Moving house at any time of year can be quite the intense experience, because as much as we would like it to, life doesn’t pause even when it’s being inconvenient. Moreover, while a house move can signify a wonderful new stage in your life, it doesn’t mean the process is easy. In fact, some might say that moving home, as it bringing up your entire orbit of where you live and placing it elsewhere, is one of the least convenient experiences you can go through. After all, even if something difficult happens in life, you may at least have somewhere fixed to return.
Now, it’s not as if moves demand being rootless for months at a time, but it can certainly make for a hectic week or weekend, let alone all the hard planning you have to put in.
Another lovely but inconvenient time of year is that of Christmas. Even if you don’t celebrate, in most Western countries the flow of life changes entirely during this period. Not only do you have to deal with the planning of a massive seasonal event, but now you might be moving to a brand new unfamiliar place trying to orient yourself.
It’s fine if you have a smaller celebration this year to manage, but we’d also suggest some following advice for the moving process itself:
Put Any Unnecessary Items In Storage
You don’t need everything from your old place right away, and that’s something to remember if you’re feeling worried aboutthe planning. Always keep in mind that Christmas decorations, seasonal items, and boxes you likely won’t touch for months can go into storage while you settle in.
If you give yourself a bit of breathing room as far as that goes, it takes the pressure off unpacking everything at once, which is helpful when you’re trying to get your home sorted while also preparing for the holidays. Storage units are usually pretty accessible, so you can grab what you need later and focus on the small scale implementation of where to put everything in the moment.
If you do it this way, you’re not tripping in boxes while trying to figure out where the kitchen stuff goes at the same time as you’re trying planning Christmas dinner.
Use Movers That Work Close To The Holidays
As not everyone moves during this time, not all removal services operate during the festive season. This means finding a moving company that’s available near Christmas is important. It can’t hurt to ask if this needs to be closer to the day, but remember all businesses have different approaches to the holiday period, so you’ll find varying levels of availability depending on who you contact. The earlier you book, the better your chances of securing a slot that works for your timeline, but you may also be asked to pay a higher rate for the convenience.
If you do have a rock-solid mover though, it should free you up to focus on holiday preparations and getting familiar with your new area. At the very least, it’s one less thing to worry about during what’s already a busy time, and you can concentrate on making your new house feel like home.
Add Your Decorations To The “Priority List”
If Christmas matters to you, make sure your decorations are easy to find once you arrive. They’re usually stuffed in boxes and even put in storage because they’re only relevant one time a year, but not this time. If you have the time, pack them separately and label those boxes clearly so they’re not buried under kitchen appliances and summer clothes. Having your tree, lights, and favorite ornaments accessible means you can easily put those up.
You may also wish to change up some of your decorative elements in the interest of convenience. So if you usually buy a fresh tree from the local forest, you might instead go for an artificial one so you can place it and pack it quickly. At the very least you won’t have to dodge the pine needles while you’re trying to set everything else up. Fairly lights and little ornaments are also quite easy to put up.
Consider An Alternative Celebration & Feast
Moving during Christmas doesn’t mean you have to stick to tradition. Maybe this year is best for takeout, a smaller gathering, or something completely different, such as spending it with a friend over a couple of nights. Alternatively, you could order in from a local restaurant or keep the menu simple so you’re not cooking in an brand new kitchen surrounded by half-unpacked boxes and because your new dining set hasn’t arrived yet..
After all, there’s no rule saying you have to host a full sit-down dinner in a house you’ve just moved into. Your family will no doubt understand if things look a bit different this year because you’re still getting settled.
Use The Fellow Feeling For Neighborly Introductions
Christmas tends to bring out a friendlier side in people, which is useful timing for meeting your new neighbors. There’s usually more activity on the streets as well, you may meet people that are out decorating, and there’s a general openness that doesn’t always exist during other times of year. There may also be some community events you can visit like a Christmas fair or Church services ifthat’s something your family cares for.
At the very least, you’ll know which neighbors to avoid if they’re still grouchy at this time of year. You may even be invited to share a meal at a neighbor’s house if you get on. It’s a nice time of year, and some new homeowners will try to decorate the exterior of their property a little just to show they’re in the spirit of things. All this is optional of course, but it’s nice, and after all your hard work and effort you deserve a bit of fun. With this advice, we hope you can more easily relax even if you move to a brand new place during the festive season.
Meg is an author at Cinnamon Hollow. She writes on a variety of topics sharing tips and ideas for daily life.
