People on the move are no strangers to increased anxiety levels. In fact, moving is one of the top anxiety triggers, especially if your living situation is changing (i.e. moving in with a significant other, moving out on your own, etc.). What’s more, every member of your family is susceptible to the effects of anxiety – not just the one handling all the planning.
Don’t let moving anxiety affect your family and ruin your move. Use the anxiety busters below to keep things sane and stress-free.
Anxiety Busters for You (and Your Significant Other)
1. Find Your Calming Factor
Everyone has their surefire relaxers, like the sound of waves or a certain color. Find your calming factor and keep it handy at all times. Whenever you start to feel anxious, bust it out and take a five minute break where it’s your sole focus.
2. Exercise
Exercise is one of the most effective anxiety relievers. It helps clear your mind and keeps you in peak physical condition.
3. Schedule Me Time
It’s easy to get wrapped up in the move and forget about your own well being. Schedule at least one ‘Me Time’ each week where the activity is centered all around you.
4. Start a Journal
Writing can be extremely therapeutic. Begin journaling, making sure to reserve a specific time of day for jotting down your thoughts, feelings and activities.
5. Anxiety Busters for Your Teenager
For teens a move may as well be the end of the world as we know it. They’ve formed bonds with friends, which at this age is just as important as their family unit. They are forming their sense of identity, in large part based on where they live and their surroundings.
6. Personal Space
It’s possible that your teen feels overwhelmed, powerless and losing the space they call their own. As important as it is to talk to your teen, it’s also equally important to give them some personal space during a move.
7. Time With Friends
A little extra time with their friends can make a world of difference. When they are with friends they won’t be focused on the move. Also, because one of their greatest concerns is losing their friends, they won’t feel like they are missing out on opportunities to be with them building stronger bonds.
8. Set Up Lines of Communication
Encourage your teen to stay in touch with their friends by putting together a communication plan. They can set up free video chat accounts, find new ways to connect and work with friends to put together virtual get-togethers.
9. Anxiety Busters for Your Young Children
Young children can find moving to be exciting but that doesn’t mean it’s anxiety free. For some it’s very stressful because of the fear of the unknown and not always understanding why they are having to leave the home they’ve become confortable in.
10. Identify Feelings
A better understanding of different feelings will help reduce anxiety in children. Explain and discuss different feelings with your kids to help them cope.
11. Soothing Strategies
When your child feels soothed and safe they are naturally less anxious. Use things like massage, back scratches and story time to relax your child.
12. Blow Bubbles
Bubbles are a lot of fun, but they can also help you teach your child how to use breathing as an anxiety buster. Get them to focus on using deep, long breaths to blow the bubbles and let them know anytime they feel anxious to make believe they are blowing bubbles.
13. Go-To Feel Good Activities
Ask your child what activities make them most happy. Figure out three or four, and make sure that everything they need to enjoy those activities is handy whenever they are getting anxious.
14. Help With the Pets
Pets, especially dogs, are especially beneficial for relieving stress in children. Schedule regular pet sessions where your child can interact with the pet and even take part in feeding, bathing and walking them.
15. Anxiety Busters for Your Pets
Some animals are highly susceptible to stress and in-tune with their anxious owners. Our furry, feathered and scaled family members need anxiety busters just as much as the rest of us.
- Keep them on their daily routine.
- Give them challenging play daily.
- Give them plenty of pet sessions that last at least 10-15 minutes.
- Get a supply of catnip for your kitty.
- Get them special treats to enjoy when they seem stressed.
With the anxiety busters above, the move should be a whole lot easier on each family member. The most important thing to remember is that we all have unique needs and reactions to a move. Communicate with each other, and together you can get settled into your new home with less stress.
Original Source: https://squarecowmovers.com/moving-anxiety-busters-for-every-family-member
Image Source: i-cdn.apartmenttherapy.com/uimages/chicago/20080812moving2.jpg