6 Ways to Alleviate the Stress of Moving for Older Adults
Moving can be incredibly stressful and difficult, particularly for older adults. From downsizing to organizing everything you own and packing it away in boxes, facing major changes—especially later in life—can leave us feeling overwhelmed. Thankfully, there are a few ways we can ease the transition process to make our move less taxing on both body and mind. Here are some tips that will help you alleviate stress when moving as an elderly adult!
Get Help – Ask family, friends, or professional movers to help you out
Moving is undoubtedly a stressful experience. Many people worry they won’t be able to manage the entire process alone, leaving them feeling overwhelmed and unsure of what to do next. The good news is that you don’t have to – there are plenty of resources available to make things simpler. For example, enlisting help from your family and friends can be incredibly useful as it helps spread out the workload and makes sure you stay on top of any obstacles that may come up in the process. If their schedules don’t permit, or if you need a more experienced helping hand, consider reaching out to professional movers for advice or assistance. They will have the expertise to get you settled in your new home quickly and easily with minimal hassle and stress.
Start Early – Give yourself plenty of time before the move so you can take things one step at a time
Moving is an ordeal that can be overwhelming and stressful, so it’s important to make sure you have the time to properly prepare for everything in advance. Starting early is key! Grab a calendar and begin making a list of tasks you will need to complete in the days and weeks leading up to your move. Having everything planned out in advance will help make the experience much smoother and less chaotic for everyone involved. Take time to research costs, compare moving companies, search for packing materials, and inform everyone who needs to know about your relocation well before the day of. By following these steps, you can ensure that you will have plenty of time to accomplish everything on your checklist so that on moving day, you are well prepared!
Make a List – Create a list of all the items that need to be packed and sorted
Preparing for a big move can be overwhelming, and it’s easy to forget the details. That’s why making a list of the items that need to be packed up and sorted is essential. By listing out what needs to be done, you won’t have to worry about trying to remember everything on the fly. From clothing and furniture to kitchen utensils and décor, jotting everything down in advance will make sure that nothing is left behind. In addition, it also serves as an organized guide so that packing for your new home becomes less stressful–so go ahead and start writing that list!
Purge Before You Pack – Go through your belongings and get rid of any unnecessary items
Moving can be an exciting yet stressful experience. Before packing up your beloved belongings, it’s a great idea to go through everything you own and get rid of any unnecessary items. This purge can be cathartic – it will allow you to take inventory of what you have, spark joy in the stuff that means something to you and let go of anything that no longer serves its purpose. Give away any clothes or furniture that you rarely use and send those old toys, books, and souvenirs on their way out the door, either by donating them to charity or selling them for some extra cash. By the time your packing is done, the transition process will feel lighter—your fresh start before moving out!
Downsize – Consider downsizing to make the packing process easier
Downsizing can be an incredibly smart choice when you’re packing up for a big move. Not only can you eliminate unnecessary items which add unnecessary weight and space, but decluttering can have emotional benefits as well! It’s liberating to realize that the smaller your material possessions are, the more “room” you create in the physical and emotional sense. You don’t need all of those old gadgets or clothes collecting dust with sentimental value – packaging up memories into pictures, videos, or souvenirs is much more meaningful and increases mobility during the moving process. Downsizing before a move can seem like a daunting task at first, but it doesn’t have to be so unpleasant! Get creative with what you keep as well as what gets donated – the freedom that comes along with downsizing is invaluable and worth making it part of your planning process.
Stay Organized – Label boxes with their contents and color-code them for easy recognition on moving day
Moving day can be a stressful and difficult experience, but it doesn’t have to be. One way to make sure that the process is easier from start to finish is to stay organized. A great way of doing this is by labeling boxes with their contents and color-coding them for easy recognition. This ensures that all of your belongings are noted in advance and allows you to easily find any items you may need on the day itself. Color coding also helps when trying to organize things in the new place, as boxes can quickly be distinguished from one another by their labels. Take the stress out of moving day and make sure that everything is well labeled and color-coded – it might just save you time, energy, and even money!
Moving can be daunting, especially when you try to take on all the tasks by yourself. By following these steps, you can make the entire process more manageable. Ask people you trust for help and start early; create a list beforehand to ensure that everything is properly packed and purged so that there is no unnecessary clutter weighing down your move. Don’t forget to downsize as much as possible, and stay organized throughout the process. If you’re feeling particularly overwhelmed by it all, consider hiring professional movers to help make the task easier for you. Ultimately, if you plan ahead, get support from your loved ones, and keep an organized schedule, moving doesn’t have to be a nightmare–it might even be an exciting new chapter in your life.
