Month: December 2024

Is a feud brewing among the I Know What You Did Last Summer co-stars?

When I look back on my own downsizing journey, there are so many things I didn’t know that I wish I had known at the time.

While I did get really good at figuring things out over time, it sure would have made the process a lot easier had I known then what I know now. Today’s article and video tell the truth about downsizing and decluttering – what no one tells you but what you need to know.

With the ever-increasing popularity of downsizing and decluttering across all ages and demographics, it’s important for you to know what to expect before you embark on this life-changing decision.

THE GOOD: The Surprising Benefits of Decluttering and Downsizing My Life

After decluttering and downsizing, one of the biggest surprises was how simple my life had become.

Having broken free of the burden of clutter and a home filled with too much stuff, my smaller environment was organized and peaceful, and I knew where everything was.

I was no longer wasting time looking for things.

Living in a smaller home with much less stuff suddenly just made sense!

I had more time, money, freedom, and energy to do all the things I had been wanting to do. I could now focus on what mattered to me because nothing was holding me back. That is, I was in control of my own life. I had all I wanted, all I needed, and had never been happier.

I also realized how little I actually needed and how the quality of my life had improved.

My only question was: Why hadn’t I decluttered and downsized sooner?

THE BAD: The Daily Challenges You Face During the Downsizing and Decluttering Journey

Note that these so-called challenges also became opportunities each day to learn, grow, and become stronger in my resolve to simplify my life.

Each day seemed to bring on a new emotion:

• Overwhelm, stress, peace
• Tears, sadness, joy
• Indecisiveness, decisiveness, clarity

At any given moment, I was filled with self-doubt:

• What if I need it someday?
• How can I possibly let go of my sentimental items?
• What do I need to do to stay motivated when I want to give up?
• Is it worth all this time and effort?

Acknowledging these complex emotions is critical to your decluttering and downsizing success. They’re perfectly normal. Anyone who declutters and downsizes experiences many similar emotions.

The key to success is not to dwell on the emotions and things that hold you back. Instead, constantly remind yourself of WHY you want to downsize and declutter.

Whether it’s to save money, live a simpler life, or have more freedom, shift your focus to one small area, like a drawer, and make one small decision at a time.

This mindset shift is magical because it will help you get unstuck so you can move forward.

THE UGLY: What NOT to Do When Downsizing and Decluttering

Here are 5 big mistakes I made during my journey to owning less. Avoiding these can save you a lot of time, trouble, and heartache:

Trying to Do It All at Once

This is not only impossible but also unwise. Take the time upfront to create a plan and implement your project one area at a time. Set realistic goals, timelines, and intentions for where you’ll live and where your excess items will go.

Trying to Do It Alone

After one exhausting month of decluttering solo, I realized I needed a team. Having support allowed me to create a workable plan and even enjoy the process.

Bringing Too Much Stuff to Your Smaller Home

Overpacking a smaller space is a common mistake. Be mindful of the limited storage in your new home and make thoughtful decisions about what to bring.

Waiting Too Long to Downsize and Declutter

I delayed my move by five years, which led to unnecessary stress, wasted resources, and missed opportunities for joy. Living with less has added years to the quality of my life.

Continuing to Accumulate More

Breaking the cycle of over-accumulation is essential. Learning to say no and understanding your relationship with “more” is critical for living a simpler, more meaningful life.

Misconceptions About Decluttering and Downsizing

“Downsizing Is Stressful and Overwhelming”

While there’s an element of stress, with the right mindset and tools, the process can be smooth, enjoyable, and even fun.

“Decluttering and Downsizing Means Sacrificing Comfort”

This is not true. A thoughtfully downsized home can still reflect your personal style and provide comfort.

“Downsizing Is for Extreme Minimalists”

Downsizing isn’t about extremes – it’s about living a more balanced life with things that serve a purpose and bring joy.

My Top 5 Secrets for Successful Decluttering and Downsizing

Start Small

Complete one area at a time to build momentum and motivation.

Sort into Categories

Use three piles – keep, donate, discard – to help you be more intentional and decisive.

Acknowledge the Emotional Aspect

Letting go can be painful, but remember: memories live in your heart, not in objects.

Focus on Clarity and Freedom

A clutter-free home lets you focus on what matters most: relationships, passions, and personal growth.

Declutter Your Mind

Downsizing isn’t just about your space – it’s about achieving mental clarity and surrounding yourself with what truly matters.

The freedom that comes with decluttering and downsizing is available to anyone, regardless of age, income, or lifestyle. It’s not just for minimalists – it’s for everyone who wants to live a more intentional and fulfilling life.

Remember, downsizing isn’t just about getting rid of things. It’s about living a life aligned with your values and goals. It’s about freedom, clarity, and simplicity.

Time for Reflection:

Have you been thinking about downsizing? What have you attempted to declutter about your home? What mistakes have you made in the process and what did you learn?

I have always loved live performances, whether it is a children’s nativity play, sumptuous ballet, dramatic opera, music, recital, comedy act, or anything where people are there to perform and entertain you. The work that goes on behind the scenes for the production is often immense, as well as the passion, time, energy, courage, and probably a sprinkling of nerves from the performers!

The very nature of live performances is to provide us with experiences and a depth of emotion that will stay with us a long time. Who doesn’t remember watching their child’s first play or going to their first concert? I know I have hundreds of memories that I can conjure up in an instant, many of which even now send shivers down my spine!

First Live Performances 

I can still remember my first experiences of live performances when I was a teenager, particularly seeing Ravi Shankar in London. In fact, I am sure I could spend several days just thinking about all the experiences I have had, recalling events, places, people, including Pink Floyd, The Eagles, The Beatles, Santana, The Nutcracker, The Lion King, various operas, street theatre… they are some of my happiest memories. 🙂

It is never the venue or size of the event that makes it so memorable to me, but the atmosphere, excitement and how each performance makes me feel. It is often electrifying, frequently moving, and in the past few months I have had the pleasure of being at a couple of Jazz events, an Amy Winehouse tribute, comedy act, open mic and an Elton John night. All of them were extremely enjoyable, and I wouldn’t have missed a single one.

They Enrich Us All 

Live performances enrich all our lives and are an art form that goes back thousands of years. Romans  and Greeks produced comedy and tragedy plays in amphitheaters (also doubling up as venues for chariot racing, gladiator combats and executions!).

Ancient Egyptians performed dance and played music, including harps, drums, lutes and tambourines. More recently troubadours, originating in France in the 13th century, roamed the towns and villages, entertaining people with music, poetry and tales. In Britain, our forms of live entertainment included minstrels telling stories and playing music, concerts, poetry reading, dancing and jousting.

Who, or What, Is on Your Bucket List?

So, if you could choose one thing to put on your bucket list, what would it be? Barry Manilow or The Eagles in Las Vegas? The sensational Lion King, or a visit to the historic Shakespeare Globe Theatre in London? Perhaps you might prefer the beautiful voice of Andrea Bocelli in Pisa, or watching the exquisite ballet, Swan Lake?

If you shop around, tickets won’t cost a fortune, and you can often get reduced rates on the day. At The Globe Theatre, you can have standing room right at the front (referred to as Groundlings) for as little as £5.00. The atmosphere there is incredible!

Backstage

As well as the performers, there is often a vast army of others that go in to putting on a production. That might be parents at home sewing costumes for the school play, writers, set designers, electricians, producers, directors, backing singers, prompters, the list is endless. So next time you see a live production, give a thought for all the people you cannot see. Without them it just wouldn’t happen.

You Are Part of It

When you go to a live performance, you are part of the action. The audience has a huge role to play in the atmosphere of the event and can change the whole ambience, simply by their reaction. What you see in front of you is a unique experience which will never be performed in exactly the same way ever again. There is a huge difference between listening to a piece of music on a CD and being there in the moment. 

Cost Per Memory

As always, I count what I pay as a cost per memory, and live performances offer a huge return as I may recollect the memories hundreds, or even thousands, of times. I think some of my earliest performances have probably cost less than a penny per memory. That sounds like a very good deal to me. 🙂

Let’s Reflect:

What is your most memorable live performance? Do you have a specific event on your bucket list? Are you a performer?

When we have difficulties with our balance, this can really affect our walking. We start to worry about keeping steady and lose the enjoyment of walking.

In the last 18 years as a specialist exercise instructor, I’ve helped hundreds of people to feel steadier on their feet and more confident with their walking. If this is you as well, please read on.

Why Walking Well Matters

Walking well matters so much. We need to maintain our ability to walk well for as long as possible.

When we feel steadier on our feet, we’re happier walking to get places, going out to run errands, and walking for pleasure. We can enjoy our surroundings and companions because we aren’t worrying or feeling unsteady.

Walking allows us to explore new places (when we can travel more again) and to connect with nature. It gets us out of the house and can help to reduce stress and anxiety.

Is there anything you can do though? Yes! There are many things you can do if you’re starting to struggle with your walking. Here are three things you can think about today:

See also: How To Restart Your Walking Habit.

#1 Have You Talked to Your Doctor?

First of all, it may be worth visiting your doctor to discuss your balance issues. There’s a tendency, as we get older, to put things down to ‘age’. This can mean that we don’t seek medical attention for issues which could be treated or managed.

Of course, we will experience some decline with age, but that doesn’t mean everything can simply be attributed to aging.

There may be other factors affecting your balance. Your doctor will be able to advise on possible investigations or interventions.

#2 Be Intentional About Your Walking

The next thing you can do is to think more about how you walk. This seems strange at first – we’ve been walking without giving it a second thought since we were tiny! But being a little intentional about how we walk can go a long way to helping us to walk well.

The video below is the first in a five-part series on Walking Well. Each of these videos covers one thing you can focus on to walk well – helping you to feel steadier and more confident.

Watch this short video now to learn how much your posture affects the way you walk. I demonstrate some simple tips to improve your posture and your walking.

See also: Why Nordic Walking Is A Wonderful Activity At 60 And Beyond.

Good Posture for Walking Well

Practice this now at home – even if you only have space to take a few steps back and forth! Then, when you’re next out for a walk, make a point of checking in on your posture regularly.

Relax and Keep It Simple

Sometimes, posture advice gets too complicated, so I’ve tried to keep it simple. If you find yourself tensing up when you’re trying to ‘fix’ your posture, just try to relax and make small adjustments.

Over time, it will feel more natural, and your body will get used to pulling up a little taller. But you will have to keep reminding yourself!

When I stop and check my posture, I always find I can pull up a little taller. Remember, it’s not about finding fault or reminding you how badly you’re doing things. It’s about noticing how easy it is to make small improvements which will help you walk better and feel more confident.

#3 Exercise Regularly for Better Balance

If you want to improve your walking and balance, the recommendation is to perform targeted exercises. In case you aren’t already doing regular strength and balance exercises, think about adding these to your routine.

See also: Want To Improve Your Balance? Start With Strengthening Your Ankles.

If you want help and support to exercise at home, take a look at the Vida Wellness Studio. It’s an online exercise studio for people who want to improve their balance and posture, feel stronger, and move more easily.

Do you notice your walking more than you used to? Have you seen your doctor about balance issues? Do you do regular strength and balance exercises? How often do you check your walking posture? Please share with the community, and let’s have a conversation!

Who will win big this year?