep in mind the space you’ll have in your new retirement home and what you’ll want to spend your time doing.
Don’t get upset if your children don’t want your things. Younger generations have moved towards minimalism, so don’t be put off if they’re not exciting to adopt your items.
Start small and work your way up. You don’t have to purge everything at once. Perhaps start by sorting your things and then making piles by category before removing anything.

From hiking trails, fine-dining, fitness centers, and libraries to social activities and access to major entertainment areas like Las Vegas, senior living communities can be the perfect spot to relocate after downsizing. They provide a safe, entertaining, and social environment to retire. Learn more about independent living opportunities in Utah by contacting Ovation Sienna Hills today!