Moving House as a Family: How to Minimize Stress
Any type of move can be stressful. Even moving from one small apartment to another on the same street can be headache-inducing!
But some types of moves are more stressful than others. Moving from a house — rather than an apartment — to another house is a challenge, for instance. And doing it while also trying to juggle the emotions of other family members adds another level of trickiness, too.
However, while these moves can be stressful, they don’t necessarily have to be overwhelmingly so. By taking a few precautionary steps, you can ensure that your move is as stress-free — and perhaps even fun — for all involved.
Talk It Out as a Family
If you have very young children in your family (say, under two years old), then you probably don’t need to talk them through the ins and outs of moving to a new home. But if you have children who are older than that, and who might have mixed feelings about the move, then it’s worthwhile talking it out. Explaining to them why you’re moving, where to, and how awesome it’ll be once you’re all settled in (it will be!) will help to keep their anxiety levels in check, ensuring that the whole family can look to the future with positivity.
Manage Your Own Stress Levels
Your children won’t just pick up on what you say. They’ll also pick up on your emotions, too. If you’re stressed, then it’s unlikely that they’ll be a big calm ball of Zen. You can set the tone for your family’s feelings by working to manage your own stress levels. You can do this by managing the most stressful parts of moving, such as by hiring movers to transport your belongings to your new home. Practicing relaxing activities — such as meditation and yoga — during the moving process will also help to keep your stress levels in check.
Well-Fed, Well-Watered, Well-Rested
You’ll know as well as we do that people of all ages are much more likely to showcase their stress if they’re hungry, thirsty, and tired. As such, it’s recommended to have a plan of action for keeping everyone in your moving party well-fed, well-watered, and well-rested. Preparing some freezable meals and having a relaxing few days before you move will ensure that everyone can be firing on all cylinders when the big day comes. Also remember that while you’ll want to complete the move in a single day, you don’t necessarily have to complete it in record time. Make sure you take plenty of breaks throughout the day.
Make it Fun
What’s the most effective way to beat stress? Having some fun! While you can’t make moving home a fun adventure all the time, there are plenty of ways to incorporate a healthy dose of fun into the process. For instance, could you invite friends and family around to help move in exchange for pizza and beer? Or maybe you could play games, or simply order takeout on the first night in your new home.
Kori
