How to reduce the stress of moving house

In 2015, E-On released the results of a research study that suggested that on average British people experiences three months and three days of stress with every home move. In fact, they found 62%, or 1 in 6, of the people questioned said it was their most stressful life event. More stressful than heartbreak, no less.

And while there are many aspects of moving home that can be tricky to negotiate, it’s important not to lose sight of how exciting it is too. After all, you’re getting ready for a new beginning; a new chapter.

Luckily, our team are experienced when it comes to helping people get through the stress of a big move and we’re committed to doing everything in our power to make things a little easier where we can.

Why is moving house so stressful?

Moving house is a time of great change. You might be leaving behind much-loved family and friends and heading into the unknown. This will likely bring with it a change in routine, perhaps a new job, new commute, new schools for the kids and new relationships to build.

Not only that, but the process might feel difficult, both physically and mentally. Trying to find the bandwidth in your already overflowing brain to focus on everything, keep on top of what’s going on and pack. Oh, the packing!

Jokes aside, if you are saying goodbye to the end of the era, it’s an incredibly emotive time. Add to this unknowns about the future, and worries about the process and money involved, and it’s not surprising that a house move can take its toll.   

Our top stress-relieving tips when it comes to moving house

There’s no getting away from the fact that due to the long drawn out process involved from your very first viewing to unpacking everything and finding it a new home, it’s common to experience a few bumps in the road. It might be queries that come up in surveys, problems further up the chain or moving day delays. But in each and every case the best thing you can do is establish the facts, ask for expert advice and then make the best decision for you.

It’s not always as simple as that, however. So these are our best tips for keeping as calm as possible in the face of house moving stress.

Be realistic about what’s possible

When things feel overwhelming and your to do list seems out of control, it can be tempting to set yourself unmanageable tasks and then feel disappointed in yourself that you haven’t achieved them. By all means keep that long to do list so none of the balls get dropped, but consider having a smaller sub-section of tasks that you plan to tackle during each day. Use this to break things down into manageable chunks. Instead of writing ‘pack and clean upstairs’, commit to completing two rooms, or list each room separately so you can regularly feel a sense of achievement as you cross things off. Then if you have time for anything else it is a bonus. Mentally this is a much healthier approach.

“This too shall pass”

Whenever things seem too big or too much, repeat the mantra “this too shall pass.” Yes you may encounter things that need to be worked through or difficult decisions you’ll need to make, but take a logical approach, weigh up your options and make the best decision you can for you, at the time. You will get through this, and it will be worth it. It may help to take a step back and look at the bigger picture. Try to picture yourself picking up the keys, letting yourself into your new home and feeling the sense of calm it will bring once everything is unpacked and you can put your feet up with a cuppa in the lounge.

Don’t suffer in silence

If you’re struggling, choose a trusted friend or family member to talk to about it. Even if that person doesn’t live near you, they can still support you emotionally and act as a sounding board when you need them.  You don’t need to put on a brave face and pretend everything is fine. It’s tough. And it’s perfectly OK to admit that you’re finding things overwhelming.

Listen to yourself

You know you. If you’re feeling tense and anxious and it’s impacting your work, your time with your children or other relationships, take some time out. A big change like a house move will naturally throw up a whole range of emotions. Some of which may be difficult to handle. Giving yourself a night off once in a while is the least you can do.

There are several techniques you can use to help manage these anxieties, so try to choose one that suits you. From meditation to yoga, to keeping a gratitude journal to help you find the positives in your experience. Even if it’s just sitting up straight with your feet flat on the floor and taking a big deep breath every so option. The idea is to take a moment to ground yourself and calm your nervous system. Remember this is a marathon not a sprint. You need to look after yourself, listen to what you need and above all give yourself compassion.

If you’re gearing up to move home soon, find out how much you might be able to borrow with our calculators. Then get in touch with our friendly mortgage advisers to talk about your options.