8 Self-Care Tips To Reduce Moving Stress

Moving house can be really stressful, and it’s well documented, so much so that animal behaviourists recognise that the animals they work with are likely to be highly impacted by this kind of life event – some can even be traumatised by it. The good news is that there is a lot you can do in the way of self care that means you can hold a little more zen through these chaotic times, including these 8 self-care tips:

1. Let People Help

Whether you use professional services like affordable London self storage, a moving company or professional packers, or you let friends and family take over some of the packing whilst you take some time out, letting people help can be an essential part of self care throughout a move. Leaning on that local self storage unit and the moving services they offer, or your Dad offering to do some cleaning at the new place, means you can take a breath and get through this a little less frazzled – and that can only be a good thing. 

2. Be Kind To Yourself

You are moving house, this will be stressful, and soon it will all feel OK again. Be kind to yourself – this is difficult and giving yourself as much compassion as you’d give a friend going through the same thing is essential self care. 

3. Practise Mindfulness

Mindfulness means not allowing the future or the past rob you of the moment. It can help fight common anxiety, where we spend a lot of time worrying about lots we can do literally nothing to change in the moment. And when you move house the chances are this kind of anxiety is rife. Will the exchange happen on the planned day? Did we make the right choice of moving company? What if X,Y and Z goes wrong? Try practising mindfulness with the use of handy apps, by following mindfulness masters such as Eckhart Tolle, and by simply paying attention to everything as it is right now. Some people like to find three things they can touch, see, smell and hear when they find themselves acutely stressed as a way to return them back to the moment. 

4. Take Some Time Away From ‘Moving’

Moving house is all encompassing, but it is stressful, emotional and chaotic. Take some time out from the move when you can. A walk in nature, an afternoon at the cinema, a night out with friends – time away from this bonkers situation where you can just have fun and let your hair down before the packing tape calls again. 

5. Eat Well

How easy is it to survive on biscuits and tea when the whole house is upside down, you’re between the self storage unit and home everyday, and you’re drowning in to-do lists? Eating well is a simple act of self care that nourishes you from the inside out. Healthy, filling meals that give you more than a sugar rush (and the less enjoyable crash). Try filling a flask with a smoothie, or batch nutritious cooking meals for the week ahead. Some people also utilise companies that offer ingredients and menu delivery services to help keep things easy and simple as they plan for a house move. 

You could also keep fruit, nuts, seeds and healthy snack bars in your bag at all times so that you have something nutritious to snack on. 

Lastly, do also have lots of water on the go. Dehydration causes headaches, slowed digestion, bad moods and other physical problems you just do not need to deal with right now on top of everything else! 

6. Get Through It Together

Arguments can happen a lot when you move house if you’re moving with a partner. It is stressful and who do you take it out on? Each other. The kids will also likely be a bit stressed from upheaval, and hell, the dog or cat will have no issue throwing some stressed out pee and poop onto the carpet for good measure. Do try to laugh together and focus on this being teamwork, not war. Give extra compassion and space to everyone around you, and a few hugs and treats when they are called for too. You are all in this together and ultimately the goal is a happy new life in a beautiful new home – something you can all work on together. 

7. Stick To A Routine

It’s natural that you might have some late nights packing, and some early mornings starting trips to the new house or the local self storage units. You might also forget to brush your teeth one day, and maybe run behind on taking vitamins or meds another day or two. The problem is, that combined, this sporadic routine can be really problematic. Sleep changes can cause mood issues and fatigue, other changes in routine can cause you to start to feel out of control, and you might even have physical issues caused by missing medication or having a less than ideal brushing regime. Keeping a basic routine is keeping some semblance of control when everything else is chaos. It really is core self care, even if you just go to bed at the same time and get up at the same time, or take your vitamins everyday. It’s a way to feel grounded when everything else is up in the air. 

8. Declutter

Decluttering is a form of self care that makes a lot of sense when you move house. On a practical level it ensures that you are not moving anything that you no longer need. You’re not storing items in your local London self storage unit that you don’t want any more. You aren’t wasting packing time on items you no longer want. Instead, you are thinning your belongings right down, giving yourself less to pack and sort out, and if you sell those items you are also making yourself a quick pound or two to spend on that moving day takeaway too! 

“Love yourself first, and everything else falls in line. You really have to love yourself to get anything done in this world.” – Lucille Ball

Moving house is a really stressful, challenging time, but with the self care tips above and a lot of compassion for yourself and those around you, you can find some degree of zen to get you through. Hopefully, soon enough, you’ll be contentedly making memories in your new place with your family with this stressful time far behind you.