The psychological impact of moving house (4 tips for coping better)

Moving is one of those vital moments that at first seems like it will just be moving boxes and the odd piece of furniture... until it starts to move your whole life.

Between boxes, lists and changes of address, something more silent also appears: the emotional impact. Because a move is not just about moving objects from one place to another; it is about closing one stage and opening another without fully knowing what awaits you.

And yes, even if we try to manage it with humour and productivity, the body and mind face moments of stress and tension.

Today we are going to tell you how moving house affects us psychologically and some tips on how to deal with it in the best possible way.

The unseen: the emotional impact on adults

Unlike children, adults tend to process change with fewer tantrums and more coffee. But that doesn't mean that in practice we are less affected by a move. We just hide it better.

But no matter how much we may want to hide it, there are many effects of such an important change in our lives:

1. Stress due to mental overload

Moving house is a marathon of decisions: what to take, what to donate, what will fit in the new house, what paperwork needs to be done... And that's what makes a move a marathon. multitasking mode prolonged period of time ends up provoking:

• • Muscle tension
  • Headaches
  • Irritability
  • Difficulty switching off in the evenings and tiredness

And if you feel this way during your move, don't worry, it's not that you're “overdoing it”: it's a real overload of this process.

2. Emotional exhaustion

Saying goodbye to a house is more emotional than it seems. You're not just leaving a space: you're leaving routines, neighbours, memories, even that special place you had on your sofa in the old house.

And all this produces a sense of duel, Although nobody wants to call it that, it is normal to leave behind very important moments in life.

3. Anxiety about the unknown

Even when the change is for the better, it is not uncommon for the famous “what if?” What if I don't fit in? What if I don't like the neighbourhood? What if I miss what I had?

Our mind is no friend of uncertainty, so it tends to fill in the gaps with uncomfortable scenarios that it tries to “solve” or respond to in order to avoid being confronted by surprise.

4. Changes in sleep and concentration

Too much information, too many tasks, a future that seems uncertain... The perfect mix for the brain to be in alert mode and at bedtime this translates into..:

• • Nocturnal awakenings
  • Difficulty falling asleep
  • Mental dullness during the day
  • Feeling of being “disconnected”

Why do we feel so affected by moving house? The psychological explanation

Well, because removals move three fundamental pillars of our stability:

1. Identity: we are “from the neighbourhood”, “from this flat”, “from this city”. Changing location can make us feel that part of who we have been up to now has changed.
2. Security: Our home is a refuge, a safe place, and when that refuge is dismantled, even temporarily, the body enters a state of alert and can generate that feeling of insecurity that is so debilitating.
3. Routines: our brain loves predictability. That's why moving house, with its stress and surprises, leaves us momentarily without the monotony of everyday life that is so necessary for stability.

How to better manage change: strategies to help you

1. Reduce unnecessary decisions: During such a big change your brain is exhausted so give it space.

Plan in blocks, group tasks together and avoid improvising every day to bring some order to your head and avoid having to make unexpected decisions throughout the move.

2. Keep your rituals “sacred”: a quiet coffee, reading before going to sleep, walking for ten minutes, lying down to watch your favourite series...

When everything changes outside, keep a piece of routine will help you to have a way of escape and relaxation to de-stress and face each day of the move in a simpler way.

3. Accept that adaptation takes time: don't put pressure on yourself to “feel at home” in 48 hours. It is normal for the first month to feel strange or disconnected.

It is part of the process and as you settle into your new home, the feeling will disappear.

What about children? How do children experience this process (and how can we help them)?

Although in this article we have focused on adults, children feel the move tooChanges in behaviour, nostalgia, fear of the new...

If you want to find out more about how moving house affects children and how to accompany them here you will find an article in which we discuss this topic in depth so that you can help them make the move a positive experience.

A moving house is a shake-up, exhausting, unsettling... But it is also an opportunity to rewrite your routine, your environment and your day-to-day life.

And although Gil Stauffer is not a psychologist, there is one thing we are very good at: taking care of your move from minute one, so that you can focus on what's important: adapting to your new home calmly, with your head on your shoulders and with zero stress.