How To Make Moving Less Stressful

You know the score: you sell your house, buy a new one, but then the day comes to actually make the move and everything is chaos. It’s an unfortunate truth that moving is stressful. There’s so much that needs to be done and sometimes it’s difficult to keep organised under the circumstances. Below are a few simple tips to reduce stress when you make that move.

Plan

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the most obvious first step when it comes to making a move less stressful is to plan.

Put together a to-do list, diary or timetable and set times to do certain things that need to be sorted out.

Just a few things you can do beforehand include:

Confirm whether family/friends are able to help you on the day
Obtain and compare quotes from removal companies and book your chosen company if this is your preferred method of assistance
If you’re staying in your current job, book a few days off near moving day so you know you’ll have time get everything done
Gather moving supplies – i.e. boxes, tape, markers, bubblewrap
Transfer utilities. Let your existing supplier know about your new address and the date of removal at least 48 hours before the move. If you’re going with a new supplier you can contact them before the move so you know in your mind that you’ve done this and they are aware. Make a note to take metre readings when you move in to the new property to ensure you aren’t being charged for the usage of the previous owner.
Make those who need to know aware of your new address
Register with a new doctor, dentist etc. if necessary
If you’re moving out of the area, let your child’s school know when they will be leaving and tell the new one when to expect them
Double check the move in day

Planning will allow you to ensure everything that needs to be done is done and you won’t have a last minute panic. Easy, isn’t it?

Give Yourself Time to Say Goodbye to Your Old Home

Not only can moving be hard because of the stress, but it also means you’re leaving behind a home you have made your own with many memories attached to it. What’s more is when moving, you may tend to think about those memories even more making it harder to leave.

Getting yourself emotionally detached from your home by allowing yourself to say a proper goodbye can make the process a little easier for you.

So how do you do this?

Some things you could do are reminisce about some of your most loved times with family members before you go, have a get together or take a walk to some of your favourite spots in your town if you’re moving away.

You can then look to the future and think about all the things you’re excited to do in your new home and look forward to this new chapter in your life.

Pack Efficiently

Packing is difficult because there are so many other things going on and you just want to get it over with. It’s easy to just shove everything in a box and call it a day. The only problem is, once you get to the other end you’re faced with the time consuming dilemma of sorting out a bunch of disorganised boxes and being unable to find things you need straight away.

Don’t worry. There’s a solution…

Organise the packing and put the same types of items in the same box. It might take a little more time, but you’ll thank yourself later when you’re unpacking and can quickly put things where they need to go without having to go through several boxes only to find you put your cushions in the same box as your kettle. For example, put bathroom supplies one box and kitchen supplies in another. Don’t forget to label or colour code them so you know what’s in them.

But that’s not all you can do…

Start early. The earlier you start, the less stressed you’ll be as you won’t have to cram all your packing into just a few days. Packing as you go along is a good idea as it lessens the workload by spreading it out over time and you won’t have as much to do at the last minute. The earlier you start, the more time you have.

It’s also handy to pack what you don’t need first – most books, games, DVDs etc. – and leave necessities until last.

Remember to take care with fragile items as well. It’ll only add to the stress if you get to your new property, open the box and see everything is broken. Cushion the bottom of a ‘fragile’ box with bubblewrap, newspaper or even towels just to be extra sure the contents don’t get broken.

Below is a video of a few packing tips and moving hacks you can use…

Have Necessities Separate

There are some things that are necessary to have the moment you step foot into your new home. These include items such as toiletries, clothes, pyjamas and phone chargers. Packing an overnight bag with these things is a good idea as it makes them easily accessible and means you won’t have to worry about trying to find them.

But it doesn’t stop there…

Aside from just an overnight bag, consider packing a separate box full of household supplies that you’ll need straight away. This might be breaking the similar-items-in-the-same-box rule, but in this case it’s necessary. Put everything you need in the same box and watch your stress levels drop when you get to the new property and you can relax for five minutes, comforted by the knowledge that everything you need is ready for use.

It’s easier than you think to reduce those stress levels…

Place plates, clean sheets, pillows and anything else you think you’ll need in a separate box (more than one if required) as this way you won’t need to go rooting for things the second you get there. Bring along a few of your children’s favourite toys so they have something to do as well.

It’s also worth noting that on the morning of the move it’s helpful to take your bedding from all your beds and put it straight into your car, so that as soon as the beds get to your new home you can make the beds.. That way if everything else is upside down at least you know your bed is made, and when the end of the day arrives and you can do no more at least you can go and get a good nights sleep.

Making The Move

If you’re not moving far then it’s perfectly reasonable to ask friends and family for some help with the task. Just be sure to let them know in advance so they don’t make any plans resulting in them being unable to help you. It doesn’t hurt to have an extra hand to take some of the weight off of your shoulders.

When moving further away, professional movers can do most of the transporting of the boxes for you and as a result reduce your stress; it’s one less job for you to do. Make sure to get a quote and book in advance so you don’t face any problems last minute.

Of course, circumstances are different for everyone. What if you have young children?

If you have children see if you can have someone else look after them on moving day to ensure they are out of harms way. You can either bring a family member with you or drop them off at the house of a family member or friend. If this isn’t possible, consider purchasing a play pen or something similar filled with their toys to keep them occupied and enable you to finish unpacking.

If they’re a little older, you can give them simple jobs to do so they feel involved with the move and can get to know the house.

Let’s not forget one of the most important things…

Amidst everything that’s going on around you, it’s easy to forget that you might not feel right at home immediately. Allow yourself time to settle in and don’t fret too much about not feeling ‘at home’ when you get there – that will come in time when you’ve put your own stamp on your new home.

Look After Yourself

One of the best things you can do in order to reduce the stress involved in moving is look after yourself. When moving the last thing you need to do is ignore your needs. Eat healthily, exercise (it actually reduces stress levels!), sleep well and give yourself some time to do the things you enjoy. Pop down to the cinema or the pub, go for a walk, read book, watch some TV – don’t forget that your needs matter just as much as sorting everything out for the move does.

If you’re having a pretty full on day in terms of moving arrangements, give yourself small breaks throughout the day to let yourself breathe.

Remember to keep the balance between what needs to be done and giving yourself time out and you’ll feel far less stressed.