#Downsizing Tips For Empty Nesters

You thought once the kids left, your home would feel lighter. But here’s the mistake most empty-nesters make: 👉 They don’t reset their home for this new season of life. That’s why you still feel overwhelmed by… ❌ Rooms full of old stuff ❌ Closets packed with clothes that don’t fit your life anymore ❌ Paper and “projects” that never get finished Here’s the truth: you don’t need more motivation. You need a reset plan that finally works for this stage of life. ✨ The Reclaim and Reset Method gives you a simple two-phase system—daily resets that bring calm back, and room-by-room projects that help you reclaim your space. 💬 Comment PLAN and check your DMs—because you deserve to feel at peace in your own home. #emptynesters #clutterfreehome #simplifyyourlife

This is the 1% rule 👇 When I walk into a room, I try to ask myself: How can I make it 1% better? It doesn’t need to be perfect. I don’t need to do a massive clean or declutter every time. But what is a small 1% improvement I can make right now? ☕️ Maybe it’s taking dirty mugs to the kitchen. 🛏️ Maybe it’s making the bed. 🧸 Maybe it’s decluttering a couple toys they no longer play with. We often underestimate the power of these tiny changes over a long period of time. Need more help? 👩‍💻 Comment “HABIT” below and I’ll send you a link to the 15 tiny habits I use to simplify my life. ✨ . #simplehome #declutteryourhome #capsulewardrobe #simplifiedhome #neutralhome #cleaningmotivation #simpleliving #declutterwithme #scandinavianhome #declutteredhome #declutterwithkids #decluttertips #simplifyyourspace #simplifyyourhome #minimalist #minimalistmom #simpleliving #minimalismwithkids #minimalista #ikeahome #mumblogger #ukblogger

When our youngest went off to college in 2012 we downsized from a 3,500 square foot house and moved to a 600 sf apartment in Manhattan (we had always dreamed of living there).  Selling or giving away 90% of everything we owned gave us a new perspective for the next chapter of our lives. ▪️We never realized the psychological weight of our things. What is owned must also be cleaned, maintained, repaired, protected. For us, we were free to dream bigger for our empty nest (“freedom”) years.  ▪️We didn’t need as much as we thought we did to be happy. This was true of space, money, and things. Our daily quality of life is way better today than when we had a big house and nice cars in the driveway.  ▪️We’re richer (and not just in money). Less spending, maintaining, repairing means we keep more of what we earn. But we also lead a richer life in terms of experiences. Not just travel (which we do), but slowing down for “the sweetness of doing nothing.” ▪️We lost a bit of identity. For better or worse, in America your things (house, car, clothes) say something about you, how successful you are, and the “tribe” you belong to. Once we stripped those things away we had to redefine success and belonging on our own terms.  It’s been 13 years since we made that move. After a decade in New York we now live in Portugal. We moved into more space and our closets are full again. (Life is filled with many chapters.) But the hard reset of extreme downsizing forced us to think differently about what was possible in our freedom years. What does your next chapter look like? 🛵 Follow @theunretirees for more content about travel, living abroad, and building flexible income after 50. 📨 Type “sign up” in the comments to get a link to sign up for our free weekly newsletter. #emptynest #midlife #downsizing #genx #boomers #startingover #over50

Three things to declutter before you downsize! This is for seniors, but these tips apply to anyone who’s downsizing! Comment ORGANIZE I’ll send you a FREE TICKET to Get Organized Virtual Summit! I’ll be giving a whole presentation on senior downsizing! Any tips you want to share? ⬇️ #Declutter #Organize #DownSizing #VirtualSummit #TipsAndTricks

The 15-Minute Rule changed everything for me when it comes to decluttering. You don’t need an all-day marathon to make progress-in fact, that’s a fast track to burnout and a bigger mess. Here’s what to do instead: 1. Set a timer for 15 minutes. 2. Choose one small area or category- like jackets, utensils, mugs, bathroom towels. 3. Declutter what you can in that time. Why it works: ✨ It feels doable (no overwhelm!) ✨ You’re more likely to finish what you start ✨ You build momentum, one small win at a time We think we need big, dramatic action to make real change. But honestly? It’s the small, consistent steps that move the needle the most. Try it today and let me know what area you tackled! Drop it in the comments-l’d love to cheer you on 🫶🏼🩷

As someone who has moved 9+ times in 17 years of marriage, I know a thing or two about packing and moving 🫠 So if I had to do it all over again, here’s what I would do: 1. Pack and declutter at the same time: don’t waste time by doing things twice. If you’re going to pack regardless, you may as well declutter at the same time! 2. Declutter radically: This is not the time to be indecisive! Do not bring junk with you, and don’t waste too much time selling stuff (give it a day or two and if it doesn’t sell, DONATE!) 3. Re-think your furniture: moving is a great time to assess your furniture and if you even like it. When we moved cross provinces, we sold 90% of our stuff because it cost just as much to move our stuff as it would to re-purchase it. So if you’re moving far away, do the math, it might just make sense to start over (bonus: you’re not tied down to making things match your existing furniture / can start fresh!) 4. Get help! Don’t be afraid to reach out for extra hands when you need it. Trying to do everything alone is too hard, and your friends are probably happy to help 💕 5. Try to keep things organized and labelled by ROOM and CATEGORY: for example, “kitchen: appliances” so you know EXACTLY where things are when you need to unpack on the other end. Anything else you would add to this list?? Let me know in the comments! And hey, if you’re in the middle of a big life change, move, renovation, or transition, comment “EMERGENCY” below and I’ll send you my declutterring emergency kit for free— inside I’ll show you exactly what to do if you’re moving/in transition and how to prioritize tasks to not get overwhelmed 🫶🏻

Read this 👇🏻 Your clutter is just a collection of unmade decisions. Whether to keep that gadget you don’t use, where to put away the random item that has no home, how to tell your mom you don’t want her wedding china…all decisions we keep kicking down the road. When you hit midlife, you have several decades-worth of decisions to make and the thought is more than daunting. It’s paralyzing because of the decision fatigue you know is coming. Decision fatigue is a real thing. It’s an energy-sapping, mind-numbing, soul-crushing thing. My blog this week is all about decision fatigue and how you can avoid it. This is a huge unlock that most people don’t know about 🤩 Comment FATIGUE and I’ll send you a link to read it! Make space for the things that matter ✨ You Can Do Hard Things 💪 💾 Save this for later! ➕Hit that follow button for decluttering motivation and organizing inspiration. If your goals for 2025 include decluttering and simplifying your home and lifestyle…ME too! 💕 Share if this was helpful! #declutter #declutteringtips #declutteryourlife #youcandohardthings #organizingtips #organizedlife #professionalorganizer #homeorganization #declutteredhome #emptynesters #emptynesting #midlife

Does this shift help you?? Have you been asking “do I need it?” Lmk! #decluttering #cleaning #home

DOWN HERE 👇🏼 First, you want to SAVE this for later ❗️ Decluttering can feel overwhelming, but breaking it down room by room makes the task more manageable and even enjoyable. Here’s my simple, step-by-step guide to keep your home organized and if you implement this today , you will be set and ready to go to tackle the spring cleaning 🧹 1. Start Small: Choose One Room Begin with a small space like a bathroom or entryway. Tackling a smaller area gives you a sense of accomplishment early on, motivating you to continue with bigger rooms. 2. Create Decluttering Zones Within each room, divide the space into smaller zones. Focus on one zone at a time (like a drawer, shelf, or countertop). This helps prevent feeling overwhelmed and keeps you organized. 3. The 3-Box Method Use three boxes or bins labeled “Keep,” “Donate,” and “Trash.” Sort through each item and decide its fate. Be ruthless—if you haven’t used something in the past six months or it doesn’t add value, it’s time to let it go. 4. Keep It Simple with Storage Solutions Invest in simple storage solutions like baskets, bins, and shelves. This will help keep things organized and make it easier to maintain a decluttered space in the long run. 5. Pace Yourself Don’t try to declutter your entire house in one go. Set aside small chunks of time each day (30 minutes to an hour) and tackle one room or zone at a time. The key is consistency, not speed. 6. Maintain It Once a room is decluttered, commit to a maintenance routine. Spend 5-10 minutes a day putting things back in their place to prevent clutter from piling up again. Decluttering is a journey, not a one-time event. By taking small, focused steps room by room, you'll create a more organized, peaceful space that’s easier to maintain. Happy decluttering Follow @simpleminimalmama for more realistic, simple tips on maintaining a tidy clean home 🏡 #decluttering #tidyhome #springcleaningtips #springcleanse

…the truth is… 1. It’s incredibly liberating. While they may publicly focus on the challenges of sorting and decluttering, secretly, many downsizers find immense freedom in letting go of possessions and the burden of a large home. 2. Their social life gets a boost. Moving to a smaller home, often in a community setting, can open up a whole new world of social connections and activities. They may be hesitant to admit they were feeling isolated in their larger home. 3. They rediscover their passions. With less time spent on home maintenance and chores, downsizers often find they have more energy to spend on hobbies. 💫 Are you considering downsizing? Grab my free downsizing guide. Comment “downsizing” and I will send you a link to the guide. You cal call/DM/text me too. Laura Rosqvist Fathom Realty Kaysville, Utah 801-678-4902 💫 Follow @utahhomeslaura . . . . #utahhomeslaura #laurarosqvist #utahrealtor #utahrealestate #homesweethome #ruedaily #howyouhome #downsizing #kaysville #farmington #lessismore #communityliving #freedom #downsizingseniors

Before decluttering, I bought a lot of stuff I thought I “needed.” Turns out, I just needed less stuff. Here are 10 things I no longer buy—and don’t miss one bit: 1️⃣ Souvenirs from every trip 2️⃣ Decorative knickknacks 3️⃣ Fridge magnets 4️⃣ Holiday-themed mugs 5️⃣ Target Dollar Spot trinkets 6️⃣ Random wall art 7️⃣ Novelty kitchen tools 8️⃣ Seasonal table decor 9️⃣ Cheap jewelry & accessories 🔟 Books I “might” read someday Decluttering taught me that less stuff means less stress, less tidying, and more space to breathe. What’s something you’ve stopped buying since simplifying your home? Let’s inspire each other—drop yours in the comments! • • • • • #declutteryourhome #lessismore #minimalishmom #simplifyyourlife #declutteringjourney #organizedhome #busymomlife

✨ Downsizing doesn’t have to be overwhelming—it can be empowering! If I was downsizing, here’s exactly what I’d do: 1️⃣ Declutter ruthlessly. 2️⃣ Focus on spaces that matter. 3️⃣ Partner with a downsizing expert (that’s me!). 4️⃣ Embrace the change and find your new freedom. Ready to start your own downsizing journey? I’m here to help! Comment ‘READY’ if you’re thinking about downsizing! 📲 #MinimalistLiving #RealEstateTips #HomeSellingAdvice #RealEstateExpert #SimplifyAndLive #hollisterhouseingmarket #Gilroyhousingmarket #Morganhillhousingmarket #homeselling