Moving is one of the top ten most stressful activities you will undertake in your life so do not be surprise that come moving day, you will feel overwhelmed with all the things that is going on. But you should not despair because this is the reality of moving and there is little you can do to control the possible things that could go wrong. Murphy’s Law is alive and well during a move – what can happen, will happen. So what can you do?
What you need to think about
You are in control of things. There is nothing you can do to change this fact. Since you are the one moving out, your volunteers, friends and family, and even the professional movers you hired will all look up to you. How you handle the situation through the day will dictate the tone and mood of everybody. So do your best to smile and roll with the punches.
Tips to relieve the stress
Here are some things you can do to control the stress level during the M-day.
- Believe in the fact that a stress-free move is a fairy tale. Never panic on the missed schedules and the late arrival of the transport truck from U-Haul. Be mentally prepared for problems like these so that you can be more objective in dealing with it.
- Be realistic with your goals. Understand that volunteers coming on time are rare. Packing time can take longer than you think. And your kids can easily decide to just disappear on you. Adjust for these things and reconsider your timeline that way you do not feel like you are way behind schedule.
- Reward yourself and your family. This does not have to be something grand or expensive. Perhaps dining out for lunch with the family is enough to give everybody a boost of energy. Having someone serve you can give you your dignity back as a family and this should motivate you to keep on going.
- Apply a tested and proven rule in unpacking things. Start with the bathroom and then the bedrooms. If you end up short of time after those two, do the other spaces the following day. Unpacking through the night just to have a good night’s sleep can be a huge source of stress.
- Keep the movers happy with plenty of cold drinks and food. A regular 10 minute break every 2 hours with family and friends can do a lot in improving the workflow.
- After you have unpacked everything, make sure to plan a fun time with your kids in your new place. Going to a public pool nearby or a picnic site in the community can be great for letting everybody relax. This can also give the family a chance to experience some positive things in your new neighborhood. This can do a lot in helping your family transition to the new environment.
- Lead by example always. If you feel you are getting short tempered, take a break, relax, release the pressure and stress so that when you go back to working again you will have a much improved attitude. This is contagious.
