Moving house can feel like an emotional rollercoaster. One moment you’re buzzing with excitement about a new start, and the next you’re staring at piles of boxes wondering what you’ve got yourself into. Stress comes with the territory, but if you set yourself up properly, it doesn’t have to take over. With a little planning and a few simple habits, you can actually enjoy the process instead of losing sleep over it.

Get organised early
The earlier you start putting the pieces together, the easier everything becomes. Book your moving van as soon as you’ve confirmed the date, and look into self storage if you’ve got furniture or boxes that won’t make the trip straight away. Having a safe place for your things gives you breathing space and takes a huge weight off your shoulders. Don’t leave the boring admin to the last minute either. Set up your gas, electricity, and internet before you move so everything’s ready the moment you walk in. It’s also worth updating your address with the post office, your bank, and any services you use regularly. Small steps like these can stop future headaches before they start.
Don’t forget about yourself
Packing, sorting, and planning can swallow whole days if you let them. The problem is, you burn out fast if you don’t take care of yourself along the way. Make sure you’re eating properly, get outside for a walk, or give yourself ten minutes to sit quietly when it all feels too much. Sleep is the big one and moving is hard enough without running on fumes. If you’re tired and run down, even small setbacks will feel like a disaster. Treat rest as part of the move itself, not an afterthought.
Focus on the good stuff
It’s easy to get stuck on the stressful parts, but moving house is also the start of a new chapter. Try to keep that in mind when things get hectic. Think about how you’ll arrange your furniture, the colours you’ll use on the walls, and the memories you’ll make in the new space. Shifting your focus to the positives can make packing and lifting feel less like a chore and more like a step toward something exciting.
Ask for help
There’s no medal for doing it all yourself. Rope in friends or family to help with packing or lifting the heavy stuff. Even having someone around to keep you company while you sort boxes can take the edge off. If you’d rather keep it simple, hire professional movers. They know what they’re doing, and they’ll save you a ton of stress on the day.
Moving house is never completely stress free, but it doesn’t have to be the nightmare people make it out to be. Get the basics organised early, give yourself space to rest, lean on others when you need to, and remember why you’re moving in the first place. Do that, and you’ll come out the other side not just relieved, but ready to enjoy everything your new place has to offer.