Moving house often brings up an overwhelming number of strong emotions that you will have to deal with before and after the move – stress, anxiety, confusion, frustration, anger, fear, sadness, regret, and more.
Fortunately, depending on the exact reasons to move and your particular mindset, an upcoming relocation can also cause feelings of excitement, hope, relief, and even joy.
The truth is that moving is an emotional rollercoaster and you can either enjoy the thrilling ride (best-case scenario) or hate the nauseous turn of events that prove to be taking its psychological toll on your mind (most often than not).
Going through a major transition in your life such as a house move is never easy, even when it seems like the right thing to do. In reality, moving can be extremely unsettling for a number of valid reasons and you may soon feel overwhelmed by the daunting task of moving from one place to another.
But why is moving so emotional?
Read on to learn why moving is emotional and what you can do to channel these powerful house-moving emotions so that they end up working for you, and NOT against you.
You’re leaving behind your best friends
One of the most difficult things you’ll have to do when moving to a new place is to part with your best friends and, in some cases, some of your family members.
Regardless of the specific reason to move away, saying goodbye to the people you care about the most can be heartbreaking, so it’s only normal that you’ll get to experience that unmistakable feeling of great sadness.
What to do: Consider organizing a farewell party for your best pals before you move away. Also, promise each other to stay in touch (phone calls, texting, video calls, e-mails, regular mail, etc.) the great distance and make plans to visit each other from time to time, if possible.
Read also: How to say goodbye to friends when moving
You’re moving out of the home you’ve lived in for years
Some people get attached too strongly to the place they live in (a phenomenon known as place attachment), meaning that saying goodbye to the home they’re about to leave can be rather emotional. And if you happen to be one of those individuals, then your own house move can prove to be a tough pillow to swallow.
It’s never that simple to just up and leave the house or apartment that you have called your home for the last number of years. But leave it you must and the fact is likely to sadden you even more during an already emotional move.
What to do: Look for a meaningful way to say your goodbyes to the place you’re moving out of and keep believing that you’re moving into a place that’ll be even better than your current one.
Good to know: How to say goodbye to your home when moving
You’re taking a big step out of your comfort zone
It can be extremely unsettling to have to say goodbye to the pleasant feeling of comfort and familiarity in your everyday environment. As a result, you’re likely to feel rather anxious, stressed, and even scared as you’re taking a huge step out of your comfort zone.
Your daily routine will be disrupted as soon as you begin your moving preparations, and in particular – when you start sorting and packing your stuff for moving. But it’s not until you step into the new place that you can experience the full force of strangeness and unfamiliarity that’s waiting for you there.
What to do: It’s normal to feel uprooted and somewhat lost after a move. The best thing you can do is give yourself enough time to adapt to the new environment.
Your savings will be at risk
You may have heard that moving house is one of the most stressful things a person may go through in life.
Without a doubt, one of the greatest stress factors during a move is the financial aspect of the relocation – not only will you have to pay good money to cover the inevitable moving expenses, but you may not even know how much your move will cost until the very end.
A house move can be an expensive affair, especially when you’re moving across the country so you’re likely to be worried about what you can do to keep those moving costs to a minimum.
What to do: Reduce the stress by learning in advance how much your move will cost – get free estimates from several top-rated movers in your area. Also, use proven cost-saving techniques so that you don’t pay more than you should for your relocation.
See also: How to reduce moving costs
You have so little time to do so many things
Soon enough you will realize that you start to feel overwhelmed by the great number of tasks you are expected to finish before the move-out date. In other words, you’ll have too many things to take care of within a (very) limited time period, thus laying the foundation for a very stressful pre-move preparation.
More often than not, you will be worried that you won’t be able to complete the required jobs on time. And falling behind schedule is never a joke, especially when you’ve made the decision not to hire professionals to help you pack while you work on other important tasks from your to-do list.
What to do: Keep your stress within normal values by constantly consulting your progress with a good to-do list for moving. A detailed moving checklist will let you organize your time in the most efficient way.
Useful advice: Moving timeline: Week-by-week moving checklist
There’s always the risk of damage and injuries during a move
Regrettably, one of the most powerful emotions during a move will be fear in various forms and degrees.
In most cases, you are likely to be afraid that some of your most prized possessions may get damaged while on the road to the new place – either due to improper packing or risky transportation. Also, the dreadful thought of having any type of property damage to the home you’re leaving or the place you’re moving into is enough to send you into a state of panic.
Above all, you will be worried sick about the well-being of your family members, including your pet animals, during the most chaotic period of the entire relocation – Moving day. In fact, the move-out day is the time when mixed emotions will be running sky-high.
What to do: Ensure reliable helpers on Moving day – people who actually know what they are doing – and use the necessary moving equipment (understand a moving dolly) to prevent property damage and avoid injuries. Also, use a moving day checklist to keep things safe and organized.
See also: How to avoid property damage when moving out
You miss your old life so much that it hurts
Bear in mind that one of the strongest side effects of moving to a new home is the overwhelming sense of nostalgia for all the things and people you had to leave behind. You can’t hang out and do fun things with your friends anymore and the places you used to go to and enjoy before are no longer available to you.
You’ve left a place where things actually made sense and now you find yourself in a totally unfamiliar environment. What’s more, it’s possible that you don’t know anyone in the new city or town – a fact that will make the adaptation period even more challenging for you.
What to do: Keep in touch with your best friends but also make an effort to form your friendships in the place where you are right now. Be patient as proper adaptation to the new surroundings will take time.
Must-read: How to overcome relocation depression
Moving house can be an exciting adventure
Moving house is an emotional journey that will take you to another place altogether and present you with the unique opportunity to start a brand-new chapter in your life.
Focus on the positive aspects of the upcoming move. As long as you have the right mindset, moving house can prove to be an exciting adventure for you. You will make new friends and get to experience things that you’ve had the chance to face until that moment.
What to do: Enjoy the fresh start and the exciting opportunities that come with it.
Read also: Why should you hire professional movers?