Downsizing Without Getting Stuck: Create a “Not Yet” Box

Downsizing Without Getting Stuck: Create a “Not Yet” Box Downsizing becomes difficult when every object requires an immediate emotional decision.

Many belongings are relatively straightforward.

Keep.

Donate.

Sell.

Discard.

Then you find the photograph, serving dish, family keepsake or piece of memorabilia that stops the entire process.

Instead of forcing the decision, create a fifth category:

Not Yet.

The key is making it deliberately limited.

Choose one reasonably sized tote or box. When something creates a genuine emotional roadblock, place it inside and continue working.

You have not committed to keeping the item forever.

You have simply decided that today is not the day you need to decide.

This technique prevents a handful of difficult possessions from consuming the energy you could use to sort hundreds of easier ones.

Return to the box after the larger downsizing project has progressed.

Sometimes decisions become clearer when the pressure is lower.

Martha’s Tip: “Not Yet” should be a container, not a room. Giving the category a physical limit keeps it useful.

Downsizing is a series of decisions.

You do not have to make every difficult one on the same afternoon.

Request Martha’s Smart Senior’s Downsizing Guide.