Most people will only downsize if they have to, usually when they move. Many people find this an overwhelming time in their lives. This is not something they do every year (as I did for 10 years). They are giving up the familiar for the unknown and that can be scary. However, if you break it down into steps and use a process around it, at least the downsizing and moving becomes manageable. It’s still scary and overwhelming and unfamiliar, but it is doable. Start clearing

Grab your personal items, change of clothes, documents, computer, box of dishes and linens and put it in your car or with a friend so they are kept separate from everything else. Everything else should go with the movers. Let the movers do their job. They don’t need your input on how to move heavy furniture, delicate boxes or anything else. They know how to do this. Go to your new home and put your space planning diagrams on the door of each room, so it is easy to see wh

Week 2 Notify address change to government services (i.e. Drivers License, Medical Services, Pension), credit cards, magazine subscriptions, Canada Post and anybody else you can think of that needs to know what your new address will be. Keep Packing – focus on closets, garage, basement, tools, garden items. Now is the time to do this. Remember to Label your boxes. Week 3 Space Planning – draw a diagram of your new place, with measurements if possible, and start to plan wher

So, you’ve reduced, reused and recycled, you’ve found new homes for everything else, either through auction, garage sale or some other means, now you have to actually move. Moving is not easy but it is doable. There are lots of pieces that you have to put into order to make it happen. The more time you have the better, but that can also lead to procrastination. ​ First step is to determine what date you have to move by? This sets up everything that follows and now we can

Start with a process: reduce, reuse, recycle. It sounds easy, but you have to make difficult decisions. Start with a cupboard and don't try to do everything at once. Use 3 boxes and tag each one Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and empty the cupboard into the boxes. Make quick decisions. Reduce is getting rid of obvious garbage, bags, boxes, broken items. Once this box is through immediately put it out into the garbage bin. Reuse those items that you want to keep, bedding, towels, kit