Moving is considered one of the major stressors anyone can experience in a lifetime. As a matter of fact, studies have shown that moving to another location is apparently more stressful than breakups or divorce. This is primarily because you are eliminating the life and routines you are used to by transitioning to a new home that you have not even developed any connection with. Factors such as family disagreements, financial issues, real estate woes, and packing up all your possessions may also add up to the stress.
While moving can be downright stressful, there are things you can do to make this transition an exciting journey. Follow these five comprehensive tips to ensure a less stressful and smooth-sailing moving experience.
Adopt the Right Attitude and Prioritize
It might be easier said than done but adopting the right attitude towards moving can change your overall mood. Accept that stress is just a normal reaction to the moving process. After all, conquering the stress of moving begins with acceptance.
The moment you recognize that you are probably going to go through stressful times during the course of the move, the better you can respond to it. Reminisce on other occasions in your life when you were able to accept constant stress from doing your school papers or job.
Stress is our typical response to a challenging predicament. Make the best of it by thinking of all the great things that can happen as a result of the change or challenge. You will be able to experience new adventures, meet new people or even build a life that is twice as good as the one you are leaving behind.
- Organize everything. If given a luxury of time before moving, it is recommended to get organized and plan everything by making a list of all tasks that are needed to be done. This is an excellent way of easing the stress that comes with packing up all your belongings such as your mattress.
- Plan and finish all paper works ahead of time. Allocate enough time to complete other steps such as setting up utilities in your new home, working out your budget, or even hiring a moving company. More often than not, moving comes with a plethora of added costs that include overlapping rent payments, closing expenses, cleaning supplies, and storage rental moving equipment.
- Get into the details. Evaluate everything and set aside something for moving expenses as early as possible. Double-check all the small details to save time and money. After all, everyone wants to avoid having all their belongings in the truck and driving halfway across their old home only to find out that their move-in date is NEXT Thursday. Always keep in mind that the more you leave everything to the last minute, the more stressed you will be.
Trim down the excess that has been building up in your closets by organizing the things you no longer need into different groups. Clear your schedule for the rest of the weekend or request a day off from work when de-cluttering to make sure that everything is organized.
Get Enough Sleep and Exercise
Sleep is often put on the back burner when there are a lot of other things to be done. Lack of sleep does not only result in an increase in stress but also affects your cognitive ability, which can result in a higher risk of injury throughout the course of the move.
By the same token, experts also added that lack of sleep can minimize alertness and the ability to react consciously. It is advisable to give importance to sleep to make sure that you are mentally, physically, and emotionally stable during the move.
Give yourself time to suitably recharge at night and you will notice some incredible changes to your mood. These specific changes will enable you to not only become more physically-efficient but also allow you to make educated decisions in choosing your new home.
Exercising, on the other hand, can also help reduce your stress levels by expending energy rather than recharging it. So, leave the packing for later and go for a run with a friend or take some Vitamin D to re-energize yourself.
Life is challenging and transitioning into a new home is no exception. Accept the experience and make sure that you are taking good care of yourself during the process.
Also, consider treating yourself to a de-stressor like a nice dinner or a great massage when it is all over.
Maintain Old Routines
Moving into a new home does not necessarily mean that you have to change your routines. Although you are distancing off from an old home, there are a number of ways wherein you can re-create a “feels-like-home” vibe into your new house.
Doing so can help in dealing with sadness during and after your move. Studies have shown that people who re-create well-known settings experienced a reduction in stress. Therefore, assessing and working the things you did regularly into your schedule will go a long way towards helping you cope throughout the course of moving.
For example, if you are used to talking with your neighbors in the mornings, try to take time to get acquainted with your new neighbors to help dispel the discomfort. The moment you break the ice, you will begin to feel an amazing sense of belonging.
Moreover, developing familiarity with your living environment can also strengthen your attachment. Studies have revealed that occasional use and prolonged occupation in a certain place promotes a sense of ownership or attachment.
Spend time all over town, take your pet to the park, or hike some local trails. Find great spots and go there frequently to build a feeling of familiarity and security that is often referred to as the person-to-place bond.
In addition to meeting neighbors and visiting parks, it is also helpful to join community clubs or volunteer on programs. This allows you to connect with people over shared interests, making the entire transition trouble-free and uncomplicated.
More than anything else, we recommend that you pursue your passion in your new living environment. This is a great way of not only molding an unbreakable attachment to the place but also creating positive memories that you can cherish in the foreseeable future.
Make Plans to Stay In Touch With Your Old Friends
Saying goodbye is difficult. It always has been.
While people who move to new places usually have good intentions of visiting and staying in touch, life sometimes can get in the way and prevent us to make plans.
Set up reunions and get-togethers on the calendar early to make it easier for everyone to clear up their working schedules. Also, talking to your old friends before moving can significantly help your emotional distress. Share your struggles with your friends and ask them to support you during the transition.
Consider reminiscing about the memories you have made in your old home with your friends. Talk about how you created great memories, developed friendships, or grew as a person in your old home. You can also choose to note down things that you want to continue doing and dream of doing in your new home.
Regardless of how difficult the move is, always remember the reasons you are moving. It might be that you are moving to take on a new endeavor, start a family, or make a life change. Whatever is your reason, focusing on the positive aspects of moving will help you start enjoying your new life.
Research Your New Home
Performing research in your new home means being a local detective. Much of the work though is offline as you will be spending time communicating with local people and walking around your neighborhood for answers.
Find out who used to live in your house by initially focusing on the recent occupants. Digging deep into the story of your house makes you feel like you are a component of a piece of living history.
Researching your new home will also help what belongings will fit exactly in specific places. This way, you will able to better direct your movers where to place your furniture items and other electrical devices.
Other than that, it also helps you find schools that are close to your home. It should be taken into account that most kids are not excited about long commutes.
Getting your kids into schools that are nearby your new home can also give peace of mind, knowing that they are safe and more importantly save you money from the stress of commuting. Best of all, properties that are near schools have higher appreciation rates, which means that it can be sold for a greater price in years to come if you decide to sell.
Are You Ready To Move?
Moving is stressful and crazy but there are ways to carry on in the process without growing grey hairs ahead of time. Follow the five tips mentioned above to manage stress before, during, and after you have packaged your old life and transitioned to your dream home.
