Born in the Baby Boom? Don’t Delay Downsizing!

The topic of this post is a big one…literally. The boomer generation got its name because of the historically big “boom” in U.S births between 1946 and 1964. Now? In 2024? The boomer generation is aging and that means over three million people are at a time in their lives where it makes sense to downsize. I want to provide all my professional advice and best tips for making this downsizing process as easy and enjoyable as possible.

Since the boomer generation made their historical entrance into the world, they’ve been doing it BIG. Boomers aren’t known for their minimalist approach, and I think most of us can immediately picture the home of someone from this generation and cringe at the sheer mass of accumulated stuff. The problem with this lifetime “go big” approach is that this now aging generation of people don’t want to leave their children with all their belongings when they pass. It’s no secret that younger generations are more minimalistic than boomers. Items such as fine china, large decorations, and other coveted items of the boomer generation are long gone. Younger generations don’t find value in these types of things anymore and they’re often left in unwanted abundance. So, the question is: what do I do with it? And when?

If you are a member of the boomer generation you should begin the process of downsizing now to allow yourself time to go through everything without being rushed.  Starting early will help prevent this process from being too overwhelming. If you begin now, it also allows you the time to go through the process with your children or other family members. One of the most fun aspects of this process can be reliving old memories through items you find, passing along family heirlooms, and being able to give loved ones items they may be happy to give a second life to. Things can quickly (and unexpectedly) change, but if you start downsizing early it will allow you to work at your pace. A head start will also make for a much easier transition when the time comes to move into a smaller space.

To begin, go through one room at a time. Make piles of items to donate, to sell, and to keep. Resources are available to help you with items such as photos (items that need decluttering but that you’d still like to keep and treasure while you are here.) When decluttering, try to only keep items that you use daily, truly love, or that are important to the family. More tips for downsizing processes can be found here, if you’d like more decluttering to downsize advice!

Once you’ve gone through each room and made “donate”, “sell”, and “keep” piles you’ll want to take inventory of all the items you are keeping. Taking this inventory will help you determine the importance of each of the items you initially decided to keep. Perhaps once you see everything for a second time and consider your storage space you will decide to let go of more items thus making more room for the items you find top priority. If applicable, you also want to note who will receive each of these items when the time comes. This information can then be included in your will thus proving helpful and making the future process much more seamless for your surviving family/children.

The sentimental stuff is often the hardest to part with. After taking your inventory it isn’t uncommon to discover most of the items in your “keep” piles are keepsakes with sentimental value. For keepsake items that you would still like to keep physically, you want to make sure they are preserved properly. Keep in mind, especially, any measures that need to be taken to ensure certain items don’t wither, fade, or suffer damage of any kind.

However, to best downsize and reduce paper clutter (and appease future, more minimalistic generations of the family) you can digitize important documents and photos. It may not be “the boomer way”, but we are now in the digital era. Most photos, artwork, documents, etc. can now be digitalized. And, many younger generations prefer this over having physical copies of these items taking up space in their homes. By far the easiest way to go about digitizing a plethora of items is to call in professional help. Companies such as EverPresent exist so you can send in any physical memorabilia you’d like to have preserved digitally. They can create digital albums and store “piles” of important documentation on USBs to make for easier (and less space consuming) storage. We here at Sorted Out can help you through this process as well! Check out a recent segment I did on digitizing with Good Morning Texas here, or, contact us directly for individualized help if you’d like us to take some of the load off your shoulders!

When downsizing, the ultimate objective is to move into a smaller footprint, less space. As you declutter, sort, part with, and inventory items you should always be considering the size of your next home. If you have already begun the process of purchasing a new home, think of all the rooms, storage space, etc. that you will have in your new space. If you are not at the stage where you are ready to or planning to move, consider the size of home you would hypothetically be moving in to next. It will be smaller than the home you are currently in and you want to try to be as realistic as possible about how much you can keep.

Think about your furniture. With a goal of downsizing, you are very likely moving into a home smaller than the one you are currently in. Begin letting go of larger pieces of furniture you no longer use or need. Larger items might not fit (or might be a tight fit that won’t truly work well) in your new space.

If you or your spouse have mobility issues, or any other specific needs that may require housing accommodations, make sure you research your next home to make sure it will be a good fit as your life continues to change through the next several stages of aging. Consider looking at homes in retirement communities that are close to adult children and/or other family members so that you will have your support system close by.

The excitement that should come with the prospect of less space to clean/maintain and more time with loved ones in your near future is the best part of the downsizing process! The rest of it? We know it can seem daunting. Again, you’re beginning the stage of your life where less is more and the “go big” mentality that originated with your booming entrance into life is no more. If you read any part of this and thought, “hmmm, yep! She’s talking to me! This is absolutely something I need to get started on”…please reach out! Our inbox at info@sortedout.com is always open and we’d be happy to help as many of the three million baby boomers find the best way to enter the next stage of life!

Looking forward to hearing from you,

Tonia