Change is always scary. And when you’re moving, you’re stepping into the unknown. Plus, you have to worry about getting moving boxes, packing, moving costs, organising storage, insurance, pets, home movers, potential damage to furniture, unpacking and setting up your new life in your new home.
But while you can’t get rid of moving stress entirely, you can certainly reduce it to a manageable level — hopefully to a point where the excitement for starting your next chapter overcomes the anxiety.
Here are our top 10 effective tips to reduce moving stress for a smoother move!
The key to reducing your stress during a move is time — the stress comes when there are too many things to do and not enough time.
Starting to plan as early as possible ensures you have more than enough time to get through the million and one things you need to do, plus have some extra time in case plans change. And once you start, getting organised from the beginning is essential.
Create a task list and schedule right up until the move, helping you stay on track. You can also start researching.
Check out our blog for in-depth guides to answer all your moving questions!
A lot is going to be changing in the next few months, and that can sometimes be a bit overwhelming. To help manage this, try to maintain some sort of normalcy in your life by sticking to your usual routine as much as possible.
This could include:
Going to bed and waking up at the same time.
Sticking to your regular exercise schedule.
Not skipping any meals or changing your diet to what’s most convenient.
Maintaining your social life by keeping regular visits with friends and family.
One of the most annoying parts of moving is spending hours and hours packing when you have so many other things to do. One option is to hire a packing service. Or you can turn it into a fun activity so that it almost feels like a break.
Some ways to spice up your packing are:
Blasting your favourite music and singing along.
Following along to a podcast or audiobook.
Gathering your items and boxes in front of the TV and putting on a show or movie.
Getting family or friends together to help each other and chat.
One way to decrease your stress is to decrease the number of items you have to worry about. Any extra weight is only going to be a bigger burden on your shoulders (and your budget!), so declutter and downsize!
While you’re packing is the best time to identify and put aside any and all items you think aren’t worth the move. You can then get rid of all your stuff by chucking it, recycling it at your nearest centre, donating to charity, selling it online or giving it away to friends, family or even a second-hand furniture store.
If there’s one thing you can expect, it’s the unexpected. No move ever went exactly according to plan, so it’s helpful to remember to go with the flow, roll with the punches, and be okay when the plan changes.
You can’t control everything, but you can control how you respond to it. So when there’s a bump in the road, it’s important to focus on solutions and not the problem — it is what it is, what are you going to do next to make it work?
We all have those few items that can make our anxiety go from 100 to 0 in an instant. These are items you will want to keep close to you during this period and out of a box as long as possible.
This could be your favourite book, your comfort blanket, a scented candle, the best mug or even the place in your house you go to relax.
You will be your best when you feel your best. So if you stop taking care of yourself, you can be sure your move will become a lot more complicated.
Some simple ways to take care of yourself during a move are:
Take breaks often; otherwise, you’ll burn out.
Practice some self-care, whatever that looks like to you.
Get some fresh air and some oxygen to your brain.
Stay healthy — a healthy body is a healthy mind.
Be kind to yourself — you’re going to make mistakes, so go easy on yourself when you do.
Allow yourself to feel your feelings — whether it’s sadness, excitement, anxiety or even pride.
Remember — YOU DON’T HAVE TO DO THIS ALONE! And you shouldn’t have to either.
Whether it’s an extra pair of packing hands, some muscle for the loading and unloading, another car to stuff some special items or even a little bit of moral support, don’t be afraid to ask your friends and family for some help.
Ask which friends and family have the capacity to help out and assign them tasks based on their strengths.
While the stress and anxiety may certainly be there, don’t forget that this is also an exciting time — you’re about to start a whole new adventure with a new world of opportunities!
Moving will become much easier when you’re more excited than anxious, so here are some ways you can get yourself psyched for your move:
Research photos and videos of your home and neighbourhood.
Look up some cool restaurants and cafes you can try when you get there.
Find exciting activities you can do or place you can visit.
Contact people in the area so you’ll already have friends when you arrive.
Choosing a top-rated moving service ensures your move is in safe and trusted hands. Great movers will help share the load of responsibilities, taking items off your plate and allowing you to focus on more important things.
And if you’re looking for the best movers in South Africa, there’s no better place to look than Wise Move! Wise Move’s moving company platform connects you with the top moving services in the country, allowing you to compare prices to ensure you’re getting the best bang for your buck. And with our 1 000+ reviews, you’re guaranteed to find a moving company you can trust.
Get your quote today and feel the moving stress melt away!
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