4 Tips to Reduce Moving Stress
There are various reasons why a move may be taking place in your life. You may have a new job that requires you to relocate, an opportunity to be closer to family, or a desire for a change of scenery. Along with the need or want to move, the process can cause a mix of emotions. You may feel excited, anxious, and even stressed about the tasks you know you need to complete, especially during planning mode.
For the most part, a move can have such a positive impact on your life. It’s a chance for new beginnings, new adventures, and a fresh start, so it’s so important to take in all aspects of the change occurring.
To keep yourself organized, it’s essential to develop a game plan for your move. This will allow you to take a deeper dive into logistics, like your financial plan, services, and available resources, and how you’re going to take time for yourself. The more you figure out ahead of time, the less stress you’ll feel when you’re ready to start a new chapter in your life.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed during the planning process, there are ways to combat the stress to make it more enjoyable. Check out these four tips to approach your move with an eased mindset:
Figure Out Logistics
Before jumping into everything, you’ll want to plan out the logistics of the move. To stay on schedule, create a preparation checklist. Having this checklist will ensure that you are touching on the important aspects of your move and will allow you to cross off jobs once complete. This is also a great way to track your progress and timeline of each task at hand.
During this phase, you’ll want to ask yourself the critical questions:
- How are you transporting your belongings?
- Is there a deadline for when you need to move out of your current home or apartment?
- What are the potential travel costs?
- Do you need to let your manager know about taking time off in advance?
Once you have answered these questions, make a list of your to-do’s and how you plan on accomplishing them. Having this on paper and laid out in front of you will allow you to feel reassured and give you a better grasp of what you have to prepare.
Start Planning
It’s wise to start planning months ahead of your move date to allow yourself time. Give yourself a few weeks to pack, sell, and store items and clean and fix up your living space before you leave. Depending on the size of your home or apartment, this could take a decent amount of time. If you have more than a month to outline a schedule, it may be helpful to download a calendar app to pinpoint specific deadlines or print out a paper version of a calendar to write things down. When you give yourself as much time as possible, you won’t feel as stressed about a time crunch and be able to complete each job thoroughly.
From there, move into the task of developing a packing list. This can include clothing, appliances, pet supplies, or furniture. You can even list what will be in your car(s) (if you are moving with your partner or friend) and what will go in the moving truck if you go that route.
Is your move date aligning with good weather? Looking at the weather a week or so in advance allows you to prepare for what you could potentially be dealing with come moving day. If you’re about to move in the rain or on a snowy day, adjust your travel time and watch the radar closely just in case you have to re-route to avoid a storm. You may also want to consider getting covers for items so they don’t get damaged while moving things out of your home.
Outline Your Financial Plan
A preparation checklist can include financial estimates you receive. These can be categorized into buckets labeled by the type of expense. Once you have a list of what you need to pay for before, during, and after your move, think about how you plan to pay for the services and items you need. Since moving can get expensive, you may want to consider using a credit card or personal line of credit. If you have a significant sum of money in your savings, you may also think about paying with cash upfront.
Another option would be taking out a personal loan. If your employer provides relocation loans or has an employer assistance program, it’s a good idea to look into those options. Having this organized will help you feel secure, more prepared, and less stressed regarding the financial side of moving.
Ask for Help
One of the best things you can do for yourself when planning a move is to utilize your friends and family for additional support. If you know of someone who has experience with a move, reach out to them for advice! Consider calling them a few weeks in advance to see if they have any availability and if they would be willing to help you out. That way they can plan their own lives ahead of time and adjust their schedule if needed.
Another useful way to ease stress is to consider hiring a moving team. When you hire a moving team, you can have faith and trust that your items will be transported safely and efficiently. Movers come with years of experience. They know what it takes to move belongings from one place to another, especially when it’s cross-country. Let’s be honest, moving furniture can be a daunting task. When you hire movers, you can reduce your chance of injury since they will be doing the heavy lifting for you.
Other services to look into would be packers and unpackers. You may also want to consider hiring organizers. Utilizing these services is a great way to be more efficient. Especially if you don’t have extra hands to help, these services could benefit you tremendously.
Take Time for You
Throughout the entire moving process, it’s so important to decompress and give yourself time to focus on yourself. Make sure you are getting enough sleep, prioritize an exercise routine, or practice self-care. Consider journaling about your moving experience, getting a massage, eating a well-balanced diet, and reaching out to talk through some potential stressors with someone who is a good listener.
There is no doubt that moving can cause a mix of emotions, but don’t let that take away from the excitement of it all. Remember the overall purpose of your move and the fresh start it will create. Remind yourself of the positives, and never fear leaning on others for support and guidance. For more tips, make sure to sign up for our blog newsletter!
