Anxious About Moving? Tips to Ease Your Worries

Moving into a new house is a great life change that may evoke any kind of emotion. While excitement, anticipation, and hopes for a new beginning are felt, there is usually an equal amount of anxiety and tension. Not everyone feels apprehensive about moving, but most people have feelings of concern and unease when contemplating the packing and eventual transition to another location. Thankfully, there are ways of managing this anxiety and ensuring that the process goes down more smoothly. Here are some handy tips to help you overcome your apprehension and make your moving day much easier to get through.

Acknowledge Your Feelings

First things first: accept your feelings, and know it’s okay to feel anxious about the move. Moving is a huge life change, and it’s normal to feel apprehensive about the unknown. Whether you fear the loss of familiar surroundings, the adjustment to new ones, or simply how to manage the logistics involved with a move, these are all valid anxieties.

Permit yourself to feel anxious, but do not let anxiety overpower you. Sometimes, recognizing how you are going to feel gives avenues of preparing in advance how to deal with them and, thus, stay in control instead of the feelings getting ahead of you.

Plan Ahead and Stay Organized

The anxiety of a move might come from the unknown and other things that may go wrong. This can be reduced a good deal by planning ahead of time and being able to be organized.

• Moving Timeline: Break down tasks you need to do before, during, and after the move. That includes setting deadlines for “Pack by”, “Movers booked”, and “Utilities will be transferred”. A timeline will be helpful in staying on track and easing the feeling of being overwhelmed.
• Create a Checklist: A moving checklist will save your life. Create it right now, and write down everything you need to do from getting the packing supplies down to ordering to change your address. It is satisfying to mark off completed tasks and a way to decrease anxiety.
• Pack Early: One of the most hated things about moving is packing. The earlier you start packing, the less likely it is that you will be up all night, frantically trying to get everything in boxes. You should start with items you use less and work your way up to the essentials as the moving date draws near.

Break the Process into Smaller Steps

Moving in itself is a huge task, and the big picture might seem very intimidating. You should try breaking down the process into small, more easily managed steps to decrease anxiety. Instead of trying to handle doing all these things at once, try doing things one at a time.

For example, instead of thinking you must pack up your whole house, start by packing only one room-or even just one part of a room. Accomplishing small things will help build momentum and lighten the load of the whole process.

Keep in Contact with Family and Friends

Moving can be lonely, especially when one moves to another city or state. Close interaction with friends and family will be a source of emotional support and a way of draining anxiety.

• Share Your Fears: Share your apprehensions with a trusted friend or member of your family. Sometimes, just talking about your feelings out loud may help water down the intensity of the feelings.
• Don’t be Afraid to Ask for Help: By all means, don’t be afraid to ask for help with the move. Be it packing, heavy lifting, or just having a sympathetic ear, having support from loved ones can make the process a lot less stressful.
• Plan Visits: If you are moving really far away, plan visits to see friends and family well in advance of your settling into the new home. Having something to look forward to may ease the anxiety associated with leaving familiar surroundings.

Focus on the Positive Aspects

It’s very easy to let stress overwhelm you on moving day and completely forget the positive aspects. Shift your attention to the benefits accruable from your move, as this will reduce anxiety.

• New Opportunities: Often, moving presents new opportunities that could be a new job, better living, or exploration into a different area. Focus on the exciting possibilities that lie ahead.
• Decluttering: Moving is the perfect time for a clean-up and fresh start. Getting rid of things you no longer need can be highly liberating and make your new home feel more organized and roomier.
• Personal Growth: Your moving can constitute one of those personal growths. Welcome the change for an opportunity to learn and adapt, building on new experiences.

Practice Self-Care

Look after your mental and physical well-being during the relocation period. Give priority to self-care that will help you cope with your anxiety.

• Stay Active: One of those natural stress-relievers is exercise. Even if you are busy moving, try to find some time for exercise, whether it is a short walk, yoga session, or hitting the gym.
• Get Enough Sleep: Relocation can affect your sleeping pattern, but you need to get enough rest if you want to manage anxiety. Aim for 7-8 hours of sleep each night, in order to keep your mind and body at peak performance.
• Practice Relaxation Techniques: Such techniques as deep breathing, meditation, and mindfulness will help you to calm your mind and decrease your anxiety. Even a few minutes of relaxation each day can make a huge difference.

Prepare for the First Several Days of Your New House

One of the most stressful features of moving is adjustment to a new environment. In preparing for the first few days in your new home, the transition will be easier and less worrisome.

• Packing an Essentials Box: It would be great to pack a box with everything that one may need for the first couple of days such as toiletries, change of clothes, important documents, and basic kitchen items. Having such things on hand will make your first days at your new home more comfortable.
• Get to Know the Neighborhood: Before you move in, get somewhat familiar with your new neighborhood. Find out where the nearest grocery stores, pharmacies, and other places offering basic services are. Knowing these will help you feel so much better the first day you arrive.
• Get a Comfortable Space Set Up: Immediately after arriving, spend your time getting a comfortable space set up in your new home-the bedroom or living room is a good start. Having a cozy place to retreat to will make you feel more settled amidst the chaos of unpacking.

Go Easy On Yourself

It takes time to get used to a new home; similarly, one has to be patient during this transition period. It is okay to have mixed feelings, and it doesn’t have to be perfect. Take all the time and space you need to settle in, remembering that it’s okay to ask for help when you need it.

Conclusion

It’s absolutely normal to feel apprehensive about relocation, but it doesn’t have to overpower your life. By accepting your feelings, being organized, looking at the bright side, and taking care of yourself, you will be able to even out your apprehensions and make the process of relocation much easier. With the proper mindset, before you know it, you will be confidently and calmly settling into your new home.

If you’d like to discover the latest information about the moving and relocation world, please also check other industry news from Asian Tigers Group.

Your trusted moving support is only a few clicks away from your hand. Contact the Asian Tigers office near your origin or destination for your next move. You can also check our Frequently Asked Questions resource, AI-powered by Tiger Move Bot.