Sometimes the ultimate #clutter-free Mother’s Day gift is something that helps wrangle and #organize her #stuff, says Sensational Organizing. Gifts that add to #organization include a set of packing cubes to keep clothing grouped during travel, sets of matching and labeled kitchen containers, purse organizers and laundry carts. Or consider helping digitize family photos and videos that still exist in old media and get rid of the physical copies. Or you could spend the day actively helping Mom #declutter, and #donate any extra # clothing and household goods to ClothingDonations.org. #MothersDay
Tag: Mother’s Day
Make Your Mother’s Day Gifts Practical
Don’t downplay the allure of a practical gift on Mother’s Day, says The Maids. An extravagant floral arrangement or a fancy dinner is nice, but a labor-saving new appliance or freshly detailed vehicle are also good options. Potted plants, gift cards and birdhouses are (relatively) #clutter-free ideas, but housecleaning services and self-care gifts such as yoga classes can make Mom happy without adding more #stuff to the household. “The perfect Mother’s Day gift is the one that makes her feel seen and appreciated, and one that helps her make the most of her valuable time and energy.” #MothersDay
Plant a Garden for Mom on Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day coincides with the ideal time to plant a #garden in many areas of the United States, so one good great gift idea is to get some flowers and plant them for a beautiful gift she can enjoy for months, says Life With Less Mess. If Mom is more of a food lover or home chef, plant a vegetable garden with some of her favorite produce items instead, so she has free access to healthy herbs, radishes, lettuce, squash and tomatoes. She will remember the day every time she sees a flower bloom or picks a pepper, making your gift one that keeps on giving. #MothersDay
Give Mom the Gift of Relaxation
Mother’s Day is the day of the year we dedicate to celebrating all that moms do. One good way to do that is to give them a day off from their usual tasks, says Balance Through Simplicity. Cancel plans and prioritize rest and relaxation — maybe a spa treatment, pedicure or massage would help Mom’s cares melt away. Better still, pitch in on tasks such as vacuuming, meal prep, dog walking, #decluttering or washing the car. Most moms will appreciate the help and the company — and remember the effort you expended to make the day special. Plus, being helpful doesn’t add to the #clutter like most gifts you can buy in a store. #MothersDay
Helping Aging Parents Downsize
Most people will eventually face the fact that their aging parents won’t live forever — and they’ll likely need to adjust their living situations as they age. And that typically means that they need to sort out a lifetime’s worth of stuff before moving into a smaller space.
It’s a big job — especially when the parent or parents have lived in the same home for many years. Moving is stressful under the best of circumstances, but giving up a home filled with memories can get emotional even if the kids are there to help.
To help a downsizing parent, schedule bite-sized #decluttering sessions, Houzz says — no more than four hours per day, a few times a week. Spacing the sessions out will allow all parties to have some quality time together without getting overwhelmed by the task at hand.
For proper downsizing, try to get a picture of what the parent or parents’ new lifestyle will look like: Will they be cooking, entertaining, traveling or dressing up to go out? Their goals and interests can have a big impact on what they need to have in a new place.
Start by #decluttering the least sentimental items such as linens and clothing. Chances are that they have a lot of these and can pare them down easily to only what’s needed in a given week. Then gradually move on to the more difficult decsions.
Consider digitizing photos and other memorabilia, says Highgate Senior Living. Prints and collectibles can take up a lot of physical space, but digital photos or video scrapbooks can preserve the memories without the burden of extra #stuff.
One wholesale #decluttering strategy is to label everything with Post-it notes, designating what will definitely go to the new housing environment, what gets distributed to family members and what gets sold or #donated.
You aren’t really helping a parent #downsize until that extra #stuff is removed from the home, however; they can backslide on their decisions if things are allowed to sit there in limbo. Schedule a #free #donation #pickup — or multiple #pickups — at ClothingDonations.org.
It’s difficult to watch your parents get on in years. But with a little forethought, you can help aging parents adjust to a new space and lifestyle in their golden years.