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Just Moved? Time to Make Some New Friends
Just Moved? Time to Make Some New Friends
A lot of people worry about how pets and children will adjust after a move. Adolescents and teens are incredibly social yet often have a hard time finding new peer groups and making friends. And while these are all obstacles that are often overcome, we often handle these issues without considering how the adults in the house will adjust socially to a move.
Wait. What? Yes, you. The adults. It doesn’t matter if you moved 20 minutes from your old house or 200 miles away. You are in a new neighborhood and just dropping everything for a cup of coffee with your friend up the street won’t be possible unless you make a few new friends in your new vicinity.
Making New Friends
Making new friends doesn’t mean you have to ditch your old friends, but you need to have a social circle you can turn to locally. Here are a few ways to meet people in a new area:
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Join a meet-up group. Look online for local meet-up groups happening in public places and go check one out. You probably won’t be the only one there who hasn’t met anyone in the group before, and you may just find that commonality to bond over.
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Find a sports team to join. Love soccer? Love baseball? There are adult fun-leagues all over the place. Find one and you’ll not only get some great exercise but will make friends with a common interest.
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Take a hobby class. There are plenty around, from new paint studios to ceramic classes. Maybe sewing, knitting, or even sign language. Check out the adult classes that are often listed in community brochures or college catalogs and see if something interests you.
Setting Guidelines
Here is where things will get hairy. First, you need to become more comfortable with yourself. You need to be willing to have dinner in a restaurant – alone; to go grocery shopping in a new store – alone; to take a class where you may not meet a new friend – alone. Go to a museum; check out an art gallery; check out the local coffee shop’s open mic night. Just go and open yourself up to opportunity, whether it be enjoying the experience or striking up a conversation with someone new.
At the same time, you need to have guidelines for the types of people you’ll allow into your life. If something strikes you as odd about a person you see at a meet-up, don’t feel obligated to exchange contact info – or don’t use it when given. If you have fun, get an email address. If you keep calling people but they never call you, look to find other people who will reciprocate your friendship in a friendlier way.
Not sure what to do? Talk to your real estate agent. Many are familiar with the areas in which they are selling and can probably help you to find the resources you need to get out there, have a little fun, and meet some people in the process.
How to Stay Organized While Packing for a Move
How to Stay Organized While Packing for a Move
Moving day is approaching rapidly and you’re dragging your feet. Why? Because packing (and unpacking) are quite possibly the two worst parts of the move. Making sure everything you have gets to the right place can be quite the feat, but we have some tips that may help.
Make Lists
Don’t roll your eyes. Lists are important to a successful move. Start by making a list of each room in your new home and assigning it a letter or a number – “D for dining room” or “K for Kayla’s room.” Make sure each box you pack is clearly labeled with the letter of the room it should be put in upon arrival at your new home. Just make sure you give each room its own unique letter. Use a sharpie to write on the box, and when you get to the new home, write the letters on Masking tape and put them on the room doors so that those helping you move don’t have to guess which room is which.
If you need specific items to be found sooner rather than later, give those boxes an additional label or symbol – a star for the box that has your bathroom towels and toiletries; or for the box that has your most-used eating utensils. You’re going to want to be able to find those boxes first.
Plan in Advance
Don’t let your move sneak up on you. No matter what, you likely have an idea of when you’d like to move. Your circumstance will determine how much notice you have. About two months before a move you should be obtaining and organizing your child’s school records, start researching new school systems and amenities near your new house, and creating your to-do lists. About six weeks out you should be able to order packing supplies (or start looking for free ones), take measurements in your new house, and start tossing things you aren’t taking with you.
A month before your move you can start packing and looking to hire a moving company, if you’re using one. If you’re not, you’ll still need to make a reservation for a truck and start soliciting friends and family for help. Make sure your car has had a proper tune-up and make sure you have the time off of work you need.
Make sure every member of your household has an overnight bag packed with a change of clothes, toiletries, medications, and daily essentials. This way you won’t have to search for clothes and needed items the second you get to your new house.
Moving takes a lot of work, but with some careful planning you can make it a less stressful experience. Ask your real estate agent if you need referrals to moving companies and local services. They can often help you get settled in your new neighborhood.
Moving? Take this Opportunity to Declutter
Moving? Take this Opportunity to Declutter
Decluttering. You hear this term over and over again when it comes to selling your house and preparing for a move. It’s a nightmare – getting rid of all of the things you don’t want people to see or that you don’t want to take with you. But it’s oh so worth it in the end – a clean start in your new home.
Start Right Away
It doesn’t matter if your move is going to be in 6 weeks or 6 months, start the process of decluttering as soon as you know you’re going to move. Don’t put it off. Don’t tell yourself it will be easier to pack and declutter when you unpack. It’s not easier, and you’ll save money on packing supplies if you have less stuff to take with you.
One Space at a Time
Don’t overwhelm yourself. Take things one closet or drawer at a time – definitely not an entire room at a time. You’ll have more time to focus on what you really use and want to keep and you won’t have to worry as much about making a snap decision you’ll regret later on.
Shred Old Documents
Don’t carry around old documents you no longer need. Put the old, outdated documents that are decades old and no longer necessary for record keeping purposes in their own box. You can either shred them yourself or take them to a secure drop-off point at a local office supply store for shredding.
Prepare Yourself
What will your options for each item be? Create a box for packing, a box or bag for donations, and a box of bag for the trash. Those should be your only options. If you’re really not sure, create one extra box for items you aren’t sure about. Otherwise, pack it, donate it, or trash it.
It’s OK to Let Go
Don’t keep things that have no place in your life simply because they used to have some sort of sentimental value. If they’ve been tucked in a closet or drawer, out of sight, they aren’t doing you much good either way. Sometimes it is better to get a fresh start – away from the memories of old jobs or past friendships and relationships.
The same goes for your collection of gadgets, whatever they may be – household cleaning items, kitchen gadgets, and things that just take up space but were cool in a time and a place. If you don’t use it with some sort of regularity, even yearly, get rid of it.
If you’re selling your home, your real estate agent is going to tell you to declutter anyway. You may as well get a head start on the process. You may or may not decide to get rid of even more stuff when you are unpacking, but getting rid of the clutter before you go will save you a lot of extra work in the long run.
