When you hire a moving company and relocate to a new home, there’s a lot more at stake than your furniture and kitchenware. Anyone who’s undergone a move will tell you that there are few things more stressful than the act of prepping a home for sale, actually selling that home, packing up all your belongings, and then settling in to an entirely new environment.
That’s why taking care of yourself should be a top priority when you’re undergoing a move. From eating right and exercising to taking some time out to pamper yourself, here are a few ideas for staying healthy (and happy!) while you’re in transition.
> Take Your Time: The quickest path to a stressful move is to try and get everything done in just a few short days. A move takes time, so the longer you can build in flexibility, the better it will be for everyone involved. This may mean paying a double mortgage for one month or planning to move in pieces rather than all at once, but many homeowners find this approach worthwhile.
> Schedule Downtime Every Day: No matter where you are on the timeline of moving, chances are your to-do list is overwhelming. You might be tempted to fit extra packing and cleaning into your free time, but avoid the impulse. You and your family need a few hours every day to decompress and relax. Find something that soothes you (even it means leaving the house so you aren’t reminded of everything you need to do) and make it a priority.
> Don’t Overdo the Lifting: Packing up a house and moving all that furniture is a great workout, but don’t push yourself too hard. Unless you’re accustomed to heavy lifting, you can easily strain your back trying to move everything on your own. It’s perfectly fine to include packing as part of your regular exercise routine, but know your own limits and stick to them.
> Pack Your Kitchen Last: One of the easiest ways to fall into unhealthy habits during moving is to pack up your kitchen too soon and have to resort to takeout and fast food restaurants to feed your hungry family. Plan a strategic use of resources and come up with meal ideas that use the same pans and utensils over and over again (a crock pot will soon become your best friend). That way you can avoid the junk food trap and cook healthy meals up until the day of moving.
> Pay Attention to Health Cues: If you feel a tickle in the back of your throat or are feeling the pain in your muscles from all that climbing up and down the stairs yesterday, don’t ignore it. An ailment you push aside is much more likely to blow up into a major problem. Instead of pushing through, take a day off to recuperate and take care of yourself.
The most important thing you can do to stay healthy during a move is to ask for help when you need it. There’s no reason why you have to do everything on your own. Recruit friends, family members, and neighbors to pitch in. Hire a moving company to do the packing and loading for you. Bring a babysitter along on moving day. No one expects you to do this all alone!
