There are many major events that occur during your lifetime and some of them are able to elicit a wide range of emotions. You might be surprised to learn that one of those events is moving. Changing your address may seem like a simple act but it actually appears on stress assessment scales as one of the most stressful events in your life. You might think that you can handle the stress by hiring a firm like the Allied Moving Company to manage your experience but that one step will not solve your problem.
The fact is that in many cases, moving has been found to lead to a number of underlying psychological issues. While moving may be very exciting, it can also be overwhelming. It is a major life event that can create opposite emotions like sadness over a loss of memories but happiness about making new ones, and depression over leaving friends and neighbors but excitement about starting a family. The act of moving symbolizes the end of one of life’s chapters and the beginning of another.
It is perfectly acceptable to acknowledge that dichotomy as long as you can balance your emotions. When you decide to move, you generally do so with some goal in mind. There are almost as many reasons to move as there are people moving but some of the main reasons are to find a bigger home for an expanding family or smaller home for when the children leave, to get closer to work, friends and family, or to enjoy a different part of the country. If you keep that final goal in mind you should be able to stay more focused on the positives and not make moving a purely negative experience.
There are some tips you can follow to help your moving proceed smoothly.
- Establish a plan – Make a list of all the steps that need to be completed and give yourself plenty of lead time to complete them.
- Prepare a budget – Assign a cost to each of those steps and determine what you can complete yourself so that you can save some money.
- Be organized – Create categories for the things you own. Separate the things you will take with you, the things you will give away or trash, and the things you may want to sell. Selling what you will not need will help you pay for some of the moving expenses.
- Protect your valuables – Keep all valuables in your personal possession and determine how you will get them to your new location.
- Research moving companies – If you are hiring a moving company, be sure to research alternatives to determine that the one you choose has the proper licenses and insurance.
- Don’t leave anything – Be sure to do a final walk-through once the property is empty to be sure that nothing is left behind.
- Plan for your pets and your children – If possible, have the pets and kids go on ahead of time and have them cared for by someone you trust.
You may wonder why anyone would risk participating in any activity that can become chaotic. But many people have no choice and others decide to move to fulfill their dreams. During the 2012-2013 year, one in every eight Americans or a total of 36 million people moved at least once and the annual numbers continue to grow. It is obvious that if you are among those who are relocating, you are not alone.
So, when you are moving, stay positive. Enlist the whole family in the venture and discuss any concerns that anyone may have. If possible, take a trip to the new area and visit schools, shopping areas, restaurants, and entertainment venues. Find the places you will want to go. These will soon become your new favorite places. Becoming attached to the new surroundings as quickly as possible will help everyone feel comfortable. But remember to create a realistic plan for keeping in touch with those who you are leaving behind. The most important thing is to try to have fun.
