Moving to a new home is an exciting journey, but, it can also sometimes be a stressful one. Some people even tout moving as one of the most stressful life experiences you can go through. From packing and unpacking to changing addresses and saying goodbye to familiar areas and faces, moving can often feel like an emotional rollercoaster.
It’s exciting to get a fresh start somewhere, but you might miss the familiarity of your old location. You might be happy to move into a bigger home, but stressed about the amount of money it costs.
No matter what you deal with throughout a move, knowing how to navigate the rollercoaster of emotions in safe, healthy, and effective ways will make a big difference in how you feel throughout the journey.
Acknowledge and Accept Your Emotions
You might be nervous or even scared about going somewhere new. Moving can feel like your life is disorderly for a time. It can also trigger a lot of uncertainty, which is often a catalyst for anxiety. If you already deal with mental health conditions – including anxiety or depression – understand that a move could cause some of your symptoms to come forward, including fear, helplessness, sadness, and fatigue. If you’re having a hard time, acknowledge it, and find healthy ways to work through it.
Try to focus on the positive as you move to a new place. What are you looking forward to most at your new home? What are you most excited to see and experience? Keeping a gratitude journal can be a great way to keep yourself in the right state of mind. Plus, you can look back at it as a reminder of everything you have to be grateful for.
You can also use this experience as a fresh start for yourself. Maybe it’s time to make a move because you want to reinvent who you are and start with a clean slate. Moving is a great way to learn more about who you are and what you really want, so don’t hesitate to look inward when you’re struggling with the stress of relocating, and remind yourself exactly why the move is so important.
Reduce Stress
Again, the moving process can be stressful. Unfortunately, that doesn’t always help when you’re dealing with a rollercoaster of emotions. If you’re on edge or burning out because of stress, you’re going to focus more on the negative aspects of the move. That can create a vicious cycle where stress and anxiety start to take over the process.
Thankfully, there are plenty of things you can do to reduce stress throughout your move and make the whole experience easier, including:
- Planning ahead as much as possible;
- Setting a moving budget;
- Hiring professional movers;
- Decluttering and getting rid of things you don’t need.
Additionally, don’t procrastinate when it comes to getting your things packed away. Give yourself enough time to pack at a somewhat leisurely pace. This will allow you to go through the things you want and don’t want more thoroughly, so you won’t end up taking things with you that you’ll want to get rid of later.
If you’re planning on shipping some of your household items to your new place and you’re worried about whether they’ll make it safely, give yourself peace of mind by using study boxes, packing breakables like glasses with dividers, wrapping all delicate items individually, and making sure you label all fragile items – especially if other people are going to be handling them.
Make Your House a Home
The emotions don’t stop once you’ve gotten the keys and officially stepped into your new home. In fact, you might be overwhelmed with joy, excitement, and maybe even a bit of anxiety. You have a big space to fill, new people to meet, and a new neighborhood to get to know. Start by focusing on what you can do to turn your new house into a place that is uniquely yours.
After moving into a new home, stock your kitchen. It’s the heartbeat of a house, and the sooner you can make a home-cooked meal or enjoy your favorite snack or treat, the better you’ll feel. Next, make sure you’ve arranged for Internet, cable, and any streaming services you want, so you can relax and find some entertainment right away.
Say hello to your new neighbors and don’t hesitate to get involved in the community. If you have kids in school, sign up for events or groups to get to know people.
Most importantly, decorate your home the way you see fit. That might include things like new paint, new furniture, or different decor pieces than you had in your old place. While you can certainly model your new home after your old one, there’s something rejuvenating about a fresh start.
Moving will always come with a rollercoaster of emotions. But, there are things you can do to make the ride less scary and more enjoyable for everyone as you start the next chapter of your life.
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Guest Author Bio
Charlie Fletcher
Charlie Fletcher is a freelance writer from the lovely “city of trees”- Boise, Idaho. Her love of writing pairs with her passion for social activism and search for the truth. When not writing she spends her time doodling and embroidering. And yes, she does love all kinds of potatoes!
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