Some moves are joyful changes, but others are not. In situations where a person is reluctant or resistant to changing addresses, the process of downsizing – the practice of giving away, selling, or disposing of items that won’t be needed in the new home – can be emotionally fraught.
This can manifest in many ways, but the two extreme positions are surprisingly common – people either want to get rid of everything or nothing at all. Part of the stress of moving is coming with to terms with the idea that you probably aren’t going to take everything with you but you do need to move at least some of your things.
Here are some tips to help make this process a little less stressful:
Begin by Getting Rid of the Stuff You Hate All The Time
Take pleasure in shedding the possessions you definitely don’t want to move. Sometimes items drift into our lives because they fit a specific purpose. You’re not obligated to bring them to your next destination – especially if you don’t foresee having a future need for this item or the cost of moving the item is more than it would be to replace it. A move is blanket permission to get rid of things you’ve felt obligated to keep, stuff you didn’t even know you had, and stuff that makes you feel less than great when you look at it.
About the Stuff You Hate Right Now That You’re Mad About Moving
It’s a good idea never to get rid of precious heirlooms, important documents, and other unique items that would be difficult or even impossible to replace when you’re in a bad mood. For your long term peace of mind, don’t get rid of these things at this point. At a minimum, have your local moving company put them into a storage unit for you while you figure out next steps. You can always have them moved to your new home at a future time.
Going forward with the remainder of the possessions you currently hate, determining if these items absolutely need to be moved – unless you’re going to a nudist colony, you’re probably going to want to bring at least a few clothes – go into the storage unit for future determination, or to be downsized at this point. The rush that comes with throwing things away has probably peaked getting rid of the stuff you hated, so this part of the process can be more measured and even-tempered.
And Then What?
Now that you’ve gone through these steps, you’re left with the things you love, as well as things you know you’re going to need and are willing to move. If it’s not that much stuff, talk to your local moving company about a small load move – you can save a lot of money by not paying for truck space you don’t need!