First you need to think about how you would like to downsize. Are you looking for a smaller home? A unit? Townhouse? Or maybe even an apartment?

Secondly, you have to consider all the items you have in your home. What can you keep and what may you need to sell or donate? 

To help get the process started, we have put together 5 tips for you to kick off your downsizing journey!

1. Don’t wait for a good time to start – There normally isn’t one! You just need to take advantage of the opportunity when the time seems like the right time for you.

2. Start small by cleaning and clearing out the spaces you use the least. This will help you get the ball rolling before you tackle larger spaces. 

3.  Don’t hold back when it comes to saying goodbye to items and furniture that you haven’t used in years. Marie Kondo said it best, if it doesn’t spark joy, it might be time to say goodbye. Whilst it can be daunting to think about, the actual process can be very liberating! *Hot tip!* Whilst holding onto children’s school reports, sentimental toys, cards and more can be nice, a great way to keep those items without them taking up the space can be to take photographs of them! That way you can reflect and look back on the special memories they incite without having to physically have them.

4.  Start to appreciate the simplicity that comes with having less - less to clean, maintain, and clutter the space around you. This is a mental shift that is important when you are going from having a large home to a downsized one.

5.  If you are unsure about how you would like to downsize, such as what size and type of property you think would work best for you, consider renting out a smaller place to live in to test the waters. It will help you feel less unsure if you’ve tried it out and understand how the new way of living could look like and how it would feel.