When a loved one passes, whether unexpectedly or not, you’re bound to experience emotional and physical grief. However, with time, you’ll begin to realize that you still have a life to live — and choosing where to spend it might be a crucial consideration. Here are the benefits of starting over somewhere new after losing someone close to you.

You Can Be Who You Want to Be

One of the perks of moving to a new place is that you can change who you are. It also means you don’t have to be on the receiving end of others’ condolences each day as you adjust to your “new normal.” It’s helpful to have comfort from friends and family, but at the same time, people often don’t know how to handle grief, leading to secondary grief when relationships dissolve.

The communication challenges can also lead to awkwardness and even more stress. However, moving somewhere new means divulging only the information you choose to. Depending on how you handle grief, this might be a welcome option.

At the same time, given your new perspective on experiencing the loss of someone close to you, you might want to take steps to lessen your family’s burden if something were to happen to you. Covering your own funerary needs, for example, can ease stress about where the responsibility falls if you pass away. Burial insurance can help cover final arrangements, as well as any debt you’re carrying at the time of your passing. Thinking ahead can help reduce stress for your relatives if the unexpected occurs.

A New Place Can Help Purge Grief

Living in the same house where you’ve lost a loved one can be emotionally traumatizing. Especially if your loved one’s passing was unexpected, it might be almost unbearable to continue living where they once did.

However, getting your house ready to sell can be a daunting task. It might be a good idea to let yourself regroup before making such a significant choice about your future. But once you’re sure about your moving plans, you should start paring down your belongings to prepare and pack for the move. Preparing your house for listing could also involve making repairs and updates. To hasten the sale of your home, it’s a good idea to run through a house-selling preparation checklist (which should include tasks such as cleaning, decluttering, and making improvements to your curb appeal) and address each item carefully.

You Can Leave All the ‘Stuff’ Behind

Part of what’s appealing to many people about a move is the chance to start over. With minimalism gaining traction as a lifestyle movement, most people prefer to downsize rather than hang onto boxes of stuff they may never use. The same applies when moving and downsizing after the death of a family member. Certain belongings of theirs hold sentimental value, but you may be eager to dispose of many items as you move on, both figuratively and literally.

Of course, you can move to a new place without leaving behind every memory of your deceased loved one. Deciding which belongings of theirs to keep or leave behind can be challenging, but it can also be freeing. You may want to consider temporary storage or giving things away to friends and family so that you can downsize before moving.

Your New Neighborhood Is a Place for Fresh Experiences

Instead of traveling the same path as you did before losing your loved one, in a new city, you’re bound to find new places to explore. New experiences are beneficial for your mental health and emotional well-being, but research also suggests that novelty enhances brain development. In short, there are more benefits to going to new places than just leaving bad memories behind.

Moving somewhere new after the passing of a loved one isn’t the right decision for everyone. But for many people, it can offer relief, a fresh start, and a wealth of opportunities. After all, even though you are grieving, you still have a life to live.

If you’re looking for other methods of coping with loss, consider mental health counseling sessions with Dr. Thomas C. Maples. Get in touch today at (209) 565-1514‬ or dr.tom@stocktontherapy.net.