Stress reduction for families when moving home - how to make the process smoother

​Collaborative Post | Moving house is a notoriously stressful experience to go through. It’s hard enough doing it on your own or with a partner, but doing it with your whole family can be even more daunting. The emotional and physical impacts of having to move your whole life from one place to another shouldn’t be underestimated, but there are definitely some things you can do to help - here’s how to make the process a little smoother and more manageable.

Photo by HiveBoxx on Unsplash

Start early

​Anyone with a family knows that you need to allot more time than you think you need for literally everything. This is especially true for complex processes like moving house. It can be very stressful for children, and you may have to take some days slower than others. The more time you have to prepare, the easier it will be for everyone. Set out a clear schedule, and pack up different rooms slowly, ensuring that there isn’t an absolutely mad rush at the end.

Use a removals service

One of the most effective ways of making the process more manageable is to hire a professional removals service. Families tend to have a lot of stuff, from furniture to playsets, and as a result, it’s a lot less feasible to move all of those belongings on your own. 

Companies such as Bright Movers can take the lion’s share of the load, in some cases even helping you pack up and providing other materials. Make sure that you book your removals service of choice well in advance, to ensure that they’re available when you need them.

Use childcare when necessary

While it can be great to keep your kids involved with many of the stages of moving, in some cases it’ll be best to have them out of the way. Consider setting up playdates on some days, or having them spend the day with another friend or family member. It’s often helpful for them to feel like they’re involved and somewhat in control of the process, but it can also be quite stressful and overwhelming at times, even for adults.

Be ruthless with decluttering

Families tend to accumulate a lot of stuff, seemingly by magic sometimes. When you move, you need to treat it as an opportunity to start afresh. You’ll likely meet some resistance along the way, and of course, you don’t want to throw away genuinely sentimental toys and items. That being said, there are likely a lot of items that you can throw away without anyone even noticing that they’re gone.

No matter how hard you try, moving house as a family will always have its ups and downs. It’s important for everyone to remember that things will get better and quieten down, and to try to treat the whole thing as an exciting adventure. Take breaks when you need to, and if tensions do flare up, remember that everyone is likely tired and stressed out. Things will get better, and the move will be over before you even know it. ​


Disclaimer: this is a collaborative post.