If you’ve just relocated, you may be feeling stressed. And we don’t just mean the initial move-in stress: This is the type of stress that can last for weeks or months after relocating to your independent living apartment. We’re not talking about mild anxiety here — we’re talking about something that can lead to serious mental health issues if left untreated. Luckily, there are ways to manage your relocation stress syndrome.
Seek Out Social Support
Social support during relocation is crucial for your mental health. You can find it by joining community groups that share your interests or regularly attending religious gatherings, as well as using online resources like Facebook groups and message boards. Also consider asking friends who have gone through a similar situation to talk with you about it.
Ask for help from your friends and family members when needed! Remember that everyone has different needs when they’re going through something difficult like moving—so don’t hesitate to ask people in your life for help.
Build A New Routine and Lifestyle
To help you ease into your new environment, it’s important to develop a new routine and lifestyle.
Build a new routine. The first thing you should do when you move is establish a new daily schedule. Look at the calendar on your phone and write down what days are going to be the busiest for you (e.g., Monday through Friday). Then select one senior living program or errand that needs to be completed every single day of the week (e.g., making dinner, calling family members). When these tasks are done, reward yourself with something enjoyable like watching TV or playing video games (only after all other daily responsibilities have been completed).
Make a new lifestyle. Don’t be afraid to change up your daily activities by trying out different senior living amenities in your area; there’s no way that we can know everything about our neighborhood just by walking around once! Some ideas include taking part in local sports leagues or joining community groups where there’s plenty of people who share similar interests as ourselves who will likely become great friends over time if not already known beforehand through mutual acquaintances.
Embrace The Change
While it may be hard to do so, it’s important to accept that some things will change and that there’s nothing we can do about it except adapt to the new environment. This doesn’t mean you have to like all of the changes, but rather embrace them as opportunities for growth and improvement, even if they’re just minor changes such as a new store opening up on your street or deciding to move into a different house in the same neighborhood. Even though change is inevitable, one thing is certain: If you don’t like what’s going on around you then make sure.
Find The Positives
This is an important step because if you’re constantly worrying about all of the changes that are happening around you, then it will be difficult to find any positive aspects in your life. If you’re going through a rough time right now, then try to identify all of the things that have changed in a positive way and focus on those instead. For example, if your favorite store has closed down due to low sales but another one opened up nearby with lower prices and better products then focus on these new benefits rather than mourning over what was lost.
Practice Self Care
In order to avoid relocation stress syndrome, it’s important not to forget to take care of yourself. You might be tempted to skip meals and exercise because you’re busy unpacking or shopping for new furniture, but this can lead to unhealthy habits. If you don’t eat well and exercise regularly, your health could suffer in the long run—and that’s something you definitely want to avoid.
Also try not to let your new home become a source of stress itself; it may seem like a good idea at first when moving somewhere new sounds like fun, but before long it will start feeling more like work than play if you don’t find ways to make your new house feel like home again. Get plenty of rest each night so that tomorrow’s challenges aren’t too daunting; remember that even if nothing gets done today doesn’t mean there won’t be another chance tomorrow!
Overcome Relocation Stress Syndrome
We hope these tips have been helpful in your own relocation to a new city or state. We know it can be overwhelming, but it’s important to remember that you aren’t alone in feeling this way—and there are many ways to cope with the stress of moving! For more information on our retirement community, contact us today.
