How To Ease The Stress of a Long Distance Move

Deciding to move to a new place to settle down can be scary even more so when you don’t know anyone in your new area and are quite literally starting from scratch. Moving to a new area, a new country, the other side of the world, is, in reality, a new start and the chance to build your life and start a new story. But it isn’t as easy as they make it look in the movies, and most people who chose to make this change in their lives will struggle with their decision at some point. If not initially, then at some point down the line when they move reality has set in.

However, that doesn’t mean you won’t be able to make a huge success of moving somewhere new. Whether you are looking for a rental house near me to move to if you are moving to temporary accommodation at first, or want to buy a property, having a base that will help you hit the ground running and call home can help you become acclimated to your new surroundings and life quicker and easier.

Preparation
Planning in plenty of time will help you find the best area to live in, decide on the type of property you are looking for, what you can realistically afford, and the area you will be looking to live in. Important decisions will need to be arranged as far in advance as possible to make sure the moving process is as smooth as possible, especially if you are moving to a different country.

Visit the area you are moving to as much as you can ahead of the move to familiarize yourself with the area, local transport links and amenities. It will take a lot of the unexpected away from the area once you move. If you can’t visit, googling the local area, visiting local websites, or joining community groups across social media can help you familiarize yourself with the area you are moving to. This is especially important if you are moving with a family and you need to know information about schools, local clubs, childcare options and more.

Organization
Being as organized as possible and ticking things off your to-do list will help you remove unwanted stress from the moving process. Schools, insurances, utilities, taxes, medical registration details and more can all be taken care of before the move, so you have all your affairs in order beforehand. Then all you need to worry about on moving day is settling into your new home.

Set up a redirect for your mail to catch anything missed during the transfer be it direct to you or a PO box or relatives so you can access all your mail without missing anything.

Plan the actual move itself and be aware of the shipping process if you are moving overseas. Knowing how long you can reasonably expect to be without your belongings or how long it will take to drive to your new destination is vital. This will give you plenty of time to firstly make the move, then settle in before heading back out to work or school, so you aren’t rushed and juggling your time and responsibilities.
Pack up in plenty of time and make sure everything is labelled, so you know where to find it all once the time comes to unpack again.

Securely package fragile items and make sure each room’s contents are clearly marked, so they end up in the right place in your new home. For a big undertaking such as this, it is beneficial to make sure you are keeping detailed notes and records of what you have packed, what is in each box and what exactly you have left to do.

Breaking tasks up and completing them inadequate time before the move will assist with the flow and transition process.

During the move
Many people making big moves across the country or overseas find it easier to hand over the planning and management to a removal company who are well trained and experienced in this area. If you are doing it yourself, make sure you know what is expected of you upon returning any vehicles hired to move your possessions. Consult with your landlord if you are renting to find out when they expect the keys to the property to be returned and the condition you are expected to leave it in.

Consult with your employer to ensure you have enough time off to organise yourself in your new home without having to rush back to work. Consider opting to work from home at first to allow you to settle in and find your bearings.

Work with your child’s school to enable smooth transfer of education and get them back into school as soon as possible if your move is during term time.

After Your Move
Consult with family and friends to arrange visits and meet up and involve yourself in the local community to settle in quicker and get to know your surroundings more. This can be particularly helpful when moving abroad, especially if you are learning a new language – most countries have prominent expat communities who can help you with valuable information that will ease the transition.

If you feel you are struggling once you have moved away, write al ist of all the reasons, you made this decision to remind yourself of why you are doing this. Give yourself time to get used to your new life – write goals, targets or to-do lists to keep yourself busy and help get to know your new home.

Take up a new hobby, learn something new or take on renovation tasks around the house to help fill your days if you are feeling lonely and schedule regular calls or Zoom conferences with family and friends to keep up to date with their lives and show them how well you are getting on after the move.

XOXO