Hello friends, hope y’all are doing well! Some of you may know I recently moved cross country! I’ve been wanting to move from my hometown for years but couldn’t find the courage to walk away from the only thing I’ve known. With the ending of a chapter, I saw this time as the perfect opportunity to take the jump! I had many factors playing into this decision but I figured my time was now. God was opening this door for me himself so how could I not take it? Moving from the only thing I’ve known may have been the hardest decisions, but one of the most exhilarating! After getting settled into my first stop 😉 I figured sharing some of my tips for moving cross country may be beneficial for someone else!
I have been bouncing around the idea of leaving Ohio for a little over six years. I’d make a plan then cancel them because I just wasn’t ready to take the plunge! My first tip is:
Set a date and stick with it!
It can be so easy to say you’re going to leave but it’s also easy to let the days pass by. The before you know it five years have passed and you still haven’t budged. Setting a date makes things real and really puts into perspective the time you’ve got left. And side tip, don’t wait to start packing because the date is definitely going to creep up much faster than you think it will!
Once you’ve set a date is when the clock really begins to tick. Time feels like it is moving faster and before you know it, your date will be here. But with that time left leads me to my second tip:
Schedule time to visit with friends/family!
It’s so easy to get caught up in the excitement of going, starting fresh, and creating a new life. But that doesn’t mean you can just forget about the life you’re currently living! Once you move, who knows when you’ll make it back to visit. So with the time you have left be sure to go to lunch with friends, visit with family, or even schedule small parties so you have everyone you would like to visit within one place!
Despite it being nice to visit with friends and family don’t forget about yourself! Your life is quickly approaching a huge change. Regardless if it’s a small or large move, your life is going to change from what you’ve always known. Continue planning for your future but this leads me into tip three:
Take time to enjoy your surroundings!
Whether it’s taking in those few extra minutes sitting on the back porch, driving through the country roads near your house, or even enjoying sleeping in your bed in your room. Yes, these things may still be there no matter how much time has passed but they’re not gonna be the same when you’re just visiting. It’s nice to take in those last minute views or snuggle your blankets a little tighter because it’ll one day turn into a memory you’ll cherish!
Taking in all those last minute moments or laughs is something that many people forget about. You’re so overwhelmed with what’s next you forget about the now. And the now leads me to tip four:
If you can travel with a friend or family member!
While it’s not always a luxury for everyone it is great for living in the now. Getting in those smiles, long talks, and cliche visits help create the now be more memorable! Driving 16 straight hours across the country only stopping to pee is not memorable (fully guilty of doing this on vacations). Stopping with your cousin in each state you pass through and getting to laugh at this journey helps create your road trip be a lot more fun and a little less scary! Driving by yourself is hard because you’re so focused on the end. Sharing this experience with someone will be a great memory for both of you. It also helps you enjoy the journey you’re stepping into because you’re not alone.
Starting a new journey is far from easy for anyone. Yes, you may say it is but abruptly changing what you’ve known to start something unknown can be stressful for anyone. Which leads me to my final tip:
Take the jump and enjoy it!
There’s a great big world out there and if you stay in your comfort zone, you may lose out on seeing what the world has to offer. Life is too short to remain stationary! If you jump and fall, you always have “home” to return to. But, how are you ever going to know if you fall if you’re too afraid to jump?
Moving is far from easy especially across the country. But don’t dread it, make the best of it and enjoy the time leading up to it and the time during it! You never know what life is going to bring so why not go out and find what it has to offer! If you’re moving, best of luck!
P.S. make sure you take tissues or a roll of toilet paper… you never know when they may come in handy!
