Moving Stress: Why Is Moving So Stressful?

Moving Tips For a Less Stressful Move

The three most stressful days in a person’s life are the death of a loved one, a divorce, and moving day (and sometimes these events can happen simultaneously).

You may ask yourself “can moving cause stress?” but moving day is a major undertaking. It’s the day you’ll uproot your life and create new routines, friends, and community.

That’s scary to think about.

Moving is one of the most stressful things you can do. When handled carefully, however, moving stress can be effectively managed.

Continue reading to learn how to cope with the stress of moving.

Moving Stress: Why Is Moving So Stressful?

Moving introduces several aspects for you to juggle, many of which you may not have had to manage before. From working with several people to planning dates, moving can get complicated. Here are a few major areas that explain why moving is stressful.

Family Disagreements

You are moving to a new city, and that involves reintegrating into another community. This is daunting, and your spouse or children may have negative feelings. You’ll have to work with your family members on staying calm throughout the moving process.

This is a difficult and stressful time for you. That means it’s likely just as stressful for your family.

Financial Issues

The moving process involves many expensive aspects. From working with realtors and utility companies to hiring movers or shipping carriers, the range of services required to transport your home is numerable.

The cost of all these services can add up. Long-distance moves can cost thousands of dollars. And if any of the conditions of your move change, you could be paying even more. Finances and budgets vastly affect moving stress.

Timing

When you move, you’ll have to coordinate with movers, realtors, utility providers, appliance installers, and a variety of other services all at once. At the same time, you might have to plan the timing of a new job and your children for their new school. Everything must fit into your schedule.

Many times, however, any of these service providers may run late. In 2021, the moving industry saw a massive deficit in its workforce. This resulted in many long-distance moves running days behind schedule.

Not only will you have to balance a tight schedule, but you’ll have to be flexible when things don’t go as planned.

Handling Personal Possessions

You’ll have strangers coming into your home and touching all of your personal belongings. To them, it’s another couch or another glass. They’re coming in and doing their job.

But to you, many of these items have sentimental value. It’s a couch you’ve owned for a decade and watched your children grow up on. It’s a family set of china passed down from your parents. These are items that can’t be replaced with a Full-Value Protection plan.

Allowing movers to come in and handle your belongings requires a lot of trust. And the idea that any of these pieces could break is a heavy burden.

Helpful Strategies to Make Your Move Less Stressful

With all the aspects that make moving stressful, you might feel overwhelmed with how to manage. However, with these tips, you’ll learn the practices of stress-free moving.

Start Early

Many stressful moves involve last-minute scheduling. Typically, the move process can take up to three months. There is a long list of actions to complete before moving. This list includes:

• Researching moving companies
• Scheduling a virtual or in-home estimate
• Coordinating with a new job
• Coordinating with schools
• Scheduling storage solutions
• Shopping for new furniture/appliances
• Packing and decluttering
• Cleaning and prepping your house
• Contacting utility and service providers
• Loading and shipping your belongings
• Unpacking

Remember to take these actions one step at a time and try to give yourself plenty of time and space to complete each one.

Shop for Quality Movers

You want to have peace of mind knowing that the people moving your belongings are professional and pay attention to detail. Avoid the stress of moving by taking time to review the local movers in your area.

A good place to start is getting referrals from friends and family. The first-hand witness of how a moving company works is worth far more than reviews on Google.

Declutter

You may surprise yourself with how much you’ve accumulated over the years living in your house or apartment. Moving is one of the best times to filter through your belongings and sell or donate unneeded items.

Decluttering allows you to lighten your load when the movers arrive, keeping your budget on the affordable side. It also gives you an opportunity to take stock of the items you own.

Have a Plan for Children and Pets

Moving day is especially stressful. With everything going on, having to keep an eye on your pets or children can make the day unnecessarily difficult. Take time to plan out where your kids or pets can go for the day and keep them from adding extra obstacles for movers.

Reach out to friends or family and ask if they can watch over your kids or pets for the day. Alternatively, you can hire a daycare service to help you out. Your day will end with less stress not only for you but also for your children or pets.

Get Enough Sleep

Sleeping influences our stress levels more than we may recognize. Staying up all night worrying about the move the following day will reduce our alertness and slow down our reaction time. Sleeping keeps our stress levels low, allowing us to function optimally.

You may have a hundred things you want to accomplish before you sleep, but it is imperative that you prioritize sleep the night before your move. Set an alarm and mentally prepare yourself to shut down for the rest of the evening.

Transport Sentimental Belongings in Your Personal Vehicle

Having important family heirlooms lost or damaged during the moving process can make or break your experience. If you have the space, take it upon yourself to pack valuable belongings in your vehicle. You’re the most trustworthy person when handling these items, and they’re likely to arrive at your new home safely.

More Helpful Moving Tips

With deliberate effort, you can minimize the emotional stress of moving. The prospect of traveling to a new place can offer a valuable and enriching experience. Take this next life step with grace and you’ll have little moving stress.

For more helpful information on preparing for the moving process, check out our list of moving resources.