Downsizing Your Life

When I began my reductionist initiative a few years ago, I assumed I would actually end up with fewer things to think about. Less stuff to worry about and more emotional freedom. Seemed a logical expectation at the time and in fact was my motivation…

Sometimes we don’t have time for a big decluttering project, and we want something quick and impactful. To that end, here are 10 things you can throw away right here right now. If you have flowers in a vase that are past their best, take the opportunity…

Contrary to popular belief, the process of downsizing is super easy. All it really involves is three things. First, penetrating awareness that you have way too much ‘stuff’. Second, a firm commitment to making some tough decisions…

Clutter. We’ve all experienced it on some level. Some of it is visible. Some of it is hidden from our sight. Physical and mental clutter have a funny way of creeping into our homes and our lives. Slowly but surely, we become inundated…

“Who do I leave my belongings to?” is one of the most common questions amongst those who are childless, who are estranged from their children for some reason, or whose children live on the other side of the world. Bethany, aged 70, has never had children…

As I mentioned in the first blog of this series, moving to a new home later in life could be motivated by several things: health status, retirement, an empty nest, living costs, lifestyle choices. Among these, a health condition might force you…

I recently paid a high price to figure out I can’t and won’t get rid of all my clutter. Even my “throw-it-all-out” husband colluded with me in this discovery. I say this after: Putting 30 garbage bags full of my clothes out for a porch pickup from Purple Heart…

My mother had a fabulous collection of what is now called “fashion” jewelry, much of it acquired through her sister’s costume jewelry company. One of the greatest thrills of my childhood was walking through the aisles of stacked wooden drawers at my aunt’s…

Hangers – I bet you’ve never given them a second thought. They are just there, they just exist functionally to hang your clothes in your wardrobe or closet. It’s not the number one thing on your agenda, what’s the big deal? If you are not 100% happy with your…

We all come to a stage in life when we ponder the possibility of moving to a new home. However, before committing to such a big step, consider what is driving this idea. How many of us, during our working years, have dreamed of living…