At Lincoln South Rotary Club on December 10, our presenter was Jeannine Bryant of Changing Spaces on reducing clutter.
Jeanine started out with "I love what I do"!
She finds the idea of rightsizing to be a very interesting topic. She says that everyone can relate to the process in some way.
Her company, Changing Spaces SRS is in the business of relocating seniors.. SRS means Senior Relocation Services. Whether a person is relocating to a different home, an apartment or a senior living facility, there are decisions to be made. She said usually a person is moving into a location with half of the square footage - so they also need to reduce their belongings by half.
And, she has worked with all types of people - from those that don't have much to others that haven't thrown out a single paperclip. She said it may feel odd to have someone in your home looking at your stuff. She and her staff are all aware of the challenges because they have all gone through the process with someone in their life. The comfort of the client is a top priority.
There are often physical challenges when people are downsizing. The psychological challenges are great - from being sad, pressured and even afraid.
Jeannine and her staff work to calm the client and help them "keep the best and get rid of the rest".
The process of finding the best starts with the furniture. That may take measuring to make sure things fit but also deciding what will be functional and will look nice in the new space.
Then they tackle the little stuff - books, clothing, nik-naks, Christmas Decorations for example. She mentioned that when cleaning out a house, someone has to touch every single item. They will do the packing and help the person move to their new place. Then they return to the old place to clear things out. During the initial review process they give advice on donating and disposing of items they are not moving.
The company also handles estates. Often there is an adult child emptying out the house of a parent who has passed away. That child is not only grieving the loss of the parent, but they are faced with the logistics of clearing out the house.
Jeanine's company will start by having the removing all of the items that really mean lot to them. Changing Spaces will take care of selling everything else from vehicles to small things like paperclips.
She touched on memory clutter. These are things that we just can't seem to let go because of the memories. But, it is not the item it is the memory that is important. She helps the client release those items knowing that the memories will not go away. Some examples are grandmother's china, wedding dresses and year books.
She also helps children work through the process of setting limits - identifying the items that are okay to let go. Children often fear not saving things because of what it meant to their parent. She reminds us that how much we love that person is not tied to the amount of stuff you keep from that person. She suggests chipping away at the process slowly.
One of the hardest is going through photos. what is worth keeping? If there are photos of scenery, vacations, pictures where you don't look good, or photos of people you don't like - it is okay to get rid of them. .
Jeannine Bryant’s Bio:
Rightsizing expert Jeannine Bryant is the owner and CEO of Changing Spaces SRS, a senior move management company in Lincoln, NE. She has helped provide rightsizing and relocation services to seniors since 2010. During that time, she has been actively involved in the downsizing and moving processes of hundreds of older adults.
Her newest book, Keep the Memories, Not the Stuff is a helpful guide for anyone who has trouble letting go of keepsakes. This practical how-to will help readers gain a new perspective on life, love, memories, and our stuff. This book offers thoughtful insights into the grieving process, as well as practical tips and hands-on advice for letting go without the guilt.
Bryant is also the author of the book Ready to Rightsize? A step-by-step guide to your rightsizing journey: For older adults and their loved ones. It is the essential guidebook to anyone undergoing a transition and moving to a smaller space. Jeannine prides herself on offering the kinds of practical tips and inspiration to get people motivated to start sorting through their belongings and undergoing their own rightsizing journey.
Company Description:
Changing Spaces SRS is the premiere senior move management and estate sale company in Lincoln, NE. Since 2008, we have specialized in rightsizing and relocation services for seniors. We offer a full range of services, including floor planning, sorting, packing, managing move day, unpacking, organizing and liquidating what is left by running an estate sale. Our mission is to help seniors and their families through times of transition. We know that change is hard, and transitions are inevitable. We can make the entire process easier, more efficient and less stressful. We minimize the burden during times of transition so families can have peace of mind.
