MOVING DURING THE HOLIDAYS: TIPS FOR PCSING IN DECEMBER

The holiday season can mean a lot of things to a lot of people; however, for the military, defending America doesn’t take a break. Unfortunately, for service members, this means duty may call at a less-than-opportune time. Depending on when you receive your PCS orders, it could mean moving during the holidays and while not ideal, we’re breaking down ways to make things better for your family despite the added stress.

How to Make Moving During the Holidays Easier for Your Family

Serving or not, moving during the holidays creates more stress and takes away from the overall holiday spirit.

It doesn’t matter what you celebrate, where you’re going, or why you’re receiving PCS orders, here are some tips to help you move during the holiday season:

Embrace the Chaos

The first thing you’ll want to do is accept that things are going to be different. Not only are you moving to a new home but the disruption to your family’s holiday celebration is virtually inevitable.

Holding on to expectations and failing to embrace that moving during the holidays isn’t going to always go to plan is setting yourself up for more stress.

There are differences you can expect this year. You might not pull out the fine dining set and instead eat off of paper plates, a small Christmas tree might replace an 8-foot version, and you might forgo your traditional meal for takeout—none of that matters in the long run.

So long as you take time to reach out to and spend time with loved ones when you can, your holiday move can be a success!

Say “Yes” to Help

Whether you’re looking to receive a helping hand to maintain some sense of normalcy, need help with the actual move, or both, don’t be afraid to rely on others willing to help out when PCSing.

Neighbors old or new can be a great resource during this time, as can family too. Wherever it comes from, help can be a saving grace during any holiday season, especially when moving.

Rest When You Can

There’s a lot to do:

• Making sure everything’s properly packed.

• Unpacking and fulfilling all of the duties when checking into a new base.

• Finding employment and/or going to your new job.

• Maintaining various holiday responsibilities.

The list goes on and on.

However, everyone needs rest and with a list that may feel infinite, taking time to slow down may feel like the wrong move—it’s not.

Everyone deserves a break and taking time for some R&R will help you get the most out of your activity when you are being productive.

Create family memories with fun holiday activities, enjoy an extra treat or two, and take time to get a good night’s rest, along with a nap or two along the way when you can.

Talk to Your Kids

Planning for PCSing during the holidays needs to include a game plan and taking the time to speak with your children will go a long way.

Moving frequently can negatively impact children, but there are several things families can do to help ease kids into their new surroundings.

PCSing during the holidays can bring added stress to kids. Depending on their age, worrying about Santa can be an issue, while older children are more likely to be concerned with missing out on the social traditions among friends that come with the season.

Talking to your kids, involving them in the move, and finding ways to involve them that are engaging and fun will go a long way throughout the holidays.

Get their input on how to decorate, how to position their furniture, have them start new traditions, and most importantly, be there to listen and help them through their feelings.

For younger children, don’t forget, Santa can still find them and you can help them see where St. Nick currently is on Christmas Eve through NORAD Tracks Santa online.

Begin a New Tradition

Different doesn’t have to mean worse and if you are moving during the holidays, it’s a great opportunity to create a new tradition.

Maybe you can’t do one of your old traditions because of the move or you may simply want to try a new game, recipe, or event.

Whatever the reason, getting your family together to enjoy each other’s company and participate in some holiday fun is going to benefit your entire household.

You could find a new annual event in your new city of residence, play a new holiday game, enjoy a new holiday treat, or simply watch a new movie together.

Whatever you do in the midst of packing, moving, and unpacking, be sure to find a way to spread holiday cheer with your loved ones.

Tips for Settling Into Your New Base When Moving During the Holidays

Moving is a multi-phase process. Not only do you have to prep and pack and get everything to your new home, but you also have to settle into your new home once you’ve arrived.

PCSing means getting clearance and IDs on your new base, finding schools, learning the lay of the land, and a whole lot more. Here are a few tips to help you through it:

• Here at MyBaseGuide, we pride ourselves on helping military families settle in. Be sure to check out our PCS resources at the top of the page for even more help while moving.

• You can also search through the many installations listed on our site at the top of the page to find specific guides tailored to your new home base.

• If you have kids, helping them settle in is going to go a long way to help the entire family. Be sure to find something they like to do in the area, help them find a way to personalize their room, and spend time doing a fun activity everyone can enjoy.

• Whether it be for kids, adults, or both, finding a way to keep the holiday spirit alive is also going to boost everyone’s mood. It doesn’t have to be grand. Even small gestures can go a long way in creating a smoother holiday PCS.

Moving during the holidays can be a drag but with the right preparations and teamwork, PCSing in December doesn’t have to be all bad.

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