The average American family moves every five years.
This can be very stressful for families, both physically and emotionally.
There are many considerations and preparations that must be made in order to ensure that the process goes as smoothly as possible.
1. Take Time to Purge
When faced with a move, it’s the perfect time to declutter and purge your home of any excess.
In modern times, consumerism has become a staple of society, which results in the accumulation of products and goods that often go unused. For some, it can be difficult to justify throwing out perfectly good products.
The solution to help eliminate unused or underutilized possessions is to separate your possessions into three separate categories.
Keep. These are the items that you use regularly and would be difficult to replace after a move. They are also the items that bring you joy and have sentimental value in your life.
Sell/Donate. The items in this pile constitute things that still hold value, even if not for you. They are the items that go unused but are perfectly usable. One of the best ways to sell these items is through a garage sale or an online marketplace. What does not sell can then be donated to a whole host of reputable second-hand stores, among them being Goodwill and the Humane Society.
Trash. This pile is all of the remaining possessions that no longer hold value, or are broken. Depending on the extent of items in your home, renting a large dumpster or organizing a bulk trash pick-up can help eliminate these items from your home.
Often, it is best to attack this process one room at a time and plan out how you will accomplish this overwhelming task.
2. Storing and Moving Your Home Goods
After you have completed the arduous task of organizing and decluttering your home, a proper storage and moving solution is vital for your move.
While some individuals prefer to rent a truck and do the move themselves, this is often a big task, and should only be done locally.
Even with local moves, hiring individuals to help you lift the big items helps make the process more seamless.
For those who are moving long distances, it is best to use a company that ships your home goods for you.
There are companies that rent space on their trucks or even have moving crates or units that allow you to pack yourself, store your goods while you make the trek, and then deliver them to your new home.
A portable storage company makes the moving process easier because you have time to focus on your family during the move instead of stressing about moving your possessions.
3. Prepare Your Children
During the planning and execution process of your move, your family may be dealing with some big emotions.
There are many ways to help cope with and approach this move to help alleviate the emotional stress that it can cause.
Include Your Children. It is always best to include your children in the process from the very beginning. It helps them to mentally prepare for the new experience and recognize the reality of the situation.
When they feel included in the process, they have a much easier time adapting.
It is also important to note that your emotions and attitude are reflected in that of your children. Your excitement and positive outlook on the move can help them to express similar emotions.
Have a Party. More than likely, the sadness that you and your children are experiencing is a result of the idea that you will miss your friends and loved ones.
It is important to allow you and your family to say a proper goodbye to the individuals you have spent time with. One of the best ways to do this is by throwing a party and celebrating your friendships and time in your home.
Allow Them to be Sad. One of the most important things that can be hard, especially for parents, is to allow your children to be sad and express it.
Their feelings are valid, changes can be scary and overwhelming, and this can be expressed in a myriad of emotions.
By giving your children space to grieve this change and validating their feelings, you are teaching them how to best cope with and deal with these big emotions.
Conclusion
When you employ these steps in approaching your family move, it will be an easier process.
Cleaning out your home allows you to begin your new experience in a new location, fresh and unencumbered.
Additionally, getting the right moving company and support makes a huge difference in your move, saving your back in the process.
Lastly, giving you and your family time to say goodbye and grieve better prepares you to be open and more willing to embrace your new life and experiences.