Downsizing from a large home to a smaller one is a fact of life for many older adults.
The reason may be finances, health issues, or a desire to simplify your lifestyle. But making the transition can bring a host of emotions: sadness, grief, stress, or anxiety.
Understanding the triggers for these feelings and using strategies to navigate them may not change how you feel, but it may help the downsizing process go more smoothly so you can focus on your next chapter.
Sadness or grief
You don’t want to leave your home and you’re emotionally attached to it — that’s normal, and you may be saying goodbye to old friends — that’s sad.
Stress
When you’re 70 or older, you don’t have the same organizational or coping skills you had at 30.
You can get easily overwhelmed and feel tasks are impossible — it’s stressful.
Anxiety
Anxiety can creep into the downsizing process when you’re worried about the unknown.
It could be the costs that are involved or whether you’ll like the new place and make friends — that’s anxiety.
When it comes to worrying about how you’ll cope in the next phase of life, remember you didn’t have all the answers when you were young, and you may not have them now.
