Eileen Slovak

Look around. Will your possessions be a blessing or a burden to your inheritors?

Every parent thinks their children or grandchildren will want to inherit their precious china set, the elaborate antique table & chairs, or their collection of decorative plates. 

Hmmm maybe not so much. Have you considered asking the difficult questions?

I get it. It’s hard to have a conversation that begins with: “when I’m gone, do you want this or that?”

Consider a different approach. 

Ask your family to help you downsize now, to decrease the burden on you, and them, when you are ready to retire. You might be surprised how few of your beloved collections your loved ones actually wish to inherit.

I see this time and time again. Retirees with a lifetime of possessions cannot or will not downsize to a home that’s better suited to their needs, capabilities and lifestyle. They are stuck. And it’s not because they aren’t ready to retire.

The reason? They’re overwhelmed by the prospect of cleaning out and purging items they haven’t looked at or thought about in years. The attic is packed and the basement is even fuller.

Even worse, some retirees wait until an accident or incident makes cleaning out a necessity. Then, friends and family members are forced to help expedite a grueling process which can be emotionally scarring for all involved. 

Start now with a step by step room declutter plan to donate and designate items. This will free up space in your home and help you make the transition to your next phase of life-one that is free of overwhelming possessions. 

When helping clients declutter, I suggest making three piles: keep, donate & throw away. If you’re fairly sure family or friends want certain items, label boxes for each person and put them in a garage or storage space, ready to go. Simply moving items toward the exit will be a step in the clutter free direction.

Break up the rest of the sorting project into small areas. This will feel less overwhelming. Take it one room, one closet, or one drawer at a time. You set the pace. The important thing is to have a plan and start.

Week one: spare room closets & drawers.

Chances are if it’s in the spare, it’s not all that essential.

Week two: the coat closet 

Week three: bathroom drawers & linen closet

Pet shelters will often take clean slightly worn towels.

Week’s four & five: attic and basement storage

Weeks six: your main clothing closet

Week seven: kitchen counters & pantry

Weeks eight & nine: the garage

Week ten: living room clutter & book shelves

Some Libraries and thrift stores will still take books.

Weeks eleven-fourteen: pick two kitchen cabinets and drawers and repeat

You get the picture. Challenge yourself to do it all in less than twelve weeks. Schedule a pick up with a local organization in need.

Remember you didn’t accumulate all of this ‘stuff’ overnight. You won’t go through it overnight either.

Working on one room at a time will liberate your soul. Think of the freedom you’ll feel when gifting or donating items. Someone else really does need or want that item that has been collecting dust or taking up space in your attic or basement.

Happy declutterring all!