It is understandable that moving is rated one of the most stressful events. You are literally transferring your whole life from one place to another, and it can be an arduous task. While you may not be able to adopt a 100 percent Zen attitude towards the process, there is a lot you can do to make the ride go a bit more smoothly. Here are just a few helpful tips.
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Clean House
Once you know for sure you are moving, the first thing you want to do is clean house. Get rid of the stuff that you no longer need or want. The motivation of a fresh start somewhere else can power your resolve to pare down your possessions. Not only will you feel good about the purge, there will be less to pack, which is always a good thing. When setting up shop in your new home, you will not be transferring the mess and clutter that may have existed in your old home.
Give Yourself Enough Time
Most of us are guilty of procrastinating in various areas of our life—we think of a big task, feel stressed and overwhelmed, and instead of at least putting a dent in it, we make the interesting choice of doing absolutely nothing at all. Moving definitely falls under the umbrella of ‘’big task’’ and many people put off the various tasks associated with getting your possessions in order, and doing the myriad tasks required in the process. In some circumstances, people have to move quickly, but most of us have ample time to prepare if we take advantage of it.
Start doing everything you need to do at least eight weeks before the move, preferably 12. Break down tasks into weeks, and make sure you have enough days in said week to finish the designated activities. If you are not sure how to structure your schedule, you can find various sites online that can give example schedules for preparing a move.
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help
When it comes to moving, you may feel reluctant to ask for help for a number of reasons; you may worry about imposing on people’s time or about asking them to do something that is not exactly fun. But, most people have been where you are and they understand. Also, I think we tend to underestimate people’s willingness to help—many are happy to assist when asked. Get some pizzas, throw on some music and make a bit of a party out of it.
Accept the Negative Feelings that Will Arise
A lot of negative feelings can arise when moving; you will feel stressed and anxious. It is almost inevitable that there will be setbacks and unforeseen issues. When you first get to your new house, you will feel uprooted, and overwhelmed with having to set up shop in a new place. Much of our mental anguish in this type of stressful situation is fighting the feelings and being upset that we are upset. From the start of the process, if you can accept that this whole moving thing will be a stressful pain, and just accept the feelings and situations for what they are, as best you can, you will get through it much more easily.
