Written By: Amy van den Dijssel, Marketing & Social Media Manager at Changing Places LLC
2020 has certainly been a “different” kind of year, to put it mildly. At the beginning of the Covid-19 Pandemic, many of us were forced to hunker down in our homes. For the first time in years, many of us had time to take a closer look at our living spaces and realized how cluttered they had become. Our Senior Move Managers, who are experienced in helping client’s sort and declutter their homes, were also stuck at home. During a Zoom staff meeting, we decided to have a Linen Closet Challenge. Each person targeted this problem area, following a step by step process, the methodology we use when working with our clients. Start with one area before moving to the next one. We pulled everything out of our Linen Closets and then sorted the items into categories: trash, textile recycle and donate. The finished product left us all feeling more organized.
As we get ready to ring in the New Year and hope for a better 2021, it’s a great time to get rid of the junk in our lives and to start with a clean slate. As mentioned above, pick a few problem areas: Linen Closet, Junk Drawer, or Hall Closets. Set aside enough time to tackle each area and do it until completion. Check for local charities in your area who accept donations and clear the bags out as soon as possible. For more valuable items in your home, there are many online estate sales companies who can help sell your items. Many towns have recycling centers where you can take anything from textiles to old electronics. Decluttering your home will leave you feeling more focused and ready for new challenges.
Digital clutter can also bog you down. Take some time to go through old emails and files that you don’t need any more and delete them once and for all. This will clear up space on your computer and, once again, leave you feeling more organized and peaceful.
Now is also a good time to clear the emotional baggage that is bringing you down. Many studies show that people who have a positive attitude are actually healthier than those with a negative one. A great way to foster this positive attitude is to keep a Gratitude Journal. Even a bad day (or year!) has some bright spots that deserve to be highlighted.
Carol Lightbody and Paula Meighan co-founded Changing Places, LLC in 2005. The Senior Move Management company assists older adults and their families with the emotional and physical aspects of relocation and/or “aging in place.” Changing Places offers many services, including developing an overall move or “age in place” plan, sorting, clearing and decluttering the home, arranging for sales/disposal of unwanted items, and unpacking and settling clients in the new home. You can find them at www.changingplaces.info and on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn at ChangingPlacesNY.