Moving to a new house is stressful no matter whether it is well-planned, involuntary, anticipated, sudden, or even long-awaited. The most organized, meticulous person still stresses during this process, and it is said to be one of life’s most emotionally taxing experiences. Starting from the beginning, from making that decision, through house-hunting, financial planning, listing, the actual sale and purchase, packing, and finally moving, stress levels fluctuate throughout.
How can you help yourself with this added stress? Self-care is critical during this process, and not enough emphasis is placed on this by most people. For the inexperienced, the thought ‘how hard can it be?’ can quickly be replaced by ‘what on earth was I thinking!?’ This year we have the additional stress of the COVID-19 pandemic, as if we did not have enough on our plates, now with the lockdowns and restrictions, the load is getting heavier by the day. Even with restrictions lifting in the coming months, it’s important not to underestimate the toll the pandemic can have on our mental health and stress levels.
Look at the big picture of the move so you know what you’re getting into – and starting from there you can plan your movements so that you avoid burning out or getting overwhelmed. The most important factor to consider is how your routine will be affected – look at your schedule, and plan to work around the non-negotiables. In this way you are addressing the important work or social dates, and securing this time in advance.
Take some time to figure out what works for you in a stressful situation, and make sure you add time for this in your plan. It does not pay to stop and breathe for only 5 minutes, when the rest of the day has turned to chaos. Here are our go to suggestions for staying stress-free during a move, and remember that these do not have to occupy hours of your day, sometimes a quick fix is all that is needed:
- Be kind to yourself – Rome wasn’t built in a day, and your plans should not have to be either. Take time to plan, and allow yourself the luxury of making mistakes. Even if it is your tenth move, you are bound to slip up somewhere, and forgiving yourself is the first step to managing.
- Inform your network that you are not available for external commitments – you may be the party pooper for a couple weeks or however long it takes, but added distractions will only result in further stress. When you realize that your time really is precious, you will forget the FOMO and thank yourself for skipping that weekend away.
- Incorporate your workout/fitness plan into this schedule – however you keep yourself active, skipping out will only add to the stress. No matter if it’s a walk around the block, or a 10km run, keeping moving not only stimulates happy hormones, it also helps to keep your motor running.
- Lastly, never underestimate the power of deep breathing, and a hot bath or shower at the end of a chaotic day.
Moving to a new house – whether it’s down the road or to a new city, is probably not going to be perfectly smooth sailing. But if you put a solid plan in place, prepare yourself in advance, and keep your self care activities top of mind, then moving to a new house can be a little less hectic.
If you really have no capacity to undertake a move, consider hiring movers – even if you’re just going down the road. Movers can help with packing and moving, and can make the whole experience faster and more stress-free, leaving you to simply enjoy your new home.