Moving is one of the most stressful events that people experience, even if the move is happening for positive reasons. This stress is exacerbated when moving with a family or due to difficult life events, like financial troubles or a divorce.
Fortunately, there are plenty of things people can do to make the journey ahead easier. Here are five ways to reduce stress while moving.
Hire a Moving Company
Using a reputable moving company to assist with packing and transporting your belongings is one of the easiest ways to reduce moving stress. While many people are concerned about the costs associated with hiring a moving company, the investment is well worth having professionals handle this stressful event for you.
According to the experts at matco.ca, there are a few key things to look for when hiring a moving company. First, get a quote that clearly outlines what services are included. You’ll also want to check their insurance, resources and tools available, and references and testimonials.
Take the Opportunity to Purge
If the thought of moving everything in your home causes you undue amounts of stress, there’s a simple way to lessen the load: purge your belongings. Take the minimalist approach to moving by holding different items around your home and asking yourself if they have a purpose. If the item you’re holding doesn’t have a functional purpose, ask yourself if it brings you joy or elicits an emotional response. If not, sell or donate the item.
For example, your kettle might be something that has a purpose, as you use it every day to make tea. Your favorite teacup is no more functional than any other cup, but it brings you joy every time you use it. However, you discover that you have five tea infusers when you only require one, so you add four to the purge pile.
Get Help
Even if you hire a mover, there are still things to do that would be easier with help from your friends and family. For example, having someone watch your children while you get everything packed and loaded onto a truck. Alternatively, having your family take some of the responsibility for packing their items, rather than doing it yourself.
Don’t try to handle the burden by yourself or you’ll burn out before you get to moving day. Know when to ask for help and when to take charge and assign tasks to other people.
Create a Moving Plan
Creating a moving plan with a checklist can help you keep track of everything that needs to be done before, during, and after your move. From taking your purged items to the local thrift shop to setting up a forwarding address, crafting a moving plan creates a project management approach and structure to the task of moving house.
If possible, give yourself lots of time to work with your moving plan and spread the work out in a manageable way. In doing so, you’ll be able to check a few things off the list each day with minimal stress, rather than spending hours packing the night before the moving truck arrives.
Practice Self-Care
Remember to set aside some time for yourself (and your family) to get away from the stress of moving. This could be as simple as having a ten-minute meditation session each morning before starting the day or as luxurious as a bubble bath with a glass of merlot. Remember to “share the care” by scheduling quality time with your partner or children to get a break from everything that’s going on. Remember to put a moratorium on moving talk during these care sessions.
To lessen the burden of moving house, take time to plan and know when to outsource to professionals. By asking for help when it’s needed and taking time to de-stress, you’ll be able to focus on the positive aspects of moving and enjoy the journey ahead.