Present Moment Awareness in Relocation

Most of us struggle with living in the present moment. Thoughts of the future or the past tend to occupy more of our mind than they should. If this is a common dynamic in regular activities, can you imagine what it is like during a relocation?

When you are moving from one city to another and one home to another, you are often holding two separate locations in your mind at the same time; you are not fully present in either one. As you are packing your current home, you’re visioning furniture placement in the new one. This is a time when, if you are not careful, you can be really scattered.


The two circles in the Holistic Relo logo (pictured below) signify this dynamic of being in two places at one time – straddling two environments. The arc between the two circles symbolizes the need for a fluid connection to the present moment as you navigate these two worlds.



When working with clients, I remind them to be very mindful of their feet. This may sound overly simplistic, but often in the midst of emotional transitions, we have a tendency to rush. And when we rush, accidents happen.

Being aware of our feet not only helps keep us grounded in the present moment, it helps us remain stable. When driving, it keeps us focused on when to gas and when to brake. All too often I receive a call from a client who has injured themselves or had a minor car accident while in the midst of a move.

If you can maintain a connection with the here and now, it will not only allow you to be more productive, it will help you manage the fast pace. Research has proven that living in the present moment leads to decreased stress levels, lower blood pressure and an overall boost to well-being – all things that are critical for a relocation.

Here are five quick ways to achieve present moment awareness in relocation:

1)   Use your breath – Inhale as you silently say “I am…” Exhale as you silently say “right here.”

2)   Find your feet – Press firmly into your feet and feel the ground beneath them. A yoga pose that is a perfect embodiment of this concept is Tadasana, or Mountion Pose.

3)   Choose your words – When asked how you are doing during the relocation, affirm what you want, not what you do not want. For example, “ There is plenty of time to get everything done. I am living in this moment.”

4)   Notice your environment – In the midst of the packing, organizing, and signing of documents, pause and take in something from nature – look out the window, or listen to the song of a bird. When we are focused only on thoughts of future or past, this kind of activity is invisible.

5)   Be thankful – Express gratitude for something present in your life right now, e.g., the friend who listened compassionately, or the health of your body.

Thich Nhat Hanh states, “Your true home is in the here and the now,” and I believe that no matter how many moments we have left in our current home or how many moments left until we close on the new home, each moment is precious and deserves our full attention.