Time to read: 9 min
Become A Zen Monk Of Moving
Moving house is up there with some of life’s most stressful events. It ranks so highly because of the impact it can have on so many other factors in your life – a change of location may also mean a new job, school, country and even language. When moving house, the majority of people feel the stress as soon as the decision is made to relocate.
But it’s not all doom and gloom! With change brings opportunity, and the potential for new experiences, adventure and excitement. And with those positive affirmations freshly in mind, here are a few ways to help reduce stress during The Big Move.
Plan Ahead
Plan as far ahead as possible, as the move will no doubt take longer than you think. Leaving everything until the last minute is bound to get your stress levels up, so try and give yourself plenty of time rather than rushing at the last minute. Make a list of all the things that you need to do in order of priority and slowly chip away at them in the weeks before the move.
Before you start packing up your belongings, organise yourself properly so that you don’t find yourself losing valuable possessions, or holding onto useless items because you just don’t have the heart to let them go. Being organised will make things less confusing and chaotic at the other end, and also means that you are only packing (and unpacking) those essential items that you really need.
Boxes, Boxes and More Boxes
All items you intend on keeping should be packed away in labelled boxes. Keep clothes with clothes, books with books. Throwing everything in the same box only creates more work and confusion for you later on when you are trying to set up your home. Remember, the more effort you put in at the packing process, the less you’ll have to do later.
Protect fragile items with packing paper or bubble wrap and pack them into separate boxes. Be clear to mark all fragile boxes clearly with tape and/or marker pen as these boxes should be handled with extra care, ensuring nothing is stacked on top of them in case anything inside gets damaged.
Pack a small box with essentials such as toilet paper, toothbrush, kettle, cups and coffee close by, so that you can access them as soon as you have moved into your new place.
Many Hands Make Light Work
You might find yourself feeling flustered with the amount of things that need to be done before the move, or you might be worried about how much money it will cost – don’t be afraid to ask friends and family to help out with simple tasks such as helping de-clutter, cleaning, or emotional support.
An effective way to keep moving simple and hassle-free is to hire a furniture removal company. They will only help you with heavy lifting on the big day, but can also assist with packing or unpacking, if your budget allows for it. Trusting a removalist company can take away a lot of the stress of moving and is an invaluable investment.
A Fresh Start
While moving house is time-consuming and highly stressful, it is also a great opportunity to start afresh, meet new people, and provides you with a good excuse to invite your friends over for a housewarming party. Your new surroundings might feel odd or confusing for a little while, but as you start unpacking, decorating your home, and having a celebratory champagne or two, you might actually find that all that stress turns into excitement about the future ahead.