Divorcing & Moving? Helpful Apps & Websites

It’s one of the most stressful times of your life. You’re going through a divorce or a separation, and trying to move out of the house simultaneously. This can be a heavy ordeal on your mental and physical health, but it’s important to stay organized, plan ahead, and maintain a strong line of communication with your social group.

(Source Photos: Kadarious Seegars & Kelly Sikkema | Photo Blend: A. Hamilton)

Here are some useful tips on how to manage your life better during this turbulent time and move forward into a new, exciting chapter.

Stay Organized

It can be a hassle to figure out what’s yours and what’s your ex-spouse’s when dividing each other’s belongings. But staying focused and keeping organized can help you to maintain a stress-free move. There are a variety of ways to stay organized in a divorce during the moving process, but it’s best to find a way that’s right for you.

Get Rid of Unnecessary Items: While sorting through items, it’s helpful to think about how much space you’re going to have at your new home. After a divorce, you may be downsizing a bit, so it’s important to keep that in mind. Offerup is one of the most popular marketplace apps out there and it allows for users to easily get rid of those items they don’t need anymore.

Remove Emotional Attachments: When going through a divorce, you may feel angry and unable to control your emotions. While sorting through the belongings in the house to pack up, it’s important to remember not to throw away things impulsively. Try to remove any emotional attachments from items as much as possible, as it will make things easier in the packing process.

Consider Getting a Storage Unit: Renting out a storage unit can be a useful tool in keeping winter clothes stored away during the summer, or vice versa. There are several ways to organize a self storage unit so you can access your belongings easier. Important documents such as birth certificates, tax returns and prenuptial agreements must be kept organized and stored away in a secure place. Storage units allow for documents to be kept in a place where they won’t get lost or damaged. The website SpareFoot helps users find a storage unit based on their location and lets them compare options. 

Have a “Stress Less” Move

Moving is never a stress-free process – but moving during a divorce can be especially hard on your mind and body. 

Remember – you are not the only one in this situation (aside from your ex-spouse). So often we think that divorce is something that happens to “young people”, that with older age also comes longer marriages and life-long stability with one partner for the rest of your life. That’s not the reality for everyone. For a multitude of socio-economic reasons, there has been a steady increase both in the average (mean) age of marriage, and of divorce. A 2020 study by Statista shows that by far the largest number of divorced people in Canada, are between the ages of 50-69. In the United States, studies have shown similar trends, and reflect that 50 percent of first marriages end in divorce; 60 percent of second marriages end in divorce, and 73 percent of third marriages end in divorce.

Fortunately there are a few ways you can make things easier during and after your divorce and move. 

• Keep Communicating With Each Other: Sure, you may feel bitter and resentful toward your ex-spouse at the moment, but you want to keep an effective line of communication running between yourselves before anything significant gets thrown away or misplaced. Working together and helping one another during the moving process can alleviate much of the stress that comes with it.
• Relax and Enjoy Yourself: Try to make things fun while packing / unpacking, by turning on some of your favorite music. It can help get your mind off of things and keep you focused and determined to get the job done.
• Breathe In: Try out different kinds of breathing exercises, such as counting to 10 and taking deep breaths in, to eliminate some of the stress you’re experiencing. There are several other methods of relaxation as well, including going on a walk and reading a favorite book during a break, that can help you pack with ease and move out faster
• Have a Positive Attitude: Thinking positive thoughts is great life advice at any time, but it’s much more important to remember during a divorce. You may feel nothing but negativity during this time in your life, but it’s vital to keep in mind that this will pass soon and there is a new chapter for you ahead. Laughter is always the best medicine, and finding humor in situations can help you feel optimistic and ready for a successful move.

Keep a Plan in Mind

Having a plan for your move is a great way to keep the process moving along smoothly. From the move itself to what’s left behind, here are some tips for planning:

• Hire Movers Ahead of Time: Hiring a professional service can help make things easier during your movie if you’re willing to spend a few extra bucks. Make sure you have a set time and date in place for moving day so you can set goals on what you want to get done before then. Unpackt is a helpful app, which allows users to pay for a moving service without the hassle of paperwork.
• Get the House Clean: Make sure you clean around the house before the movers arrive. The smartphone app TaskRabbit makes it easy to hire someone to do the work for you through its large database of repairmen and deep cleaners.
• Think About Where To Put Furniture: Once you’ve arrived at your new home, you’ll want to have a plan in mind of how you’re going to decorate and where you want to put all your furniture. The smartphone app MagicPlan helps to make this process easier, allowing you to take pictures of your new home and create a floor plan.
• Keep Track of What’s in Each Box: Make sure you’re keeping your packed boxes sorted and labeled. The app Sortly lets users create an inventory of what’s in each box you’ve packed, making it much easier to find your favorite items.
• Pack Up Your Vehicle Tightly and Efficiently: When loading up your vehicle on moving day, you’ll want to make sure that boxes are stacked as tightly as possible and are easy to unpack. Packing your vehicle up with the least needed items on the bottom and the most needed items on the top, can be a great method of organization.
• Do a Walkthrough Before You Leave: Once you’ve finished packing up your vehicle with boxes, do a final walkthrough around the house to make sure you haven’t left anything important.

Conclusion

Moving during a divorce can be a daunting task, but with the right attitude and motivation, you can get things done successfully and start fresh. Keep your head up, your mind clear, and do your best to look forward to this new chapter of life!

*This article is for general informational purposes only. 50+ World does endorse any product or service providers, nor does it receive remuneration from them. Obtain expert advice – financial, legal, medical, industry-specific, etc. – from qualified practitioners about your unique situation.*