The easy part of making your move to an active retirement community is embracing all the new opportunities, new activities, and new friends you’ll discover. But first, there’s a good chance you’re going to need to reduce some of your belongings in order to right-size your lifestyle for your new home.

Give yourself time
Rushing the process or leaving it till the last minute will only bring stress, bad decisions and a greater chance for regret. So start early and plan on allowing yourself time to enjoy memories as you go through your old belongings. You might want to schedule it as an activity, for fixed two to three hour periods, which gives you time to digest, rethink and reflect, without becoming overwhelmed.

Have a system
Start with rooms you use the least, such as storage areas, guest rooms, even, possibly the living room. Begin with the largest items, such as furniture, and work with a copy of your new home’s floor plan, so you can see just how much room you have. Get a package of colour coded stickers you can use to designate keepers, family heirlooms, yard sale candidates, donations and so on. You might also want to keep a list so you’re more organized when having stuff picked up or moved. And if you have an empty space available, such as the garage, use it to sort piles or groupings of various items.

If you’ve set aside a group of items for pick-up, arrange to have it picked up quickly. This will free up more space and avoid the temptation to pull items out of the pile.

To help you decide what should go, ask yourself how often you use the item, whether you actually need it (particularly in your new place), whether it has sentimental value. For example, if you’re moving to a place where dinners are provided, you may need less of your cooking gear. If you’re still having trouble deciding on an item, set it aside for later.

Stop storing other people’s stuff
Have the kids come and collect their own childhood belongings, or let you know which ones can go. (Have them help arrange for the Goodwill or Salvation Army pick-up while you’re at it.

Right-sizing can free you to enjoy retirement

Deal with your treasures
There will be things you don’t want to part with. Make a list of these and keep it in mind as you go. There’ll also be items or furniture you love and don’t want to donate, but won’t have room for. Identify those that should go to your kids or other family members and give them to them now.

Say goodbye to things you no longer need
Have a yard sale; or if you have enough items that are worth a lot, consider hiring an auctioneer to appraise and sell your items; or donate to charity.

These tips might help you prepare, but you can also look to coaches and instructors for help. Ideas on that next.