Fall Back: 5 Simple Ways for Caregivers to Declutter Life This Season
Aug 19, 2025
As we safely land into fall on the tailwinds of summer ending, we anticipate the inevitable changes that come with this season. With cooler nights and less and less daylight, we prepare for our favorite fall food, and activities, or even get some household duties tackled outdoors without fainting from the heat.
It is a season for preparations to fall back and rejuvenate.
It’s also the perfect time to declutter and simplify your life as a caregiver. Here are practical and simple things I have learned in this season that can help you regain balance and create a more peaceful environment for yourself.
Falling Back into Balance
I recently became an empty nester. Both kids are in college and doing well. I had the task and privilege of downsizing from a 5-bedroom home to a 3-bedroom house. I simply love my new space, although I must admit, the accumulation of STUFF from over the years and deciding what the heck to keep (without feeling like a guilty hoarder) was mentally chaotic.
A few years ago, it dawned on me that although I love being one of the family historians in terms of memorabilia, my two children weren’t going to want some of these items that belonged to a friend…of a friend…of my grandparents from 40 years ago. For the several items they will want, I took the time to organize and store most things in the same storage bin that were relevant to each other. I got rid of broken picture frames and damaged things that were too worn or torn to salvage. I also discarded and parted with a lot of my sentimental items that didn’t serve my mental health well any longer.
In true fashion of who I am, I decided to take on all these transitions at once. I’m a daredevil that way, I guess. I have to preface that if you know me, you know that I very carefully orchestrated a plan no less than 6 months – 1 year ago to manage all of this LOL. In all seriousness, the magnitude of dropping my youngest off at college, moving to a new area, and adjusting to my new life were very fleeting events that I am still in awe of and processing as we speak.
I am so glad to simply sit still right now!
Lessons on Decluttering Your Life as a Caregiver
I learned 5 valuable lessons in this change of seasons and decluttering several areas of my life.
- Face the music, set SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timely).
- Ask for help! With enough planning, you can either enlist the help of friends and family or hire a decluttering specialist to come into your space and help you navigate your project effectively.
- If you love it, then flaunt it! Find an area or useful space to enjoy your favorite things without cluttering your home or personal spaces. Store your items well so critters or temperature conditions do not damage them.
- It’s okay if seeing certain items daily isn’t ideal or may be overwhelming for your space (ex. obituaries, favorite pieces of furniture from a deceased loved one, kid’s trophies, etc).
- Give yourself a break… mentally and physically. Schedule decluttering time around your rest and self-care; to avoid burnout or giving up. You got this!
Cheers to Fall!
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