The rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine has been slower than many hoped, but it is underway. Each day more Americans have the opportunity to get inoculated against this serious virus. As supplies increase, vaccination rates should rise, bringing us closer to a return to everyday life.
With that hopeful progress, many people — myself included — are thinking about life after the pandemic and what “normal” might look like. For some, that means celebrating events postponed during the past year: weddings, births, reunions with family, or long-awaited vacations. For others, it’s taking steps toward a senior living move.
Moving to a senior living community requires a number of preparatory steps. You’ll need to select the right community, organize your finances, and prepare to sell your home if you own one. One of the largest and most common obstacles is dealing with your belongings. Sorting through a lifetime of possessions and downsizing can feel overwhelming, and it’s often why people delay a senior living move. So when is the best time to start decluttering to prepare for such a move?
A challenging time for seniors
The pandemic has prompted many seniors to re-evaluate where they live and where they want to spend their retirement years. For those who remained in their homes, the past year exposed practical challenges: isolation, difficulties with shopping and errands, burdens of maintenance, and limited access to help for daily activities. These issues have led some to question whether staying in place remains the best option.
Residents already living in senior communities faced other challenges. Visitor restrictions and limited travel in many communities led to physical separation from loved ones outside the community. Still, many residents reported appreciation for the efforts of staff and management to keep them safe and well during the pandemic. Surveys conducted during the health crisis found strong sentiment among residents that they were glad to be in community settings, reinforcing the value of supported living environments for many people.
What’s your next move?
Now more than ever, you might be asking: “What is my best move in the next five to ten years?” Will you stay in your current home, downsize to a smaller residence, or transition to a senior living community? If a move is likely, a major stumbling block for many is the volume of belongings accumulated over a lifetime.
Even if you plan to stay put, someone will eventually need to sort your possessions and choose what to keep, donate, sell, or discard. That raises an important question: would you prefer to handle that task yourself while you can, or leave it to loved ones who may face an emotionally and physically difficult job later?
No time like the present to begin decluttering
Organizing, decluttering, and downsizing are both physically demanding and emotionally taxing. It’s easy to postpone the work, but there are good reasons to begin now rather than waiting until a move is imminent or becomes necessary.
Physically, tasks like climbing stairs, bending, and lifting involved in packing and moving become harder with age. If you have the time now — as many people do while spending more hours at home — it’s an ideal opportunity to tackle decluttering gradually. Doing a little bit at a time keeps the project manageable, so when a move does happen, the volume of belongings won’t be an obstacle.
Life can also take unexpected turns. Health events such as strokes, heart attacks, or falls can force a sudden move. Starting the decluttering process now reduces the burden on you and your family if circumstances change unexpectedly.
A decluttering plan
If you’re ready to begin, here’s a straightforward plan to get started:
- Choose a single room or an area like the attic or garage to focus on.
- Gather supplies: garbage bags, sturdy boxes, tape, markers, paper towels, and cleaning products.
- Sort every item in the chosen area into four categories: Keep, Sell, Donate, or Trash. A useful rule: if you haven’t opened or used something in a year, it’s likely not essential.
- If you’re undecided about an item, place it in a temporary Keep box and revisit that box in a month to reassess.
- Make the work more pleasant by playing favorite music and rewarding yourself afterward with a treat or a favorite meal.
Starting this process at least a year before a planned move gives you time to work steadily without becoming overwhelmed.
Taking control of your situation
Change is difficult. People naturally cling to familiar possessions and routines, which makes decluttering emotionally challenging. The pandemic highlighted how much in life can be outside our control, but downsizing offers a way to take charge of your future.
By proactively sorting your belongings, you decide what’s important to keep and what can be passed on, sparing loved ones the burden of making those choices later. Preparing for a move on your terms allows you to choose the timing and destination, rather than reacting to a health crisis or other sudden event.
As the saying goes, the best time to plant a tree was years ago; the second-best time is now. Whether you plan to remain in your home or move to a senior living community someday, there’s no better time than the present to begin decluttering and preparing for what comes next.