The leading causes of stress include divorce, loss of a job, illness, the death of a spouse or death of a child, loss of a job and moving. Moving is considered a major life event and as such can disturb a person’s balance and really effect how we feel physically, even bringing on real symptoms. This is an especially important time to self-monitor and make sure you are not becoming overloaded.
• Expect Changes – Try not to create to many expectations for perfection, especially on the day of your move. Chances are good that there will be moments of confusion and even chaos trying to tie up all the loose ends. The old saying is true, “expect the best but prepare for the worst”. By allowing room for adjustments and plan changes, you will be avoiding a major cause of moving day stress.
• Let Go – Take the time to say farewell to your old home. This is especially true if you have lived there for a long time, perhaps even raising your family there. An acknowledgement of your connection in a meaningful way will help you with the transition. Throw a goodbye party, create a goodbye ritual, take photographs or express your feelings about your old home and what it has meant to you.
• No Promises – Make sure that your commitments are handled or make arrangements or explanations so that your schedule is completely clear on the day of your move. Don’t make any appointments and allow plenty of extra time to complete the move. It might be prudent to have a back up plan, just in case. Should something go really wrong, having a plan for your security and comfort during the resolution of the problem, will go a long way toward avoiding stress.
• Be Realistic – Because we know now that this can be one of life’s most stressful times, we should be mentally prepared so as to avoid surprises. Don’t be shocked if one minute you are positively giddy with excitement and the next filled with dread. Talk about your feelings with those closest to you. Ask for help if you need it. This is not the time to try and do it all.
• Welcome Home – By packing a special box or two with your essentials and special mementos or other comfort items, will enable you to immediately create a sense of “home” in your new surroundings. These small things will give you an instant connection which will help ground and balance you in the new space. Allow yourself plenty of time for unpacking. Expect to live out of boxes for awhile. It won’t take long before you are feeling right at home.
When it comes to improving your moving experience, there are many ways to ease your stress levels. Start by getting a free moving quote to estimate your moving expense.