The thought of living in a new location sparks a certain kind of thrill. But thrill is usually an intense feeling mixed with a bit of fear. It’s like riding a roller coaster. It’s thrilling because it is scary and exciting at the same time.
You get the same feeling when relocating. You’re curious about new adventures that may come your way as you transfer to a new area, but you’re scared that the new place may be too unfamiliar. Also, leaving your old home may sting a little because of old memories and because of friends and family you might be leaving behind.
However, as Heraclitus, a Greek philosopher, once said, “There is nothing permanent except change.” You have to accept changes to move forward.
MOVING FORWARD
Most of the time, we associate relocating with moving to a better home. But this is not the case all the time, especially when the pandemic came.
A survey by Pew Research Center last November 2020 found out that “one-in-twenty U.S. adults (5%) said they personally moved out of where they were living either permanently or temporarily due to the COVID-19 outbreak.” Another study done by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities discovered that there is an “estimated 6.4 million adults in a household that is not caught up in its mortgage payment.”
Not being able to pay a mortgage often only leads to one thing– foreclosure. Instead of losing all hard-earned money and securing low credit scores, some people choose to sell their homes fast to real estate companies that buy and sell residential properties.
For some, though, relocating is a conscious decision. Staying true to the phrase moving forward, these lucky homeowners choose to sell their homes and move to a better place that best suits their lifestyle. Some search for a new home by the water, while some even move to other countries just because they fell in love with the area.
STRESS-FREE RELOCATION
Whatever reason one has for moving to a different home, one thing is for certain– moving can be a daunting task. Packing a whole home is certainly a challenge and cannot be accomplished in one day.
For some, putting their stuff away is almost a ceremonial task where you reminisce all the memories you had in a particular home. This, mixed with the stress of packing, can be overwhelming. To help, here are some practical ideas to take away some of the pressures of moving.
1. Gather all necessary packing supplies.
If you’re entering the battlefield, be ready. Boxes, scissors, markers, and packing tapes are your weapons. Then, assign a packing headquarters in your house. This will be the area where you put all your packing paraphernalia. By doing this, you ensure that you don’t go crazy looking for the scissors in all the clutter.
2. Keep things that go together.
Put the plates and glasses in one place and make sure to label the box “fragile.” Put all the cords in one place and put “tech stuff” on the box. The gist is, keep items that belong together in one place.
By doing this, you are informing the movers which boxes they need to handle carefully. You also prevent your precious items from breaking while moving. It will also be convenient for you to find stuff you need in your new home when you start unpacking.
3. Do not procrastinate.
Some people think that packing can be done last minute. You can if you want to be stressed. But if you want to make moving an enjoyable experience, better pack ahead of time. This allows you to think of a more strategic way of organizing items rather than mixing all stuff randomly.
You can only imagine the result later on when you open your boxes– broken glasses, hard-to-find items, etc. Also, the less organized you are, the more boxes you use. More boxes mean more money to spend.
Also, using boxes that you might probably not use again is not good for the environment, which leads us to the next point.
4. Save the earth and some money
If you have existing bags, luggage, or other containers, use them. Depending on the type, a moving box might cost from $1 to $10. Imagine how much you can save if you use what’s readily available.
5. Keep valuables safe
It’s a no-brainer. Important items such as jewelry, money, phones, and necessary documents must be kept in a safe place. Keeping your personal effects with you saves you from the stress of looking for them later on if you have mistakenly put them with random items.
MAKE IT AN ENJOYABLE EXPERIENCE
It is true what they say that life is what you make it. Whatever your reason may be for moving, you can still make it a positive experience as long as you embrace it.
