In a recent survey about stressful life events, 45% of respondents considered moving house to be one of the most stressful experiences they have ever encountered (more so than marriage, divorce and even having children). As a result, if you’re considering moving house in the recent future, you may already be concerned about the impact this will have on your stress levels.
The easiest way to combat any stress is to identify the specific trigger(s). This is because you will then be able to a) avoid that situation moving forward, or b) figure out the appropriate way to respond to it moving forward.
With that in mind, here are some of the factors that make moving home stressful, and what you can do to combat them!
Getting your current property market ready. In an ever-changing house market, the idea of selling their current property is often a cause of concern for many homeowners. Thankfully, there are various steps you can take to speed up this process and ensure you get a fair price for your property. For example, you can prepare your home for sale through some simple interior and exterior DIY, in addition to learning about how to stage your home.
Packing. Packing is something we often leave to the last minute, especially as it does not seem as important as other tasks, like legal paperwork. However, as you’ll know this task must be carried out eventually, the more you put it off, the more stressed you will be about it. As a result, you must give yourself a head start on packing, which will also help with decluttering and ensuring that your belongings are not damaged during transit.
Remember, this does not mean that you have to live surrounded by boxes before the move, as you can look into self-storage options in your local area. This means you can unpack leisurely once you move, as opposed to having to do everything at once.
Uprooting your family. There are many reasons why you may have decided to move home. For example, you may be relocating for work in order to pursue higher-paid or more exciting opportunities. Alternatively, you may simply be ready for a change or want to move to a different area. Either way, whether you are moving within the same town or further afield, uprooting your family can sometimes be a cause of stress. This is especially true for small children who may need to change schools or leave behind friends.
However, there are many ways in which you can make this easier for them. For example, you can ensure that they feel involved in the process by taking them along to viewings and helping them plan how they will decorate their new room. You should also remember that moving will come with many benefits for the whole family. For example, it may put you within the region of a better-performing school, which will help your children reach their full potential. Alternatively, there may be more opportunities available in your new neighbourhood.
