No matter how excited you are, moving brings many challenges: a new home means a new mortgage for most; perhaps the move means a new job; old routines are disrupted; and often friends or family are left behind. Even a move across town can bring significant stress. While there's no way to eliminate all the stress from your move, you can certainly minimize it. Here's 5 things you can do to make your move feel less like one of life's major events.
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Photo by thornypup.
1. Sort and dispose of, donate, or sell unnecessary clutter and furniture well before the big day. How to know what is 'unnecessary'? Here's a checklist to help you sort. The big tip here is to know the capacity of your new home and not take too much - and don't move anything dirty or that you'll throw out when you get there! Clean everything before you go and be honest with yourself when struggling with your decision to part with that broken chair you've been meaning to fix!
2. Start packing really early. My most recent move was scheduled nine months in advance and I began packing six months before the trucks pulled up. Sorting as I went, I packed in this order: Garage first! Sort and pack as much as you can and make sure to save room to store additional completed boxes as you finish them. Next, scour your house for items that you won't "miss," such as extra dishes, files for storage, and decorator items from the tops of cabinets and shelves. As time draws closer, pack up the rooms that are the least used such as formal living rooms, libraries, under-utilized offices, formal dining rooms, and guest bedrooms. Finally, many suggest that you double the time you think you'll need for final packing. There's always more to do than you think and packing all night before the trucks arrive is no way to combat stress. How to pack? There's a guide here and a list of essentials to keep handy here.
3. If you have children and/or pets, consider their care before you go. Here's a few tips: Young children might be better off with family or friends; besides the additional stress that caring for them while moving will bring, their safety should be considered, as well. Older children might be helpful, but for shorter periods than you would probably like. Patience, food, and entertainment will ease their stress and yours! Pets may need to be kenneled or kept in an empty room in the house with food and water for their safety. Post a sign on the door to remind everyone who's inside!
4. Consider your family's feelings - and yours, too! Small children, teens, spouses, and extended family are affected in different ways and so need to cope in different ways. Knowing what you are feeling and how to help them is an important part of a smooth transition - before and after the move.
5. Know your limits. Recognize and acknowledge when you feel anxious or stressed and practice these exercises to reduce your stress response. Keep a sense of humor, too! Laughing lightens any load!
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