Fostering the right solutions & connections
for more than 33 years
for more than 33 years
Stuff. We’ve all got it. Most of us have too much of it. It’s no surprise that there are now entire industries built around organizing, decluttering, and finding joy from our stuff—or lack of stuff.
For older adults and their families, the topic of handling stuff can become even more challenging as you may be talking about decades—or even generations—of stuff. In fact, one of our most popular discussion topics on the Positive Aging Community platform is “what to do with our stuff.”
A common refrain we hear from individuals who are considering moving or downsizing is “I’m not ready yet.” However, too often that “I’m not ready yet,” actually means “I don’t know how to handle all my stuff.” Even when an individual has a strong desire to move, they must also have a strategy for handling their possessions. Otherwise, they risk becoming overwhelmed—and stuck.
Here are a few common themes and tips for getting started.
Photos, Videos and Storytelling
Take photos or videos of your possessions. Record the stories behind the items and share what they mean to you. Not only is this a good way to share your memories with your loved ones, it is also an opportunity for you to revisit positive memories of treasured items after they have found a new home.
Swedish Death Cleaning
Swedish death cleaning is a well-known concept in Scandinavian culture. During this process, individuals work on eliminating unnecessary items from their homes, so their loved ones will not be burdened with the task after they pass away. This is an incredible gift to give your family members. If you are preparing to move or just decluttering, address the boxes of papers and stacks of old dishes.
Don’t Walk the Road Alone
There are many professionals that can help with the broad task of organizing and downsizing. Senior Move Managers and Professional Organizers are the main professional designations. These professionals have special training and experience to help you through the process of cutting clutter or preparing to move. There are also niche specialties. For instance, there are professionals that specifically focus on helping clients organize photos, since that is one of the main barriers that people face when downsizing.
Talking Stuff
The Positive Aging Community frequently hosts discussions on organizing, downsizing, and moving. Visit this link or view the recent discussions included:
Join us for a discussion with a noted author and life organizer that will help you minimize the chance that you leave behind confusion, frustration and a pile of unanswered questions....
A live and interactive discussion that will explore a level of disorganization that persists, despite prior attempts to get organized and is often caused by one or more underlying...
Listen to a recording of a live and in-person discussion that was held at the impressive JK Moving headquarters in front of their innovative training house in a warehouse. Our panel...
Join us for a live and interactive discussion with a leading expert on organizing, right-sizing, and preparing preparing your loved ones' or clients’ digital photo collections. Produced...
A live discussion that explored the Swedish practice that involves organizing and decluttering your home to reduce the burden on loved ones of sifting through dozens (if not hundreds!)...
A live and interactive discussion for a NEW perspective on overcoming your paper clutter! C Lee Cawley Certified Professional Organizer (fewer than 400 worldwide) she's helped people...
A live and interactive discussion with a leading expert on organizing, right-sizing, and preparing your legacy photo collection for your loved ones or clients. Rachel Jenkins of the...
Join us for a live & interactive discussion with the author of Photo Organizing Made Easy: Going from Overwhelmed to Overjoyed. Cathi will share the 5 steps professional photo...
Join us for a live & interactive discussion with Lisa Geraci Rigoni, a professional organizer, move manager and the author of 17 Spatulas and the Man Who Fried an Egg. Lisa has...
A live discussion with the Founders of Artifcts, an innovative platform where stories and stuff meet and are instantly organized, searchable, downloadable, and shareable – privately...
Lisa Woodruff, Founder/CEO, Organize 365 and author of The Mindset of Organization and The Paper Solution will share tips, techniques and solutions to help our loved ones and clients...
A roundtable discussion on a variety of workplace topics for senior-serving professionals. Ample time to make announcements if you have a position in your organization or if you are...
Posted by Lisa Woodruff author of The Paper Solution: What to Shred, What to Save, and How to Stop It From Taking Over Your Life on 04/05/2021
An interactive discussion with David MacMahan of FairSplit.com where we will dive into this topic and learn about the Fairsplit.com technology platform which helps with listing, sharing...
Interactive discussion with Matt Paxton host of Hoarders and the new PBS Series "Legacy List with Matt Paxton". Matt will share stories, tips and insights to help you, your...
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