The Art of Happy Moving
  • About
  • Moving Tips
    • Before Your Move
    • During Your Move
    • After Your Move
    • Buying & Selling a House
    • Making Friends
    • Moving With Kids & Pets
    • Moving Abroad
    • Finding Happiness
  • Stories
  • Events
  • Press
  • Free Resources
Top Posts
How to Design Your Life After You Move
13 Reasons Why I Don’t Want to Move
What Movers Really Do With Your Stuff
How Moving Enhanced My Life Unexpectedly
6 Ways to Volunteer After You Move Somewhere...
For Sale By Owner (FSB0) Tips for Home...
Switching Schools Wasn’t Easy, But We Did It
5 New Year’s Resolutions For Your Home
5 Ways to Spend Money To Feel Happier
My Friend is Moving and I am Devastated

The Art of Happy Moving

  • About
  • Moving Tips
    • Before Your Move
    • During Your Move
    • After Your Move
    • Buying & Selling a House
    • Making Friends
    • Moving With Kids & Pets
    • Moving Abroad
    • Finding Happiness
  • Stories
  • Events
  • Press
  • Free Resources
How to Design Your Life After You Move. The Art of Happy Moving. www.artofhappymoving.com

How to Design Your Life After You Move

13 Reasons I Don't Want to Move. The Art of Happy Moving. www.artofhappymoving.com

13 Reasons Why I Don’t Want to Move

What Movers Really Do With Your Stuff. The Art of Happy Moving. www.artofhappymoving.com

What Movers Really Do With Your Stuff

How Moving Enhanced My Life. The Art of Happy Moving. www.artofhappymoving.com

How Moving Enhanced My Life Unexpectedly

    How to Design Your Life After You Move. The Art of Happy Moving. www.artofhappymoving.com
    Finding HappinessMoving Tips

    How to Design Your Life After You Move

    written by Ali Wenzke

    When you move, it’s the perfect opportunity to re-invent yourself, to become the best version of you. But, what if you’re not sure what that is? What if you don’t know what you want to be when you grow up? Most of us don’t. That’s why it’s helpful to have a road map for how to design your life after you move.

    Bill Burnett and Dave Evans are the co-founders of the Life Design Lab at Stanford and authors of the book Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life.  After reading their book, I decided to host a family workshop. In case you’ve ever wondered what the kids of self-help authors do on weekends, now you know.[1]

    How to Design Your Life After You Move. The Art of Happy Moving. www.artofhappymoving.com

    To design your life after you move, you need to figure out three things:

    1. Where are you now?
    2. What do you believe?
    3. What are you doing?

    Don’t take these questions literally since, geographically-speaking, you probably are somewhere different now than you will be after the move. So, where are you, in a more metaphorical sense? If you need some help, Burnett and Evans posted a sign over their design studio that says, “You are here.”

    Design your life: Where are you now?

    Before things get too existential, print out the Dashboard Worksheet from the Designing Your Life website or take a look at the example below.[2] Use the worksheet to determine how you feel about your current health, love, work, and play. Color in each category first and then decide which category you would want to improve. Next, think about how you would make that change happen.

    For example, your meter may look something like this:

    How to Design Your Life After You Move. The Art of Happy Moving. www.artofhappymoving.com

    Your meter will look different at various stages of life since sometimes we focus more on one area than another as we try to get a job promotion or we plan our wedding. If you find that one area of your life isn’t as high as you would like it to be, make that a priority after you move. Then, write down what steps you would take to improve that particular meter. (If you’re looking for inspiration, you can check out my Sample Moving Resolutions Chart.)

    How to Design Your Life After You Move. The Art of Happy Moving. www.artofhappymoving.com

    Is your play meter low? How can you change that?

     

    Design your life: What do you believe?

    Next, figure out how you feel about life and work. Take some time to write down your thoughts. Burnett and Evans ask you to delve into questions like: Why do you work? What’s the meaning of work? What defines worthwhile work and how does money, fulfilment, and experience play into it? Continue with these deep thoughts as you think about your life. What’s the meaning of life? How do other people and your community and religion fit into your lifeview?

    How to Design Your Life After You Move. The Art of Happy Moving. www.artofhappymoving.com

    Take time to write it all down.

    Once you’ve written down your thoughts about life and work, compare them. Are your views in line? Is there a conflict between what you do at work and what’s important to you in life? If there is a conflict, think of ways you could make some changes.

    Burnett and Evans claim that, if conflict exists between your lifeview and your workview, you don’t need to change jobs. Instead, you can find ways to work within the framework of your current job.  However, since you are moving, you’ve been given an opportunity to make a drastic change if that’s what you need to be fulfilled and happy.

    Take advantage of the fresh start that moving offers.

    Click To Tweet

    Design your life: What are you doing?

    Think of the things that excite you and energize you throughout your day – both at work and at home. Keep a journal of these items over the course of the next couple weeks. (For resources, including a sample Energy Engagement Worksheet check out the Design Your Life website). After you’ve figured out what brings you joy, you’ll be ready to make a mind map.

    Here’s your mind-mapping exercise:

    1. Grab a piece of paper.
    2. Set a timer for 3 minutes.
    3. Write down something that engages you and circle it.
    4. Draw 5 lines coming out of that circle and write down the first 5 things that come to mind.
    5. Add 2-3 lines to the items you just wrote down and write whatever comes to mind again.
    6. Repeat until timer beeps.
    7. Circle the words that pop out of you.

    This exercise will provide insight into things that excite you or are important to you. For example, let’s say you started with the word “cooking”. When you look at the big picture mind map, you see “cupcakes”, “friends”, “bakery”, “starting a business”, “community”. You don’t know what’s lurking in your subconscious until you tease it out.

     

    How to Design Your Life After You Move. The Art of Happy Moving. www.artofhappymoving.com

    Did your mind map lead you here?

    Now, for my favorite part: Your alternate life scenarios.

    Or, as Burnett and Evan call it, “Odyssey Plans”. For your final step, write down what your plans are for the next five years.  Here’s the twist – you need three completely different life scenarios. This is how the Design Your Life co-founders recommend coming up with your three Odyssey Plans.

    Life #1

    The life you’re currently living

    Life #2

    The life you would live if Life #1 wasn’t an option

    Life #3

    The life you would live if money or image were no object

     

    How to Design Your Life After You Move. The Art of Happy Moving. www.artofhappymoving.com

    What life would you live if you didn’t need the money?

    Once you’ve written down your three life plans, you’ll see you have options. In a short amount of time, you’ve delved into some pretty deep thinking. Now, what will you do about it? With a life design in place, how will this impact your life after the move? I’d love to hear about it!

    [1] Don’t worry. Coffee and donuts were offered. Fun was had by all.

    [2] To get the free resources, sign up for the Designing Your Life newsletter and click on “Worksheets and Discussion Questions.”

     

    Reference

    Burnett, Bill and Dave Evans. Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2016.

    How to Design Your Life After You Move was last modified: April 12th, 2018 by Ali Wenzke

    Share this:

    • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
    • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
    • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
    • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
    0 comment
    0 Facebook Twitter Google + Pinterest
  • 13 Reasons I Don't Want to Move. The Art of Happy Moving. www.artofhappymoving.com

    13 Reasons Why I Don’t Want to Move

    by Ali Wenzke

    Ah, moving. So much to do. So little time. Hopefully, you’re psyched about your move, but maybe you need a quick pep talk. That’s what this blog is all about.…

    Share this:

    • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
    • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
    • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
    • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • What Movers Really Do With Your Stuff. The Art of Happy Moving. www.artofhappymoving.com

    What Movers Really Do With Your Stuff

    by Ali Wenzke

    In Finn Murphy’s, The Long Haul: A Trucker’s Tales of Life on the Road, “shippers” get a behind-the-scenes look at what movers really do with your stuff.[1] It’s not always…

    Share this:

    • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
    • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
    • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
    • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • How Moving Enhanced My Life. The Art of Happy Moving. www.artofhappymoving.com

    How Moving Enhanced My Life Unexpectedly

    by Nadia L. King

    Thank you to Nadia L. King for her guest post this week. Nadia L. King is an Australian YA author and short story writer. Serenity Press is releasing a second…

    Share this:

    • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
    • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
    • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
    • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • 6 Ways to Volunteer After You Move Somewhere New. The Art of Happy Moving. www.artofhappymoving.com

    6 Ways to Volunteer After You Move Somewhere New

    by Ali Wenzke

    You’ve heard you should get involved, get out there, and meet new people, but how? Where should you start? There are many ways to meet people when you move to…

    Share this:

    • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
    • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
    • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
    • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • For Sale By Owner Tips for Home Sellers, Buyers and Realtors_The Art of Happy Moving. www.artofhappymoving.com

    For Sale By Owner (FSB0) Tips for Home Sellers, Buyers and Realtors

    by Ali Wenzke

    Dan and I purchased our first home, a For Sale by Owner townhouse in Chicago, without any realtors involved. We then sold two homes by owner because we wanted to…

    Share this:

    • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
    • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
    • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
    • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Switching Schools Wasn't Easy, But We Did It. The Art of Happy Moving. www.artofhappymoving.com

    Switching Schools Wasn’t Easy, But We Did It

    by E. Mellyberry

    Thank you to E. Mellyberry for her guest post this week.  E. Mellyberry is the author of eight children’s books and two adult novels. She’s the founder of Indonesia indie…

    Share this:

    • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
    • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
    • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
    • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • New Year's Resolutions for Your Home. The Art of Happy Moving. www.artofhappymoving.com

    5 New Year’s Resolutions For Your Home

    by Ali Wenzke

    I love the New Year. You get a clean slate and you don’t even need to move to get it. So, now that you are done with the holiday decorations…

    Share this:

    • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
    • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
    • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
    • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • 5 Ways to Spend Money to Feel Happier. The Art of Happy Moving. www.artofhappymoving.com

    5 Ways to Spend Money To Feel Happier

    by Ali Wenzke

    Maybe Charlie Brown was onto something. Whether you’re moving over the holidays or simply caught up in the holiday bustle, the feelings of happiness we expect at this time of…

    Share this:

    • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
    • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
    • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
    • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • My friend is moving and I'm devastated. The Art of Happy Moving. www.artofhappymoving.com

    My Friend is Moving and I am Devastated

    by Ali Wenzke

    On Friday I learned that my closest family friend is moving away from Chicago. Karen is my third friend in the last few weeks that has told me she was…

    Share this:

    • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
    • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
    • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
    • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
Newer Posts
Older Posts

About Ali Wenzke

I moved ten times in eleven years, so I know what you're going through right now. Happy moving may seem like an oxymoron, but I'm setting out to prove otherwise. You've got this!

Recent Posts

  • How to Design Your Life After You Move
  • 13 Reasons Why I Don’t Want to Move
  • What Movers Really Do With Your Stuff
  • How Moving Enhanced My Life Unexpectedly
  • 6 Ways to Volunteer After You Move Somewhere New

Categories

  • After Your Move
  • Before Your Move
  • Buying & Selling a House
  • During Your Move
  • Finding Happiness
  • Making Friends
  • Moving Abroad
  • Moving Tips
  • Moving With Kids & Pets
  • Stories
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Email
Footer Logo
  • About
  • Moving Tips
    • Before Your Move
    • During Your Move
    • After Your Move
    • Buying & Selling a House
    • Making Friends
    • Moving With Kids & Pets
    • Moving Abroad
    • Finding Happiness
  • Stories
  • Events
  • Press
  • Free Resources

The Art of Happy Moving © 2018. All Rights Reserved.


Back To Top
For happiness straight to your inbox:
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.