Moving away from family is one of the hardest feats you may ever have to tackle. All of a sudden, you’ve gone from being surrounded by comfort and familiarity, to being in a new place with no anchors to tie yourself down. That’s why it’s important to know how to cope with moving away from family.
But don’t fret!
Educating yourself on coping with moving stress can be a massive help, especially during those first few weeks. Taking the time to be proactive about how you might feel when moving away is your best defense against the unfair and uninvited sadness or guilt that comes along with moving out.
Fortunately, there are ways to make the transition smoother and more bearable. Here are the top 10 tips on how to cope with moving away from family:
What Causes Moving Stress?
Moving away from family can be a heart-wrenching experience no matter how old you are.
It’s not just the difficulties that come with moving itself—finding a new home, changing schools, and making new friends—it’s also the difficulty of saying goodbye to the people you love.
Although it may be exciting to start anew in a different place, it means leaving old routines and rituals behind that made your life comfortable and rooted in the community with family.
Despite fantastic potential opportunities for growth and adventure, this kind of transition is never easy emotionally.
Moving away from family often brings up stress and anxiety about the changes that lie ahead; these difficulties come as part of the uncharted territory but don’t forget.. new experiences await on the other side!
What Emotions Will I Feel When Moving Away From Home For The First Time?
Moving away from home for the first time can elicit a wild array of emotions.
Depending on where you’re headed, you may experience a rush of excitement wondering what adventures await you around the corner.
You could also feel a twinge of sadness at leaving family and familiar places behind for a while.
You might have a few moments of jitters and uncertainty about navigating your new environment solo.
No matter where you go or how long you stay, remember that your feelings are completely normal even if some days they’re on opposite ends of the spectrum!
How to Cope With Moving Away From Family?
Moving away from home can feel like a huge transition, with stress levels skyrocketing. But there are plenty of ways to help you cope!
There are plenty of coping strategies out there that can help ease your transition and prepare you for the potentially overwhelming experience of moving away from family and friends.
Decades of advice from experts means that no matter your situation, you can find the coping mechanism – or maybe even a combination of coping mechanisms – that works best for you.
Let’s dive into how to stay resilient through the process of coping with moving away from home and dealing with the inevitable moving stress.
10 Tips to Cope With Moving Away From Family
1. Think About New Opportunities:
It’s often hard to leave an area where you’re comfortable, but it is important to remember that new opportunities also come with change.
As they say, sometimes the unknown opens a door we never knew existed! So, fuel your wanderlust and remember how exciting it is to explore the unfamiliar and build something new for yourself.
Moving away from home may seem intimidating, but just remember all of the potential for you to discover something great in this process!
2. Make Your Move Easy and Stress-Free:
One tip to keep in mind is to invest in a quality moving company – even though it may seem like an extra expense, it’s well worth it (trust us).
Put that hard-earned cash towards hiring professionals, since they know how to make sure everything gets from point A-to-B without any problems. Don’t be afraid to splurge on movers – it might just save your sanity!
3. Make Your New Place Feel Like Home:
Whether you’re down the road or across the world, packing up a few items from the home to give that familiar feeling can be comforting.
To help spice things up, why not seize the opportunity to revamp your new cozy space?
Pick out some snazzy wall art, invest in a stylish bedspread and throw pillows, or have fun shopping for some cozy furniture pieces.
Just remember that although it’ll take time to make it your own, each item will remind you of how brave you are making this transition – and how much potential there is for an exciting life ahead!
4. Do Not Push Yourself – Rest and Allow Yourself To Be Sad For The Things You Left Behind:
If you’ve just moved away from your hometown, then coping with the big change can be tough.
At times like this, it’s best to remember the first tip for coping with moving: don’t push yourself too much! Moving away from home often comes with a lot of emotions and it’s okay to feel them without judging yourself for doing so.
Sit down, reflect on the memories of all that you left behind, and give yourself time to properly rest and grieve if needed.
Avoid feeling like you need to get everything done at once or that your feelings should disappear suddenly – coping with moving away from family takes time and is an important step in the process of settling into your new life.
5. Keep Busy:
Moving away from home for the first time can be lonely, but coping with this change doesn’t have to be a challenge. To make it easier on yourself, keep busy.
This will help you to fill any extra time or emotion expended on homesickness in meaningful ways that bring you joy and satisfaction.
After all, who says coping can’t also be fun? Find ways to keep yourself entertained: start up a new hobby, explore your new neighborhood, join a book club, or look for local volunteering opportunities!
6. Explore Your Surroundings:
Taking the time to explore your surroundings and get familiar with the area is crucial to coping with moving stress in a healthy way.
You might even find a hidden gem or two in the process. Being aware of your new city or town will not only help alleviate any fears related to relocation, but it also helps create an instant connection so that wherever you go, you will at least have something (or somewhere) familiar.
7. Establish Your Own Daily Routine:
While moving holds the promise of new adventures and experiences, it can also throw your usual rhythm for a loop. To make coping with moving away from home easier, one useful tip is to establish your own daily routine.
It’s important to set aside time to work on the things that you find comforting, like taking long walks or journaling in the evening.
Doing this will help you adjust to being in an unfamiliar place and integrate into your new environment successfully. Sure, it may feel strange to think of yourself as an adult living independently, with all these responsibilities that come along with it, but having set tasks and activities to attend to throughout the day will help you get back on track quicker.
8. Think Positive:
Practice ways to think positively and your entire experience can take a turn for the better.
A great way to think positively is by surrounding yourself with positive people and things; try listening to uplifting music on your daily commute, or volunteer for opportunities where you can help others.
With enough practice, thinking positively about your new life away from home can not only help reduce feelings of homesickness but also provide a more enriching and enjoyable experience.
9. Stay Connected To Your Loved Ones:
With all the changes that come with moving, there is one thing that shouldn’t be overlooked – staying connected with your loved ones.
Technology has come a long way, and you should take advantage of the many different ways you can stay in touch.
From video calls to text messages so that seeing their faces and hearing their voices doesn’t have to feel like a million miles away. Social media is another golden opportunity to keep the conversations going even when there are oceans between you and your family!
10. Try New Things and Find New Friends:
Finding new friends and trying new activities is a great way to feel more at home. Nobody should be stuck in their comfort zone forever – who knows what interesting perspectives you can learn when branching out and finding some new pals?
Even if it feels like the last thing you want to do, try something different; it just might revolutionize your entire experience of moving away for the first time.
How Do I Tell My Friends and Family?
It’s important to let your family and friends know what’s going on. Rather than delivering the news as if it were a death sentence, why not build up some excitement by talking about all the amazing new experiences you’ll get to try out?
Try to focus on the positives and look at this as an opportunity of growth, rather than a bittersweet goodbye. Instead of saying goodbye and feeling down about it, why not say hello to a whole new journey that’s just beginning!
Where Should I Seek Support to Cope With Moving Away From Family?
Proactively seeking out the right support can make coping with your transition easier and more enjoyable.
If you’re asking yourself when and where to turn, why not start with close friends or members of your family who you know will understand and want to help? Talking over any anxieties or worries can also help you see your new adventure in a different (hopefully slightly better) light.
If these strategies don’t alleviate the stress substantially then don’t worry – there are always other supportive outlets like counseling, meditation apps, or local networks!
To Sum Things Up:
Moving away from home is no easy feat and it can be an emotional rollercoaster, so buckle up!
But if you take the necessary steps to handle this transition properly, you might surprise yourself with how well things go. Being sure you’re ready to go, both mentally and physically will help make sure your departure is as smooth as it can be.
Here’s hoping that your moving away experience helps propel you further into the next chapter of life – boldly and with confidence!