5 Ways To Hit The Ground Running After A Move

5 Ways To Hit The Ground Running After A Move

If you’re moving to a new city, especially for a new job or after a breakup, you may be overwhelmed by how you’re going to manage it all. Whether you’re moving within the state or to another state, you need to be as organized as possible so that you can begin at full speed shortly after you get there.

When you’re moving for a job, the timeline can be particularly nerve-wracking. You not only have a shorter time frame to work with, but you also have to be ready to manage your new position when you get to your new location.

While there are many things to consider, here is a quick list of five essentials that you should cover as soon as you arrive at your new home to make the transition smoothly:

1. Get connected as soon as possible.

Besides getting your utilities set, make sure you get your internet and television all set up, too, so that all your devices can work. DIRECTV Internet bundles make it easy to do this quickly.

All it takes is one phone call to get your two services all at once and save time and money. Bundling is one of the best options for satellite TV and for getting high-speed Internet service.

2. Set a goal date for having your new home clear of boxes.

It’s only too easy to get too busy to start unpacking all your boxes. As a result, you may just unpack a few essentials then spend a lot of time looking for things, trying to remember where you put them.

Instead of dealing with the frustration of not finding what you need when you’re in a hurry to go somewhere, make unpacking a priority.

Set a date when you want it all done by and create a strategy for how you’re going to do the unpacking. For instance, you could unpack on a room-by-room basis, starting with the most important rooms first, perhaps the kitchen, then the home office.

3. Go out and explore and meet new people.

It’s important that you build relationships as soon as possible.

You may already have a few friends or relatives who are living in the city—give them a call. However, don’t just stop there. If you’re a member of a religion, you could find a place of worship. If you belong to a group, club, or affiliation, you can check out their local charter or membership.If you like a sport, then find organizations that share your interest. If you like to run, then join a running group. If you like to work-out, then join a gym. And, if you get along well with a few people at your new job, then ask them out for a meal.

Basically, then, we’re talking about actively building a network rather than waiting for one to develop in an organic way, which can be slow and difficult. It may take a little effort to go out there and be social, but it will help you personally and professionally to build a thriving network. The alternative is feeling lonely, isolated, and wishing you had never moved to the new city because you’ve left all your friends behind.

4. Work with a budget so you don’t overspend

You may not consider yourself a meticulous budget person, but when you move to a new city you may already be a little behind if you had to pay out-of-pocket moving expenses. You may also have to stock your pantry and refrigerator from scratch, as well as get basics like cooking oils, spices, light bulbs, batteries, cleaning supplies, etc. In addition, all your costs can quickly add up because you don’t yet know all the best places to shop.

Your budget will give you a clear sense of direction. It will tell you how much money is coming in and how much is going out, and it will tell you what you can afford to get now and what you should buy later.

5. Get into the habit of making lists.

It’s possible that you’re used to keeping a mental running list of what you need to get done, but you’re now in a new environment and your lists won’t always be the same. One excellent way of creating lists is following the Getting Things Done (GTD) process created by David Allen.

It consists of five steps:

First, collect what has your attention. Use a notebook or a smartphone app to capture what has your attention.

Two, process what it means. Figure out whether it is something you need to act on now, if you need to think about it, if you need to file it for reference, or if you should just trash it.

Three, put it where it belongs. Create different lists for different things. For instance, have a to-do list, an errands list, an email list, a calls-to-make list.

Four, review it frequently. Go over your lists once a week to update them.

Five, take action on it. Use your list to take action when you need.

Moving Doesn’t Have to Be Stressful

You feel stressed when you’re out of control because you don’t know how things will work out. However, you can reduce this anxiety by deciding to be well organized. By using these five steps, you should be able to enjoy the move and seize new opportunities.