A few years ago, my husband and I agreed that when our oldest son went off to college it would be time to downsize. As we inched toward 2024 through Seamus’ sophomore year, then his junior year, then the start of his senior year, it always felt fair and reasonable, that is until suddenly it was here. Despite having talked about it for years, when the December 2023 calendar flipped to January 2024, and thus our year of downsizing commenced, I was a mess. We had lived in the same neighborhood in Vegas for almost 20 years. We married at the golf club here. We became parents and raised our kids here. When my husband sent the email to the general manager making our departure from the club official, I cried. And we’re not talking about a couple of tears dripping down my cheeks. We’re talking about a shot glass full of tears cascading down my face like a roaring waterfall, paired with sobbing noises I had previously thought ended with my postpartum years. Downsizing was upon us and it felt real for the first time.
Even as I sit today writing this, I find myself pausing to wipe away tears as I allow myself to embrace the conflicting emotions pouring out of my soul. While I am very much looking forward to the joy of new beginnings, I am also grieving all that is ending. The last few months have been incredibly difficult as I removed family photos full of memories from the walls, my boys and I carefully packed away their childhood treasures into storage, and we prepared to list our home. There is much more to do but it has already been a long and emotionally taxing journey that has taught me some valuable lessons…
5 Key Takeaways from Our Downsizing Journey Thus Far:
Acknowledge your emotions
Moving can feel like you’re on an emotional roller coaster you never got in line for, but you must allow yourself to fully experience the ride. Suppressing your emotions can lead to frustration and make it harder to process the change. Give yourself the time and space to feel all the uncomfortable emotions so you don’t carry them with you to your next chapter. The goal is to arrive with boxes, not baggage.
Capture memories of your home
Take photos and videos of your current home. You and your family will cherish these memories in the future when they pop up. Your kids will be reminded of the fun they had and what their childhood bedrooms looked like.
Focus on the positive
You built an incredible life here, so you know you are capable of doing it again elsewhere. Remind yourself how amazing it will feel when the move is over, the boxes are unpacked, and you are settled into your new home with less stuff, fewer responsibilities, and lighter bills.
Plan ahead
Tossing household items and clothing of low importance into Trash, Donate, Give Away, and Sell boxes did not prove to be difficult. Sentimental items and heirlooms, though? That was another story. Create a plan to deal with such items as your son’s grade school artwork and your grandmother’s antique chest ahead of time. Doing so will greatly minimize your decision fatigue, keep your energy up, and reduce the tugging on your heart strings so you can more efficiently purge, pack, and prepare for your move.
Seek Support
Trying to cope with a difficult situation such as downsizing or moving from a home you’ve made treasured memories in for many years can be challenging, especially if you’re doing it all on your own. Seek support from friends who’ve already navigated a similar hurdle. Lean into family members who are great listeners and wisdom speakers. Ask for help purging and packing from your closest circle. Turn to a journal instead of a bottle to express your deepest emotions concerning the move. You might be moving to a new place of your own, but you don’t have to do it all on your own.
If you aim to downsize in the future, I hope my takeaways lend a hand at helping you attain a smoother and healthier downsizing journey.
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