Image CreditIf you’re in the process of moving, or have moved recently and are feeling a little unsettled, this is understandable. See, home is not a place it’s a feeling and a sense of belonging that brings comfort and stability to your soul.
A house is a physical commodity that can be purchased in many different ways; whereas a home is something you must nurture and create. In many ways, “home” is the feeling that is contained within the four walls of your house; it’s a sense of belonging that transcends the value of the bricks and mortar.
One of the greatest tips with regard to turning your new house into a new home is to take immediate action. The best time to get started, is straight away, as the longer you leave things cluttered in boxes the more overwhelmed you will feel; and eventually, one day, you’ll end up with a room devoted to all the boxes you never got around to sorting.
There’s a saying that poses the question and answer; “how do you eat an elephant… one bite at a time”. The principle being that you should chunk big tasks into more manageable segments. For example, rather than having 15 boxes to get through in one room; separate them out into three piles of five boxes. Then, use the power of short burst activity to quickly blast through five boxes – then the power of momentum will start to kick in.
Of course, moving home can be a real upheaval and many people choose to use professional moving services to help with their move, because it takes away a huge amount of the strain and stress.
Once you get the keys and move in, it’s important that your house begins to feel like it is your home. There’s a strong chance your new house will have remnants of the previous owners tastes and preferences in terms of its style. The house might be stripped back to the basics but there’s still likely to be a feeling of it belonging to someone else. This is why you need to make your mark. Similar to how a dog will mark his territory, you need to mark your territory in your new home in order to feel a secure sense of belonging.
Everyone has certain items they feel a strong emotional connection with and attachment to; indeed, just like a child with a teddy bear, there’s often a few pieces of furniture that just feel like home… whether that’s an old coffee table you’ve had for many years or a painting that’s been in your family for generations. Whilst it’s important you don’t clutter your new home in the first few weeks, whilst you unpack, it can be a nice symbolic gesture to put out a few photographs that allow you to immediately start feeling more at home in your space.
In summary, once you move into your new home utilise the power of momentum, chunking big tasks into bitesize chunks and short burst activity to blast through your boxes; then immediately add some touches that make it feel like your home rather than a mere house.
