How to Recover from Your Loss by Moving On
Losing a loved one is an intensely painful experience, especially when every sight you see and sound you hear reminds you of them. That’s why part of the recovery process is moving on, and that often means finding a new home, a new neighborhood, and, possibly, new friends. It may not be easy, but the benefits make it all worthwhile in the end. Here they are.
Downsizing
There’s much to gain physically, emotionally, and financially by moving into a smaller home. For one thing, the money left over from selling high and buying low can be used to take a vacation or start a new business, and you can add monthly savings on utility bills to your bank account as well. You’ll also have less stress to deal with. Part of that comes from your increase in financial freedom, but also from having less space to keep clean, giving you more time for other things.
The Right Place for You
You can also find a home that suits your personality, and that extends to the neighborhood. Do you enjoy the quiet of the countryside or the buzz of the city? To get started in your search, make a budget by calculating how much you’ll get from your old house and the amount you want left from the sale after buying a new property. Make sure to do your research on home prices in your area. To give you an idea, the median home value in North East, Maryland, is around $238,000.
Having the right real estate agent is crucial to reaching your goals, says personal finance website the Balance, but that doesn’t preclude being proactive and conducting research to find homes in your price range and area of preference.
Preparing for the Move
Preparing for the move is often the most difficult part of the process, as this might require you to downsize. Saying goodbye to some of your loved one’s cherished possession’s can be difficult, so invite some friends and family over to help you out. Once you’ve decided on what to keep, toss, and sell/donate, consider giving your place a good deep cleaning to prepare it for the market. Instead of doing this yourself, you can hire a local cleaning service to tackle the job for you; just keep in mind that a cleaning service in North East, Maryland costs between $145 and $220. As for the move itself, get started packing early and use labels on your boxes so you know where everything goes when unpacking.
New Friends
One cure for loneliness is going out and making new friends, and a new location forces you to do precisely that. They’ll expose you to new opportunities, new hobbies, and new ideas that offer a fresh perspective on life, says the Financial Blogger. It’s not always easy, especially if you’re introverted. Lifestyle website the Bustle recommends joining a sports team, volunteering for a charity, or taking a class as ways to expand your circle.
Emotional Recovery
Step one is parting with some those reminders that make you feel your loved one is still there, and that can be heart-wrenching. Again, your move makes this necessary, so you need to find ways to cope. If you can’t bring yourself to throw something away — a broken mug or a pair of shoes — ask someone to help. In fact, family and friends should play a major role in this effort.
Once you’re finally settled down, you’ll feel a weight has been lifted from your shoulders, and you can live your life without a shadow following you around. Make the best of this freedom.
Image via Pixabay
|
