Moving house as a Disabled Person

The exhaustion of moving and 10 tips on how to save spoons

Now this will be my 6th house I’ve lived in in Brighton and let me tell you I’ve learnt a thing or two about moving. It’s going to be tiring, you might cry, you’re probably going to smell really bad but it’ll be so worth it in the end. So here’s my top tips for moving and how to save spoons when doing so.

1- Do nothing for a week. Seriously. Nothing. Stop doing things- just relax stop  just driving here and just popping there, it is all spoons. It’s exhausting.

2- Be careful- If it’s likely you may damage joints or hurt yourself don’t risk picking anything up- even if it might be okay. if you really really have no choice, strap your joints before hand or wear supports and do it safely, pick things up properly. 

3- Deligate- Pay people to help you (if you can) or pay in food or have an I owe you with a friend or family member. For example because I drive, I offered to drive my friends things around for him when he moved, if he helped carry some things for me. If you’re really stuck- a post on your local Facebook group often works. Your neighbours can be really nice people. Please be safe and careful though.

4- Nap space- Do your bed first when you get to your new property and your bed last when you leave your old property. It might feel a bit dirty and gross, you can always clean your sheets but at least you have somewhere to sleep if you feel rough.

5- Pack properly- Organise your drawers weeks or months in advance and take the drawers as they are to the new property. Tape wires together and label what they are for. Keep bedsheets inside pillow cases. Make things easier for future you. 

6- Essentials- Have your medication on the front seat of your car or van along with snacks and drinks. You often forget to drink and eat on moving day, deodorant, phone charger, similarly if you use a powered wheelchair have your wheelchair charger there too! Hand sanitiser, bin bags and Toilet roll, radar key, IBS gals, guys & they’s I see you dw.

7-  Declutter before you move, don't take ‘stuff’ to the new house as the stuff will never leave.

8- If you are able to get cleaners, do. It’s an extra expense but so worth it for the spoons you save physically. If not get all your stuff out the house as soon as you can so it gives you time to have a lie down in between cleaning like you may normally do. In a normal world you would not do anywhere near this much in one day.

9- Remember you’re disabled and that’s okay. I know this one might sound silly, but the amount of times I’ve been lay flat on the floor exhausted or sat on the stairs having a breakdown or on my hands and knees being sick in the middle of a house move and deeping my life thinking is this really worth all the hassle right now, everyone else seems to be fine. Remember your body struggles to ‘everyday’ this is chaos for anyone you’re trying to clean, pack like you’re going on holiday x50, drive loads, sleep in different places, carry heavy things, move around more than you normally would, fill out paperwork, spend lots of money the list goes on- give yourself a break- your doing well to still be upright and don’t push yourself to breaking point.

10- Try to stick to your normal routine as much as you can & use your daily living aids how you normally would- for example for opening things, taking your medication and eating at the same time. Know what you’re having for dinner that evening if you eat if you’re tube fed make sure you have access to all your feed.

Good luck! 

Lauren (and Trish) x