Temporary living has a strange way of messing with your sense of stability. One minute you’re fine, the next you’re wondering why everyone feels slightly on edge for no obvious reason. Kids ask odd questions. Adults feel tired in a way that sleep doesn’t quite fix. It’s not dramatic, just… unsettled.
The thing is, most families don’t struggle because the situation is temporary. They struggle because nothing feels anchored. Meals happen at different times, bedtime drifts, and everyday habits quietly fall apart. That’s why the space you choose matters more than people expect. Having somewhere that supports real life, cooking, spreading out, doing laundry, sitting down together, makes a difference early on. Many families find that looking beyond short stays and choosing places where you can genuinely view furnished apartments for rent in Toronto helps create that sense of normality much faster.
What follows isn’t a perfect formula. It’s just a few grounded ways to make life feel steadier when you’re between homes.
1. Keep the routines that matter, drop the rest
When everything changes, routines become emotional shorthand. They tell kids, and adults, “this part of life is still the same.” The mistake people make is trying to keep all routines. That usually collapses within a few days.
Instead, choose two or three that really count. Maybe breakfast looks the same most mornings, even if the view out the window doesn’t. Maybe bedtime follows the same order, bath, story, lights, even if the room feels unfamiliar. Those repeated moments matter more than sticking to a perfect schedule.
This is also where stress tends to sneak in quietly. When routines disappear entirely, everyone feels it in their body before they can name it. Paying attention to how your household is dealing with stress, especially during transitions, can help you adjust before things spiral into exhaustion or constant tension.
2. Let the space work for your family, not against it
A temporary place stops feeling livable when it’s treated like a hotel. Families need permission to settle in, even briefly. That might mean rearranging furniture, setting up a small “drop zone” for bags and shoes, or claiming one corner as the kids’ space.
You don’t need to unpack everything. You do need to unpack intentionally. The first evening is about making tomorrow easier, clothes for the morning, toiletries, chargers, one familiar item for each child. Little details matter too. Familiar cushions, a favorite mug, or artwork taped to a wall can change how a room feels. Those small homely touches aren’t decorative fluff. They’re signals of safety and belonging.
3. Clear the mental noise that comes with being “in between”
What wears families down during temporary living is rarely the location itself. It’s the background anxiety. Did we update that address? Are we missing something important? Where did we save that document?
Creating one simple admin list helps more than you’d expect. Having a reliable moving address checklist takes away the constant low-level worry that something has slipped through the cracks.
Keep everything essential in one place, digitally or on paper. Bookings, insurance details, school info, emergency contacts. When your brain isn’t juggling loose ends, you show up calmer, and that calm spreads.
Temporary living doesn’t have to feel like holding your breath. With a few steady routines, a space that supports real family life, and less mental clutter, “in between” can feel surprisingly okay.