Everyone Knows Moving Is Super Stressful, But Why?
I have moved a lot in my life, which is probably one of the reasons I chose a career in the industry. But when it comes to the thought of moving, even with one of the Bay Area’s best movers at my (almost) beck and call, it sends me into a near panic attack.
Moving, as it turns out, is about as stressful as divorce, and I’m sure it’s contributed to its share of divorces. There are a whole lot of reasons moving is so stressful, and some are more obvious than others. You can probably boil it down, though, to the fact that humans, almost as much as food and water, crave security. And then there’s the fact that moving is a lot of work.
Why Does Moving Make us Feel so Insecure?
Even the smoothest, most uneventful move comes with a lot of change, and humans aren’t generally comfortable with a lot of change. Long-distance moving means finding a new home, new friends, new schools, and entire new routines. Even people who move on the same block deal with some change.
When Moving Stress Becomes a Problem
When you move, stress is a given, even if you hire a company to do it all. There is a point, though, when moving stress can become very unhealthy. Listen to your body and mind when you start feeling:
- Aches and pains
- Insomnia
- Headaches
- Low energy
- Shaky or dizzy
- Sick
- Forgetful, unable to focus, or in a bad mood
- Self-destructive (eating poorly, abusing substances, etc)
How to Make Your Move Less Stressful
Start Early
The least stressful moves are the ones that start early. Start by decluttering and taking unwanted items to thrift stores or to the landfill. You can also have a moving sale.
Make a schedule
Make a list of everything you need to do, including changing addresses, finding new schools, doctors, childcare, dog walkers, etc. Divide the number of boxes you need to pack (your mover can help you with determining that) by the number of days before your move. Aim for at least one more box per day than you need, just so you aren’t panicked on moving day.
Hire Help
There is no shame in hiring help for your move. Your moving company can pack, and even unpack for you. Hire a cleaning person to make your old home shine after you move out.
Use Social Media
Before I moved to the Bay Area, I connected with people on Facebook. I didn’t end up having long-term friendships with them, but it made the transition much smoother. Social media also makes leaving current friends a lot less painful.
Explore the Neighborhood
Explore your new neighborhood, both during the day and at night. Get to know the coffee shops, dog walking trails, etc.
Throw a Party
Give your friends a proper goodbye by throwing a party. Make a table full, or a pile or items you don’t want to move, and offer to give them away.
Featured image via Pixabay