How To Manage Stress When Moving House

Moving can be a rewarding and exciting experience, whether it's becoming a first-time homeowner or relocating to a new family home. It offers a fresh start in a new area and the opportunity to meet new people.

Although moving can be stressful at times, there are plenty of ways to make the process smoother. For instance, staying organized and booking a moving company well in advance can significantly reduce stress. In this guide, we've put together 10 practical tips to help you navigate the challenges of moving house with ease.

Tips To Cope With Moving House Stress

Here are some of our best tips to reduce house moving stress. These will help to ensure you are fully prepared for moving day:

1. Create A To-Do List

Before starting your move, it's helpful to create a moving house checklist to keep track of all the tasks you need to complete. This simple step can go a long way in reducing any stress related to the move. By following your checklist step by step, you’ll ensure nothing is overlooked.

Here are some things you can add to your to-do list:

Choosing a moving day

Booking a removals company

Purchasing packing materials

Creating an inventory of items to pack

Making time to pack items

Create a list of items to get rid of or sell

Get rid of rubbish when moving house

2. Start Packing Early

Starting to pack early helps you stay organised and ensures everything is ready before moving day.

The exact timing depends on your personal preference, but it’s generally recommended to begin packing around 7 weeks before your moving date. This gives you plenty of time to get everything packed and well-organised.

Here are some quick packing tips to follow:

Pack items room by room to keep everything organised and in the correct places for unpacking

Pack clothes you wear the least as it’s unlikely you will wear these before your move

Pack books you won't read. Place these in a suitcase as this can hold more weight than a cardboard box

Pack kitchen utensils and equipment that aren’t used every day

Pack important documents such as birth/marriage certificates in one box. Label the box clearly to ensure it doesn’t get lost

Read more on How to Prepare for Moving House.

3. Plan Ahead

It’s important to plan well in advance for all potential eventualities. Careful planning will help you to avoid additional moving stress. Make a list of everything that needs doing so that you can plan accordingly.

Here are some things to consider doing before your move:

Book time off work

Book your removal company in advance

Organise moving with pets

Have a deep clean of your old home

Begin the packing and decluttering process well in advance

Contact a new school if you’re moving with children

Use up any perishable goods and food you have

Cancel bills and contracts connected to your current house

Change your address for important documents/deliveries

Set up essentials like gas/electricity/water/broadband for your new house.

Planning can help to prevent any unexpected or additional expenses. Keeping track of your budget and having money saved to cover expenses can remove the stress of unexpected costs. It also helps to prevent money worries.

4. Use a Removal Company

Choosing the right removal company for your move will help to reduce moving stress and anxiety. Removal companies can relieve pressure as they carry out all the organisation and heavy lifting for you.

A removal company will:

Be fully experienced in moving heavy items, they will avoid damage to walls and floors

Lift, load and unload boxes for you

Provide a partial or full packing service to avoid moving stress

Offer to disassemble/reassemble your furniture

Often provide both removal and storage services.

By using Omni Removals, you could save up to £700 on your removal costs. If you're concerned about the expenses of moving, it's a good idea to budget in advance.

Additionally, a comparison website allows you to compare different quotes, helping you find the most cost-effective option. Many removal companies also offer packing services and storage solutions.

House clearance services can be extremely helpful when moving. These companies will collect and dispose of any unwanted items safely and legally, saving you the hassle of transporting bulky items like appliances and furniture to your new home. You can find affordable house clearance services by comparing quotes through us.

5. Focus on the Positives

Concentrating on the positive aspects of your move is a useful way to help reduce moving house stress. Not only will this help your mental well-being, but it will also help to offset any negative emotions you may have.

Some pros for moving house include:

A chance to start fresh in a new neighbourhood

You’ll have a blank canvas to decorate

You may have more space, a garden or a spare bedroom to utilise

Moving nearer friends or family

Opportunity to make new friends and find new hobbies

Commute to work may be shorter

Getting on the property ladder

6. Ask For Help

Whether it be from an insured, removal company or your friends and family, getting help is essential in tackling the moving stress. Even if you are an experienced mover, the more people you have on hand to help, the easier your home-buying process will be.

Here are some ways you can receive help:

Get your friends/family to help pack and clean your old home

Hire a cleaner to clean your old home

Hire a removal company. They will carry out the difficult aspects of the move for you. This can include packing, lifting and loading

Accept help from your neighbours if they offer

Use Omni Removals to compare removal quotes. This will help you to save time and money. Our services eliminate the stress of having to find a trusted and verified removal company yourself.

See if you qualify for a DWP moving house grant

7. Pack a Bag of Essentials

There are some essentials you won’t want to be packed away with everything else. This is why it’s useful to have a bag of essentials to hand during and after your move.

Items to keep handy for the first few days include:

Medication

Toiletries (e.g. toothpaste, shower gel, soap, and face wash)

Toilet and kitchen roll

Underwear, a change of clothes and pyjamas

Phone charger/laptop charger

Toys for children or pets

Kitchen essentials (e.g. milk, cutlery, tea and coffee)

Anything that you use daily (this can vary from person to person)

8. Get Rest

Moving home is an extremely busy and tiring time. You shouldn't push yourself too hard throughout the moving process. Ensuring you get enough sleep and rest during this time is important.

You can look after yourself by:

Make sure you’re getting enough sleep

Take regular breaks from packing and unpacking

Take your time with packing and do not rush the process

Eat well and keep hydrated through the process

9. Choose a Moving Day that Best Suits Your Needs

To help reduce stress, it's important to choose a moving day that aligns with your needs. Planning your move around your schedule and selecting a time that works best for you can make the process much smoother and more relaxed.

If you're hiring a removal company, it's a good idea to book as early as possible. This will give you the flexibility to select the most convenient time and day.

According to research by Omni Removals, Friday is the most popular day for moving. A Friday move gives you the entire weekend to unpack and settle in. Moving on the Friday before a bank holiday offers an added bonus—an extra day to adjust to your new home.

10. Meditation

Moving house involves a significant amount of physical effort, which can often lead to stress and anxiety. Will Williams, the founding teacher at Beeja Meditation, notes that moving is a perfect example of how a "positive" life event can place strain on the nervous system. He explains that people often feel "overwhelmed" and "emotionally very challenged" during this time.

To combat the stress, Williams recommends meditation as a helpful tool. It is one piece of professional advice that can guide you through the process, offering clarity and perspective.

He describes meditation as "incredible for calming the nervous system," allowing you to gain extra mental bandwidth. This can help you navigate significant life events like moving house with more ease, enabling you to enjoy the process, maintain healthy relationships, and stay balanced during a busy time.

Why is Moving House So Stressful?

Here are some reasons why you might feel stressed when moving house:

It’s a big life change for all family members

The packing process

Leaving friends and family behind

Feeling unprepared

Physical labour of the move

Financial strain

The stress of moving house affects people in different ways. For some, it may feel like a routine task with little to no stress. However, for others, it can become a significant source of anxiety.

Moving house inevitably brings about psychological effects due to the major changes involved. It often means uprooting your life and potentially leaving behind familiar surroundings and important relationships. If you’re feeling anxious, it's essential to identify the aspects of the process that may trigger stress.

According to the Holmes and Rahe Stress Scale, a "major change in living conditions" ranks as the 28th most stressful life event. While it may not be at the top of the list, the emotional impact of moving should not be underestimated.

Enjoy A Stress-Free Experience With Omni Removals

Here at Omni Removals, we can help to make your move as easy and as stress-free as possible. Simply fill out our online form to be connected with up to 6 trusted and reliable removal companies.

All our removal partners have passed our strict verification process. As a result, you can rest assured knowing you will be provided with the best possible service. We can help you to save up to 70% on your move.