caring for home:
Deciding to relocate is sometimes challenging and sometimes exciting, but moving doesn’t have to be difficult. Often, deciding where to move, when to move, and how to move can cause high amounts of stress and anxiety. However, once you get a trusted system in place, moving can be relatively painless. Your first step should be to declutter.
First, Declutter. Second, Declutter Again
When embarking on a task as monumental as packing your belongings and relocating to somewhere new, the first step should always be to remove all unnecessary clutter. Why waste time and valuable energy packing and moving things just to discard or donate them upon arrival? Ask your self these questions:
- Would I purchase this item if I were shopping today?
- Would I pay someone to pack and move this item for me?
- Does this item bring me joy?
- Does it serve its intended purpose?
- Have I used this item in the last year?
- Could someone else get value from this item?
- Does this item hold sentimental value to me or my family?
If you answered yes to those questions, by all means, wrap that thing in bubble wrap and box it up! If, however, you answered no, maybe it’s time to pause and rethink for a moment.
- Why: Why would I keep it if I don’t use it?
- Maintenance: Am I willing to maintain the inventory this item creates?
- Storage: Am I willing to give up valuable space in my new location, to store this item?
- Cost: Am I willing to pay for storage space to store this item long term?
Make Key Decisions
As you declutter for a relocation, a good rule of thumb is to have three categories. You should have a keep category, a donate category, and a discard category. I’m sure you’ve heard this philosophy before. It’s a tried and true method.
- Keep | Those items you absolutely, 100% do not want to part with
- Donate | Those items that are still useful, but would be better served by someone else.
- Discard | Those items that have lost their usefulness.
In your keep category, you may have items you will transfer to your new place. There may be others you want to keep, but would like to store. Many apartments and condominiums these have have storage lockers or garages you can rent for an additional fee.
In your donate category, there are many facilities that serve the public. Goodwill, Salvation Army, St. Vincent DuPaul, are all reputible establishments. Many churches will accept clothing for clothes closets if items are in good condition. Call around your local areas, ask friends and neighbors, or have a yard sale.
In your discard category, we recommend recycling anything possible. Old clothing can be cut into cleaning cloths, sheets and tablecloths can be used as drop cloths, etc. Ask around. Maybe someone might have a need for something you are thinking of discarding.
Once You’ve Decluttered
Once you make the decision about what to keep and what to get rid of you are well on your way. You’ve gotten the extras out of the way it’s time to start packing. We have some great ideas for how to make this simpler as you move out, and also as you move in.
Need more inspiration? We’ve learned 10 important life-lessons and you can read about them here: https://forwardourmail.com/life-lessons-in-downsizing/
