Moving can be a very stressful time, whether one is anticipating the move or not. The entire process can take a toll on one’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being. In fact, research indicates that moving is one of the top stressors in life. However, a little self-care and adopting a positive attitude can make the entire relocation process much easier.
Here are some of the best and proven ways to relieve stress during a move.
1. Take Care of Emotional Needs
Moving can be extremely emotional. Even if the reasons for relocating are positive, a person may develop feelings of anxiety and sadness. It’s good to stop being afraid of these feelings. These feelings are absolutely normal. Allow yourself to feel these emotions fully instead of locking them inside. You can even try to stay focused on what you’re doing as it will help you move with a clear head.
2. Speak out Feelings to a Good Friend or Someone You Trust
A person in the process of a move may choose to ignore his/her feelings during a move because they feel it’s the right thing to do. The problem with ignoring these emotions is that it can develop into something bigger like depression. However, sharing feelings with someone trustworthy can actually any stress and tension one may be feeling.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. After all, what are friends and family for? If the feel the move is too overwhelming, It’s advisable to talk it out with a therapist. By speaking out, one may no longer feel like they have to go through it all alone.
3. Avoid Being Too Hard on Yourself
Moving can be such a difficult time for you and your family. Even if the moving company is pretty much taking care of everything, one might still experience a lot of emotions. But it’s important to realize that this is a hard time and know that you’re doing everything you can to make the move work out well.
Practice some self-compassion- being a little bit kind to oneself can be a lot helpful. Understanding that a lot of people have gone through the same experience and have managed to surpass the challenges can also help. The storm is going to pass too and everything will be okay once everything is all settled.
4. Get Some Exercise (even for a few minutes)
Getting a little exercise doesn’t necessarily mean preparing for a marathon or powerlifting in the gym. A simple neighborhood jog or stretching prior to the moving can provide immediate relief this very stressful situation. A little workout will stimulate the body to release endorphins, which can instantly improve mood and relieve stress.
5. Get Plentiful Quality Sleep
Stressful situations like moving can cause one to lose their sweet night sleep. At the same time, lack of adequate, quality sleep can be a big cause of stress. All the planning, budgeting, and emotions can take a toll on the body and brain, and it can get worse with time.
Getting 7-8 hours of quality sleep every single day can help provide relief to stress a great deal, and it can help you focus and avoid making mistakes during the day, making the process more efficient. You can get higher quality sleep by eliminating anything that may interfere with sleep like turning off the lights, switching off the TV, eating a few hours before bedtime, and keeping the phone, tablet, laptop, or any other distracting devices away from the bed or even in another room.
6. Incorporate Relaxation Techniques
Stress during moving can only get worse if not dealt with promptly. One can easily release the tension by incorporating simple relaxation techniques like meditation, yoga, and deep breathing. These techniques won’t just relax the body, but they can also help ease any stress or anxiety one may be feeling.
Take a few minutes of your time and perform these relaxation techniques and ease your stress in a way you never imagined.
7. Eat Right
You may be tempted to indulge in junk food to save time. But make no mistake- eating high-sugar, high-carb, and high-fat foods will only exacerbate stress. It’s important to avoid skipping meals and loading up on coffee. Instead, eating a healthy diet, especially one that contains high-quality proteins, carbs, and fresh fruits and vegetables, can help reduce stress. And don’t forget to drink lots of water.
8. Listen to Some Good Music
If feeling overwhelmed, taking a break and listening to some good, relaxing music can help relieve stress. According to research, playing calm music can have a positive effect on a person’s body and brain. Music can also reduce cortisol, the hormone linked to stress.
It’s often thought that because movers are taking care of everything, the job is going to be an easy one. But the truth is that moving can be so stressful and debilitating regardless of who’s doing the physical labor. Uprooting your life will be stressful, and that’s completely normal! Especially if you do it on your own, so contact us to help you out! Things can get worse if one ignores their emotions in a bid to seem tough. But the earlier one starts to cope, the better it will be for them and their family.