Choice Blog

Downsize your home... not your life

By Cathy Johnston, senior community living advisor at MHA Auchlochan retirement village

Hands up who had a new year’s resolution in January? Now leave it up if you’re still sticking with it… fewer hands in the air now probably. Don’t get me wrong, I think new year’s resolutions are fantastic, not only to help us stick to our goals, but also give us something positive to focus on through the gloomy days that January brings.

But sometimes, that resolution we made can wind up feeling like an albatross around our necks, and if things don’t go well in January, we can end up giving up on the resolution altogether for the next 12 months.

So, this year, I’m being less rigid, and giving myself the freedom to try a few different things that I think could work for me. Resolutions are great as they help you to stay focused on your goals, but who says January is the only time for them? I think if you’ve got a positive change to make, that can happen at any time of year.

I’ve met many retirees over the years, and welcomed many to Auchlochan – a landscaped retirement village in the heart of the Lanarkshire countryside – so I know how many people set themselves the goal of making a move when a new year rolls around.

Retirement refresh

The downsizing process – getting rid of the possessions and space you no longer need or want in your life – is a challenge. Let’s face it, throwing or giving things away is hard! That’s why so many of us hoard so much to begin with. It’s in our nature.

But once that task is complete, I see people realise that life is so much more than possessions. And a property can be much more than a place to live. It can open doors to the life you’ve always pictured for yourself.

Upsizing your social life

Downsizing for many is not only about living in a more manageable home but also choosing a place where other retirees live close by. A retirement living community of course provides this, but there’s also so much else going on to benefit from. From bowls to film clubs, to just having coffee and chatting with other local residents, there’s so many social activities to choose from throughout the year, meeting new friends can feel easier than it ever has done before!

Resolve for your resolution

While making the move can be scary at first, concentrating on the new lease of life you’ll have once you’ve moved can really help to keep you motivated and positive with your new resolution. Living in a community of like-minded individuals, taking up new hobbies and exciting activities, not to mention having the reassurance that this home will suit your needs well into the future, are all things to focus on. When the task in hand feels overwhelming, consider why you wanted to make a change in the first place. Just think – you could soon be decorating your forever home and perhaps waking up to a beautiful new Loch side view, or rolling hills in the countryside.

Stop putting it off

From my experience, the best thing to do for a happy downsizing experience is to not leave it too late. While leaving a big move until it’s completely necessary can be tempting, putting such an important decision off is often a mistake.

From my experience, the best thing to do for a happy downsizing experience is to not leave it too late. While leaving a big move until it’s completely necessary can be tempting, putting such an important decision off is often a mistake.

What do you do you think to this?

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