While relocating as an individual is already stressful, the challenges multiply when you’re moving with other family members. The process of planning the move and adjusting to a new environment can be demanding for both you and your loved ones.
Other than these thoughts, other factors can affect the overall well-being of everyone in the family. Let’s explore more about relocation and family health through this comprehensive guide.
How Can Moving Affect Your Family’s Well-Being?
Logistical tasks can be the most distressing part of moving. You may also be thinking about how to transfer Medicare to another state, among other benefits you have acquired in your current address. What’s more, emotional ties to your home can also affect your mental health. But besides these emotionally and physically demanding phases, moving has positive effects that can offset all the disadvantages.
For example, in your new home, you can experience diverse cultures within the community. This way, you can cultivate open-mindedness in your family, teaching the kids to embrace and appreciate the differences among people. Moreover, many families move to provide better educational opportunities for their children. This can expose your children to better educational facilities, allowing quality learning and cognitive growth.
Your family ties can also be strengthened by relocating. Of course, you will have to rely on one another as you move to a different environment. Together, you will learn to adapt and be resilient, fostering stronger emotional bonds within the family.
Taking Care of Your Family’s Health During a Move
You can do a few things together to keep everyone healthy as you move to a new neighborhood. Here are some methods you can try during busy relocation:
Mental Health Care
You shouldn’t neglect your family’s mental health during this crucial moment of your family life. Besides checking on them and asking about their feelings, there are many activities you can do together to ensure everyone’s feeling optimistic about the move.
- Encourage Group Exercises
Group activities like walking, running, or yoga can help you reduce stress levels and feel relaxed. If the family has a favorite sport, you can play that together before the move. This is to instill the value of teamwork during the relocation.
- Breathing Exercises
You may also perform breathing exercises together. You can teach your family members about proper breathing, deeply inhaling through your nostrils and exhaling through your mouth. You can encourage them to do this once you feel you are about to get stressed or on the brink of breaking down.
- Take a Day Off
If you are the one working for the family, you can decide to take a leave from work if you feel like you are getting burned out. Shifting tasks between the relocation and your daily routine in your job can be overwhelming, so you shouldn’t feel guilty about taking a day off.
- Stay Hydrated
Do your best to stay hydrated during the relocation, especially during summer when your body gets dehydrated faster. Bring water tumblers with you as you work on the logistics and packing. Avoid drinking sodas and carbonated drinks, as high levels of sugar can dehydrate you.
For a Pregnant Family Member
It isn’t safe to include a pregnant family member in the execution of tasks during the relocation. It would help if you could contact relatives or friends to accompany a pregnant family member while the rest of you work on the logistics. Also, consult the doctor for any medical and safety suggestions.
For Families with Babies or Toddlers
If you have babies or toddlers, keep away all hazardous things like sharp objects or poisonous products from them. You should also prepare essentials like small blankets, baby beds, baby food, and safety napkins, and fill milk bottles with boiled milk as you travel to your new home. Also, bring healthy snacks, fruits, chocolates, juices, and medicines your baby or toddler needs.
For Families with Senior Members
Just like with families with babies and toddlers, you should be patient and committed to taking care of a senior member, especially if they can no longer care for themselves during the move.
Bring a supporting stick to assist them in walking. Bring extra cushions if they are in a wheelchair. Also, have someone from your family focus on caring for the senior member. Lastly, don’t forget essentials like masks, adult diapers, wipes, and medicines, among many others.
Final Thoughts
If you think you can’t handle the relocation alone, hiring a professional moving company to do the major tasks could be wise. With a skilled team of movers and packers on your side, you can ensure your family’s health and safety as you move to a new environment. This could be especially helpful if you have bulky pieces of equipment that need lifting and moving tools, which can be accessible through moving companies.