Downsizing After Life Changes: Why You're Stuck Living Around Your Stuff (And How to Break Free)
- Cathy Borg
- Sep 18, 2025
- 3 min read
Is a Cabinet of "Just In Case" Keeping you Stuck in Clutter?
What would you think if you saw four coffee makers lined up on someone's counter?
That's what I walked into last week at a recently divorced woman's house. Each time one broke, she grabbed another at Canadian Tire and stuffed the old one in a cabinet "just in case" she might fix it someday.
(She wasn't going to fix them.)
Her pantry told the same story. There were bags of Robin Hood flour, all expired. Buying new felt easier than digging through an avalanche of pasta boxes.
She wasn't lazy. She was living in the gap between who she used to be and who she is now. This is a common struggle I see with people downsizing after major life changes.
Your Home is Telling a Story. Are You Listening?
After a decade of downsizing Toronto homes, I've learned every room whispers clues:
The dining table piled with unopened mail? Sunday dinners have faded.
The guest room stacked with Rubbermaid tubs and a treadmill-as-clothes-hanger? Visitors might as well book a hotel.
The garage so full you park on the street? That tidy workshop you loved is buried under "someday" items.
"These aren't reasons to judge yourself. They're neon signs flashing: My space isn't working. Something needs to change."
Excuses I hear from Clients About Downsizing
"I might need it someday."
The Bowflex is still in the box.
Scrapbooking supplies you have from your Pinterest phase.
But how often does this nebulous "someday' arrive?
"It belonged to my mother."
Is honouring her memory about keeping every object. OR
Is it about carrying forward the helpful lessons she taught you?
"I paid good money for that."
The sectional that takes up too much room in your living room. Holding on means paying rent in stress and square footage.
"My kids will want this."
Most don't. Ask them now. You'll likely hear, "Thanks, but no."
When Your Home Works Against You
One room becomes storage, then two. Daily life shrinks.
A retired teacher stops cooking because her counters vanished under mail and flyers and recipe clippings.
A widower abandons his woodworking after Christmas bins take over his bench.
The clutter stole more than space. It stole fun and purpose.
Your possessions should serve your life not steal it. Every item is either paying its way in usefulness and fun or freeloading off your time and energy.
Feeling Overwhelmed Already?
Take the free Downsizing Readiness Assessment now to see where you stand. It's quick, kind, and gives you a staring point. There's no judgment, just clarity.
Downsizing Doesn't Dishonour Your Past
Letting go isn't betrayal. The dining table where your family once gathered? You have the memories. The table is just wood. Downsizing after divorce, retirement, or loss smart editing allowing your the breathing room you need.
Downsizing Tips for Seniors and Busy Families
Forget miracle systems or TV makeovers. Real change starts small:
Pick one daily annoyance. Tackle the counter you can't see. Leave the sentimental keepsakes for now.
Ask clarifying questions. "Do I use this?" and "What am I giving up to keep it?"
Work in short bursts. Twenty minutes beats overextending yourself so that you think you can't do it.
Get help for the emotional stuff. Downsizing after life changes can stir up grief and other big feelings. Don't do it alone.
What You Get Back When You Downsize
You may find new uses for neglected rooms and rediscover long-abandoned hobbies.
What if:
You could open your closet safely
Host your book club without three days of frantic cleanup
Walk down your hall without tripping over shoes
Wouldn't you love that?
You get a house that supports you when you intentionally choose what earns its place in your life.
Stop Guessing. Start Knowing Where You Stand
Don't wait for that perfect day when your motivation and schedule come into perfect position. It's a trap.
Clarity comes from honest assessment, not perfect timing.
In five minutes, the Downsizing Assessment will show you:
Which spaces work and which don't
Whether you're in maintenance mode or need bigger changes
Your logical next step, based on your situation
About the Writer
Cathy Borg is a partner at In and Out Organizing, serving the Greater Toronto Area. She specializes in helping adults 50+ and their families declutter, downsize, and navigate life transitions with less stress and more clarity.
Need Help?
We help families across the Greater Toronto Area with compassionate, practical support for:
Decluttering & organizing
Downsizing & moving
Estate clearing
📞 Call Brad at 416-859-0518 for a free consultation
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