Taking Care of Your Mental Health After a Big Move

Whether it was your dream plan or simply a necessary change, moving is never easy. There are many steps you have to take to move from one place to another and so many logistical decisions to make. Sometimes moving means starting over from scratch with a new job and having to make new friends. If you’re about to find yourself getting settled in a completely new place, here are some ideas for how you can take care of your mental health after your big move.

Surround Yourself With Comfort

One of the best ways you can ease the stress of moving is by taking time to settle into your new home and surround yourself with comfort. If it’s possible, take at least one to two weeks off around the time of your move so that you have time to unpack slowly and arrange your new space with colors, fabrics, and items that make you feel good. Having a home that makes you feel happy is important to mental health.

Simple elements such as essential oils and soft lighting can make a big difference. You can even support amazing projects around the world through the Young Living Foundation when you purchase essential oils. It’s as easy as topping up your purchase by just $1 to help fund meaningful projects such as relief work in Turkey in Syria following the devastating earthquakes.

Explore One New Place at a Time

Another important way to care for your mental health is to get out of your house at least once a week to explore a new place. You shouldn’t try to see everything all at once, like packing in eight different sightseeing locations for one weekend. Doing that might lead to frustration and disappointment. On the other hand, if you don’t take any time to learn about your new home, you could end up feeling overwhelmed, confused, and bitter.

A safe way to explore your new surroundings is to set goals that you can achieve in a feasible amount of time. Choose one new part of the city to explore every week or twice a month. If you decide to use public transportation to get around, it gives you an even better way to get to know a new place.

Join Public Events and Volunteer

Loneliness is a common cause of mental health issues, so you will want to look out for public events and volunteer opportunities that can help you meet new people. Some great ways to start experiencing your new home are:

• Attend your local farmer’s market
• Head out to the local fair or school fundraiser
• Watch the community calendar for seasonal events
• Volunteer to walk the dogs at a pet shelter
• Help a local organization raise funds
• Join a policy discussion about local politics

Opt-In for Meet-Ups After Work

If you’ve moved for work and you have the opportunity to work with other people in an office, don’t skip out on after-work meet-ups. As the new hire, it can feel intimidating to try to get to know a completely different group of people. Remember that your coworkers and colleagues are the people you will spend the majority of your time with so it’s worthwhile to overcome your fears and join in for that after-work cocktail. Plus, you might see an increase in productivity at work as you become a more integrated part of the team.

Find Hobby-Focused Groups

You can make sure you don’t slip into poor mental health by keeping up with your favorite hobbies after you move and finding groups that are interested in the same things you love. If you’re into rock climbing, you can search for common gathering spots where others meet to participate in the sport. A gym or open-air rock wall may just be your new recreational spot in town. The same thing applies to indoor hobbies as well, including reading, knitting, watching anime, and more.

If you’re the kind of person who puts work over recreational activities, now is the time to pick up a new hobby. When you experience a big change such as moving cities, regions, or countries, it’s easy to feel isolated. Exploring new hobbies with others is a great way to break the ice with your new home.

Remember you are not alone, and everyone goes through times of stress during a move. Mental health is complex, and if you are experiencing severe symptoms of depression or anxiety, seek out a mental health professional as soon as possible.