Losing a loved
one can affect you in many ways; it can be detrimental to your
physical, mental, and emotional health and can even lead to
depression or severe anxiety. It’s never easy to know how best to
cope
with
such a loss, and everyone handles it differently, so there’s no one
right way to grieve. It will simply take time, patience, and the
knowledge that you may have to try several methods for handling your
feelings during such a difficult time.
Fortunately,
there are
several things you can do to cope with losing a loved one. One of the
most effective is making a move to a new home or to a new city. While
a move can be stressful, it can also bring about a fresh outlook and
give you a chance to “start over” with a change of scenery and
the beginning of a new chapter in your life. As long as you have a
good plan, research how much home you
can afford,
and give yourself plenty of time for the entire process, moving might
just be the best thing for you.
Here are some of
the best tips for making a move after losing a loved one.
Garner support
Having support
from friends and loved ones is incredibly important when you’re
going through the grieving process, and even more so when you’re
ready to begin a move. Not only will you need emotional support, you
may need help with going
through
your belongings before the job of packing them up, especially if you
have several items that belonged to your loved one. What you choose
to keep and take with you is part of the grieving process, as is
deciding to donate some items or give them to a fellow loved one.
Having people around you who care about your mental health is
incredibly beneficial at this time.
Get some help
Moving is a big
job from beginning to end, so it’s crucial to have help throughout
the process. Consider hiring a service to help you pack up your
belongings and get them safely into the new home, as this will ease
your stress considerably and help you avoid physical injury,
especially if you are a senior or have health concerns. Many
homeowners end up paying $60
an hour
for these services, so make sure to do your research to find cheaper
options. Before leaving, instead of doing the work yourself, you
should hire a maid service to do a cleaning of your old home. The
cost of a one-time cleaning typically ranges from $88
to $173
in West Palm Beach.
Be patient
Grief affects
everyone in different ways, and it can take varying lengths of time
to get through it. What works for one person may not work for you, so
be patient with yourself and with the process. You may not be ready
to think about donating items that belonged to your loved one for a
long time, and then suddenly, one day, you are. Don’t feel
pressured to make those decisions right away; you can still go
through with a move. Think about putting those items into storage or
using a basement or attic space to keep them safe.
Make plans
Planning well for
the moving process will ensure that nothing gets overlooked and that
you aren’t overwhelmed on moving day. This means staying
organized
— creating a packing station with all your materials, writing out
packing lists to tape to the outside of each box and making lists of
things to take care of — and delegating some responsibilities to
close friends or family members when you feel like you have too much
to do. Write out a list
of all the tasks and chores you need to accomplish and check off each
item as you go.
Coping with the loss of a loved one is never easy, and it may lead to a lengthy grieving process. Do some research on the kinds of support groups that are available in your area–whether in person or online–and consider joining one. It may help tremendously to be able to talk about your feelings with someone who understands.
Lucille Rosetti
