What You Need to Know About Moving After the Death of a Loved One by Guest Blogger Scott Sanders

Thinking about moving on after the loss of a spouse or another loved one is emotional. If you are thinking of moving in order to begin a fresh chapter in your life, you’ll need to plan for your emotional journey just as much as your physical voyage. How can you know whether a move is right for you, and what should you expect once you’ve decided to look for a new home?

The Grave Woman shares a few important perspectives to keep in mind when managing a move
during a time of grief. Have you lost a loved one and are having difficulties navigating your grief? The Grief Kit can bring you comfort and encourage spiritual growth.

Moving After a Major Loss Can Be Beneficial

There are many reasons why a move may make sense after losing a loved one. If you are
grieving the loss of a spouse, a smaller home may be more manageable and may offer fewer
maintenance and utility costs. You may be able to use that extra income for activities that will
help you feel happy again, like traveling to see friends or to see more of the world.

If you do decide to sell your home, you need to take steps to ensure the process goes smoothly.
You can get started by using an online estimator to get an idea of what your home is worth
compared to other houses in your area. You’ll need a real estate agent to help you with both
selling your home and buying a new one.

While a move could be a positive change for you, it’s important to avoid making that decision
until you’ve had some time to process your loss. You don’t have to be 100 percent healed to
make the right decision, but you should allow enough time to have found some peace.

Moving May also Cause Stress

Sometimes, a fresh start provided by a move can help your life make sense again. You may
want to move to be closer to other loved ones, or you may feel inspired to live your life in a
different way. If you do decide to move, know that you may also feel more grief. The process of
moving involves letting go of the life you once had, so don’t be surprised if you feel melancholy
over your move, even if it’s a happy one. You can start planning your move about four weeks
ahead of time to make dealing with those emotions easier, and you can also find ways to deal
with the stress and emotions of moving, like practicing more self-care.

A New Home Can Give You a New Perspective

Oftentimes, the people who decide to move homes after a loss are dealing with the death of a
spouse or partner. It’s important to acknowledge the complicated grief process that comes with
losing someone you planned to share your life as well as your home with. The importance of
patience cannot be stressed enough since time is the only thing that will ease your pain. You
have to wade through those intense emotions to come up with a different life plan that will still
bring you joy. A move can help you start that new life, but make sure you move to a home that
will make you happy too. If a house excites you and you begin to picture your new life there,
chances are you have found the right one.

You’ll Need to Deal with Your Difficult Emotions

Buying a new home and starting a new chapter of your life can be filled with excitement, even
when you are also processing grief. Allow yourself to feel that happy energy, but also know that
you still have some hard work ahead of you.

Before you pack up your things, you may need to sort through the possessions of the person
you lost. To make the task easier, begin by downsizing some of your own things, and then move
onto the rest when you feel ready. You may also want to have a friend or family member help
so you can more easily decide what to keep, what to pass along to loved ones, and what to
donate to those in need. It’s always hard to get rid of your departed loved one’s belongings, but
knowing those items are making a difference for someone else can make it easier.

Grief is fluid, and it’s different for each person experiencing it. While a move will never erase
the pain of losing the person you love, it can bring back purpose to your life. Just be patient
with the process.

About the Blogger 
Scott uses Cancer Well to promote self-care and spiritual wellness for those who are enduring cancer treatment or for those helping someone through cancer treatment.
Photo by Erda Estremera on Unsplash