The Emotion of Downsizing
Downsizing isn’t just a matter of logistics. For many, it can feel like an emotional reckoning. For many homeowners (or the children left sorting through everything when parents have passed), those walls, rooms and possessions hold the echoes of decades of life: family dinners, holiday celebrations, growing children, and milestones big and small. Deciding what to keep — and what to let go — can feel less like clearing space and more like editing a personal history. The process often surfaces sadness, nostalgia, even grief.
Downsizing isn’t just about sorting belongings; it’s about navigating memories, identity, and change. As experts in downsizing and estate cleanouts, Organizing Maniacs understands the deep emotional work that happens alongside the physical tasks. In the article, Cris talked with Julie Pfitzinger, managing editor for Next Avenue and senior editor for lifestyle coverage, about the emotional impact of downsizing. She shares her thoughtful take on why this process can feel so heavy and how to move through it with confidence and care. Her insights are worth the read, including why you should start with silverware.