How to Survive Moving Day

We have all heard a thousand times that moving home is one of the most stressful events of your life.

But why is moving home so stressful?

Usually because of a lack of planning and preparation, the fear of the unknown, it is not an event that you participate in regularly, and the loss of all that is familiar and comfortable to you in the home you are moving from.

So, how do you move home without losing your mind?

Answer: Label the box properly, so that you are sure you know what box your sanity is in!

Seriously though, there is no single action that will help you keep your sanity while moving home, or make the whole home moving process smoother, than getting a professional removal company to pack and manage your home move.

You may also like to read: What is a full-service removal company? In this guide, we explain exactly what a removal company does, how much on average they cost, and how they will make your home move so much easier.

When you have employed the services of a professional removal company, you are paying them to endure the majority of the stress of your move, on your behalf.

Therefore, this article will concentrate on moving day, as that is the one day when the weeks of planning and packing will culminate into just a few hours of frenzied activity when it is crucial to stay calm and keep your insanity intact.

Preparation is paramount, so ensure that there is nothing left to pack on moving day, everything should be ready to load onto the removal vehicle the night before, except for the moving day essentials box.

The Moving Day Essentials Box

This is your moving day survival kit.

Within it, you should pack everything essential to get you through moving day, and the first night in your new home.

• Beverages – For you and the removal team, especially important if it is a hot or cold day
• Disposable cups, plates, and cutlery will eliminate the need for a washing-up kit
• Food – Prepare a breakfast of cereals in air-tight containers, for example, ensuring that there is also enough for the first morning in your new home, unless you already know where the local stores are. Pack snacks for during the day to help boost energy levels. Consider perhaps a one-pot meal for the evening, unless you are planning on having a takeaway
• If you have pets, don’t forget their food too
• Duct tape and zip ties – These will repair any number of things in an emergency
• Basic tool kit
• Knife or scissors – For opening sealed boxes
• Toilet paper
• Wet Wipes – For a multitude of cleaning uses
• Bin Bags
• First Aid Kit
• Torch with fresh batteries
• Phone/laptop charger.
• Notepad and pen (test that the pen works! – and put this in the box last)
• Any prescribed, essential medication
• A bottle of wine – To toast your first night in your new home
• You could also include bed linen, towels, change of clothing, and washing kit, space allowing.
• You may want to put any important paperwork in this box, so you know exactly where it is.

Ensure this is the last box to be loaded, and the first unloaded at your new home, or better still, have it travel with you to your new home, so that you know where it is at all times.

You may also like to read: Essential Tools for Moving Day. When you get to your new home, there are usually a few essential jobs that need to be done immediately, or you may need to reassemble furniture or put up curtain rails. In this guide, we suggest the type of tools that will be handy to have quick access to on moving day.

Keep Calm and Move Home

The essential thing to remember on moving day is that nothing is permanent, events will go from good to bad, and bad to good.

A strange thing to say, but this is only one day out of your life. Keep everything in perspective.

Your actions, or state of mind, will influence how others react and behave, so these top tips will help keep you sane, and calm, on moving day.

You may also like to read: What to do If Your Home Move Falls Through. This is not a scenario that anyone likes to think about, but nevertheless should be in your planning. In this guide, we suggest how to plan for the move being cancelled or the removal company not showing up.

Be realistic with any goals that you set yourself for moving day

Don’t plan to move and unpack in a day. Break moving day down into small achievable targets.

For example, the removal company has scheduled 3 hours to load your removal vehicle, so you should mentally plan 4 hours for that task.

That way if they over-run, you will be mentally prepared, and you will not become stressed about it.

Overestimate everything, thereby managing your stress levels, then when you reach those targets sooner, you will add to your comfort buffer.

Conversely, if deadlines over-run you will have built in a mental safety margin, and half an hour late, seems nowhere near as devastating as an hour and a half late.

You may also like to read: What to Do The Day Before Moving Day. Here we have created a checklist of all the pre-moving day tasks that should be completed to make moving day as easy and stress-free as possible.

Make sure you wake up in plenty of time before the arrival of the removal team

The last thing you want is to be rushing around because the removal company will arrive in 2 minutes.

Ensure there is plenty of time for breakfast

This will give you enough energy to get you through the day, and if you regularly have breakfast, doing so on moving day will reinforce the feeling of familiarity and normality.

You may also like to read: How to Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle When Moving Home. Eating healthily and getting plenty of rest and exercise during your home-moving process is essential to ensure that your body and mind can cope with the stress. In this guide, we look at healthy eating options, how to stay healthy during hot or cold weather, and look at why moving home can actually be good for your health.

Remove the danger and inconvenience of children and pets

Early morning, if possible, take the children to a friend’s, or a relative’s house.

Likewise, take any pets to the kennels, or a friend’s house for the day.

It will be easier, and safer, for all concerned if there are no small feet, or paws, running around all day, whilst the removers are trying to load and unload the lorry.

Failing that, assign an empty room where they can be looked after, out of harm’s way.

Have a place of sanctuary

Maybe a bench in the garden, or a corner of the kitchen.

Familiarity is key to reducing the emotional stress of moving home.

So whilst all around you is in a state of upheaval, you will have somewhere to retreat to that is familiar, and affords a degree of respite.

Keep important telephone numbers handy

Ensure you have contact numbers for the removal company, solicitors, landlord or estate agents. Remember to fully charge your mobile phones ready for moving day.

Get to know your removal team

It will be easier to manage them if they like you, so make an effort, by perhaps starting moving day by offering them a cup of tea.

Take rest breaks with the team and get to know their names.

You all have to work together to get through this day with the minimum of stress.

You may also like to read: Why It Pays to Be Honest With Your Removal Company. Moving day stress is often a result of miscommunication. In this guide, we look at the consequences of not telling your removal company the truth or missing out on some vital information.

Take regular breaks during the moving process

This will recharge you mentally, and physically. But ensure you manage the length of the breaks, the last thing you need is to run out of time.

Become familiar with the area you are moving into

Before moving day, get to know the area where your new home is.

If you can become even a little familiar with your new surroundings, you will settle quicker, and therefore build a bond with your new neighbourhood.

Even if you cannot physically visit the area, use Google Maps and StreetView to enable you to recognise certain landmarks or where the local grocery store is.

You may also like to read: Things That Can Go Wrong on Moving Day and How to Avoid Them. The key to a successful moving day is planning. Therefore, if you are aware of what could go wrong, you can plan accordingly. Any delay or mishap then becomes an inconvenience rather than a catastrophe. In this guide, we look at things that could potentially go wrong on moving day and how to prepare for those events.

Coping With Post-Moving-Day Stress

There is still plenty to do after moving day, so apply the same mindset that you adopted on moving day for the next few days in your new home to make the process less stressful.

Have an unpacking plan

It may be a good idea to take time off work to unpack your moving boxes and organize your new home.

By allowing yourself a few extra days to do the unpacking, you will ensure that the first night, and day, in your new home, can begin at a relaxed pace.

It is worth remembering that people generally overestimate what they can achieve in a day, but underestimate what they can achieve in a week.

You may also like to read: How to Not Get Overwhelmed Unpacking After a Home Move. It is easy to see that pile of moving boxes and become totally overwhelmed. In this guide, we look at how to motivate yourself to start the unpacking marathon and suggest an unpacking strategy.

Unpack bedrooms and bathrooms first

Set up your bedrooms first. A good night’s sleep is essential to clear your mind and ensure you are refreshed to start the unpacking process.

The bathroom is the next room to be organised, not only will you wash away the grime of moving day, but you will feel emotionally better after a nice hot shower.

Be wary of relocation depression

This is as real a problem as moving day stress and needs to be managed accordingly.

It is the lack of familiarity and uncertainty that will trigger relocation depression.

By organising and setting up things that are familiar to you, for example, having a hairdryer on the left side of your dressing table, next to a photo of Bruce Willis, as you did in your old home, will immediately trigger feelings of normality and comfort. 

You may also like to read: How to Avoid Culture Shock When Moving Home. Even if moving to the other side of town, you may find that the area has a totally different vibe or demographic to your old area. This can lead to relocation depression if you are not properly prepared. In this guide, we look at how to avoid culture shock when moving to a new area.

Get to know the neighbours

This is a good start to building your support network, having someone who knows the area, and can offer local advice when you need it, is invaluable. 

Explore your new surroundings

Walking the streets of your new neighbourhood will not only help you to become familiar with the area but will ensure you spend some time away from the unpacking process.

Just being outdoors will recharge your batteries and add to your overall sense of well-being.

Upon your return home, you will approach your unpacking schedule with renewed vigour.

You may also like to read: How to Deal With Emotional Overload When Moving Home. Moving home invokes a whole range of emotions and they are often hard to control. In this guide, we suggest ways to help you manage your home move and therefore manage the range of emotions you are likely to experience.

So in summary:

• Hire a professional removal company
• Plan meticulously
• Be realistic in what you expect to achieve
• Prepare yourself mentally for things to go wrong.

There is a Buddhist meditation that teaches you to focus on unpleasant scenarios, which I will not go into the details of here.

But we can apply the same logic and reasoning when moving home.

The lesson is, that if you become familiar with the fact that things will go wrong, should the previously contemplated scenarios become reality, they will not be a shock to you.

You will be mentally prepared to deal with the event and the emotions that the event arouses in you, logically and reasonably, thereby retaining your sanity.

Is it possible to stay sane when moving home? Yes.

Don’t forget to visit our home moving blog which is packed with tips to make your home move easier, cheaper, and safer.