Protecting Your Mental and Emotional Health When Moving
Moving is stressful! There are so many “balls” you have to keep in the air; it can feel like you are one of those jugglers tossing multiple objects of various sizes and weights and expecting to catch them all. And that’s just the logistics. When you add that to the emotional challenges of saying goodbye and anticipating a new life, moving can take a real toll on your heart and mind.
Here are some ways to protect your wellness before, during, and after a move.
Defend Your Time
Finding the time can be one of the most challenging parts of an organized move. But it is essential to keeping things orderly and on track, and minimizing stress. As soon as you know that a move is in your future, long before you find a new place or finalize any plans, start the decluttering process. Be decisive about getting rid of things that have no real place in your life. It can be challenging, but it will save you time and trouble down the road. Start packing up things that aren’t essential to your day-to-day life way ahead of time, too. When it is time to buckle down and get stuff ready for the moving truck, imagine how great it will feel to be halfway done already. Try to schedule uninterrupted time as the deadline approaches, so you can concentrate on nothing but packing up in a logical and un-rushed manner.
Stay Organized
Pack by room, and use checklists to keep related items together. Pack your essentials in the same boxes, so you can quickly unpack what you will need right away. Make sure to keep your valuables where you can keep an eye on them, so you aren’t worrying. Have plans and checklists written down ahead of time. This is especially important if you have friends or family coming over to help. Consequently, it will be easier to delegate without fear of chaos. And seriously consider hiring movers like Allied Van Lines Canada to help you. Protecting your wellbeing is worth spending the money for help from experienced professionals.
Make Contingency Plans
What will you do if your new neighbor overfills their bathtub and floods your new place? What will you do if you can’t move in right away? How about if a major storm closes the highways and the moving truck can’t get to you for several days? How will you deal with lost or broken items? Hopefully, you will never run into these problems. However, having plans in case they arise will help you feel calm, confident, and in control of your moving process.
Practice Self-Care
Self-care is about more than making time for activities that recharge your batteries. Make time to get a haircut or style, so you feel like a new you moving into your new home, or pick out a favorite pair of moving socks. As well, take care of yourself by making sure you are doing things like eating right, getting enough exercise, and keeping up important routines. You will be busy during your move, and it is easy to let good habits fall by the wayside while everything is going on. But you will feel better physically, be less stressed, and have more emotional resources to draw upon if you take good care of yourself.
