Moving is no simple feat. It takes a lot of organizing and patience and things can get overwhelming very fast. When you are moving cross country the intensity amplifies. When you are moving with small children it goes off the charts.
There are so many moving parts that it is difficult to keep track of everything. From researching the preschools Utah has to offer to finding a mover who can get your stuff to your new house on time, it seems impossible to do it all on your own. Yet, many people do it so it is possible for you to do it too.
In this article, we will go over the things you need to think about before setting out on your cross country move so you can avoid a lot of mistakes.
#1 – Outsource what you can
Of course, you will want to save as much money as you can when moving. It’s quite expensive no matter what so it is wise to cut out some expenses where you can.
However, it is also a good idea to pay some people who will help make the process go a lot more smoothly. When you are on your own and trying to juggle family, work and the move all at the same time, then it can be a recipe for a nervous breakdown at some point.
Outsourcing some of your tasks is going to go a long way toward a successful move with very minimal costly mistakes. For instance, your kids need to be taken care of and you will be stretched too thin to make sure that they are getting what they need. Hiring a babysitter to pick them up and drop them off at school or to keep an eye on them for a few hours per day will allow you to focus on the task at hand.
Or, getting a cleaner to take care of your house once the boxes are packed will save you a lot of time and headache. The clean up can take a few days and that takes you away from the important things like organizing the movers. Even the packing can be outsourced by hiring a company that will come and get all your stuff sorted out. Since they have professional experience, it will be done a lot more systematically than you could do on your own.
#2 – Keep a room set up
Kids don’t like chaos and a big move can send them into turmoil. Which is why it is wise to leave one room unpacked and organized during the preparation for the move. It is a place where the kids can go and have some semblance of normality.
It can be a bedroom or small living area but it is important to have a place where they can go to do what they want. Have it set up with a craft corner with their art supplies so they can draw or paint and have a creative outlet to deal with the stress.
This is the place to keep their personal things like toys and stuffed animals so they have a place with all their familiar things. There should also be some comfortable furniture there so they can chill out with a book or tablet for a while. Even something as simple as a bean bag chair is enough so they will spend time there and allow you to get things done.
#3 – Take some time off
Getting a cross country move can be a race against time and you will feel a lot of time pressure. Things have to line up in ways that allow for others to be able to do their job. This leaves you scrambling to get things done sometimes.
With that said, however, you should set some time aside to not work on the move. It is important for your sanity to detach once in a while and also for the good of the family. Doing something low key or fun together is going to help both you and your children.
Make sure to set aside a day to go out and enjoy some family time. Go to a park or the beach, have a picnic or take in a movie. Whatever you feel like doing is fine as long as it doesn’t involve packing or planning for the move.
Your kids will appreciate the fact that you are spending time with them and not just focused on the move. They may not show much, but when you are not present physically and emotionally, this can be very stressful for the children.
#4 – Plan the road trip
It’s important to make sure that you are in complete coordination with the movers so you are not getting to the new house too early or too late. At the same time, you don’t want to have a road trip in which you are constantly behind the wheel of the car.
In other words, try to plan with the movers while giving yourself some time to enjoy the road trip. Schedule breaks along the way not just for everybody to stretch their legs, but to also play the part of tourists.
Stop at some points of interest along the way to make it feel like an adventure and a mini vacation both for you and for the kids. There will be some amusement parks where the kids can blow off some steam. If you are in a different part of the country then you will find some restaurants to stop where you can enjoy some of the local specialities. Whatever it is that sticks out to you as a good place to stop should be planned for ahead of time.
Road trips can be a lot of fun and something the family will never forget. Take advantage of the fact and treat it like a vacation so you can end up in your new home recharged and refreshed after a long trip.
