How to Tell Your Friends and Family You're Moving

Take general notes of details you want to share with people related to your move. If there are private areas of your move that you don't want to discuss, it's better to establish your boundaries before you talk about the move with anyone. Also, you may want more time to include information that you believe will make others happier with your decision to move.

• Have a mock conversation. Pretend that you are having a conversation with the person that you intend to tell about your move. This will give you an opportunity to determine how you want to tell certain people as well as think of their possible reactions.
  
  
• Pick a location. Where you tell someone about moving is important too. If you choose a busy or noisy public space, then your discussion might be interrupted or go unheard. Picking a location that is comfortable and familiar will help you set the tone for telling someone that you're moving away.
  
  
• Think about your audience. You'll need to consider if your approach to telling people you're moving will be the same for every person. If you need to adjust what you say to someone in a way that makes you uncomfortable, just keep in mind that you are trying to help ease someone else's understanding of your move.

Before you move, you should have an idea who you want to tell about your move. If you are telling friends, think of their feelings. Remember, you have had more time to adjust to the thought of moving. Consider the following places where you could tell a friend about your move:

• Quiet beach picnic
• On a road trip
• Over tea, at your house

Also, it's important to prepare and know how to properly react. Here are a few tips to use when telling your loved ones about your upcoming move.

• Let your family know first. To avoid unnecessary misunderstanding, it's best to tell your close family members know about your move before anyone else. The worst thing that can happen is for them to find out last or from someone you told first. This could create a rift in your relationship that might last after you move. 
  
  
• Try to talk one-on-one. If possible, it may be better to have a conversation about your move with one person at a time. Telling more than one person at once could result in a bombardment of questions and emotions. A group discussion could also obscure a person's truer emotions, which would otherwise be revealed if they were alone with you.
• Expect different reactions. When dealing with friends and family, you will be faced with a range of emotional reactions. The way your friend reacts to the news might be completely different compared to how your mom reacts. Also, some may cover up their feelings to avoid breaking down in front of you. Let them know you are open to talk about how they really feel.
  
  
• Have options to keep in contact. Before meeting up to tell them the news, have a range of options to keep in contact with them. This will ease out the initial feelings of you moving away. Essentially, you are letting them know that even after you move away, the relationship will still be intact. Social media, frequent calls and Skype video calls are all options to lay on the table. 
  
  
• Throw a going away party. A great way to gather everyone at once is to have a proper farewell party. This will ensure you get to see everyone important to you. Although suprise going away parties do happen, it's best not to expect it. Make sure to send out invites early, so everyone has time to clear their schedules.