It’s a New Year and everyone is full of new resolutions.  But in case you are in need of one, let me help you.    

CLEAN. OUT. YOUR. CLOSETS. 

There you go.  52 weeks ahead of you.  Get it done.  Start now. 

Why? I recently spent time with Sarah, whose father past away last year.  The death was not unexpected; he had been ill for a long time. 

Additionally, Sarah and her siblings knew that once their father passed their mom would need to move to assisted living.

Unfortunately, Sarah and her siblings did NOT think about or plan for what her mom’s move would entail.  Did they start to prepare by cleaning out closets or boxing up things that would not go with their mother?

Nope. 

So now Sarah and her siblings are spending hours upon hours sorting, packing, and dividing keepsakes between them.

And their mother suffers a second huge loss as she sees her life possessions carted away.

Why did this happen?

Procrastination.

They all knew that mom would have to move.  She isn’t safe at home, and the house has to be cleaned out and sold to pay for the care she needs.

But they didn’t prepare. So now it falls to Sarah and her siblings to prepare the house, and quickly.

This means cleaning out 50 years of accumulated stuff… every card, ribbon, and memory their parents have kept throughout their lives. 

Like so many families I work with, this family (parents included) procrastinated.  They did not prepare for what they knew was coming.

Mom was going to have to move.

So instead of preparing the house together, when they would all would have time to sort and reminisce, they waited until it had to be done.

I know how hard it can be to say to your parents, “We need to clean out your closets.” But I can promise you it is harder them, and you, to say:

“You have to leave all your stuff here and we will figure out what to do with it.”

We must recognize that anyone moving to assisted living will have to seriously downsize.  So not only must the cleaning out occur, but we want mom to carefully select what items she can take with her to her new home.

So when you have a family member who will like move in the next few years, and lots of closets to clean out, spend some time helping them start.

Give them the time and joy of looking back through decades of memories while also enabling them to give their input on what should be done with the items.

And if you know your own closets need some attention.  Start now.  Your children will thank you.

Do you have a story about downsizing or moving you would like to share? Tell us about it in the comments below!