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7 Ways to Minimize Stress and Anxiety When Moving

A fresh start is always thrilling, isn’t it? Whether you’ve discovered the ideal rental apartment in the city where you currently reside and finally closed on the home of your dreams, or you’re moving your business to a new location, is it exciting enough to load everything you own into boxes and move it to a new house? Not as much, really. It’s true what they say about relocation being challenging. It requires a lot of preparation, which is usually accompanied by tremendous stress. Yet, if you’re considering moving, you’ll want to ensure you know how to minimize stress and anxiety during the move. And luckily, we’ve covered this for you



Minimize Stress and Anxiety When Moving


If this is your first time relocating, you might be wondering why it is so stressful. Everyone’s moving experience is, in actuality, a little bit unique. Whether relocating across town or to a big city, there isn’t just one main factor that makes moving stressful. Moving is likely to be one of the most difficult things that many of us will ever accomplish because of a number of little issues that together make it so.




Couple preparing a checklist for moving.
A well-thought-out plan will guarantee that your move goes smoothly.

There is no one-size-fits-all handbook with stress-relieving suggestions. Different people will have different needs or worries, such as how to pack glassware for moving or how to move delicate antiques or expensive wood furniture safely. So that you may stay healthy and maintain your focus, let’s look at a few ways you can minimize stress and anxiety when moving.



1. Stress is Not Pleasant, but It is Normal


Starting with acceptance, moving stress can be overcome. You are less likely to let pressure cause you problems if you know from the beginning that you will experience some during your relocation. It’s normal for people to feel stressed under challenging situations, but it’s not the end of the world. In fact, it could benefit you. Recognize the emotion when it arises and accept it for what it is; do not allow it to distract you from your current tasks.



2. Organization is a Key to Success


Organizing is indeed a key factor in moving. By organizing your move, you can plan out the logistics of the move, including scheduling, budgeting, and packing. When your moving is on a tight time schedule, this can help you stick to a deadline and avoid any surprises or unexpected delays. Additionally, it can help you avoid situations that will make moving on a short timeline even more stressful than it is.


If you are afraid of forgetting something, you should make a moving checklist. A thorough plan will ensure that your relocation goes as anticipated, minimize your stress, and assist you in moving without too much annoyance.



3. Don’t Leave it for the Last Minute


Time is the main factor that contributes to moving stress. Specifically, it’s insufficient quantity. Although a stress-free move may not be realistic, you can make it a lot simpler by making sure to allocate enough time to do everything. You will typically be informed of your move weeks or even months in advance. Early planning will help with the move. The more you put things off, the more anxious you’ll unavoidably feel.



4. Go Step-by-Step


As you start with the little things, you’ll see that they rapidly add up to huge things. Just start something if you’re feeling immobilized by moving stress or unsure of where to begin. This may be packing up a single kitchen drawer or stacking all of your books into a box. You should try to focus on completing tasks piece by piece rather than worrying about how you’re going to get everything you own packed up, sent to a new place, and unpacked in a new area. Making progress, no matter how modest, will help you manage your stress.



5. If you need help – Ask for It


Planning, packing, loading, and relocating will be less stressful if as many people as possible assist. With moving, you can never have too much assistance. Keep in mind that it’s acceptable to request assistance when you need it.


If you are looking into the pros and cons of moving yourself vs. hiring professional movers, beware that the stress of moving can be significantly reduced by having an extra set of hands. Having someone else around is a wonderful diversion from what could otherwise be an onerous chore.




Face roller lying on the box.
Create a stress box with your own belongings to enhance emotional safety.

6. Minimize Stress and Anxiety with a Stress-Box


Do you desire to have something nearby that could make you feel more at ease and comforted? If so, you may want to think about making a stress box. Focusing on the five senses – sight, smell, taste, touch, and sound – you should place in the box personal items that increase emotional safety:




  • For sight, you may put images of your family or your pets.

  • For smell, you might use candles, scented lotion, or essential oils.

  • For taste, you might add dark chocolate, cookies, or tea bags.

  • For touch, you may add a stress ball or a soft object.

  • For sound, you may use a CD or playlist.


7. Take Care of Yourself


Stress increases when more and more of your life revolves around moving. Individuals frequently overlook their own needs while going through the process. They neglect to get enough sleep, fret about the clutter, eat poorly, or breathe some fresh air.


You must bear all of these to lessen the stress of moving. No matter how tempting it may be, resist the urge to skip meals, indulge in unhealthy foods, drink only coffee, or break your healthy routine, and make time for self-care.


To keep your energy and patience high while keeping your anger low:




  1. Eat well and take relaxing showers.

  2. Do anything to make the procedure enjoyable, such as listening to music.

  3. Keep your attention on you rather than just the movement.


Woman relaxing on the bad, listening to music.
Eat healthily, enjoy a soothing shower, and listen to music to stay relaxed.

Final Thoughts


Moving is one of many stressful situations in life. Embrace the experience for what it is, and watch out for your well-being throughout. Consider rewarding yourself with a de-stressor, like a massage or a pleasant evening out after it’s over. You will undoubtedly deserve it..