Changing environments, the need to carefully navigate each process (and the person involved), the lack of sufficient time, and unforeseen problems when relocating could all become stressful factors for those just facing this responsible step. As for moving to a foreign country, it could be even more tiring and time-consuming. Don't despair though! This guide on overcoming the stress of moving will give you valuable tips that would definitely benefit your mental health when relocating.
Overcoming the stress of moving by defining it
Before we give specific tips to help you reduce the stress of moving, we'd like to help you understand it. Here are the main clues indicating stress:
- You get angry easily
- You feel unable to think reasonably
- You are irritable
- You prefer to be alone and isolate yourself
- You use every spare minute to relax
- You become pessimistic
- You are unable to relax fully
- You feel your efforts are fruitless and useless
- You are anxious
Overcoming the stress of moving by informing yourself about all relocation aspects
Information is one of the biggest assets of relocation planners. Although you're probably worried about the bigger steps like packing your belongings, transporting them, and dealing with the new environment, moving has its little "pitfalls" that are not to be overlooked. Careful familiarisation with each aspect of moving is the first step when navigating the emotional challenges of moving. There are a number of sources to use to inform yourself, including:
- websites, blogs and videos - on the Movega Removals website you will find a bunch of useful articles that would be perfect for this purpose
- movers' forums and groups on social media (allows you to prevent really specific moving difficulties)
- personal communication with people who have gone through the planning and realisation of a move (they would recommend useful contacts, drawing attention to mistakes they themselves had made)
- specialised removal companies
Knowing the difficult aspects of relocation beforehand will allow you to develop an action plan by "playing out" different scenarios in your head. That way, when you are faced with a stressful situation in reality, you won't panic, and you will know how to proceed by acting coolly and allowing yourself to think through the situation reasonably.
Coping with the stress of relocating by carefully planning the process
The next step in overcoming the stress of moving is to plan the process. We advise you to write down everything - useful practices, deadlines, contacts and any information that concerns you. Moreover, we recommend that you keep track of your moving progress by creating your own moving planner. The authoring planner will allow you to lay out and structure the necessary information yourself, in the most convenient way for you.
Another alternative to plan and keep track of the moving process is by creating a checklist in which you can summarise the most important tasks that lie ahead. You can prioritise them in order of importance or make a list for each individual aspect such as tasks related to packing, needed documentation, purchasing the necessary supplies, etc. Keeping this type of list will surely help you feel that you have things under control, making it easier to deal with moving anxiety.
Reducing the stress of moving by a timely start
Moving at the last minute is definitely not recommended if you are easily stressed. It can increase the feeling of chaos and make you feel pressured by circumstances. Overcoming the stress of moving is all about starting the whole process on time. And although the tasks of moving may seem overwhelming and time-consuming, gradually completing them will show you that this isn’t necessarily true.
Keeping this in mind, we advise you to determine the timeframe for each of the moving activities in advance. How long would it take you to choose the items to keep and pack them? Everyone's commitment and pace of work is different, so drawing up an individual action plan is important when you want to reduce the emotional discomfort of changing your residence. You should also consider whether you are working alone or in a team, and the extent to which you are dependent on third parties such as your packing materials suppliers, the transport company that will ship your belongings, legal requirements (in the case of moving to a foreign country) or your future landlords.
Starting the moving process early will allow you to have extra time in case of unplanned delays or other circumstances beyond your control. You will have the opportunity to consider how to proceed without having to make instant (and often incorrect) decisions that could lead to stress.
Overcoming the stress of moving by talking to people who have already relocated
A useful tip for mitigating the stress of relocating is to talk to loved ones or people in online communities who have already successfully done it. They would be the ones to give you really practical guidance by highlighting the mistakes they themselves had made and giving you advice on how to fix them. And in case you feel that you won't be able to handle the organisation of the move on your own, you can ask them for help in planning it and together you can make a plan to follow.
Consulting with those who have already moved is particularly useful when it comes to moving to a foreign country with specific requirements for expats, a different culture and particularities of the local society. The stress of moving can also be largely related to your adaptation to the new place (city or country), so talking to people who have successfully integrated beforehand will help you feel more confident and more prepared on a purely mental level.
Overcoming the stress of moving would certainly be easier if you had someone to share your worries with. Whether these include lack of time, uncertainty in choosing the right agents or the administrative hassles. Don't isolate yourself in trying to do everything yourself and reach out to your loved ones, discuss different scenarios, timelines and collaborators and let them be helpful.
H2 - Breathe in, breathe out: Overcoming the stress of moving by using specific technics
Often, when we are highly stressed, our thoughts get stuck and we are unable to make the right decisions. In times of intense stress many experts advise us to concentrate on our breathing. Imagine a stressful situation where you have to coordinate several people on issues related to your move and soon you yourself start feeling overwhelmed and confused. In these cases, steal a few minutes just to breathe.
One of the most well-known life coaches, Jay Shetty, recommends the so-called "4-2-4" breathing technique for dealing with stress. Inhale for four seconds, hold your breath for two seconds, and exhale again for four seconds. Repeat the exercise several times until you feel yourself calming down and are able to think reasonably again. In addition to overcoming the stress of moving, this technique is also useful in everyday situations of mental tension, and its advantages include its ease of execution and the fact that you can practice it anywhere - at home, in the car or at the office.
Coping with the stress of relocating by being physically active
One of the proven ways to deal with accumulated stress is through active physical activity. Whether you take a short walk in nature, indulge in an intense fitness workout or exercise at home, we're sure you'll feel relieved. Being able to "step away" from the moving process (also related to the timely planning mentioned earlier) will help clear your mind, finding solutions to even the most twisted mysteries associated with moving to a new home.
In fact, the initial stress can become an excellent motivator to get fit or discover a new sporting hobby. Mitigating the stress of relocating is a task that, while it may seem difficult, could also bring you positives by creating useful habits that you can apply in the long run, even after you've settled into your new home.
Overcoming the stress of moving with the help of specialists
In case you feel that dealing with your relocation is completely overwhelming, we recommend that you consult a company that specializes in relocation services. With the help of experts, you would be able to anticipate the difficulties and they would become excellent collaborators in reducing the stress of relocation.
Although at first glance, arranging your life in a new place may seem exciting and full of pleasant surprises, it is often a source of mental strain and exhaustion. Lack of preparation could deprive you of the pleasant anticipation this life change evokes. Last but not least, mental stress can also cause physical ailments, especially when it comes to having to do several activities at once, depriving yourself of personal time.
Mental strain and how to deal with it is just one of the important topics of concern for those planning a move. We, the experienced professionals at Movega Removals, a company dealing with removal services across Europe, are available for your further questions regarding an upcoming move. To contact us, use the contact form or chat bot feature available on the website.
