I hate my house! – is it time to move out?

Change is inevitable, it is a natural and common experience throughout our lives, whether we are ready for it or not, most of the time we need help seeing changes from all perspectives to navigate the process with confidence and not fear.

You might have yelled those words when you were child “I hate this house!” to your parents after visiting a friend whose parents installed a mini playground in their backyard and playtime seemed unlimited. Now you scream those words at the stage of life you are currently in and it could be that you’ve created a mood board on Pinterest and your current house isn’t cooperating with your newfound interest or you’ve outgrown the space you once pictured yourself living in long-term.

There are a lot of factors that lead to people hating their houses, it is perfectly normal and you should in no way feel guilty for wanting something different, Maybe you’ve been in your current house for too long, maybe you never really stayed in your own house for the amount of hours you have since the lockdowns were announced, let’s put it this way, most people that work a full-time job don’t really spend that much time at home, so there is very little opportunity to properly analyse every single detail that would ultimately affect how you feel about your house when put in the position to have no other choice but to stay home.

If you feel unhappy in your current house for various reasons, then it may be time to move out. Let us say you have tried re-decorating, you have exhausted all your resources creating a space you feel at peace in and yet still, you can’t shake off the feeling that this place no longer feels the way it should. A house should be turned into a home, a place you feel ultimate peace and relaxation when you walk through the front door, a place where outside worries no longer affect you to the degree that they did until you reached your safe haven.

If you are set on moving into a new home, especially during the pandemic here are some points to help you navigate through the emotions leading up to the big move:

·       Breathe. Not the usual breathing that keeps us alive, but intentional breathing exercises to calm your anxiety and the stress surrounding where you are now and where you would like to be.

·       Accept that as much as you would like to just pack up and move, there is a process that needs to take place, which does not have to be stressful in any way.

·       Ask for help, don’t put all that pressure on yourself, with the right support system you would be able to have a huge weight lifted off your shoulders (hopefully you aren’t the one that’s going to be lifting the sofa, well, at least not on your own)

·       Create a list and a vision board, this would help you have a clear image of what you are looking for, especially for a long-term home. Would you like to live in the city or in the outskirts? Do you like apartments or do you prefer to have your privacy? What is your budget? How far away from work are you willing to live? How far away from your kids’ school are you willing to live?

·       Be honest with yourself regarding why you hate your current house, what events lead up to you feeling this way, and make a list of the pros and cons of living in your current house as well as a list of pros and cons of living in the area you currently live in.

·       If you have family ask them for their input, this is very important for the process, everyone’s opinion matters, especially if you have kids. Involve them in the house viewing process, ask them to create a vision board as well, let them know that their input matters. You would ultimately take care of the more adult role of making the move a reality.