Reducing moving stress: tips for a relaxed move
Why moving is so stressful
According to psychologists, moving ranks in the top five of most stressful life events, alongside bereavement, divorce, job loss and serious illness. That might sound exaggerated, but when you break it down, it's logical. A move combines financial uncertainty, physical effort, emotional farewell, logistical complexity and time pressure into a single period. You need to make hundreds of decisions while your daily life continues, work, family, social obligations. You sleep worse due to stress, eat less healthy because your kitchen is half packed, and have less time for the things that normally give you energy. Additionally, a move often coincides with other major changes: a new job, a relationship change, family expansion or a financial step like buying a house. Acknowledging that moving stress is real and normal is the first step. You don't always have to be strong, it's okay to find it hard.
Structure as a stress reducer
The biggest source of moving stress is the feeling of losing control. There's so much to do that you don't know where to start, so you end up doing nothing or trying to do everything at once in panic. The solution is simple but powerful: structure. Create a master list of all tasks that need to be done and divide them into categories: administration, packing, cleaning, appointments, financial. Give each task a deadline and determine which tasks you can delegate. Use an app, a planner or just a notebook, the medium doesn't matter, the point is that everything is out of your head and on paper. Plan a maximum of three to five moving tasks per day alongside your normal life. This way it remains manageable and you build momentum every day. Cross off completed tasks, the dopamine effect of checking things off is proven to reduce stress. And accept that not everything needs to be perfect. A move is temporary, it doesn't need to be a work of art, it just needs to get done.
Asking for help and delegating tasks
Many people try to organise their move entirely themselves out of a misplaced sense of responsibility or to save money. But this is exactly where stress explodes. You don't have to do this alone. Ask for help from family, friends and neighbours, most people are happy to help if you simply ask. Distribute tasks by strength: let someone who's good at organising manage your planning, ask the handy friend to disassemble furniture, have someone else watch the kids on moving day. Also consider hiring professional help for the tasks that stress you most. A packing service costs money but saves days of work and stress. A cleaning company for the handover of your old home takes an enormous burden off your shoulders. And hiring a good moving company, perhaps the best investment, means you can hand over the heavy work, logistics and responsibility for your belongings to people who do this daily. You don't have to do everything yourself to do it well.
Self-care during the moving period
In the hectic of a move, self-care is the first thing to go, while it's exactly what's needed most right now. Your body and mind only perform well when you give them the fuel they need. Sleep enough: put your phone away an hour before bedtime and make your bedroom a resting place, even if there are boxes around you. Eat regularly and healthily: it's tempting to order pizza every day when your kitchen is half packed, but your body especially now needs vegetables, protein and enough water. Exercise: a twenty-minute walk works wonders for your stress level. It doesn't have to be a sports session, just going outside, fresh air and movement. Consciously plan moments for relaxation: a cup of coffee in the sun, an episode of your favourite show, a conversation with a friend. These small anchors are what pull you through the busy period. And remember: this is temporary. In a few weeks you'll be in your new home, the boxes will be unpacked and you'll look back at this process as something you overcame.
After the move: give yourself time
The stress doesn't stop the moment the moving truck drives away. The first weeks in a new home bring their own challenges: unpacking boxes, finding places for things, adjusting to a new environment, getting to know new neighbours. Many people experience a dip after moving, the tension subsides, fatigue hits and the new house doesn't feel like home yet. This is completely normal and will pass. Give yourself time to settle. You don't have to have everything furnished and tidied within a week. Unpack a few boxes each day and enjoy the slow process of turning a house into a home. Focus on the rooms you use most: bedroom, kitchen and bathroom. The rest will follow naturally. Plan something fun in the first week: a dinner in your new neighbourhood, a walk in the park, a movie on the sofa with your favourite snacks. Celebrate that you did it. You've moved, you survived, and you're in exactly the right place.
About Vermaat Verhuizingen
Vermaat Verhuizingen relocates private clients and businesses across the Netherlands. Our articles are written from practical knowledge of the moving trade, from narrow Amsterdam staircases to international moves. More about us →
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