On The Other End: Post-Relocation Stress Reducing Techniques

You’ve carefully planned your home relocation and carried it out accordingly to the moment where all your furniture is safely moved to your new home and your boxes are neatly delivered by our removals men. Now, you may feel like the worst is behind you, but you have to be careful of the post-relocation blues, as we call them.

Post-Relocation Blues May Include:

• Stress – it may come in the form of an urge to unpack and sort every box lying around, even though you know it is mathematically impossible at this time. You have to fight your OCD and just accept the “new normal”. You may not be able to unpack and put everything in order in one spree.
• Confusion – even though you packed and labelled everything, you feel lost amid boxes and items and wonder when and how you should unpack. Maybe the layout of your new home isn’t the same as you remembered it during the viewing and now you feel like some furniture don’t fit, or some boxes should be  This may be due to fatigue. All you need is a bit of rest and it will all come back to you.
• Nostalgia – sadness and sudden feeling you miss your old home. Your new house still feels empty and foreign and you are overwhelmed with memories from your previous home.
• Depression – a feeling like you don’t belong in this place, like you’ve maybe made a mistake and/or carried the move against your will (husband/wife’s new job, kid’s new school, etc.). Now you are left feeling stuck. In such a case give it a bit of time and look at the bright side.

How To Fight Post-Relocation Blues?

Make the beds

In our years of experience we know that a bit of sleep and well-deserved rest can do wonders. Make sure everyone’s bed is sorted and ready in case someone wants to take a nap. Go through the bathroom and give it a quick clean. A shower and a (hopefully) comfy bed is all you need to forget your negative feelings and emotions, or at least until a later time when you will be better equipped to deal with them.

Have a meal

You can get some takeaway or order food. It may be improvised, but it will instantly energise you and give you strength to carry on unpacking.

Unpack essentials first

Don’t worry about the clothing just yet, simply unpack toiletries and other personal belongings that are essential.

Delegate little jobs

You can’t do everything yourself, so discuss who will do what.

Take care of children

And no, don’t get rid of them permanently. Simply arrange a friend or their grandparents to take them during the first night of your move. The can be nuisance and you need to be hands-free during moving day.

Get rid of stuff you don’t need

We usually give this advice prior to the move. You really don’t want to pay for a truck and removals men to help you move something you don’t need anyway, but if you still end up with items like this on the other end – be ruthless. It is immensely liberating to let go of things you don’t know where to put, but in the same time know you are not going to need anyway. Chuck out everything that is not functional, working, aesthetically pleasing, or useful. If you thought you will use the beautiful vase you bought sometime ago, but now you see it just doesn’t work anywhere in the new home – out it goes! You will fee better, we promise!

Don’t look back

Fight feelings of nostalgia by trying to look to the future and not dwell in the past. Moving to a new home is bound to be an emotional experience. Try to make it a pleasant one, by focusing on the good things that will happen in this home and not the things that happened in the previous one.

A bit of wine never hurt nobody

If you are packing with your hubby and the kids are with your parents, get some wine and beers. Celebrate your move and make a party of it just for the two of you. You’ve come a long way! Having some fun while unpacking can be a great stress-reliever too.

You Arrival Checklist Sorted:

1. Make beds first;
2. Settle children’s rooms;
3. Unpack little and often;
4. Store boxes room by room;
5. Delegate;
6. Set yourself targets;
7. Organise bedroom quickly;
8. Keep going until it’s finished;