This was a favourite posting of last year, and it’s time to revisit it again! What ‘red shoes’ do you have in your life during this time of COVID-19 as we reflect on what has changed in our lives over the last two months. What do we need to let go?

I am rooting around in a closet to find a seasonal jacket, and I cast my eyes on my beloved unworn red shoes!

I love THOSE shoes! I love RED shoes!

I feel strong and positive. I could walk anywhere and face any challenge when I have red shoes on my feet.

ONE BOOKCASE ~ ONE LIFETIME

The days drag on or there are never enough hours in a day.

What’s your response to 50 days of physical distancing?

I hear comments on both ends of the continuum and everywhere in between. I learned early in this pandemic that our responses can greatly differ depending on our circumstances.

For some this is a time to double-down and do some deep downsizing. Tackling book shelves seem to be on many agendas.

DOWNSIZING BOOKS

Some people who are physical distancing at home are tackling downsizing jobs including books. (And for others whose lives have been turned upside down, a task such as this is the last thing that crosses our minds. I fully acknowledge that the COVID-19 Pandemic is affecting us in a variety of ways.)

Are you someone who owns many books and the time has come to rightsize or downsize?

For any of us who are book lovers or whose career has involved collecting books, there comes a time when we know that at least some of them must go. This can be a very challenging task!

Catherine BarnsleyApril 5, 2020downsizing books, downsizing seniors

OFFERING SUPPORT IN THE TIME OF COVID-19

We are living in an unprecedented time in our lives. COVID-19 is affecting each one of us in a myriad of ways.

Today’s blog post suggests ways that we can support each other. I offer particular support if you are taking this time to do a home-based organizing or down-sizing project especially if it can support your community.

As we attempt to “plank the curve” of transmission, the impact on households is across the spectrum.

Some of us are reeling with the impact of layoffs, children being home-schooled, and isolation from loved ones in hospitals, care homes and across the country or out-of-the country.

YOUR DOWNSIZING CANNOT BE MY UPSIZING

I love this pithy line shared by an adult daughter who is helping her mother downsize. After selecting what she would take to her new smaller home, the older woman suggested that her daughter could take much of what was left. Her daughter’s response was “Mom, your downsizing cannot be my upsizing.”

In How Do I Help My Parents to Downsize, I shared some reasons why seniors struggle with downsizing. For many of these generous folk, an easy solution would be for their adult children to take everything that the senior no longer needs and incorporate the items into their own homes.

How many of us have been asked to do just that? And can’t or choose not to.

Here are some suggestions to help you:

HOW DO I HELP MY PARENTS TO DOWNSIZE?

Many adults are helping senior family members downsize because of an imminent move to a smaller home or because their current home feels too full of stuff.

Unless continuous clearing of possessions has been a priority for older generations or they have strong minimalist tendencies, most seniors have a lot of stuff. This may be difficult for younger generations to understand. I commonly hear “Why can’t you get rid of stuff? or “Why did you buy all this stuff?” as younger family members struggle with their feelings of frustration and weariness in supporting their elders.

Catherine BarnsleyMarch 1, 2020Downsizing Seniors, difficult downsizing

DON’T EVER SAVE ANYTHING FOR A SPECIAL OCCASION — BEING ALIVE IS THE SPECIAL OCCASION

As I help people downsize and rightsize their homes, or sort through estate items, I often hear: “I keep that for special occasions” or ‘We use those dishes only once a year” or “Those were my Dad’s tools. I don’t ever use them as I might damage them."

One of the best inspirational sayings that I have heard in the work I do is:

"Don't Ever Save Anything for a Special Occasion - Being Alive is the Special Occasion"

Any one of us who has had a health scare or accompanied someone through a serious health diagnosis may quickly come to appreciate those words. Suddenly — time can feel finite. The future is unknown.

FORGET RESOLUTIONS: WHAT’S MY “20 for 2020” LIST?

Happiness expert, Gretchen Rubin, recognizes that for many of us, New Year’s Resolutions are not what helps us succeed in our hopes and dreams for 2020.

Did the idea of writing resolutions for this new year make you tired?

However, do you want to be proactive about some organizing or downsizing projects this year?

If so, then consider Rubin’s "20 for 2020" list.

In her recent blog posting found at Gretchen Rubin on “20 for 2020”, she discusses how finding a way that’s "fresh and fun” can kickstart projects that have been hanging around.

Catherine BarnsleyFebruary 2, 2020alternatives to resolutions, 20 for 2020, getting organized in 2020

STICKING WITH 2020 RESOLUTIONS

How many of us said at the start of 2020 that this is the year that I will:

get organized!

downsize the contents of my basement!

convince (name your parents, partner or teenager) to get rid of stuff!

How are you doing with those New Year’s resolutions?

Newfoundland psychologist Janine Hubbard offers practical ideas to help us kick-start or keep those 2020 plans:

CORRALLING SENTIMENTAL ITEMS

How do you keep on downsizing and not get stuck with YOUR OWN sentimental items such as photos, letters, greeting cards, and mementos? This question came from a client whom I will call Laurie who has read Downsizing INHERITED Sentimental Objects .

Laurie is rightsizing and organizing her own home, and at the same time is helping her parents downsize to a smaller home.

DOWNSIZING INHERITED SENTIMENTAL OBJECTS

How do you let go of inherited sentimental objects when there are just too many tools, teacups, kitchen utensils, ornaments, or (add your category)?

This question came from a client whom I will call Dave who had inherited 20 old tools from his father. He had vivid memories of his Dad using each of the tools around the farm or house. Every time that Dave saw the tools, he remembered his Dad with great affection. However, he was moving to a smaller space and had his own more up-to-date tools of which he needed very few. HIs Dad's beloved old tools had become a burden, yet he couldn’t bear to put the tools in a garage sale as he felt like he was ‘selling’ his father.

THE KEY TO YOUR NEW YEAR DOWNSIZING RESOLUTIONS

What’s the key to start my new year resolutions about downsizing and organizing? I heard several versions of that question over the holiday season.

I learned awhile ago that one-size-does-not-fit-all when it comes to downsizing! Personality, motivations and circumstances all impact how we best start and keep downsizing resolutions.

What method or key is going to unlock consistent downsizing possibilities for you?

For some, successful downsizing happens in incremental steps. For others, the giant step of a larger effort using bursts of energy works better.

IF IT WAS MEANT TO, IT WILL COME AROUND AGAIN

Where did 2019 go? Just last week the leaves were turning! And now we are two weeks from 2020!

Once again, my too grandiose plans for 2019 did not materialize. So much for that downsizing project in the basement. I need to put it off for another year.

Except for one project that I am doing today. Now!

Catherine BarnsleyDecember 15, 2019downsizing magazines, downsizing reading, end of the year downsizing

DECKING A DOWNSIZED HALL

In the midst of this holiday season, are you one who decorates inside and out creating a home festooned with garlands and lights from every doorframe and fencepost? Or are you a minimalist who gives your unique nod to the season with a small display? Or are you somewhere in between?

I love the decorations of this season! I am always glad to put them up and sad to take them down.

However, I recall a year where I hardly had the energy to drag the tubs and boxes upstairs let alone unpack them.

LEGACY: MORE STORIES, LESS STUFF

How do I save my story for next generations as I downsize?

This question emerged from my recent blog postings about honouring a farmer’s life, and ways to symbolically honour other jobs.

Some careers do not have obvious symbols that can easily be preserved in a shadow box or by placing a particular object on a shelf.

Catherine BarnsleyNovember 17, 2019Preserving Legacy, difficult downsizing, Downsizing Seniors, Work Memories

SAVING SYMBOLS & HONOURING A LIFETIME OF WORK

What are some options to honour one’s work life as we downsize, change careers or retire? Readers posed this question in response to my recent posting about recognizing a grain farmer’s lifetime impact on Canada’s economy and feeding the world. Other readers suggested ways that they might remember their own work lives.

So what’s the situation? As we change careers, move to smaller housing, or simply wish to have less stuff around, what do we do with the tools of the trade that meant so much to us? Examples include stacks of teacher lesson plans or a driver’s logbooks.

DOWNSIZING WHILE YOU HONOUR A LIFETIME OF WORK

How do you honour a lifetime of work when you downsize a house or move from the farm? How can you keep a symbol of what your life’s work has been while letting go of your tools of the trade or the place where you worked for decades?

My friend, Pat, shared a story of how she and her sisters supported their parents' move and how she captured 48 years of their working lives.

Catherine BarnsleyOctober 27, 2019Downsizing Seniors, downsizing farmers, downsizing with meaning

GRATITUDE CHAIR: CALM IN THE MIDST OF CHAOS

Today is Thanksgiving Monday — a day that Canadians give Thanks and express Gratitude for the goodness in our lives.

Expressing Gratitude can also be a significant part of downsizing, rightsizing and estate organizing.

During those times, I have found it helpful to have a Gratitude Chair.

Catherine BarnsleyOctober 13, 2019Gratitude Chair, Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving Decluttering, Downsizing Seniors

WALL TREASURES FOR THE NEXT GENERATION

What can I do in one hour to prepare "treasures" for the next generation?

This question came from someone whose full life allows little free time. However, Jen wants to start organizing her stuff!

I suggested she start with the 20 items hanging on her living room and hallway walls.

DON’T EVER SAVE ANYTHING FOR A SPECIAL OCCASION — BEING ALIVE IS THE SPECIAL OCCASION

As I help people downsize and rightsize their homes, or sort through estate items, I often hear: “I keep that for special occasions” or ‘We use those dishes only once a year” or “Those were my Dad’s tools. I don’t ever use them as I might damage them."

One of the best inspirational sayings that I have heard in the work I do is:

"Don't Ever Save Anything for a Special Occasion - Being Alive is the Special Occasion"

Catherine BarnsleySeptember 29, 2019special occasion items, being alive is a special occasion, using china

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