It's no secret that moving house can be one of the most stressful undertakings we have to contend with. Just the prospect of having to pack up your whole life and start over is enough to make you want to stay put. So, we thought we'd seek out some advice on how to handle the inevitable stresses and strains that house moving can cause. And who better to guide us than the Urban Meditator herself, Karen Young! Karen, a holistic and energy practitioner is all too used to seeing the effects that stress has on us mere mortals. Here's her expert advice on how to keep calm and carry on when you're in the midst of moving day mayhem.
Stay in the present moment
The temptation is to be constantly “future forwarding” and feeling anxious about everything that needs to be done with so little time to achieve it; or “past processing” and living with the regret of what you could have done better or should have tackled earlier. Both scenarios lead to stress.
Start small
You don’t need to clear a whole house or a room if you don’t have the time or energy. Start small – a cupboard or even a drawer. Crowded, untidy spaces, full of “stuff” can make one feel uncomfortable, tired, heavy and stressed. De-cluttering physical space can free the mind and calm it down.
Break it down into manageable milestones - you don't have to pack everything at once
Use visualisation to make decisions
When you have to make decisions that leave you anxious and undecided, use the power of imagination and visualisation to help you. Relax and close your eyes. Visualise that you are painting your walls in the colour that you are trying to decide about. What is your mood? Access your emotions; don’t always rely on the analytical part of your brain to help you make decisions.
Create some distance in order to gain perspective
If you reach a point of conflict (be it with a builder, your family, your house purchasers or even the estate agents) visualise that you are breathing out any unhelpful energy or feelings into a big pink bubble. When it feels right, blow this big bubble into the sky and let it float away until it becomes a speck on the horizon.
In times of conflict, channel your frustration into an imaginary pink bubble
Spend 5 minutes a day quietly contemplating
In the days leading up to the move, create a physical space in your home that feels uncluttered and calm. This only need be a small area. Put a comfortable chair or floor cushion there. Make sure it is a clean, clear, tidy space, away from phones, paperwork and noise. Go and sit there for 5 minutes at least once a day.
Here's an easy meditation you can use when stress crops up:
1. Sit in a quiet space and close your eyes.
2. Focus on your body and gently connect with it from the crown of your head to your feet.
3. Take your focus to your breath. Stay with the physical rise and fall of your diaphragm or the feel of air passing the tip of your nose as you breathe in and out. Don’t force your breath to be slower or deeper, just let it be natural.
4. Stay within your environment. Feel at peace with the sounds around you and the physical space that you are in.
5. Reconnect with your senses; the taste in your mouth, the feel of your hands in your lap, the sounds and aromas around you, the light flowing in. Don’t judge; be still and accept.
So, if house moving is causing you a headache or you need some stress management guidance, then try following Karen's advice or pop in and see Karen at her practice in Chiswick. Karen uses her training in different therapies as well as her coaching and intuitive skills to create integrated and personalised sessions for her clients. You can read more on her website: www.theurbanmeditator.com
Kind regards,
The Willow & Hall team