In a previous entry, I mentioned that I’m making a few changes in my life. One of them involves a change of scenery. In other words, I’ll be moving soon – in fact in a just a couple weeks. I want to stay close to the places and people that I enjoy the most so I won’t be moving too far. Still yet, I enjoy putting myself in different situations, exploring new areas and learning along the way.
Throughout this process I’ve learned a few things that can help anyone on the move.
Donate, dispose, and de-clutter: The first thing I did before going on a packing frenzy is reorganize the possessions I already had. I followed what I like to call, the three D’s: de-clutter, donate, and dispose. It’s so easy to accumulate things without knowing how much we actually have, so it helps to have a “spring cleaning” no matter what season it is. If you haven’t actively used something, let’s say a piece of clothing or furniture, in the past 6 months or so, it might be time to let someone else use it. Donating items to your local Goodwill or Salvation Army can give others the benefit of using your gently used items. Not to mention, you can also get a tax deduction if you do itemized deductions when filing. If the item has completely lost quality or usage, it might just be time to say goodbye and dispose it. It will reduce the amount of time and things you will need to move from one place to another.
Coordinate: Coordinating logistics of the move was by far the topic that needed the most patience and planning. Moving will give you a chance to “start over” and make changes to the lifestyle you have.
Here are just a few things to consider once you know where you are going to live:
o How much advance notice will I have to give my current home? Is there any penalty for not giving enough notice?
o When will I be moving?
o Do I need to change my budget for the move?
o How much advance notice will you need to give a moving company or to my friends who help me move? (I would recommend planning this a month in advance, especially in the summertime.)
o How early can I move into the new place?
o Are there any pre-move-in procedures I need to go through at the new place?
o Have I informed all the necessary people about my move? (This can include your personal contacts, the utilities and amenities companies, the post office, etc.)
Something that helps me stay organized during this time is making lists – “to-do” lists for the current and future home and a “to buy” list for the next home. Luckily I have mostly everything needed to furnish a home, so the “to buy” list is short.
Take care: When you become so involved in taking care of everything for the move, it’s easy to forget about taking care of yourself. Don’t let the moving process be an excuse for you not to. Make small adjustments if you need to but don’t deviate too much from how you regularly take care of you. Also give yourself time away from the move. It can be a stressful process so make sure you share your time with your friends and continue to do the activities you enjoy. The moving process will eventually all come together.
Enjoy – You’ve reorganized your belongings, planned for your move and remembered to take care of yourself along the way. You’re settled in the new home now and the only thing left to do is: Enjoy your new home! It’s your place for new beginnings, new friendships and new memories.