Moving is stressful. Not exactly breaking news, right? Everybody knows moving is up there with death and divorce in the list of top most stressful life events. The good news is that stress is manageable. Here are 10 great ways to control your stress levels while moving.
1. Visualization
Even though moving is a draining process, it is also a new beginning – a point in time from when your life will be different and, hopefully, better. How much better? As much so as you can imagine! Imagine what life will be like after you move into your new home. Visualize it as vividly as you can. Having a clear vision of your life after the move in your mind is a great way to keep your energy up through the thick and thin of the moving process.
2. Get organized
One of the most challenging aspects of moving is experiencing a loss of control. This is why getting organized can reduce stress significantly and help you rely more on yourself. List all the tasks ahead of you, and divide them into weeks. Create a weekly checklist to make sure you don’t forget important tasks. Even if you have a million items on your to-do list, you’re still on top of things when you’re well organized.
3. Give it time
Start planning as soon as you have made the decision to move or secured your new home. There is no such thing as “too much time” when it comes to moving. Extra time will allow you to make backup plans and solve any unforeseen problems that may arise.
4. Declutter
Decluttering your house will also have a cleansing effect on your mind, so start preparing for your move with a good purge. Toss, give, donate, or sell anything you haven’t used in the last year, don’t need, or don’t want anymore. A decluttered house will be much easier to pack. The light feeling and extra space will help you get on with your moving duties with more energy.
5. List as you pack
Those last couple of weeks when most of your stuff is already packed can be challenging to get through. Keep track of your belongings as you pack with inventory lists. They will also help while unpacking in your new home.
6. Think it through
Pondering “what ifs” can keep you up at night, but you can actually use these stressful thoughts to claim your power back and regain control of unpredictable situations. Try to imagine your most dreaded worst-case scenarios, and then get creative, and think about possible solutions, backup plans, and people to contact if all else fails.
7. Take care of yourself
As busy as you are, you still need to take good care of yourself by keeping your energy levels up and your stress levels down. Try to eat well, get enough sleep, and take some time to unwind at the end of the day. Stay in with a good book or a movie, or go out to meet friends and have some fun – you deserve it!
8. Say goodbye
Emotions may have more impact on moving stress than you realize. The huge life change that you are about to go through is reason enough to feel uncertain and fretful on a deeper level than packing panic. Give yourself some time to reflect on the change taking place in your life. Stroll around your neighborhood, and think back to the times you’ve had here, good and bad. Say your farewells to people and places you will most likely not see very often after you move, and allow for any emotions whatsoever to come up. It is all a natural part of moving. Acknowledging your emotions will help you feel lighter and more at peace.
9. Ask for help
Friends and family members are usually happy to offer some help when a loved one is in need. Don’t be a hero. Ask the people in your life to help with sorting, packing, or cleaning, even if it is just an hour or two. These tedious tasks are much more fun with friends around, and you’ll get a chance to spend more time together before you move.
10. Surrender
You can be as well-organized as Martha Stewart and have more backup plans than a seasoned bank robber, but still, something might come up that will throw you for a loop during your move. Remember that all of this is temporary, and keep your eyes on the prize – the new life you have imagined for yourself and are turning into a reality.
What do you find most stressful about moving? Tell us in the comments!
