House & Home - Helping Boomers Declutter

 As the extraordinary Baby Boomer generation gets ready for the next phase of life, many transitions are on the horizon. From downsizing or maintaining their current spaces to moving into senior living or assisted living homes, the Boomers – and their kids/caretakers – are looking for ways to maximizing these golden years. And here’s an often overlooked but profound way they can do just that: decluttering and reorganizing!

To help them, there’s April Tandy, acclaimed author, and YouTube sensation, whose innovative Space Maker Method is revolutionizing the way we think about our living spaces. With a loyal following of over 100,000 onYouTube and a bestselling book, “The Mindful Art of Space Making,” April is uniquely equipped to guide you toward achieving harmony in your home and life. Over the years, she has received tons of inquiries from Boomers on how they can reshape and re-optimize their homes and living spaces.

Five powerful ways Boomers & their adult children can declutter & downsize:

1.      Give everyone some space. Decluttering can be mentally draining. Both parents & adult kids need space away from each other (and the project) at the end of each day to recharge.

2.      Think slow, steady & long-term. You don’t need to declutter & reorganize your entire life in one day. Small, incremental wins are best to keep moving forward, to keep building momentum week after week.

3.      Patience & understanding. As we get older we deal with a lot of change and loss. Our possessions have emotional attachments that may be sensitive. Respect that different generations have different beliefs, are going through different stages of life, and err on the side of patience.

4.      Don't force your help upon them. Let your parents know that you are here to help. Even if they aren't ready, at least you can get the conversation rolling. "Would you ever want help downsizing? Together we could work on this to ease your stress and help you feel lighter."

5.      It's not about you (the adult kids). It doesn't matter what you think your parents should keep or discard. You are here to help but they are making the final decisions. Think of yourself as a guide/helper/cheerleader, not as a teacher who has all the answers.

 I had a chance to learn more in this interview.

What are some things Boomers need to consider when decluttering?

Boomers are likely to have decades of belongings in their spare rooms, garages, and homes. It's unreasonable to think you can do one pass of decluttering and feel like you're done. Realistically it will take multiple decluttering passes for you to find your ideal "comfort level of stuff" in your home - and that's perfectly normal!

Especially if you have an overwhelming amount of stuff in your home, it can be daunting to get started. Try to remember that any progress is progress. Even if it's slow, even if all you can do in one day is a shoe-box sized amount, it all counts toward your overall goal.

If certain items/areas are too emotionally charged or anxiety-inducing, allow yourself to move on and come back to those items/areas later. Try to avoid getting hung up on difficult decisions. It's more important to move on and keep the momentum going. With time, your declutter muscles will grow and you'll have more confidence to tackle those trouble spots!

Why might Boomers want to include their children in the decluttering process?

It's really helpful to have a second set of eyes to help you see your clutter more objectively. Your children can help you identify where to start, and which areas would be most impactful for you to declutter. Also, it's easy to get distracted while decluttering, so it's great to have someone else who can help keep you focused on your goal. Finally, this is physically demanding work, so the more helping hands the merrier!

Why is it important for the children of Boomers to respect their parents' decluttering decisions?

Well, as children, we have a habit of thinking that it's all about us. But this is not your journey, it's theirs. They need to process belongings at their own pace, making decisions they feel comfortable with. You can't force your parents to declutter, but you can encourage them and empower their efforts. This helps them build momentum, which is how you can help the most. Your parents will arrive at their clutter-free life in their own time, and your positive influence can help get them there.