Are you thinking about selling your home and moving? While it’s common for homeowners to plan on moving to a larger house when they sell, there may be many reasons to downsize your home instead.

Some of the more typical reasons for downsizing a house are to save time and money, or to live in a home that requires less maintenance. Some homeowners no longer need all of the space in their current home.

Regardless of your age, you may also discover some of the unexpected benefits of downsizing your home. For instance, living in a home that’s better suited to your circumstances — often referred to as “right sizing” — can enhance your psychological well-being.

As with any important decision, it’s wise to weigh the pros and cons of downsizing before making up your mind. It’s likely also a good idea to consult with a financial adviser, as there may be factors specific to your situation that need to be taken into consideration.

A Simpler Lifestyle Is One of the Top Downsizing Benefits

After decades filled with the responsibilities of raising a family and pursuing career goals, many older adults find they’re ready to embrace a simpler way of living. Their priorities shift, and they’re eager to devote a greater share of their time to activities that are more personally rewarding.

Whether you’re 38 or 83, letting go of a large house (and the stuff in it) you no longer need or want can bring a sense of relief. Cleaning, repairing and maintaining all of that square footage, along with the yardwork, requires considerably more time, money and energy than a smaller home does.

Older adults who explore the option of moving into a senior living community will find the homes there require far less of their time and energy. In a retirement community, the staff takes care of repairs, landscaping, snow removal and general upkeep of interior and exterior common areas. These communities typically offer housekeeping and laundry services as well.

With fewer home-related chores and projects demanding your time and attention, you’ll be able to do more of what you enjoy, like:

• Traveling, near or far
• Visiting and socializing with friends and family
• Pursuing your favorite pastimes
• Discovering new interests
• Taking better care of yourself and those you care about

The Chance to Declutter Is Another Benefit of Downsizing

Moving to a smaller home provides an opportunity to get better organized. Although the task of going through your belongings and shedding what you no longer need may seem challenging, the physical and psychological rewards may be well worth the effort.

WebMD offers tips for decluttering, along with information about the potential benefits you can derive from having a tidier living environment, such as:

• Achieving better focus (because there are fewer distractions)
• Feeling more in control of your surroundings (which can lead to better self-esteem)
• Being more comfortable inviting guests into your home
• Improving your physical health (for example, through allergy relief or better sleep)
• Reducing stress (as well as anxiety or depression, if those are issues for you)
• Helping to lower your risk of falling and the injuries that could result

The Financial Advantages of Downsizing

As previously mentioned, you may want to consult a financial adviser or other expert to see what benefits you could gain from selling your home and moving to a smaller residence.

Anyone thinking about downsizing a house to save money should consider more than just how much the current home will sell for and the price of the home-to-be, such as:

• Commissions and other fees associated with the real estate transactions
• Repairs or renovations that may be necessary to prepare the home for sale
• Moving expenses (which could include professional services such as staging the home and assistance with downsizing/packing belongings)
• The difference between the two homes in terms of property taxes, homeowners insurance, utility bills and HOA fees, if applicable
• Whether new furniture, appliances or furnishings will be required

Other Benefits of Downsizing for Seniors

When it comes to downsizing, seniors may have reasons and advantages unique to their circumstances. These are a few examples:

• A smaller home without stairs will be easier to navigate for those with mobility limitations.
• Moving from a large home in a rural or suburban area to a smaller one “in town” with stores, restaurants, services and medical providers nearby will require less driving. (Note that many retirement communities provide transportation services.)
• In some cases, older adults want to move closer to family or friends. For these seniors, downsizing may be the only option, depending on what’s available in the area where they want to live.
• Going through decades’ worth of accumulated belongings during the downsizing process gives older adults more control over what happens to their most valued possessions — and can make things easier for their children or other family members later on.

The Social Benefit of Downsizing to a Smaller Home

After the kids leave home and routines become less busy, older couples and individuals may find they have less contact with the world beyond their homes. In extreme cases, they may become socially isolated, which can lead to loneliness and depression.

Moving to a smaller home can help prevent this situation — whether the move is to a townhouse or an apartment with neighbors nearby, or to a senior living community where there are plenty of social activities and other seniors who share similar interests.

Turning the Perception of Downsizing Upside Down

Even with all of the advantages downsizing offers, it can be challenging to leave a home where everything’s familiar and you’ve created a whole collection of fond memories over the years.

Rather than dwelling on the past and the home you’re leaving behind, remind yourself that you can take your memories with you. Now, you have the opportunity to create a different lifestyle and design your living space around it. You can make them both more in tune with who you are today — or who you want to be in the future.

This is a chance to replace the same old, same old with all kinds of new, including new adventures, new interests and activities, new possibilities and, perhaps best of all, new friendships!

Assistance With Downsizing

Maybe you’d like to downsize but are concerned that you’re just not up to it physically. Don’t let this worry keep you from enjoying a home, and a lifestyle, that fits you better.

There are many professionals and businesses that offer downsizing help for seniors. They may call themselves senior relocation specialists, senior move managers or something else, but if you do an online search using a phrase like “downsizing home for seniors,” you’ll find a variety of local and national options.

Some businesses are highly specialized, like those who digitize photo albums. Others offer assistance with the entire process, from handling home repairs on the house you’re in now to setting up the furniture in your new home.

You can also enlist the help of friends and family. This can be a great way to share special memories (especially with younger family members who may not know the history behind some of those items with sentimental value) and let those who are close to you choose keepsakes.

If you’re not in a big hurry to move (or if you’re not planning to move at all), you can take your time sorting through your belongings, deciding what to keep, what to donate, what to toss and what to give to a friend or family member.

By starting the downsizing process now, there will be less to do if and when you decide to move.

Finding Your Place at Heron’s Key

We know all about the benefits and challenges of right sizing or downsizing for older adults. After all, everyone who lives in our community has been through the experience personally.

One of the most common remarks we hear from new residents is they wish they’d made the decision to move sooner because there are so many enjoyable choices.

If you’re already active and have a variety of interests, you’ll be delighted to know that you can continue that lifestyle here at Heron’s Key — and you’ll have more time to devote to whatever you love to do.

If you’re looking to increase your contentment quotient by trying new activities and forming new friendships, it’s a breeze to do that here as well.

Want to know more about Heron’s Key and how we make it easier to live life on your terms? Let’s connect! You can fill out our short contact form, join us for an event or call (877) 892-7129.

Featured Image: NDAB Creativity / Shutterstock

Gig Harbor, Washington, boasts a vibrant outdoor life, but its rainy weather occasionally calls for indoor fun. Luckily, at Heron’s Key, there’s no shortage of indoor activities to keep seniors entertained and engaged. From resident-led clubs to exciting community gatherings, there’s something for everyone to enjoy indoors at Heron’s Key.

What Activities Can Older Adults Do When They Are Bored?

1. Do A Puzzle: Gather around a table and challenge yourself with a puzzle. Whether it’s a classic jigsaw puzzle or a brain-teasing crossword, puzzles are a great way to pass the time and stimulate your mind. Residents can gather in Heron’s Key’s common spaces to work on puzzles together, fostering a sense of camaraderie and collaboration.
2. Write Out Your Life Story: Take some time to reflect on life experiences and write out your life story. It’s a meaningful way to preserve memories and share your legacy with future generations.

3. Learn or Practice a New Language: Keep your mind sharp by learning or practicing a new language. Whether you’re brushing up on your high school French or tackling a new language entirely, language learning can be a fun and rewarding pursuit. Classes and conversation groups where residents can practice speaking and learning together might be available at Heron’s Key through lifelong learning programming.
4. Tend to an Indoor Garden: Bring the beauty of the outdoors inside with a small indoor herb garden. Whether you have a green thumb or are new to gardening, growing plants indoors can be rewarding and therapeutic.
5. Knit or Sew: Get creative and crafty with knitting or sewing projects. Whether you’re making a scarf, a quilt, or a piece of clothing; knitting and sewing are relaxing hobbies that allow you to express your creativity. Some Heron’s Key residents enjoy crafting workshops and sewing circles where they can learn new skills and work on projects together.
6. Do Some Light Exercise: Stay active and healthy with some light exercise. Join a fitness class in the gym, take up tai chi with neighbors or practice yoga in the comfort of your own home. Heron’s Key’s fitness center offers a wide range of exercise equipment and classes designed specifically for seniors.
7. Listen to or Make Music: Take a trip down memory lane with old music favorites. Create a playlist of songs from your youth and enjoy a nostalgic listening session. Many Heron’s Key residents share a zeal for listening to and creating music, setting the stage for a great jam session with neighbors.
8. Enjoy Films with Friends: Heron’s Key offers regular screenings of classic films and new films with opportunities for residents to suggest their favorite movies for group viewing–or, cozy up in your apartment home for a movie marathon!

What Are Emotional Activities for Seniors?

9. Engage in the Arts: Express yourself through art in our creative arts studio. Whether you’re painting, drawing, or sculpting, creating art can help reduce stress and promote emotional well-being. Heron’s Key offers art workshops and classes to guide residents in exploring their emotions and creativity through art.
10. Volunteer Work: Give back to the community and make a difference with volunteer work. Whether you’re knitting blankets for charity or reading to children at a local school, volunteering is a fulfilling way to stay active and engaged. Heron’s Key partners with local organizations and charities to provide residents with meaningful volunteer opportunities that align with their interests and passions.

Evening Activities For Seniors

11. Play Card Games or Board Games: Gather your friends and family for a game night filled with fun and laughter. Whether you’re playing cards, board games, or puzzles, game nights are a great way to socialize and bond with neighbors.
12. Host A Trivia Night: Test your knowledge and have fun with a trivia night. Whether you’re quizzing each other on general knowledge or trivia about specific topics, trivia nights are a fun and interactive way to challenge your mind and compete with friends.

Staying Active at Heron’s Key in Gig Harbor, WA

With a wide range of indoor activities to choose from, residents at Heron’s Key in Gig Harbor, WA, can stay entertained, engaged and connected all year round. From creative hobbies to educational pursuits to social gatherings, there’s something for everyone to enjoy indoors, rain or shine. With the exciting Phase II expansion on the horizon, featuring new indoor spaces and amenities like an indoor pool, residents can look forward to even more opportunities for indoor fun and relaxation.

Resident-led Clubs and Volunteer Groups: Heron’s Key fosters a vibrant sense of community through resident-led clubs and volunteer groups that meet regularly at various locations across the community. Whether it’s an art club, a music ensemble, a game night, or a volunteer strategy session, residents have ample opportunities to pursue their interests, share their talents and make meaningful contributions to the community. The resident-led coffee counter is a popular gathering spot where residents can socialize over a cup of coffee or participate in book clubs and discussion groups.

Expansion with Phase II: Exciting developments are underway at Heron’s Key with the Phase II expansion, which promises to enhance the community’s indoor offerings even further. With additional residences, expanded dining spaces and the highly anticipated indoor pool, residents can look forward to more opportunities for relaxation, recreation and socialization right within the comfort of their community. The expansion reflects Heron’s Key’s commitment to providing residents with the highest quality of amenities and services to support active and fulfilling lifestyles.

Common Spaces for Socializing: While the large apartment homes at Heron’s Key are perfect for hosting friends and family gatherings, the community’s beautiful common spaces offer additional opportunities for residents to connect. From cozy lounges and reading nooks to spacious event rooms and outdoor patios, there are plenty of inviting spaces where residents can gather for social activities, events and celebrations. Whether it’s a game night, a movie screening, or a live performance, residents can always find something fun and engaging happening at Heron’s Key.

Gig Harbor: A Premier Retirement Destination: Gig Harbor has been recognized as one of the top places to retire in Washington State, and it’s easy to see why. With its stunning waterfront views, charming downtown area, and vibrant arts and culture scene, Gig Harbor offers endless opportunities for recreation, relaxation and exploration. Residents of Heron’s Key can make the most of the rainy months by enjoying the luxury and warmth of indoor activities, all while dreaming of sunny days and outdoor excursions in the warmer months. Whether it’s taking a stroll along the waterfront, exploring local boutiques and galleries, or indulging in delicious seafood cuisine, there’s always something new and exciting to discover in Gig Harbor.

Heron’s Key in Gig Harbor, WA, offers a diverse array of indoor activities and amenities designed to enrich the lives of its residents. From resident-led clubs and volunteer groups to exciting community expansions and beautiful common spaces, there are endless opportunities for socialization, relaxation and engagement right within the comfort of home. As Gig Harbor continues to thrive as a premier retirement destination, residents of Heron’s Key can look forward to enjoying all that this vibrant coastal community has to offer.

Featured Image: Monkey Business Images / Shutterstock

Heron’s Key is home not only to some of the friendliest people you could have as neighbors but also some of the most enthralling. Take Rick Bleiweiss, for example, who moved into our community with his wife, Deborah Morgan, and their dog, a Havanese named Gracie, a few days after Thanksgiving.

Rick turned his early love of music into a multifaceted career as a performer, Grammy-nominated producer and senior executive at several well-known record companies. He then switched gears, channeling his lifelong enjoyment of writing into a new career as an award-winning author and a prodigious book publisher.

Along the way he has negotiated deals with, produced records for and befriended a long list of music’s luminaries, from country stars Alan Jackson and Clint Black to rappers Puff Daddy and Tone Loc, to disco stars Donna Summer and The Village People, to legendary rock bands Yes and U2. He was instrumental in launching the careers of Britney Spears, The Backstreet Boys and Melissa Etheridge, among other artists.

Rick’s latest book deals (through Blackstone Publishing) include the acquisitions of a recently published book co-written by actor Robert Downey Jr. and New York Times bestselling author Thomas Kostigen titled “Cool Food: Erasing Your Carbon Footprint One Bite at a Time” and Whoopi Goldberg’s soon-to-be-published memoir, “Bits and Pieces: My Mother, My Brother, and Me.”

Given the rich and rewarding life he has led, you might think that Rick would be ready to slow down and take it easy — but you’d be mistaken.

“My life’s mantra has been, ‘Go for it and make it happen,’” Rick says. “If you don’t go for it, nothing’s going to happen. I don’t see age as being a reason to change that.”

Swapping Classical Guitar for Rock ‘n’ Roll

Rick got his first guitar when he was around 7 years old, and his parents started him out with lessons in classical guitar. When he saw Gene Autry on television, singing and playing acoustic guitar on his horse, Champion, Rick says he fell in love with more popular music and started playing folk songs on his own.

He was around 12 when Rick first heard rock ‘n’ roll records on the radio. Songs like “Rock Around the Clock” by Bill Haley and the Comets and Elvis Presley’s “Heartbreak Hotel” still stand out in his mind.

Those songs changed Rick’s life in ways he couldn’t have imagined at the time. His parents bought him an electric guitar and, as the saying goes, the rest is history.

Getting Fingerprinted for a Cabaret Card

It wasn’t long until Rick was forming bands and playing gigs. He started with CYO dances, school sock hops and frat parties before moving on to playing at bars and nightclubs in New York City. Because he was underage, he had to obtain a cabaret card — which required being fingerprinted and having his photo taken at the police station.

College Offers an Alternative Path

Rick says his interest in music was so strong, he didn’t pay a lot of attention in school. His average grades in high school limited his choices when it was time to apply to colleges. He wound up attending the University of Miami in part because his grandparents lived in Miami.

“College lit a fire in me that high school didn’t,” Rick recalls. His grades earned him a recurring place on the dean’s list and in a couple of honor societies.

Rick’s parents encouraged him to pursue studies that would give him a backup plan in case his career as a musician didn’t work out as he hoped. He initially set his sights on becoming a psychiatrist, but a biology lab involving dissected frogs brought that to an abrupt end.

From there, he chose radio, TV and film (RTF) as his major, with an emphasis on filmmaking. After three years at UM, he transferred to New York University, where he earn a bachelor’s degree in filmmaking and later on a master’s in communication. In his first year at NYU, he was classmates with none other than Martin Scorsese and Bob Balaban.

“Marty’s student films were so good, it almost stopped me from continuing in film,” Rick says. “I knew I wasn’t going to be as good as him.”

Still Motivated by Music

Even though he was focusing on the RTF curriculum, Rick’s interest in music didn’t wane during his college years. He still performed, honing his skills with various bands while at UM and NYU.

Additionally, after responding to an ad in the UM school newspaper, he was hired as an intern at Colpix Records (the first recording company for Columbia Pictures-Screen Gems), marking his first job in the music industry other than as a performer. Going beyond his assigned responsibilities, he worked at getting the company’s records played on local radio stations, and eventually, he was asked to expand his efforts statewide.

After transferring to NYU, Rick and a bandmate co-wrote a science fiction rock operetta that “came within a whisker” of being made into a record and a Broadway play. Once he earned his undergraduate degree, Rick worked as a full-time musician for about five years, touring with a band and getting as far as opening for Three Dog Night.

“I decided after a while that I had better get serious because I couldn’t imagine being a rock ‘n’ roller in my 70s. Little did I know,” he says with a chuckle, alluding to artists like Steven Tyler, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Paul McCartney who are still touring well into their golden years.

First Executive Role Gradually Leads Rick to Deborah

While working toward his master’s degree, Rick was introduced to the owners of a small record company in the Midwest. They hired him as a general manager, kickstarting his career as a music executive, and asked him to open an office for them in New York.

From there, he went to PIP/Pickwick as the vice president of sales and promotions, where he started producing records. A subsequent move took him to Island Records, which Polygram ended up buying. Deborah worked at Polygram, and their paths first crossed at a meeting in Indianapolis.

Rick was married at the time, and Deborah was in a relationship as well, so they became friends but lost touch for a few years. When their respective careers brought them back together again, they were both single. Rick says at that point there was “no stopping us.”

Before retiring from the music industry at the end of 2002, Rick went on to hold top executive roles at several other record companies, including Arista Records and BMG Distribution, which owned Arista. Over the years, he produced or co-produced more than 50 singles and albums, and played a key role in many of the industry’s most innovative transitions.

What Retirement?

After winding down his career in music, Rick had a brief stint as an actor. He and Deborah then moved to Ashland, Oregon, where he became involved with various humanitarian endeavors and, at a neighbor’s invitation, joined a writing club.

This was his springboard for writing short stories, one of which he developed into the first of his bestselling historical mystery series featuring Chief Inspector Pignon Scorbion.

Soon after they moved to Ashland, Rick and Deborah connected with the owners of Blackstone Publishing, which was then purely an audiobook publishing company, through a friend of theirs. They joined the company as consultants and members of the newly formed board of directors. In the ensuing 17 years, Rick has played a pivotal role in developing additional lines of business for Blackstone, including print and e-book publishing, the company’s media, film and TV division, as well as its direct consumer sales and IT platforms.

Currently, in addition to heading new business development at Blackstone, Rick is writing his third Pignon Scorbion novel as well as a screenplay.

He also enjoys appearing on podcasts, and has conducted a series of Chapter & Verse interviews with well-known authors and literary agents through his YouTube channel. These interviews will soon be shown on HKTV, the in-house television station at Heron’s Key.

Starting a New Chapter at Heron’s Key

Rick and Deborah checked out quite a few senior living communities on both coasts before hearing about Heron’s Key. They visited us late last summer while staying with friends in Tacoma and, according to Rick, immediately fell in love with Heron’s Key and Gig Harbor.

“It felt vibrant. We liked the people we met, the food we ate, the spirit of the community,” Rick says. “We immediately put a deposit down.”

They decided to move into an available apartment until a larger one opened up — which didn’t take long. Their “new” one is being remodeled, and once they’ve settled in, Rick says he’s looking forward to freeing up more time so he can participate in some of the gaming and volunteer activities here at Heron’s Key and go to some baseball games.

That doesn’t mean he won’t still work full-time, though.

“I enjoy what I do, so why give it up?” he says. “As long as the inspirations keep coming, why not [keep going]? No matter what age you are, if you still have the energy and still have the dream, go for it!”

If you’d like to arrange a visit to Heron’s Key, call (877) 892-7129 or contact us online.

Featured Images: Rick Bleiweiss, 2024

Suggestions To Help You Prepare for the Future While Getting the Most Out of Today

Now that the winter holidays are over and you’ve had a chance to rest up from traveling or family visits, you may be turning your sights to the year ahead.

Do you have specific goals you want to accomplish? Changes or improvements you’d like to make? Plans for personal growth? Are you ready to more fully explore senior living options?

When you’re retired, you may have more slack in your schedule, and it can be tempting to put non-immediate items on your to-do list off until “later.” Before you realize it, months have gone by and your list hasn’t become any shorter. If anything, it may have grown.

While it’s still early in the year, why not take a look at your list (or make one), prioritize what’s on it and then make a pact with yourself to consciously whittle away at it.

If you know you’ll need some help sticking with it, enlist a friend to hold you accountable. Maybe your friend would also like to make a list and you can motivate each other.

Put Wellness at the Top of Your List

There’s an anonymous quotation that goes, “Your health is an investment, not an expense.” We’d change that slightly and say instead, “Your wellness is an investment.” It’s an investment in your future that can also provide rewards right now.

At Heron’s Key, we take a holistic approach to wellness that goes far beyond physical health. Well-being encompasses social, emotional, spiritual and intellectual aspects, among others, and we address all of those facets in the active senior lifestyle we offer.

Take a look at our activities calendar and you’ll see what we mean. Here are some examples:

Physical Wellness Classes and Activities:

• Fit & fun cardio
• Gentle and yin yoga
• Ladies’ strength training
• Interval training
• Neighborhood walks
• Seated core strengthening
• Stretch & balance
• Tai chi
• Total body circuit training

Social Wellness Activities:

• Resident-led group meetings (such as the Heron’s Key Sketchers, fiber arts and photography groups, Key Quilters, book club and dozens of other groups)
• Coffee get-togethers Monday-Saturday mornings
• Sunday brunch
• Movie night on Fridays
• Happy hour on Saturdays
• Bridge, pinochle and mah-jongg
• Outings to museums, restaurants, performances and events

Spiritual and Emotional Wellness Activities:

• Bible study classes
• Meditation sessions
• Spiritual wellness focus group meetings
• Support group meetings

Intellectual Wellness Activities

• Lifelong learning classes (by guest lecturers and classes via our in-house TV station)
• Many of the resident-led groups focus on interests and skills that stimulate the mind
• Presentations by guest speakers from the Gig Harbor community and beyond

Creating Your Own Personal Wellness Plan

There’s no right or wrong approach to making a wellness plan, though it’s a good idea to include at least a few of the different facets of wellness mentioned above. And you don’t need to tackle everything right at the start. Taking a more balanced approach is more likely to lead you to success.

You could:

• Work with a personal trainer, a life coach (some specialize in working with older adults), a dietitian/nutritionist or a spiritual adviser
• See what classes are available at a nearby community college
• Check out activities at your local senior center
• Do an online search to see what types of special interest groups are in your area
• Start a club of your own with others who share a specific interest

One way to begin is to think about activities, hobbies and pastimes you enjoyed when you were younger, perhaps before you started a career or family. Was there something you enjoyed or were especially passionate about that you gave up because life got too busy or complicated?

If you want to create a written plan with specific goals and timelines, go for it. It’s not mandatory, though.

You could start with a simple idea and make it something fun, like picking a night each week to try a new food if you want to work toward a healthier diet (or just expand your palate). It’s easy to go online and find nutritional information, recipes, cookbooks, restaurants that feature healthy cuisine and other useful resources. Or visit a nearby farmers market where you can browse and talk with the vendors.

You can carry that same concept of trying something new on a regular basis into other wellness categories. For instance, plan a new cultural experience for yourself once a month and check out different museums, exhibitions, performances and restaurants. If something piques your interest, boost your brainpower by reading up on it!

Sparking Ideas for Social Wellness

You never know where you might find inspiration for new opportunities to socialize. One of the most popular resident groups at Heron’s Key is the Reuben Group, which began last year with two couples who had gone to lunch and ordered Reuben sandwiches. Other residents overheard them talking about how good the sandwiches were when they came back home, and the group was formed within a few days.

Now, the group has 75 members. Each month, some of them go to different restaurants in and around Gig Harbor to compare Reubens. And, at least two other foodie groups have formed as offshoots of the Reuben Group.

Seeking Out New Settings for Spiritual Wellness

Different people define spirituality in different ways, so we offer a variety of activities for residents to try. Early last fall, our newest fitness specialist, Katie Lodge, introduced residents to the concepts of forest bathing and sound bathing.

The initial sessions for both activities were well-attended, and although we’re taking a hiatus from forest bathing over the winter, the sound bathing sessions continue to be a popular activity in our community.

During the sessions, Katie plays a bowl that produces sound through vibrations. Residents sit or lie down, using blankets and bolsters to make themselves comfortable. Focusing on the sound as it resonates throughout the room helps them let go of stress and achieve a sense of calmness.

If there are no opportunities to try sound bathing near you, consider trying something more mainstream, such as yoga or tai chi — both of which can be done indoors or outside if the weather permits. These and other Eastern practices and philosophies foster connections between the mind, body and spirit.

Destressing by Decluttering

Environmental wellness is another aspect of holistic wellness, and that doesn’t just refer to the quality of the air and water in a person’s surroundings.

Living in a cluttered home can negatively affect your health — physically, mentally, emotionally and even socially. Research suggests being around clutter can increase levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which can lead to or exacerbate depression and anxiety.

Decluttering is part of the rightsizing and downsizing processes (you can learn more about the differences between the two in this blog post). Rightsizing can be beneficial at many life stages, including retirement.

If you’re thinking about moving to a senior living community within the next few years, it’s not too soon to start rightsizing. If you have a specific community in mind, you might want to consider getting on a waitlist. (For more information about waitlists and how being on one gives you more control over your future, check out our blog post from last month.)

Exemplary Independent Living in Gig Harbor

The well-being of residents is always a priority at Heron’s Key. We make it easy and a whole lot of fun to focus on staying active and being well.

Come for a visit and you’ll see how invested Heron’s Key residents are in their future — and how much they’re enjoying the present. Spend a little time with us and get a feel for how well you’d fit into our community.

To set up a visit, call (877) 892-7129 or contact us online.