Downsizing in Midlife
PART 1: Practical Questions to Ask Yourself While Considering (Or Not Considering) Downsizing
Quality over Quantity, anytime for me. Honestly, to make the most of this stage of our lives, downsizing is important to consider — no matter how wealthy you are. This will boost both our physical and financial health (less maintenance = less worries and less expenses). Whether it is curtailing our expenses, simplifying our lifestyle, or freeing up time for ourselves, it will be an absolute win-win for us.
There is a lot of information online on downsizing (for all age groups) these days under the subjects of Decluttering and Minimalistic Living. Downsizing, Decluttering, and Minimalistic Living — are all alike. There are even courses on this subject, and professional help too. Maybe you’re naturally frugal by nature, or like me, there are some elements of decluttering ingrained in you since childhood (I thank my late dad for that who all through his life lead a rich yet minimalistic life).
However, downsizing is not easy. It goes beyond our sensibilities. We are emotionally attached to so many things despite knowing very well that they (most, if not all) are of no practical use to us. Or we simply love cluttering (my mum for instance! You should see her collection of books, kitchen mixers and massagers that she has sadly never used!).
Here are FOUR practical questions that all of us in our midlife need to ask ourselves while considering downsizing in midlife:
1.
Why do you need to downsize? Is your main goal to save money for the ‘rainy days’? Is it to make your lifestyle simple? Do you now want to be around your siblings/distant relatives as your children are away at the University/working far away?
It is very important to understand our underlying factors, as only these will set the foundation for us to make our downsizing choices that come with a lot of planning, not to forget expenses and time.
2.
What do you need to downsize? Your house? Is your current house/flat good enough to be considered as your retirement home? It is about time that assess it. Do we need these many bedrooms and bathrooms now? Will a smaller space mean less maintenance? Assess the current living space and determine essential space requirements.
Your belongings? Are all your belongings and possessions essential to keep? Are your cupboards — be it the ones in the kitchen or bedrooms — overloaded with things that are just gathering dust? Time to assess. It can be very difficult for many of us to detach from things that have emotional values — maybe they belonged to your deceased family member? Or maybe you bought something with your very first salary?
3.
What lifestyle priorities matter to you? Identify them. Besides a low-maintenance property, do you want to continue living in the city (not me!) or would you like to be near nature (beach or hill person?)? Would you like to be living in an area that has all the amenities — healthcare, easy transport, and close by? It is time you give this a thought.
4.
Finally, are you emotionally and mentally prepared for downsizing? Recognize the emotional side of downsizing and be prepared to embrace the change. Downsizing often involves decluttering and making difficult choices about belongings and possessions.
Downsizing in midlife is tough — both mentally and physically exhausting. However, the sooner we decide on this, the better it will be for us. It is an important step towards our life-changing and joyful midlife experience. So, let’s ask these questions, and then set our downsizing goals to suit our current and future needs.
More on Downsizing coming up next.
