Researchers at the University of Bath have found that starting a new habit is more likely to be successful during a significant life change such as a new job or a house move. Home moving expert Dave Sayce, co-founder of removals comparison site comparemymove.com, sets out some of the most positive habits you could adopt after making the big move.
A recent study published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology showed a significant life change presented a unique window of opportunity in which new habits could be adopted. The study focused on the idea that the opportunity of moving house makes people become more environmentally conscious. It highlighted first-time buyers as the demographic most susceptible to adopting positive new habits. The next challenge is, of course, making those new habits stick.
So what is it about moving home that presents such an opportunity for people to start living better lives? There is certainly something about the process of packing our belongings – putting our very lives into boxes – that forces us to take a step back and assess how we approach each day, particularly when it comes to levels of organisation.
People tend to go through several stages of emotion when they move, ranging from excitement to high levels of stress and eventually heavy relief. The combination is an unusual one to experience, particularly when coupled with the introduction of new and unfamiliar surroundings. So it is no surprise that many use this time to start afresh and take on new positive challenges.
That said, it is unrealistic to try to take on too many new resolutions during such a busy time.
Here are Dave Sayce’s top five recommendations:
Create a strategy for organising your belongings
The first thing you will probably want to do when you move into your new place is organise your belongings. You might have more space but you will soon expand to fill it, which is when a more strategic focus to organisation will pay dividends.
The phrase ‘storage solutions’ will no doubt enter your conversations as you start organising your new home, but all the shelves, boxes, tubs and drawers in the world won’t make a difference unless you learn how to deal with clutter.
Clothes, bedding and files/documents are good things to start organising, and hopefully the good habits will spread throughout the home.
Increase your recycling efforts
The decluttering process involved in moving your belongings from one property to another can be a great incentive to look again at the amount of waste you produce and how you can reuse and recycle more.
Rather than buying all new furniture or appliances for your new place, for example, can you repair or repurpose old or second-hand items instead?
And instead of putting all your unwanted clutter out for the bin men to collect, can you give some items to charity?
You could also resolve to be more environmentally friendly in your new home by making extra efforts to increase recycling in the long run – making sure to separate all your food waste, dry recyclables and compost from the general rubbish collection.
Make a bid to save more energy
Moving into a new home can be the ideal opportunity to review your gas and electricity usage and work out how to save more energy – and money.
From simple habitual changes like switching off lights when they are not in use and only boiling kettles when they are full to more complex measures like installing solar panels and wind turbines, there are plenty of options for energy saving around the home.
A free and easy way to see how much energy you are using is to have a smart energy meter installed. These hi-tech digital devices display your home electricity and gas usage in pounds and pence, allowing you to see how much you are spending in real time and how to change your habits.
The government is requiring energy companies to install smart meters for their customers across the UK between 2016 and 2020. Contact your supplier to find out when the technology will be available in your area.
Set up a system for paying household bills on time
Keeping on top of household bills can be difficult, but moving house can be the catalyst for better financial management.
When changing your address for your various bills (utilities, phone and broadband, council tax etc.) why not use the opportunity to get organised?
Start by putting all your bills in a folder or, if paid online, a file on your computer, and make sure you check them regularly.
Direct debit is the easiest and cheapest way to pay bills, but there are other options that may be better for you. Visit the Money Advice Service for impartial advice.
Learn some key DIY and craft skills
The thought of trying out DIY and crafting might be off-putting to the less experienced or those of a less practical bent, but it can be a rewarding and even money-saving endeavour.
It is almost inevitable that a new home will need some form of DIY within the first few months or years, either through immediate repairs and renovations or when you ultimately decide to redecorate, so it is worth learning a few simple skills.
These days, basic home DIY tips and tricks can be found on the internet for free, and for a small financial investment you can take an online course to become fairly adept at carrying out larger domestic projects.
Learning some simple crafting skills can also be useful when it comes to sprucing up your new pad, and could develop into a rewarding personal hobby.
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