How do I deal with moving back home?

Have you just graduated college and need to move back home? Are you trying to switch jobs and move to a new city? Or have you decided to move home during a life transition?

Photo by Michal Balog on Unsplash

Moving back home with your parents after living alone can seem devastating and maybe even a little embarrassing. How will you adjust? What will your friends think?

While moving home after college for a year wasn't the outcome I was hoping for, it allowed me to save money, reconnect with old friends, and spend time with my parents. Before deciding to move home, there are a few important factors to consider.

One of the challenges I faced was the logistics of moving and extra costs! I didn't have space at my parents' house for all my things. Where would I put my belongings? How much would it cost to store them?

Remember that moving can be expensive, so it's important to consider and plan for hidden costs.

Moving trucks:

• Which company best suits your needs?

• What size moving truck will you need and how much will it cost? Don't forget to factor in gas expenses!

Hiring movers:

• Do you have family and friends that can help you move your belongings?

• Will you need to hire movers or a moving company to assist?

Storing furniture:

• Is there space at home or at a friend's place to store some of your belongings?

• Do you need to consider renting a storage unit?

Packing supplies:

• Do you need to buy packing supplies (such as boxes, tape, and bubble wrap)?

• Do you need to rent a hand truck or trolly?

To avoid stress as much as possible, be sure to create a packing system that is organized and efficient, and meets your needs. I wasn't sure how long I would be living at home, so I was intentional about which items to store away.

Label or color-code your boxes on multiple sides and create a list on your phone of where items are kept. That way, when you need to find something in the future, you'll know where to look!

Moving in with your parents after you've had some independence away from home can be a challenge. Maintaining your independence and juggling healthy social relationships with family time can be hard, but is crucial to your well-being.

Communicate boundaries: Have a conversation with your parents about rules and expectations. Explain to them that you want to spend time with them, but need your own space and freedom. Be respectful of their wishes, too.

Contribute to the household: Speak to your parents about ways you can pitch in, such as chipping in money for food or utility expenses each month. If money is tight, help out with household chores and cleaning, care for pets or siblings, or offer to run errands.

Make a plan for moving out: Set realistic goals and timelines, and have your family hold you accountable.

I eased the transition of moving back home with my parents by offering to cook meals 2-3 times per week (and clean up afterward!), take the dogs for a walk, and go grocery shopping. Ensuring we were all on the same page with household expectations and my goals for eventually moving out made the transition for my family smoother.

Being away from friends when you move back home can be tough.

Stay connected: Schedule time to call and catch up with friends. If possible, try to plan in-person outings with friends. Don't let distance drive you apart!

Invest in your friendships: Your social life and friendships are important to your health and well-being! Strive to make new friends while figuring out your next steps.

Keeping in touch with my friends from college contributed to my happiness after moving back home.

Working full-time from my childhood home was quite a change from living with my best friends in college, but planning time to see everyone gave me something to look forward to on the weekends. I even reconnected with some friends from high school that I hadn't seen in a few years!

Moving home was a difficult decision for me. I struggled with:

1. Feeling like I couldn't grow as a person in my childhood town.

2. Comparing myself to others.

3. Feeling embarrassed about moving home.

I was concerned that moving back to my small town would stunt my personal and professional growth. Turns out I was wrong!

Even at home, I was able to work a full-time internship and acquire new skills professionally. I grew my social circle and met new people by reconnecting with old friends who introduced me to THEIR friends!

Be prepared to have a few doubts. It's normal to have these concerns. Moving back home may seem like a setback in life, but if you reframe your negative thoughts into opportunistic thoughts, you will be much happier.