Headache-Free Moving Advice: 3 Steps Closer to a New Home
No matter how many times you do it, moving doesn’t really get any easier. If you have a family, an action figure hobby or pretty much anything other than a minimalist lifestyle, the concept of packing up everything you own into tidy boxes is intimidating.
Unless friends and family can rally a fleet of large SUVs, trucks and plenty of muscle, most people have to hire professional movers. That investment alone can be a huge relief, but there’s still the packing and unpacking to contend with.
Check out the following moving advice inspired by the TLC Home network.
1. Pack little-used items far in advance. Don’t wait to start packing. Just don’t—squash the procrastination bug right away. Start packing largely unused items roughly two months away from the moving date. Take care of seasonal decorations, clothes that aren’t being worn, books, DVDs, guest room contents and anything else that can sit quietly without being missed for a little while. Label every box by its room or contents, and put things from a certain room in the same box. There shouldn’t be kitchen utensils in a box with “bathroom” scrawled on it, or unpacking will be a nightmare.
2. Plan menus to use up pantry food. Cans and boxes of dry goods are obnoxious to pack, move and unpack. Chances are, the food in the back of the cupboards isn’t on any favorites list. It may even be going bad soon. So, take some time and create a menu using up as much old stuff as you can. Don’t go overboard, but exercising creative muscles never hurt anybody.
3. Make sure the moving estimate includes everything. A small oversight on the amount of boxes, rooms or furniture that needs assembling could lead to additional charges. Moving day will present enough headaches, and the professionals you hire shouldn’t add to them. To get the best customer service experience possible, try out the newest brainchild of prolific entrepreneur Brian Scudamore, a company called You Move Me (www.youmoveme.com/us).
You Move Me reimagines the average moving company by striving for the smoothest customer-oriented transition possible. The startup company, which is still looking for interested franchise owners, takes pride in the little details—like showing up with coffee ordered in advance to help everyone get through the day. Or giving families their first housewarming gift so they can turn a house into a home. Plus, You Move Me offers wardrobe service, assembly, disassembly and travel protection at no extra cost.
For help choosing a moving company, or to find more advice on moving and packing (or unpacking!), visit www.youmoveme.com/us.
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– As loved ones begin to age, many will take on the honorable role of becoming a caregiver. However, caring for an older adult can be time-consuming, reducing the ability to address your own needs. In fact, Home Instead Senior Care found that 63 percent of family caregivers said caring for their aging loved ones made it more difficult to care for themselves.With this in mind, Home Instead encourages caregivers to take a minute to recognize and embrace their own feelings and needs. It can be difficult to watch your aging parent or loved one go through the trials of getting older without it taking a toll on your own health. It’s natural to feel anxious, guilty or sad as a family caregiver. In fact, 53 percent of family caregivers admit to feelings of major depression.That is why it’s critical to find a balance between your caregiving responsibilities and your personal needs. When you’re on a plane, flight attendants always emphasize that, in the case of an emergency, adults should secure their own oxygen masks before helping children. This is because the adult won’t be able to help if they do not have the strength themselves.Taking care of an older adult is similar: it’s not selfish to take care of yourself first so you are well enough to take care of them.If you or someone you know is feeling the pressure of being a family caregiver, here are some tips from Lakelyn Hogan, Home Instead Senior Care gerontologist and caregiver advocate, to help overcome the feelings that can get in the way of enjoying time spent with family.* Identify and accept feelings of guilt. Recognize that feelings of guilt are common – so common, in fact, that 85 percent of caregivers have reported such feelings have taken a toll on their mental health.* Find support. Go to supportive family and friends to talk about your emotions. There are also many types of professional support groups available. Discussing your emotions is not a sign of weakness; it’s a sign of self-care and awareness. According to a 2015 study by the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP, approximately 34.2 million Americans had provided unpaid care to an adult 50 or older in the last year, making it likely that someone else you know is going through the same things you are.* Be kind to yourself. Remember that you are doing the best you can and be proud of that. For humans, guilt is a natural emotion that can make it harder to see the bigger picture. Like clouds on a rainy day, the feelings you are experiencing will pass. * Create an action plan. Take a moment to reflect on why you might be having feelings of guilt. Is caregiving preventing you from doing something you want to do or coming between you and something you value? Create a plan and set a realistic goal for yourself to accomplish these things and relieve yourself of some of your guilt.* Make time for yourself. While caregiving can be time-consuming, you should never lose sight of what makes you, you. Carve out time to take a long walk, meet with a friend for coffee, or cross off steps in your action plan. In the long run, having just 30 minutes a day to yourself will benefit your physical and mental health.Remember, you are not in this alone. Try to set aside time for yourself and lean on others for support.For additional caregiving tips and resources, visit 
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– Psychoanalysis, often stereotyped in arts and literature as patients reclining on couches and talking about their mothers, is enjoying renewed scientific support. Studies have found that psychoanalytic therapies are evidence-based and lead to significant improvements in mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress.According to recent research, psychoanalytic therapies achieve lasting results by exploring underlying causes of one’s mental health issues. This deeper exploration gets to the root of a person’s symptoms and sets psychoanalysis apart from more superficial therapies that only treat symptoms. By looking closely at each person’s life, psychoanalytic therapies help one feel more understood as a unique individual, improve personal relationships, relieve painful emotional symptoms, and change life-long ways of coping.This is not your father’s psychoanalysis. In fact, in a 2019 survey conducted by PsychoanalysisNow, 400 psychoanalysts in the United States highlighted the realities of psychoanalysis and how it works. Almost all the professionals surveyed (96 percent) said they regularly conduct therapy either once or twice per week, which is feasible for most patients’ schedules. The stereotype of lying on a couch during therapy is an option – but only if the patient chooses it for relaxation and comfort. Otherwise, patients and their analysts are seated facing each other in chairs. Roughly, 73 percent of analysts surveyed report that they also conduct therapy sessions remotely, via telephone or through Internet video connections."Psychoanalysis is often indicated when other less intensive therapies have failed to achieve the desired results," according to the website of the American Psychoanalytic Association."It truly offers something different and more comprehensive, and is a good place to turn when symptoms remain or behavioral or relationship patterns continue after one or two attempts at less intensive, shorter term psychotherapy."However, one’s problem need not be too severe to benefit from psychoanalysis. Individuals struggling in the workplace, who have long-term relationship issues with family members, or who simply want a new perspective on their lives can benefit. Through psychoanalysis, one can unlock the past, inform the present, and expand the future to reach their full potential.Children and teens can also benefit as some psychoanalysts specialize in working with children in partnership with parents.For more information and to find a psychoanalyst near you, visit