Effortless Ways To Simplify Your Home And Plan A Move For Retirement

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Are you thinking it might be time to simplify your home and life and need some inspiration? I’m sharing my journey and hope that you find some new approaches and ideas in this post.

Simplify seems to be the buzzword of the moment and I have been embracing it! How about you?

You probably know that my husband and I are well into the season of our lives as empty nesters. We are both still working at our careers, but just in the last year we’ve decided to slow down and scale back the hours that we put into our jobs. The time passes by so quickly and we want to enjoy more of what we love, including hobbies, travel and being with family and friends.

This post is sponsored by Opendoor. All opinions, thoughts and images are my own.

Simplify Your Home And Downsize With Ease

The reality is that when you are an empty nester you probably have accumulated a lot of “stuff”. This can be a huge challenge to think about and if you are considering downsizing or selling your home, it’s best to start some of the process to simplify your home ahead of time so it’s not so overwhelming! My husband and I are still living in the home where we raised our children, so we definitely are decluttering!

The street where we live is a beauty and is lined with Royal palm trees. This photo is unedited!

Below are a few tips that I have, since I’ve been going through the process for a while. By the way, several years ago when I started this process I wrote this post that has a free checklist for you to print out when you start to simplify your home:

• Simplify Your Home Room by Room: Tackle one room at a time, sorting items into categories: keep, donate, sell, or discard. This prevents feeling overwhelmed and helps maintain focus.
• Prioritize Essentials: Keep items that are essential or hold significant sentimental value. Let go of things that no longer serve a purpose or bring joy (see this post!).
• Utilize Storage Solutions: Invest in efficient storage solutions like shelves, clear plastic bins, and organizers to maximize space and keep belongings orderly.
• Digitize Documents and Photos: Scan important documents and photos to reduce physical storage needs. Store digital copies on a secure cloud service or external hard drive. I sent all of our old family video tapes out to be digitized on a handy hard drive!
• Minimize Duplicates: Eliminate duplicate items, such as kitchen gadgets, linens, and tools, keeping only what you use regularly. It’s amazing what you probably don’t need and I’m still working on this myself.
• Adopt a Minimalist Mindset: While I don’t consider myself a minimalist, I now embrace a minimalist approach and focus on quality over quantity. Choose timeless, versatile pieces for your home decor and wardrobe when you simplify your home.
• Sell or Donate Unwanted Items: Host a garage sale, use online marketplaces, or donate to local charities to give new life to items you no longer need.
• Streamline Furniture: Opt for multi-functional furniture that serves multiple purposes, such as a sofa bed or Murphy bed. I decided to simplify my home office and the sofa bed does get used for extra guests as well as a place to relax.
• Create Functional Spaces: Redesign rooms to suit your current lifestyle, such as converting a child’s old bedroom into a home office, gym, or guest room.
• Maintain a Decluttering Routine: Regularly review and simplify your home to prevent accumulation and maintain a sense of peace.

Also, check out this article that is about simple-sizing (not just downsizing) and making decisions that can make life just a bit easier!

The Benefits & Challenges Of Empty Nesting!

One of the most significant benefits of being an empty nester is the increased freedom and flexibility it offers. Without the constraints of a child’s schedule, you can enjoy more freedom to pursue hobbies, travel, and engage in activities that you might have set aside during the busy parenting years. Financially, there’s a reduced burden with fewer dependents, allowing for more disposable income that can be directed towards personal interests and retirement savings.

Another positive aspect is the newfound time for personal interests. You can rediscover and invest time in passions, hobbies, and projects that you may have previously put on hold. This period also provides an excellent opportunity to strengthen relationships, particularly with your partner or spouse, as you can focus on each other without the distractions of parenting.

Downsizing and simplifying your lifestyle becomes more feasible and appealing. Embracing a simpler lifestyle by attempting to simplify your home and create a more manageable living space can bring a sense of relief and satisfaction. Career opportunities might also open up, as you have more time and energy to explore new roles, take on more challenging positions, or even start a new business without the demands of parenting.

Peace and Quiet: Enjoy a quieter, more peaceful home environment, free from the hustle and bustle of a busy household. I will have to say that this is probably my favorite aspect of empty nesting. I have always loved peace and quiet and yet I’m also the happiest when my family does come together!

Tough Parts of Being an Empty Nester

Despite the many benefits, there are also challenges associated with being an empty nester. One of the most common difficulties can be experiencing feelings of loneliness and what is often referred to as “empty nest syndrome.” The sense of loss or loneliness as children move out can be emotionally challenging and require a significant adjustment.

The loss of a daily routine and purpose can also be tough. After years of focusing on children’s schedules and needs, finding a new sense of purpose and routine can be daunting. Adjusting to a quieter home and the shift in family dynamics might also prove challenging, especially if your primary focus has been on parenting.

Worries about children’s well-being can cause stress and anxiety. Concerns about their ability to manage independently, their safety, and overall well-being can weigh heavily on parents. Additionally, this period might strain relationships with your partner or spouse as you both navigate the changes in dynamics and focus more on each other as a couple.

Finding new activities and interests to fill the time previously occupied by parenting responsibilities is essential but can be challenging. It requires effort and sometimes stepping out of your comfort zone. Lastly, adapting to new technology and communication changes is necessary to stay connected with adult children, who may rely more on digital communication methods. This adjustment can be a learning curve but is crucial for maintaining strong relationships.

Exciting News For Our Family!

The time is coming soon for a new chapter in our lives. Our home is large and we are seriously considering how to simplify not only our home, but our lives, and downsize to a smaller home. We are thinking of moving out of the area that we live in and not yet sure where we would relocate? Possibly out-of-state, as we are expecting our first grandchild and would love to be closer to our daughter and her family!

Another potential move for us would be to the smaller beach home that we already own! A bonus for us is that one of our other adult children lives in that area! I thought you might enjoy seeing some recent photos of our beach home, as we’ve just come back from spending a week up there!

This is one of the toughest decisions that we will have to make so far in our lives. Do we sell our home or stay?

Making A Move Easy

I want to take a moment to talk about our sponsor Opendoor, and how a transition to smaller living might make sense for anyone approaching the retirement years of life! Opendoor allows us to be in control of our move by skipping the hassles. You can sell to them, or list with a cash offer in-hand! We would most definitely consider this when the time comes for us to sell!

Opendoor is different from the typical home buying and/or selling process. When you sell to Opendoor, there is no preparation, no showings (those can be so annoying!) or chance that the buyer’s financing could fall through. The process is fast and easy to allow you to move on at your own pace. The process of selling with Opendoor is quick and easy and you can “start with an all-cash offer at opendoor.com” and focus on the journey ahead instead of the uncertainty of the selling market. You drive the process!

If you’re looking to buy your next home through Opendoor, they offer a buy it now price so you can skip the bidding wars and save thousands compared to the list price.

Using Opendoor to sell makes sense for an empty nester. At this stage of life we don’t necessarily want to wait a long time to sell or buy and Opendoor makes both of these life transitions easier for us.