7 Ways to Manage Stress While Moving

7 Ways to Manage the Stress of Moving

By:  Richard Barbee,  M.Ed., GRI, CRS

Broker with Realty Executives Associates

     Change is always a challenge.  Learning ways to change well is a major life skill.  Each year brings a number of transitions at home, at work, in relationships, and so on.  It is difficult to maintain balance when it seems that life is "happening to us".  These 7 Ways to Manage the Stress of Moving may help you and your family survive and thrive in the selling and moving process.

     1.  Develop Healthful Habits - The most effective stress management technique is preventive in nature.  Learning to build healthful behaviors into each day is a sure road to stability and balance.  Resisting and avoiding the worst effects of stress is possible.  Individuals that sleep 8 hours per day, eat nutritional foods during scheduled meals, relate openly and honestly to others, nurture their spirituality, and participate in exercise routines enable their body and mind to function more effectively during periods of stress and change.

     This first principle cannot be overstated.  Leading a balanced, positive lifestyle empowers the individual with confidence, reserve energy, mental focus, etc.  The immune system is stronger.  Brain chemicals come into balance.  The body is rested and ready.  Most of the work of stress management occurs BEFORE the stress event begins.

     2.  Maintain Supportive, Authentic Relationships - Healthy relationships give us a sense of stability, security, safety, and serenity.  Love and belonging are powerful mechanisms to prevent and manage stress.  We are not alone and need not be lonely.  It is good and productive to relate.  Big problems develop in secrecy, isolation, avoidance, and loneliness.

     Authenticity regards the willingness and confidence to relate to others honestly and openly.  This trait leads to meaningful, supportive relations with others.  Authenticity attracts and encourages authenticity. 

     The word "drama" is used today to describe negative social events.  If one has a friend that overreacts to many things, that friend is causes drama for everybody.  If a loved one has an anger control problem, that loved one creates drama for the family.  The way to avoid these stresses is to minimize the number of dramatic relationships and maximize the number of supportive, peaceful relationships.  Moving and changing are much more difficult when our relationships are not working well.

     3.  Develop an Awareness of Your Stress-O-Meter - Believe it or not, many of us do not realize when we are feeling stressed.  In our hurry-around days, we lose sensitivity and awareness of the state of our bodies and minds. Muscle tension, headaches, chronic colds, joint pain, inability to concentrate, anxiety sweats, feelings of physical weakness, irritability, and more are signs that we are stressed. 

     If you notice that you are stressed, it is easier to take steps to calm down such as deep breathing, closing eyes for 5 minutes, sitting in dark room for 10 minutes, lying down, taking a hot bath, or laughing.  The ability to stop and relax is very important to managing stress.  When we believe that we have the right and responsibility to take care of ourselves, we are more likely to do so.

     4.  Have "Family Night" or "Fun Night" BEFORE and AFTER moving - Taking time to be physically "away" from the packed boxes, paperwork, and visuals of change can lead to a terrific mental vacation from moving.  Even if we simply go out for a quick bite, we get time away from the sight of moving.  If a person feels that he/she doesn't have the time or freedom to get out for awhile, stress is increased greatly.  The feeling is one of being trapped or imprisoned in the change.

     Going out as a family or group of friends the night before a move and the night after a move can provide needed relief from stress.  It reminds each person that the process of change is in control, that moving is not a monster.  Seeing a movie or getting ice cream help us remember good things.

     5.  Play Relaxing or Fun Music While Packing and Carrying Boxes - It is possible to create a "party" in the midst of the pain.  Laughing and dancing with family or friends while moving is a great dose of stress relief.  Laughter has been shown to relieve pain, reduce blood pressure, improve overall mood, and restore energy.  Be willing to be silly while moving.

     When we get too serious or too focused, we lose enjoyment of life.  It is especially important to find time for levity when we are in a time of exertion and change.  Silliness and foolishness are underestimated in their power to relieve stress.

     6.  Take Scheduled Breaks Often - As you plan the process of moving, plan break times, break snacks, and break activities.  If the weather is hot, use breaks to lie down in a quiet area to slow down the body and lower body temperature.  If the weather is cold, use breaks to be aware of skin temperature. 

     Well-timed breaks provide us with chances to regroup and maintain stamina.  Ask family or friends to stop by with food and drinks at some point during the day.  Keep a well-supplied cooler or refrigerator stocked with drinks that contain vitamin B and electrolytes.  Keep nutritious snacks nearby to sustain energy.  When taking a break, take measures to lie down or stretch your muscles.  A cool cloth on your neck or forehead will help maximize the benefits of a break.

     7.  Keep Your Body Hydrated - Water is essential to the functioning of the body.  Numerous other chemicals such as potassium and electrolytes are lost during physical exertion.  Dehydration is one reason that some folks overeat.  The brain confuses the "thirst" signal with the "hunger" signal.  Keeping the body hydrated is also an effective way to avoid overeating or eating junk food between meals.  We tire far more quickly when we do not take in water.