Moving house is famously one of the most stressful events in our adult lives. With all the packing, planning and preparation, it can easily get overwhelming.
So, how do you reduce anxiety about moving house and make it easier for yourself and your mental health?
We’ve laid out a plan that includes everything from creating a checklist for moving house to packing preparations to help make the transition smoother.
Preparation and planning
The best way to help alleviate anxiety is proper preparation. Setting out a detailed plan and then sticking to it can help you to break down moving into smaller, more manageable tasks that seem less overwhelming and help avoid last-minute panic. Create or find a checklist for moving house so you know exactly what you need to do and exactly when you should do it.
Use a removal company
Moving is stressful enough without having to haul everything into and out of vans yourself. While hiring your own van may seem tempting to cut costs, it will make moving much more stressful and will likely mean you’ll need to ask friends and/or family to help move large furniture items.
A removal company will do all of the heavy lifting and transport for you, and some will even help with dismantling larger items, so you all you need to worry about is where everything will go once you get there.
Pack efficiently
The stress and anxiety over moving don’t necessarily stop once you arrive at your new home with your belongings. You still need to unpack, which can seem like a daunting task.
To make it easier on yourself, pack items that belong in the same room into the same boxes. For kitchenware and other items, pack boxes based on where those items will be. Will all the items be in the same cupboard or drawers? You can use smaller boxes for things that will go into smaller areas such as bedside cabinets, consoles or TV stands. Label each box in marker with the room location and receptacle (e.g., kitchen top cupboard, living room TV stand or hallway console table).
This will make unpacking easier once you arrive, as you won’t need to pile things together or search through several boxes to find something.
Top Tip: don’t pack your kettle, tea/coffee, etc into a box. Instead, pop it into a carrier bag or handbag and travel with it so you can set up a brew station as soon as you arrive.
Ask for help
Asking friends and family to help you with the packing and unpacking can make the task seem a lot less of an undertaking, helping to reduce stress and anxiety.
Breathing exercises
It may sound silly to some, but controlled breathing exercises can help to reduce your heart rate and reduce anxiety. So, if you’re feeling overwhelmed on the day or during planning, step away and take some deep breaths.