Why Moving Is So Stressful

Your home is the backdrop of most of your memories. It’s in the background of every picture you took of your children’s milestones and family barbecues. Whether you realize it or not, you become attached to your home due to all the memories there, and moving disrupts that.

Suddenly, you have to adapt to a new place, and maybe even a new town, and it takes time to adjust. This isn’t to say that moving is all doom and gloom, but it’s important to recognize why you may be feeling a bit crummy as moving day approaches.

This is called moving stress.

We’ll dive into what this stress looks like, what causes it, and most importantly, how to minimize it!

First, nothing is more stressful than a scammy moving company, check out our list of the best interstate moving companies and get a quick moving estimate.

You may feel your stress levels rising just by thinking about moving. Not only are there all the changes already mentioned, but there’s also spending the time and money to make it all happen. These top stressors can affect your physical, cognitive, behavioral, and mental health. You may find yourself experiencing the following:

• Body aches and pains
• Insomnia
• Low energy
• Difficulty concentrating
• Avoiding responsibilities
• Changes in eating habits
• Difficulty relaxing
• Easily irritated or depressed

Just remember, it’s okay to have a hard time when life changes. Relocating requires leaving your comfort zone, which though uncomfortable, will lead to growth if you’ll let it.

Moving stress won’t be at the forefront of your mind if you prepare properly. Everyone seems to encounter last-minute surprises on move-in day, which naturally causes stress, but you’ll approach them with a calm mind if you follow these moving tips.

Find the Positives

Even if the move is something you didn’t want, having the right mindset will help you adjust to the idea of a new home. A new house can mean new beginnings, places to explore, job opportunities, and friends. It may take a minute (or more—I understand completely!) to think of the positives, but there are psychological benefits that will come from it.

In many ways, moving is actually healthy!

Research Your New Home

If you’re preparing for a long-distance move, you’ll feel better if you know more about your new city of residence.

Look up local restaurants, museums, parks, and other public places, and make a list of where you want to go. Get the kids involved in making the list so they can get excited about the move too. (But don’t lose the list amid the moving chaos!)

Knowing more about your new home will dispel some of the fear of the unknown, and it will give you something to look forward to.

Plan Ahead

Not everyone has the luxury of knowing months in advance that they’re moving, but if you can, plan out the weeks leading up to the day of your move.

This will help you stay on track and have enough time to find the best moving company, get organized, and pack up your things.

This moving timeline lays everything out for you so you can approach your move in the most stress-free way possible.

Create a Checklist

You know the satisfaction of checking an item off a list, right?

A moving checklist brings the same satisfaction, as well as the peace of mind that you didn’t forget anything.

This includes making sure your old home is empty and clean and your new house is fully stocked and ready to provide a host of new memories.

Take a look at The Ultimate New Home Checklist. It has all the essentials you need (besides you and your family!) to make your house a home.

Take Time to Declutter

I think most of us can agree that the longest and most dreaded aspect of moving is going through each item in the house and decluttering.

It’s just one of those things that has to be done, especially if you’re downsizing to a smaller house or apartment.

But the sense of accomplishment that follows is one you’ll always remember! These decluttering tips will help you part with unnecessary items and determine what’s worth selling and donating.

Hire or Ask for Help

You can avoid one of the top stressors when moving if you ask for help.

Even if it’s just your extended family members, friends, or neighbors helping, you’ll feel like you have more room to breathe through the process. Just make sure you pay them back with a meal, drinks, or something else you know they like!

But if it’s within your budget, hire interstate movers. It’s a lifesaver!

They do this all the time and know how to handle all the little hiccups and heavy lifting that leave the rest of us a tad frazzled. Before you settle on a company though, make sure you ask them these 19 questions.

Say Your Goodbyes

If you’re upset about moving, it’s okay! You’ve gotten attached to your home and city, and it’s only right to take your time saying goodbye to everyone and everything you’ve grown to love. This includes getting together with loved ones, visiting your favorite diners, and going on that hike you always said you wanted to do.

Of course, this isn’t a big deal if you’re moving locally. But it may still give you the motivation to reach out to those you haven’t spoken to in a while!

Be There for the Children

It’s one thing to deal with your own moving stress, but kids experience it too. This stress comes with a whole lot of complex emotions. If you need help navigating your new adventure, check out these tips on moving with children.

You may find that it also helps you cope with the stress of moving!

Accommodate Seniors and Disabilities

If you’re helping move a senior or have a disability, there are additional aspects to consider. On top of planning ahead and asking for help, you’ll also need to make sure your new home is outfitted for everyone’s needs. This includes ramps, rails, and other special requests.

You can find additional resources for moving seniors here.

Take Care of Yourself

It’s easy to forget to squeeze self-care into your busy schedule when moving. So here’s your friendly reminder that regular sleep, meals, and exercise will go a long way in helping you reduce moving stress.

You’re more prone to becoming upset when you’re tired and hungry, so make sure you take the time to slow down for a minute, breathe, and enjoy a little break!

Feel better now? Moving stress is real, but it doesn’t have to ruin your whole experience. Along with these tips, we have an array of resources to make your move stress-free and the start of a new, exciting adventure!

Also, have a look at our article on why moving sucks and how to make it suck less.