Latest / More Organised Less Clutter / 260. How to Downsize Without a Plan
Transcript
- speaker-0: Welcome to More Organized Less Clutter, a podcast to empower individuals and neurodivergent families with practical, realistic tools to create a more organized, sensory-friendly, clutter-free, and intentional home that works with your lifestyle and brain, not against it. I'm Norelle King, a professional organizer and neurodivergent mum who understands the unique challenges of family life. I help people just like you simplify your space. Build sustainable organizational systems and create more breathing room physically and mentally. Every fortnight you'll hear solo episodes and guest conversations filled with practical strategies on decluttering, home organization, routines for neurodivergent families, mindful living, and how to build a home that feels safe, calm and functional. You'll walk away with actionable takeaways you can implement even if you only have 10 minutes to spare. Ever wondered how to downsize even though you're not sure where you will live? Today on the podcast, I'm talking with Linda from Creative Surrounds, an organizer with over 17 years of experience helping seniors navigate downsizing. We talk about the ideal time frame for downsizing, why focusing on lifestyle is better than worrying about the size of your next house, because you may not know what that is. And we also discuss the emotional side of letting go. And ways of getting started with decluttering. This conversation is a video recording that you can also watch on YouTube. If you're thinking of downsizing or have a family member who is, then share this downsizing episode full of practical tips and insights. Let's jump into this More Organized Less Clutter conversation with Linda from Creative Surrounds. Today on More Organized Less Clutter, I'm talking with Linda from Creative Surrounds. She's an expert organizer with over 17 years of experience, specialized in helping seniors navigate that process of downsizing. So today she's going to walk us through that process and some strategies to help. Welcome, Linda. speaker-1: Thank you. Thank you so much for having me on. speaker-0: ⁓ no, I'm looking forward to it. I know that you've got lots and lots of tips and tricks because you are a specialist in this area. This is the area you love. speaker-1: I love down sizing. Yeah, love it. Yeah. speaker-0: And because we're part of the Institute of Professional Organizers and when I did put the question out who I think there was like ten people wrote your name, like you have to contact Linda and it was like Linda hasn't even put her name down yet and everyone else was daubing you in. speaker-1: That was quite lovely to see my name pop up by colleagues. That's always the you know, the nicest form of flattery, I think, you know. It was. Your own colleagues can chat. Yeah, yeah. speaker-0: So tell us a bit so we can get to know you a little bit, what are two accessories you would come with if you were a Barbie doll? speaker-1: Probably a tote bag. I love a good tote bag. It hides a multitude of sins. And something craft related. I ⁓ it would probably be an embroidery hoop. It sounds really odd, but yeah. Yeah. When I'm not working, I'm stitching. So that's my at home accessory that I'm always with pretty much is my embroidery hoop. Yeah. That's my way of ⁓ relaxing and being creative. And yeah, it's probably like the total opposite of what we do day to day, really. You know. speaker-0: What's your sewing room or like your creative space look like? Is it organized? Is it a big one? That's what I organise a lot of. speaker-1: Yeah, no, it is quite organised and it's ⁓ definitely been refined ⁓ over the years and it's great because then it helps me, you know, work with people in that space as well. But, you know, 'cause if you're crafter, you tend to do all the crafts. Yeah. ⁓ you know, and it's ov so over the years I've learned myself actually to refine it and it's things. So now I'm happy to do anything with the needle and thread, you know, so I can refine it down to that aspect where it so I don't have to do, you know, scrapbooking and photography and the this and the that and all the things. You know, it's like no, realistically I don't have time for all of those things. I don't wanna be all things to all people. I wanna what actually truly brings me joy, what can I genuinely find time for? For me, what's portable, you know, I've I wanna be able I can't be stuck to a room. So I've got my craft room for my supplies. But being, you know, a hand thing, I can just ⁓ pick up a project bag and go into the lounge room and, you know, watch a movie with my kid and my husband and still be part of the family, but doing what I like to do as well. speaker-0: Yeah, that's great. That's a great I like that the way you've put it as well, that, you know, it's portable and you can take it with you and you've also then just got the room that has the supplies. You don't have to stay in there to speaker-1: No, no, but it's all organized so it's like, yeah, if I know exactly what I want to work on, I can go and pick up that it's all like in project bags. So I've got everything sort of kitted up and ready to go. Yeah. speaker-0: So you so you will jump from one project to a different one, like you don't continually do the same embroidery? speaker-1: I'm not a monogamous stitcher, no. Yeah. I have several things on the go. But yeah, so depending on what my mood is, you know, if I want something bright and fun or I want something a bit more antique or yeah, depending on my mood, I've got different things to choose from. speaker-0: ⁓ fantastic. And how long do they usually take? speaker-1: ⁓ gosh, but anything from a weekend to three years. Yeah. Some of them are a labor of love. speaker-0: Yes, yes. I've got my my sister in law does it as well. And I think she's finally finished the blanket that she started for the first child that was like maybe eighteen years ago. So tell us about your work. So how do you actually work with seniors? Like what is it some of the like what does it look like with the steps and things? It it's speaker-1: Very much I always tackle it, I look at it as project management. You know, it's not really like we we break it down into, you know, day by day chunks to make it ⁓ you know, palatable for the client and not so overwhelming. But in my brain, I'm always looking at it as as part of a bigger project. So I'll either liaise with usually the the client, a a real estate agent that's wanting to list a property, potentially family members. ⁓ doing all that sort of coordination, you know, of charity trucks. recycling, skip bins, all of those things. So I'm tackling all of that. And that's kind of going on in my brain. But for the client, it's kind of like, okay, this is what we're going to do today, you know, in the session today, this is what we want to achieve. And we're going to focus on this area. So that's yeah, how I sort of work with clients in this sort of a down a downsizing space. speaker-0: And do you have a time frame that generally most people are working towards in this? speaker-1: Yeah, you're usually working backwards is kind of I'll have two different, I guess, avenues. And one is if they're already have engaged a real estate agent and in that case where it's kind of a runaway freight train and then ⁓ yeah, you're working towards that timeline of when they want to have things ready for photography. But then sometimes clients will contact me well in advance to say, you know, I'm thinking about downsizing. And we're doing this and that's perfect for me, you know, if it's at that really initial stage because then you can really advocate for the client and do things on their time frame and, you know, they're not being pushed around by other people. speaker-0: Yeah, yeah. And I suppose it's a little bit slower so they can actually process all the things that you're going through, share the stories and find the right places for things to go to. Absolutely. speaker-1: Absolutely. Yeah. Yeah. No, it could be it it can be quite a long process for some people. So, you know, I mean some people you might be doing it for eighteen months before they actually want to get their house ready to sell and that's fine, you know. speaker-0: So ⁓ when should put people start thinking about that downsizing process, you know, that process? speaker-1: Yes. ⁓ look, I think as soon as they realise that they are ready to move on from their, you know, whether it be a family home or they're already in a smaller apartment, but they want to take that next step to downsize, you know, that's when they really need to start thinking about the physical aspect of doing it. Addigly, I think, you know, a good time frame is sort of three to six months out from when you wanna be, you know, contacting a real estate agent or looking at that actual move. ⁓ you know, I think a six months is a nice realistic time frame because then you can actually, you know, think about where you're going. what you want to take with you, as I say, like all those emotions that are attached to all of your things, you can you've actually got time to process that and it's not so stressful. You know, it can be quite stressful and upsetting if it's if it's rushed. speaker-0: Definitely. There's not that time. I mean it would be the same. That's when people ring and say, ⁓ we're moving in two weeks time, can you come and help? And where even though they're not technically downsizing, but they have to it's a family and they have to go into a smaller house. speaker-1: Everyone culls when they move. Like even if they're doing a vertical kind of move or hor sorry, a horizontal move, you you still you're always gonna do a bit of a cull because your lifestyles change, you know, even if your kids are ten years older or they're still at home. But it's like they're you know, everyone's hobbies and, you know, clothing sizes ch everything changes. So everyone does a cull for sure. And it's just you I you sometimes you wanna move y as you say, like you might get two weeks and I mean you can make it happen, but it's just it just puts everyone just under so much more pressure, you know, and it's it's just not Not necessary if it doesn't, you know, if you know beforehand. speaker-0: Yeah, definitely. And you can work that like you said before, that backwards to that actual date. Yeah. So what do you find are some of the challenges that you'll find with seniors and downsizing that come up? I speaker-1: think ⁓ one of the biggest barriers I find is when they ⁓ don't know where they're going and that that usually stops people from going. So I sort of reach out and they go, Well, I don't know what I'm gonna take with me. You know, I don't know where I'm going. They can't envisage that next stage and and and the furniture that's gonna fit in the next space and everything. And that's quite a quite a barrier. And I I think for me, I would always encourage clients to sort of flip that thought and not think of it as like, ⁓ I'm gonna move into this, you know, I'm moving from this five bedroom home into this Two or three bedroom apartment, therefore, this is all the stuff I'm taking with me. You know, they're already filling that space mentally before they've even called the first item. And I think rather than think of that, think about what do you actually want your lifestyle to look like? You know, this is an opportunity for you to really start fresh and strip back all of those things that are not serving you a purpose anymore, the different lifestyle that you lead. You know, if you're not working anymore, you know, all those corporate clothes are not necessary. Like, is there a lot of things you can do without knowing physically where, like, or logistically, I guess. What that next piece will look like. speaker-0: Yeah, definitely, isn't it? Like, yeah, you don't I mean, even for us right now, I can already start to downsize without, you know, knowing where I'm going to go. Just with the way where my life is now. Like I was a teacher. I don't need any of those teaching resources now. I can let go of all of those things. So yeah, it's great, great tip that people could just start at any stage. speaker-1: You really can. You really can. I mean, even if you've got, you know, older kids that, you know, when my son's twenty and he's at uni and it's like even that, you know, we can call, you know, linen and that sort of thing. It's not like he's having friends having sleepovers and things like that anymore. So, you know, you can always sort of downsize and and just really think about how you wanna live. speaker-0: Yeah, yeah. And so what about if people were tackling this on their own and they didn't have someone like yourself and either of us two there helping them? What can they tackle on their own? speaker-1: think. I like first of all I'd sort of think about the things that maybe other family members have always coveted or, you know, been promised or something in the long run anyway. And they're things that are maybe easier things to let go of at the beginning. If there was a, you know, a particular piece of furniture or a a piece of artwork that, you know, a a a daughter or son or you know, a niece or nephew always wanted and admired. You know, now's the time to hand that, you know, invite them over for a coffee, that sort of thing, catch up with people. share the stories of where it was purchased, you know, how you came about it, you know, any travels and things like that that go with the stories and share those moments now. So I think that's sort of a usually an easy way to start is thinking about things that you know other people want, just pass that on now. That's one thing. And and then other things again, thinking about the lifestyle. So, you know, a kitchen's a really good one to tackle in that if you're, you know, you may have had the family home and you were the one always hosting Christmas dinner or, you know, all of the birthday get togethers where there might have been, you know, a dozen people over. And in that next stage of life, you're not going to be doing that anymore. Now it's time to pass the torch on to the next generation or whatever it is. Those are the things that you could be doing now and thinking, okay, realistically, it's going to be, you know, myself and one or two visitors or whatever. You know, those are the things that you can already, you can cull yourself, just thinking about that next stage and actually how you want to live, just yeah, in a in a smaller space. speaker-0: Yeah, yeah, that's interesting. Today I was with a lady and she had it was like a big dish and she was like, you know what? And it was a big bowl. There was two. They were stacked on top of each other. And she was like, I haven't used this at all. I'm not going to use it. Let's just donate those. I just need the small same and a grater as well. And she was like, I'll keep the little grater. I don't need all these big things anymore. Absolutely. And we yeah, and we did do it maybe two years ago. So it was nice to revisit and go, I haven't used it. I'm not going to. So I'm gonna let it go. speaker-1: And the interesting thing too is even is breaking up sets. Because I think I've got a lot of clients where they kind of like they feel bad because it's it's a whole set that they love it. So then they want to keep all of it. And it's like like what's to say if you've got a dining set, why can't you just keep four plates and give six away for donation? That's still a perfectly, you know, generous amount to donate if they're perfectly good, ⁓ and it's usable for somebody else. So it's okay to break up sets and things, you know, keep yourself, keep your favorite teacup and saucer. You know, you don't have to keep all of that. speaker-0: Yeah, that's a great point because people do get fixated on keeping things together, even though they might not be using it. And it's just like, well, let's some of it go. ⁓ because other people aren't caring about sets, are they? speaker-1: No, not so much even ⁓ people live differently now. Like they're not yeah you know, people don't have big formal dining sets and, you know, sherry glasses and pork glasses and all the things. Like everyone just is yeah, so much I don't know. It's just simpler, but more straightlined. People don't want the hassle, the maintenance, the cleaning, you know. speaker-0: Definitely. Yeah. We don't have like I know as, you know, a child, we had the good dinner set and the everyday dinner set. We don't have that anymore. We just had speaker-1: This is what I always say to the clients. I'm like, don't save for best, you know. Yeah, yeah. The Queen's not coming next week. It's okay. You can use that, you know, teeth set. Like you're good enough for your own good china, you know. Yeah. I drink like I ha I you know, on in summer on a Friday night, I'll have nothing more than a G and T and I've got like my crystal glass that I ⁓ drink out of. speaker-0: Yes, yes, yes. speaker-1: I'm like, I'm gonna use it. If I break it, I break it. It doesn't matter. Like I'd rather use it and enjoy it and you know, rather than it's just sitting there collecting dust. Yeah. speaker-0: Exactly. That's it's one that's one of the things, isn't it? It's just in the back of a cupboard, no one's getting to appreciate it. You're not getting to share the stories. No. And but whereas when it's out on display or you're using it, you're able to then share the story of where it came from. speaker-1: Yeah. It's pretty. It's like I wanna use the nice thing. speaker-0: So what are some of the beautiful stories that you've found or even like that people have shared about items and maybe not necessarily then kept it, but then were able to still let it go. speaker-1: th a lot of it is the travel. It's kind of it's it's you know it's things that they bought along the way. And it might have been ⁓ you know, something that they bought with a partner that has passed away. And so there's all of those sort of things, which is really emotional for clients. You know, there's a lot of that that sort of attachment. But you know, they're genuinely not going to have the space and I sort of, you know, we talk about if there's someone special in your life and that's what, you know, there's lots of different components in your house that remind you of this person. You don't need to keep all of the things. You know, we sort of talk about it and we sort of go, Well, you know what, this this piece of artwork is the same as this piece of furniture. It actually evokes the same memories of the same person as this giant piece of furniture where I can just keep you know what, I could just keep that one piece of art and I can look at that and I can evoke those same memories, have that same feeling. I don't need all of the things that are associated with that person. So I think that's a really ⁓ you know, once clients kind of understand that and they Yeah, they realise that really why am I keeping this? And if it is literally for the same reason, they could be much more subjective about what they actually want to keep and what they can then let go of. speaker-0: Mm. Yeah. Yeah. And like you said before, you know, giving it to somebody else maybe in the family who may even like it as well. Absolutely. A bigger piece that can fit in their home. Yeah. speaker-1: Yeah, yeah. And it's nice to do that when they can share the stories, you know, because I do a lot of deceased estates as well. And what I do find sad is, you know, when you've got people going through things and they're like, I know this was important to Mum, but I don't know who's I don't know who this person in the photo is, or I don't know what this item really was or where it came from, but I know mum always loved it or something, you know, but they don't really have the provenance. So then it doesn't really actually me really mean anything to them either. So I think, you know, when you can share the stories you should. speaker-0: Definitely. Yeah, that is such a great point because I I find that's the bit I love the most too is hearing the stories from people about their items and where they got it or what what this you know, how they maybe got it even from a parent as well is quite interesting sometimes too. speaker-1: Yeah. And the things that were important to them and you know, even sometimes they have like a wedding dress and you just think, My gosh, these women were tiny. You know, because there's beautiful vintage clothing and it's just it's divine to look at and speaker-0: Yeah. There's some really amazing history in s in the houses in here just in Australia. Isn't there that is not being shared, that's just in the back of a cupboard. speaker-1: ⁓ absolutely. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. We had actually there was a an estate clear up that I did and they had an old an army jacket and it like in pristine condition. And, you know, the the well, I say the kids, I mean there's people in their fifties. ⁓ but they didn't know what to do with these items. It was their, you their dad's jacket and he had some medals and they didn't know and that you it's felt wrong just throwing it out. And it's like, yeah, no, no, no, throw it out. So I ended up contacting the War Memorial. Yeah. And I happened to be going like I'm based in Sydney, but I happened to be going to Canberra like in about six weeks or something. And so I reached out to Born Memorial and sent the photos and they were like, Yes, we would love them for our collection. And so I ended up sort of dropping it off and got to go to the back area where there's like the archives and drop it off. And that was really cool. speaker-0: Yeah. ⁓ that would be amazing to see. So have you got some s like practical tips that you would share with people who are beginning and s and starting this process? speaker-1: I think I mean probably I would start with easier things. So I think some of the easier areas would be a linen cupboard, definitely, because it once you pull things out, you'd be surprised also at what's, you know, gone yellow and all that sort of stuff if you've had it in there for thirty years or whatever. And also knowing it's like, yes, I don't need you know, with tablecloths, it's like I can just have one nice tablecloth, you know, don't need eight or whatever, you know, I'm not if if they're moving somewhere that you had a you've got a pool in the house and so you've got like eight beach towels. You know, it's like, well, you you wanted to skip one beach towel for yourself, but the rest could go. So I think a linen cupboard's a really i generally a pretty straightforward one to do. And then books are they can be it can be sometimes it depends on the person. Sometimes people are really attached to their books. ⁓ but if they're kind of just ended up being a collector just because that's what you did, you know, you bought the book and you just kept it on your bookshelf, you know, I think that's another area that can be easy to let go of as well because realistically with things that are just novels, you know, at the end of the day they can be donated to Lifeline quite simply. You know, they do their book fairs pretty much all across Australia. And also it's like if it's novels, it's easily replaceable. As if you want to read something again, you can go to the library and borrow it. Yes, definitely. You know, so it's kind of it's a I feel like that's a bit of a no brainer really. Like, ⁓ you know, unless someone's given you a book and they've written in it, ⁓ a personal message, that's different. But for the most part, I think a lot of people could, you know, do those sort of areas really easily. speaker-0: And what do you find then is the most difficult area, generally? speaker-1: Probably I mean, well, people generally don't want to let go of ki of kitchen things can be tricky because I feel like that's something I think once they know exactly where they're going and once they've purchased a new place, then you know, I can look at the floor plan with them and look at photos or you know, sometimes depending on where it is, I might do a site visit. ⁓ and you can actually really envisage that space and say, look, it's physically half of the size. That's we've got to cull fifty percent of this kitchen and that's where they do need that. A lot of people do want that visual with especially if they're cooks. you know, they really enjoyed cooking and that's a big part of their identity. Yeah. Then that that can be ac actually be quite a difficult area downsize sometimes. You know, they don't pub some people find it really hard to let go of that aspect of their life where they were the the entertainer and the the ho the host. Yeah. Yeah. I think that can be a little bit tricky. But yeah. speaker-0: Yeah, it's that it's whatever it could be that is attached to their identity. 'Cause I know people a couple of other clients and it was closed because it was attached to you know, is still part of their identity of dancing and their hobbies that they do. Yeah. But yeah. But otherwise I was gonna say photo yeah, like those photos and some of those tricky things that they don't know where to go. speaker-1: Absolutely. Yeah. I mean, photos are I think difficult for any client. That's always a thing that I tend to leave till last because you know if you start with photos, you just get bobbed down and you make very little pro it looks like you've done nothing. You know, you could be there for hours and it's a really challenging one. But there's actually some great organizers out there that are specialise in, you know, in photograph and organization. And I I do recommend that for certain clients as well, if they've got a substantial collection. ⁓ 'cause what I love now too is the the digital frames. You if they're happy to actually outsource it and they can get photos scanned in and have the digital frame so they can actually rather than be in albums that or boxes that never get looked at, like sh you know, you can put a couple of thousand photos on ⁓ you know, a digital frame and just have it sort of scrolling and then, you know, looking at them all from time to time, which is a much more than I think. speaker-0: Yeah. And just also for your memory as well. Like it's continually looking and then reminding you of different events and different places, different people in your life as well. Yeah. Linda, thank you so much for your time. How can people find you? And do you do online as well? Or it's all like in person? speaker-1: Yeah, definitely. It is all in person. I think, yeah, what I do. I haven't really yeah, I've never done sort of online consultations or anything like that. It's all but having said that, I sometimes I don't actually meet the client. If I've done I've done deceased estate clear apps and ⁓ you know, I get left a key in a lockbox and I'll go and, you know, clear hop hop hoppities and not necessarily yeah, even though it's on the space, I don't actually necessarily always meet the client. I'm sort of face to face. So that's an interesting one. But ⁓ the easiest way to reach me is the website. which is just ⁓ creativesurrounds dot com dot au. And if you have a look look at the website, it sort of lists all the services that we offer, which is, you know, the downsizing deceased estates. We do do normal, you know, regular home organizing and decluttering as well. But yeah, but defin definitely I think working with the seniors and doing the downsizing is I'll be in my happy space. speaker-0: Yeah. Well thank you so much, Linda. It's been so great to have some tips for people to start that process. No, thanks. speaker-1: Thank you for having me. speaker-0: Moving to a new house? Make your relocation a breeze with our Free Moving Essentials checklist. You'll have everything you need for a smooth and stress-free moving day at your fingertips. Don't let the chaos of moving overwhelm you. Download your Free Moving Essential checklist from simplyhappy.com.au in the resource section. I'd like to acknowledge the Wotherong people of the Kulin Nation on which this podcast is recorded as the traditional custodians of the land. I pay my respects to their elders, past, present and emerging.