Three Tips for Keeping Your Spirits Up When Moving During the Holidays
Moving from one home to another can be hard enough. Moving during the holiday season—especially if it is also snowing—can up the stress factor ten fold. Here are three things you can do to keep your holiday cheer when moving during the busiest time of the year.
Rock Out to Holiday Music
Playwright William Congreve once wrote, "Music hath charms to soothe a savage beast," and that is true. Music does have the power to keep us calm during frenzied times. According to a study conducted in the UK, listening to one song on the playlist provided by the researchers reduced anxiety up to 65 percent. This is probably because, like scents, music can evoke memories and their associated emotions. So playing holiday music—which is often associated with happy times—can help reduce stress and cheer you up.
Opt for versions of popular holiday songs that are fun and soothing, such as
- "Silent Night" sung by Enya
- "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" sung by Norah Jones
- "Christmas Lights" sung by Coldplay
- "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," sung by London Festival Orchestra
- "Winter Wonderland," sung by Ronnie Aldrich
Don't worry if your money is all tied up in the move. You can usually find free versions of these songs on YouTube or Soundcloud. Just make a playlist and jam out while packing up your home.
Put Up Simple Holiday Decorations
Buying a Christmas tree when you are in the middle of a move is generally not a good idea. That doesn't mean you have to completely forgo decorations, though. The trick is to put up decorations that can quickly be taken down and packed away on the day of (or night before) your move and then put up again in your new home.
If you have children, for instance, you can make paper snowflakes with them and tape them to the windows. Getting a tabletop tree, hanging candy canes on it, and placing it on a fireplace mantle can add a bit of normalcy to the upheaval caused by the move.
Anything you purchase or make should be easily packed away in a box. Be sure to label the box and have the movers put it someplace in your new home where you can access it quickly and unpack it to decorate the new space to make it feel more homey.
Stay in Holiday-Themed Areas
If you're moving cross-country or will end up being on the road during the holiday season, look for holiday-themed places to stay. It's not unusual for hotels to decorate their interior and exterior places to foster holiday cheer in guests who may be far away from home. Staying in these places while on the road can lessen the pain you may feel not being with friends or family members during this festive time.
To make things extra fun for you and your family, look for places that have a "happy hour." This is a time when the facility may serve snacks such as cookies, muffins, coffee, and juice to guests. This is a good opportunity to meet other people who may be on the road too, and participating in this sort of thing can help make the trip a little less lonely.
Another thing you can do while traveling during the holidays is eat at places that serve your favorite holiday foods. Some restaurants alter their menus to include items like turkey, stuffing, macaroni and cheese, and ham. This may not be a home cooked meal, but having your holiday favorites can provide some comfort and help keep you spirits up.
For help planning your move during the holidays, contact a local moving company.
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