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Move manager Anne Newberry gives step-by-step downsizing tips for older adults
Summary
Anne Newberry offered practical, repeatable steps for downsizing: pick one area, set a timer for about an hour, avoid leaving the room mid-sort, start with large items, and use humor to reduce emotional burden.
On the Town of Westborough Council on Aging episode, Anne Newberry urged clients to break work into short, focused sessions: "pick a specific area, take an hour to an hour and 0.5 and set a timer." She said the method prevents emotional burnout and helps people make steady progress.
Newberry recommended starting with big furniture, using post-it notes or stickers to mark items for sale, and placing items you plan to move in a doorway rather than leaving the room mid-sort so you return and complete decisions. She emphasized empathy and listening: move managers work one-on-one so the client remains in control of choices.
