There are times when seniors have to take a new, and often big, step in their lifetimes. One of these decisions is moving to a new home. Whether it is moving to a retirement home or to a smaller place, preparation and planning are key elements to take into consideration.
Here are some of the most important things to consider for seniors ready to move to a new home.
Know when it is time for de-cluttering
It may seem that during your lifetime you have accumulated tons of precious things that are worth to keep. Pictures, documents, gifts, books, etc., are probably part of your precious possessions and they all bring you sweet and sometimes sad or bitter memories, but they are all essentially important to you. However, when moving time comes, and especially if your new home will be smaller than the current one, it’s time to downsize.
Today’s technology can help you de-clutter quite a lot by saving things like books, pictures, videos, etc., in electronic formats that can be easily stored in a memory stick, an e-book reader, or a tablet. Perhaps you have family or friends who would be proud to get all those medals or trophies you’ve won or would like to inherit your amazing books. Even if you don’t have family members or friends who would be interested in your possessions, you can always donate some of them to libraries, community centres, charities, etc. The bottom line is that moving means a redefining moment in your life and with it, it’s important to consider what keeps being essential for you to keep and what is not anymore. As times goes by, some things change, and we later realize how unnecessary some stuff is and how by de-cluttering we can make room to new things in our life and perhaps even bury some negative past from your life. Getting rid of some possessions with emotional value can be difficult, but the rewards include feeling lighter, appreciating minimalism and even living a more conscious lifestyle.
Create a Moving Plan and a Checklist
As we age memory also gets more fragile and often we forget things easily. Moving can be a very stressful time and therefore, the more you plan your move, the more chances you’ll have to be less anxious, worried or stressed.
We have already shared on our blog a Checklist that you can download and print as a moving tool. As simple as it may sound, a Moving Checklist can greatly help you focus on the more important things rather than having to remember everything you want when the moving time approaches. Similarly, a moving plan is simply a document that has the most important things you need to do before moving. It may include a strategic list of things to be scheduled, ideally on a weekly basis, prior to your move. Having clear written goals will certainly help you achieve things in an easier way than just going with the flow as the moving date approaches. Remember to stick to your deadlines and congratulate yourself when you have achieved them. We have also included in our blog and FAQ section quite some information on moving and packing tips that will guide you to a successful moving into your new home.
Prepare yourself mentally for your new home
If you are moving to a retirement home, chances are that it may have been quite some time since your last move. That means that there may be quite some emotional baggage linked to your current home. Shared memories, great and bad experiences, family surroundings, old friends or neighbours or even your favourite restaurant on the block.
As humans we tend to easily attach to things we consider important and often we over empower such things in a way that can affect us negatively when we lose them. Perhaps your new neighbourhood will not look as nice as the current one or you may feel lonely dealing with new people. In order to avoid depressions or even the Relocation Stress Syndrome after you move, it is important to embrace it and feel positive about your new home. You can certainly cheat a bit and take with you some of the stuff that make you feel at home like your favourite chair, books, paintings, etc. However, in the end it would be better to mentally prepare yourself for your new home by visualizing new experiences, feeling optimistic and excited about the new possible discoveries and really feel grateful that life is allowing you to keep changing and growing. It is not about becoming a Zen monk and completely forget about your past, but actually take advantage of this opportunity to challenge yourself once again and realize that even in a new home you will still have a nice life and will make new friends and maybe even more. The possibilities are really endless if you truly open your mind and think positively. Nonetheless, it is normal to feel sad for a few days or even from time to time and knowing that that will happen it is smart to start coming up with your own strategies that will keep you optimistic when those dark days come.
We hope you liked this blog and we invite you to check out our other articles on this Website and share them with your friends.