Moving can be a pretty massive undertaking, especially if you’re moving as an introvert.
Speaking as an introvert who’s moved within the last year, I know the struggles are real!
For a lot of introverts, our homes are our havens. So having to completely dismantle these havens to move can be jarring and overwhelming.
That’s to say nothing of the amount of time and energy a move will take.
And if you’re selling your house or if your landlord is showing the apartment you’re moving out if, that often means strangers traipsing through your sanctuary on a regular basis.
Today, I’m going to share ten tips to help you survive moving as an introvert. Some helped make my move more manageable, while others are lessons I learned for the future.
Start prep work ASAP
As soon as you’ve decided you’re moving, start preparing.
Depending on how much time you have and how much you have to move, this may mean getting to work right away, or just making a solid plan of what needs to get done and when.
If you’re in the position to be making a plan, start several weeks to a month sooner than you think you may need for a smaller or mid-sized move and a few months sooner for a big move.
The more time and prep work you do, the less stressful things will be.
Go slow
Like we covered, you’re essentially dismantling your safe haven from the world. It can be overwhelming to break things down quickly.
Part of the reason I suggest giving yourself as much time to prep as you can is so you can go slowly.
This allows you to preserve some energy. Additionally, it lets you pack more intentionally, which can help you preserve some peace even when things aren’t a comfortable as you’d prefer.
If you’re only tackling a few tasks a day/month, you can do so more methodically, reducing some of the late-stage chaos.
You’re also giving yourself a chance to be a little more purposeful about where you stack your boxes, so they can be as out of your way as possible.
Make Recharging and Self-Care a priority
No matter how much you plan and prep, this is likely to be a stressful time. Recharging and self-care should always be an introverted priority, but it becomes even more essential in a time like this.
If you need an afternoon where you don’t show your house so you can recharge, take it. If you have to cancel the plans you’ve made, do it. Find the time to take a walk, do yoga, bake, or whatever activity is soothing and de-stressing for you.
Moving as an introvert becomes harder the more depleted your energy levels get. Recharge when you need to.
Let go of all non-essential tasks and commitments
This can include big tasks and small tasks.
If you’re a parent who’s been really involved in your child’s school, now would be a good time to take a step back let another parent do a little more.
If you’re used to cooking every night, maybe you order out a little more often or make larger quantities to be frozen and reheated.
Obviously, these tasks will be unique to you. Take a look at your regular commitments. If there’s anything that either doesn’t really have to get done, or someone else is capable of doing, let it go.
Take the opportunity to declutter
Introverts (and people in general, really) often have an easier time relaxing and recharging in less cluttered environments.
Unfortunately, we live in a world where stuff is every and way too easy to acquire. As a result, we often end up with a lot of crap we don’t need or use.
As you pack, get rid of anything you aren’t totally in love with. It’ll mean less stuff to unpack later and give you a fresh introvert-friendly start in your new space.
Pack your most comforting items last and unpack them first
Given how destabilizing it can feel to take apart and rebuild your introvert sanctuary, you will likely need some comfort throughout this process.
To help with this, do what you can to pack your most comforting items last, ideally together, and unpack them first.
This may be your favorite books, DVDs, blankets, pillows, yoga mat, etc. Whatever items will make you feel like you’re home.
Speaking from experience, having easy access to these types of items was a lifesaver for me.
Take breaks outside the house when boxes are everywhere
Living surrounded by boxes can be really stressful. Before you move, it’s a reminder of the task ahead and after the move, it’s all the work you still have to do right in your face.
Give yourself a break away from the boxes when you can.
This can mean getting out in nature for a walk or a bike ride, or just taking a night away.
I ended up dog sitting for a friend of mine a couple nights after I moved and I can’t tell you how relaxing and restful it was to be in a calm and settled house for 24 hours.
It’s hard to recharge when you can’t escape the neverending work, so walk away from it when you can, however you can.
Get everyone involved on the same page
This applies to anyone you may be moving with (family/partner/roommate/etc) and anyone who may be helping you–including friends and family pitching in and a realtor or other hired help.
Stressful situations are always more stressful when people are moving in different directions and getting in each other’s way.
Be clear with anyone else involved what needs to happen, who’s doing what, what you need to get through this move successfully, and what they need from you to get through this move successfully.
That’s not to say there still won’t be some short tempers and frustrations, but they’re likely to be significantly reduced if you’re proactive and open the doors of communication early.
Hire help when you can
If you are in the position to hire help, you might want to seriously consider it. This can mean movers, a cleaning service, or whatever help you may need or be able to afford.
Moving is a massive job and doing it by yourself can be a bit much–especially for an introvert.
And while friends and family are great, you’re often confined to their schedules and abilities.
These services may seem expensive, but as far as I’m concerned, you’re not just paying for the service, you’re paying to preserve your energy. During times like this, you may find you need as much of it as you can get.
And besides, there’s typically plenty of work for both hired help and friends and family, so in reality, there’s no need to turn anyone down. If anything, you’ll just be taking the pressure of the bigger jobs off yourselves and any volunteers.
Make your new home a sanctuary and make use of it!
After all the craziness of the move, you deserve to have a place you can really rest and recharge in.
Take the time to really do your new home up right and give yourself a killer introvert sanctuary to recharge in.
And once it’s ready, take all the time you need to rest and recharge.
I found I needed a solid down month after I was settled, and even then, I was still showing signs of an introvert hangover for about six months after the move.
Give yourself all the time you need to settle and recover in your fabulous new sanctuary. Moves are a big ordeal, especially for introverts. Don’t judge yourself harshly for not bouncing back afterward.
Looking for more in-depth tips building a happy introvert life?
If you want to dig a little deeper, check out the Introvert Life Guide!
This guide was designed to help you build the introvert life of your dreams. And it’s full of plenty of tips and tricks to help you build an introvert life and home that meets your introverted needs.
It will also help you embrace your introverted nature and build a life to help you thrive!
For more introvert life tips, check out the other introvert posts!
Sound off: Have you been through moving as an introvert? What helped you get through it? Tell us about it in the comments!