Preparing to relocate to a new town brings about a mix of emotions. You may feel excited about the new adventure awaiting you and your family in your new location or ready to take on the challenges of a new job. But relocation also comes with stress for the whole family. Change, even change for the better, takes a toll on everyone. Use these top three relocation tips to make your move to a new city smoother and as stress free as possible.
1. Say Goodbye
When you get ready to pick up roots and relocate to a new town, make sure you honor the life you have built in your current home. Give everyone in the family time to say goodbye to the people and places they have come to love. Taking day trips to parks, natural areas or the local pool to enjoy the spot for one last time allows you and especially your children to leave with recent fond memories of a favorite place. Make plans to have special meals at restaurants you frequent or buy a favorite local treat. You may even want to consider throwing a party. This gives both mom and dad and the kids time to spend with friends and marks a moment in time when everyone was able to say goodbye.
2. Give Yourself a Break
As you go about the time consuming and stressful process of packing, moving and transferring your life to a new place, make sure to give yourself a break. This means stepping away from the duties of relocating to take the kids to the park or to treat yourself to your favorite latte every now and then. Your to-do list will still be there when you get back from an hour on the playground and both you and the kids will be refreshed from the time away. Also consider making a long term to-do list and then schedule just a handful of tasks each day. If you finish early, don’t move on to the next task, take a break and relax.
3. Ask for Help
People embarking on a move often hear they should ask for help. And it’s one of the hardest relocation tips to follow. But asking for help will greatly ease your stress. Asking friends and family members lets them feel as though they’re contributing and could mean some extra quality time before you leave. You should also consider talking with relocation professionals who have a proven track record of relocating families, especially if you are moving a considerable distance. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel during your relocation. A moving company specializing in relocations can probably save you time, money and stress because they have done it all before.
Relocating is never easy even when the reason behind the relocation is positive. Use these relocation tips to make your move easier on the whole family.
(photo credit: Chris Enns)
