Moving can be a stressful experience and can put serious stress on you and your family as you uproot and re-establish your lives. It’s important to make sure that throughout the process of moving your physical home, you give enough attention to addressing the social and emotional challenges of moving. Here are some tips to keep in mind to help you and your family stay happy and healthy during your transition.

Communicate!

Make sure you’re staying in contact with your family during the move so that everybody is on the same page and nothing catches anybody by surprise. Talk to your kids about the move far enough in advance that they can become accustomed to the idea. Be sure to talk about what the process will involve so that they can plan and prepare for each step well before it happens. Provide opportunities for everybody to express how they feel about the move, and recognize that moving can be harder for some people than others. Share your challenges with each other so you can better support each other!

Don’t forget your neighbors!

Before you leave your current home, take time to say goodbye to your local friends and neighbors who you won’t see as often anymore. It can be as simple as stopping by their home to say goodbye, but you could go as far as having a going-away get-together to see everyone before you leave. On the flip side, when you move into your new home, be sure to introduce yourself to your new neighbors, and once you’re settled in, maybe even invite some people over to get acquainted with your new community.

Stay organized to stay sane.

Be sure to make a plan for the whole moving process, and include checklists and inventories which you can refer back to to ease the stress and maintain a sense of control throughout the whole process. Give yourself peace of mind by keeping yourself organized!

Give yourself time!

Start planning well in advance so you don’t get caught at the last minute and have to do everything at once. You never know what unexpected challenges may arise, so budget enough time to handle whatever may come up. Set aside dedicated time on weekends to devote to planning and executing the move, and then stick to your plan. 

Check out our other articles on cleaning, unpacking, and boxes for more advice on becoming a moving pro!