Posts Tagged ‘Moving house’

It can be overwhelming moving house. Whether you are downsizing after the kids are gone – or hurriedly vacating during divorce proceedings. It is emotional as well as physically exhausting. Ways to get started.

Take an inventory 

What do you really want/need to keep?

What would be nice to move with, if space allows, but is not essential?

What can be given away to friends, family, charity or the garbage bin?

People have said moving forced them to pare down their belongings. They felt better afterwards with less stuff – lighter and freer. Some items which were important in the past, barely made an impact on their lives now.

Others took moving as a new beginning. A good opportunity to make changes to who they have become. If you are changing residences after a break-up, it is a chance to decorate with your tastes and what you like. It showcases your passions. Surroundings reflect you.

When I moved into a house during my divorce, important items stood out more in a smaller place. They were lost before in the clutter. Paintings, photos and treasure from travels are more prominent. I was happy to have been forced to downsize.

Moving is affected by your mindset

Are you clinging to the past? Feeling stuck?

Flip it around. What negative beliefs, feelings etc. can you leave behind?

See the positives. What new ideas can you bring with you?

Relationships

It can be traumatic leaving valued neighbors behind. Find a way to stay in touch. Meet your new ones soon after moving. You may want to join a club or organization in an area of your interest. Renew old friendships. Make a point of getting together more often with friends and family if feeling lonely.

When feeling jittery or panicky, take some action. What helped me was to keep moving forward by packing. I felt better seeing progress with bare walls and bookcases. In my divorce situation, as soon as I got approved for a mortgage, I would be moving out. Being ready made relocating less stressful. Taking care of details like getting a mover selected helped me to relax.

Ways to reduce stress