Downsizing after decades in the same home is as much an emotional process as a physical one. Start earlier than feels necessary — going room by room over weeks rather than tackling everything in one weekend tends to make decisions easier, not harder.
A simple three-pile system — keep, donate, haul away — helps cut through decision fatigue. It doesn't have to be perfect; the goal is forward progress, not a flawless sort.
For the physical side of it — old furniture, years of accumulated belongings, things too heavy to move alone — bringing in help for the hauling portion means the focus can stay on the decisions that actually matter, not on lifting and hauling.