Downsizing And Starting Over in Your 60s Is Emotional: How to Design the Life You Really Want
The Downsizing Designer
If you’re in your 60s or 70s, perhaps you have already downsized. You might be saying, “Why didn’t I downsize sooner?”
You might be experiencing a home and a lifestyle that is better suited for you at this stage of your life.
You have more time, energy, and freedom to enjoy life… life is fun again!
More travels and exploring new placesMore time with family, friends, and grandchildrenNew hobbies, sports, businesses to createYou have already gone through the physical and emotional challenges of the downsizing journey.
But for those of you in your 60s and 70s who are just now beginning your own downsizing journey, this blog is intended just for you.
Downsizing is physically and emotionally exhausting. I’m not going to lie and tell you it’s easy, because it’s not.
But what I will tell you, is that it’s worth the time, effort, and tears because just like so many clients say after they’ve gone through it, “I wish I had downsized sooner.”
They are now living a simpler life with less stuff, less work, and less maintenance.They now have more time, energy, and freedom to live the life they really want.1. Face it. Change is hard and it’s scary.
If you’re in your 50s, 60, or 70s…
Your life is changing.You’re entering a new chapter.You are in transition.Empty NesterYou’ve become an empty nester. Kids are grown and gone.
The house seems so big… and so empty.
Divorced or WidowedYou’ve recently become divorced or widowed. You lost your spouse or partner. You’re suddenly left alone.
The house holds both good and bad memories. It may have become unaffordable.
AgingYou’re starting to feel the impact of aging. It’s harder to climb the stairs, the maintenance is too much.
The house has become a burden.
These are just a few of the reasons people in their 60s and 70s want or need to downsize to a smaller, more manageable home. And moving to a smaller home means you have to let go of a lot of stuff.
2. Letting go of your sentimental items is emotionalYour home and the things in it hold many memories of special times and people in your life.
It’s natural to develop an emotional attachment to them and the thought of getting rid of them might make you feel like you’ll lose them and all of those wonderful memories.
But remember, memories are in your heart not in the things.
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3. Making the decision to downsize takes time. It’s not easy. It’s emotional.Saying goodbye to the house you’ve lived in for 30 years, the neighbors, the friends, and the familiar surroundings, even though you realize the house is too big and requires too much maintenance, and is no longer affordable.
If you want to close this chapter of your life and open a new chapter, it does require:
Courage to changeLearning to let go of the emotional attachment to your home and your stuff.Committing to the downsizing journey and what it takes to make it happen.Learning from friends and family who have already downsized.Reframing your thinking from “it’s too hard” to “it’s a new opportunity” to live the life you really want at this stage of your life.Consider it an opportunity to embrace new beginnings and a fresh start.
Where you have fewer “have to’s” and more “want to’s”Where you can choose a new home that’s better suited to this time of your life i.e., one level and lower maintenanceWhere you can choose a new lifestyle where you have more time for fun and living life to the fullest
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