Are you moving away from family so you can spread your wings and soar into your professional career? If so, this is an understandably scary event. Moving is never easy, but moving away from your family and all that is familiar and comfortable is even more difficult. No matter how you handle it, a move away from those you love is going to be tough going. You can do a few things that will ease the pain and make uprooting yourself go a bit more smoothly and easily. To help you, consider these four steps to moving away from family.

Hire a Moving Company

When the clock is ticking down on the last weeks and days that you’ll have with your family before you move, the last thing you want to do is spend any of that precious time packing and dealing with the move itself. Instead, hire a moving company, like Bekins Van Lines Inc, and let them do the packing, loading, and moving for you. This will give you extra time to spend with your friends and family, making memories that will see you through the rough weeks and months ahead.

If you are moving long distance this is doubly true. A long distance move is a major headache to organize with lots of additional costs that can sneak in. You do not want to drag your family into this process either. Just imagine all the drama that can result from such a stressful process. Instead, hire long distance movers to help you with this process.

Throw Yourself a Going Away Party

A week or two before you move, have a going away party so that you can gather all your friends and family in one place. You can also use this opportunity to make sure everyone has your new address and phone number if that’s going to change. Enjoy a nice barbecue or potluck dinner, share memories and create new ones. Make sure to take lots of pictures so that you can look back on the event and remember all of those who love you and are supporting you. When you move elsewhere, it can be comforting to know that there are people out there who have your back and are rooting for you.

Just make sure to not schedule the party more than a week or two before you move, though. If you schedule too far out, you may find it doesn’t give you the kind of closure you’re hoping for.

Research Your New Home

One of the exciting things about moving somewhere far away is that there are lots of new people, places, and experiences just waiting to be discovered. Take some time before your move to start researching the new area you’ll be living in. Look for organizations or clubs you might like to join, places to go, and other things to do. Make a list of restaurants, parks, stores, or other places you’ll want to visit to get you excited and ready to dive in once you get there.

Make a Plan for Continued Contact

Make a plan with your loved ones for continuing to stay in touch and as close as possible after you move. This plan should include a schedule for phone or video calls, emails, or even handwritten letters. You could also develop a loose vacation plan to ease homesickness.

Moving away from family you love will be difficult, no matter what. However, if you incorporate these into your moving plan, then you’ll make the separation a little easier to bear.