Quick Ways to Ease Moving Stress for Your Family

Setting off on a brand-new adventure can be a whole lot of fun. Of course, going out and starting something new can also be scary in its own way. Moving to a new house can be an adventure for a family, but moving stress is also one of the more intense things a person can experience. If it’s stressful for the adults in the situation, it’s quite likely that the children will also be feeling stressed.

There are some quick and easy ways for you to make your move as stress-free as possible for your family. Being prepared and organized can help you face your move with confidence, and you can make it into your new home with your good humor, and your relationships with one another, intact.

Why moving is stressful

The top five stressors that a person can experience include the death of a loved one, experiencing a long-term illness, divorce or separation from your spouse, moving, and job loss. Moving house can be stressful mostly because change goes against our habituated nature. When you have your established routines, friendship circles, favorite coffee shop, and park, leaving those behind in a move can be difficult.

Moving, in some ways, can induce a sense of loss. The thought of moving and being uprooted from everything familiar to you can trigger grief, even if it is anticipatory grief at the thought of what you might be losing with your move away from your current home.

In addition to these reasons, moving can also be stressful because of the circumstances under which the move is undertaken. If you move because of financial troubles, or because you and your family experienced a traumatic event such as a fire, that adds to the stress of moving. Unexpected moves due to a family member dying or needing care can also add to the existing stress that moving brings.

Ways to reduce moving stress

You can help yourself and your family to reduce the stress and anxiety of moving by taking a few of the steps below:

Plan well and stay organized

One of the vital ways to reduce the stress of moving is to plan well and stay organized. Start early, keeping in mind important dates like when you need to notify your landlord about when you’ll be moving out, or closing out your utilities in your current home and beginning your new utility service for your new home.

You may also need to give yourself time to notify schools, move your medical records, and get supplies like boxes, packing tape, bubble wrap, or a moving truck to help you facilitate the move. You may also need time to sort through everything to know what you’re keeping, giving away, or discarding entirely. Giving yourself time to plan things out is the best thing you can do for your peace of mind.

Ask for help

Moving is a big job, and there are a lot of moving parts. You might not be able to think of everything that you need to make the move happen smoothly, and you can always do with some advice from friends who may have moved recently. They might know a good moving company, for instance. Spreading tasks between loved ones lightens your load.

Your friends and family might not be able to help you carry furniture, but they could possibly entertain the kids while you do, or they can prepare meals for you, or run errands so that you don’t have to do that by yourself. The emotional support from friends and family can make a difference in your sense of well-being and keeping up good spirits.

Pack a comfort crate

As you pack, there are some items that your family members may find especially helpful for helping them feel at home. You can pack individual or family comfort crates in which you can put things like favorite toys or blankets, or cherished snack foods. This crate will be the last to be packed in the old house, and the first to be unpacked in the new house, for a smooth transition.

Hire professional movers

Much of the stress of moving is related to packing everything. Once you’ve figured out what you’re packing, the next big task is to pack it away properly before shipping it out. If you have the resources, you can hire professional movers who will do the work for you, and there are services available where they can arrange everything in the new house for you too.

Apart from the above, it’s important to remember that moving is a stressful thing. It’s okay for you to feel stressed, and to need ways to manage it. Being open about feeling stressed and helping one another manage it will help to make it feel less overwhelming.

If your family is struggling with the anxiety and stress of moving, you can unpack those feelings and discover healthy ways to cope as you talk with a family counselor. Sometimes those feelings take some time to recognize and may manifest themselves months down the road. We can match you to a family counselor who can walk you through the transitions that moving brings.