How to Prepare for Downsizing at Any Age

“Downsizing? Decluttering? I’m too young to worry about that!”

Have you ever thought that?

I’m guessing some of you have. But more than likely, most of those who would be considered “younger” haven’t ever had downsizing or decluttering cross their mind! Regardless of which camp you’re in, I would like to challenge you to DEFINITELY think about downsizing/decluttering in every phase of your adulthood. Decluttering doesn’t just have to be for those entering their 3rd act of life. It can be something you think about, prepare for, and act upon at any stage.

Right now, I’m speaking generally to those 60 or younger, but what is shared here can apply to anyone of any age. 

How do we end up later in life having to struggle through downsizing and decluttering? In my opinion, it’s because our lifestyle and buying habits are very centered on the present. Even those who are buying to “stock up for the future” are generally making purchase decisions based on a deal you can’t pass up “right now.”

Then, as time passes, we continue collecting things in the now but fail to take as much time to reflect on the continued necessity of the things we bought before. This is the typical human cycle of collection. As long as we have a container (i.e. our home) big enough to fit everything, it all gets to stay. 

And in the meantime, we keep buying more things that make us excited. Then you wake up one day, you’re 85 and now what?! All of a sudden, you feel the pressure to quickly erase the last 65 years of your “memories,” but it's an impossible task. Maybe you bought all that stuff one thing at a time, but you don’t have the luxury to now get rid of it that slowly. So let’s take decluttering seriously before it’s a decades-long problem to be solved in a year or two. 

What are some things that you can be thinking about to make this process either easier or much more gradual in the future?

1. The Moment of Purchase - When you’re considering buying something, I want you to think about the purpose it will serve. Will it be a decoration? Something that gets used until it’s worn out or used up? Are you buying it just because it brings you joy? Whatever the reason or purpose, try to think about the item’s realistic timeline in your life. Maybe it is something that makes sense to keep and enjoy forever. But more than likely that won’t be the case. Set a target “expiration date” for the item so you’re already mentally preparing that it probably can’t last forever. If you’re already mentally prepared at the time of purchase to get rid of something when the time is right, it will be just that much easier to go through the process. In some cases, thinking through this will convince you that you don’t actually need to buy the item.

2. Set a Schedule - Can you devote 15 minutes once a week or once a month to decluttering your home? Just taking a small moment to do this periodically will make it easier to stay on top of your stuff. This habit will also keep your decluttering muscle well-exercised so it’s just something you’re used to doing and not something you have to psych yourself up for in 40 years.

3. Make Generosity Your MO - If you have friends or family members over for gatherings and someone mentions they like something you have, as long as it’s not one of your most prized possessions, tell them they can have it. Get used to moving things along to someone else who will enjoy them if they are not essential to the functioning of your household. Soak up the joy of generosity and practice that muscle as well so you will be used to spreading the love by the time you have to start decluttering in earnest. 

I’m certainly preaching to the choir here when I say that we become far too attached to our stuff. We need to face the reality of the future as we’re collecting things and not punt that thought process down the road. The more we exercise healthy decluttering principles when we’re younger, the easier it will be to have success at downsizing when we’re older.

Good luck!