Why Is Moving So Stressful? (And What to Do About It)

On paper, moving sounds like a straightforward and exciting process – not a whole lot different than going on vacation. You simply pack your belongings, head to an unfamiliar destination and embark on a new adventure.

However, as anyone who’s moved will tell you, it’s rarely that simple. Instead, moving can bring to the surface all kinds of challenging emotions and unexpected stressors. It can engender feelings of helplessness, dread, and anxiety. And, when all’s said and done, it can leave you physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted.

Why is that? Despite sharing similarities with a vacation, why is moving so stressful? According to psychologists and health experts, it boils down to two main components: unease around change and an overwhelming workload.

Let’s take a closer look, and suggest a few things you can do to mitigate the stress.

IMAGE: PEXELS

Big Transitions Are Emotional

Talking to the New York Times, psychoanalyst Ronnie Greenburg pins most of the stress of moving on change. Your home, she explains, is a “matrix of safety,” a place where you feel your most comfortable, most at ease. Removing yourself from that safety can feel very similar to putting yourself in danger.

Moreover, you may have memories and happy emotions that you associate with your old house; leaving the house can feel like you are leaving those happy memories behind.

Solution: Treat It Like An Exciting Trip

Rather than focusing on “leaving safety,” try to reframe your move as “embracing uncertainty.” Most humans already have practice in this kind of reframing – it’s called a vacation. When you’re on vacation, you focus on the exciting elements of a new locale, and you rarely worry about being back in the comfort of your home.

As your move date approaches, make an itinerary of places you want to visit around your new home – you can even read a travel guide book to help you see your new destination from a vacationer’s point of view.

Decluttering And Packing Can Easily Overwhelm

In large part, the stress of moving is physical and mental. It takes time to declutter your home. It takes physical effort to clear your unwanted belongings. And the actual process of packing and moving can be logistically overwhelming.

Solution: Hire Decluttering And Moving Services

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Hire a service like NEATSPACES that helps with both decluttering and move management. A decluttering service will help you edit your belongings – tagging items to be sold, donated, discarded, or kept. An end-to-end move management company will help you pack your belongings, coordinate movers, secure packing supplies, and – on the other end – unpack and set up your belongings.

If you are downsizing homes, decluttering services are invaluable. And if you are busy (with work or caretaking), the extra help can alleviate most of the weight of moving from your shoulders.

Moving can be stressful, but you can help make the process a bit smoother by taking time to reframe and hiring a great decluttering and moving service.

If you are interested in even more lifestyle-related articles and information from us here at Bit Rebels, then we have a lot to choose from.

IMAGE: PEXELS