Anything that exceeds our normal stress level can throw us into overload very quickly. (We all have a stress level that varies depending on the circumstances of our lives.) People are like washing machines: We get out of balance when we have too many clothes piled in on one side. Overloaded washing machines make terrible noises and threaten to tear everything apart! So, to avoid that, we have to stop the washing machine, redistribute the clothes, or take some out, then start it again.

It is the same way with us. When we get out of balance or tilted, we have to stop, balance our load, or eliminate part of it, and start again. From the moment we find out we are going to move, whether we’re happy or sad about it, our stress level will rise.

Here are some tips to help you to redistribute your load and reduce the stress of moving:

don’t get too upset over broken things
Something always breaks or gets damaged. Remember, they are just things.

start with one room
Concentrate on getting one room settled so you have a place to rest when it seems everything else is in disarray.

trust God
...even when it seems everything is going wrong.

join a fitness class
This is a great stress reliever and opportunity to meet others.

take a break from those boxes
Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day and your house won’t be settled in a day either.

Pray
Pray about everything.

have one goal per day
Don’t try to get new license plates, a library card, and a driver’s license all at once.

reward yourself
What brings a smile to your face when you've accomplished a dreaded task? Reward yourself with a special treat like new nail polish, a favorite magazine, or a fruit smoothie!

stress reliever
What do you have that can beat my favorite stress reliever of a hot bubble bath!

browse and wonder
Visit a local book store or novelty shop and browse the aisles.

make time for you a priority
Read that book you’ve always wanted to read. Unload your thoughts in to a personal journal. This is time set aside just for you, even if it's just half an hour each day.

feel inspired
Listen to “praise CDs” or a good Christian radio station.

the good ole days of moving
Read the Old Testament book of Exodus. What they accomplished was so much more complicated and difficult than any of our moves. It will help put your move in perspective!

overwhelmed - out of time
You can always claim Scarlet O’Hara’s famous line, “I’ll think about that tomorrow!”

Note: October Tips excerpted from After the Boxes Are Unpacked: Moving On After Moving In by Susan Miller.