How to Move House Without Losing Your Sanity (or Your Favourite Mug)

Moving house is a strange ritual. One day, you're standing in your home, sipping coffee from your favourite mug, surrounded by furniture arranged just how you like it. The next, you're knee-deep in cardboard boxes, swearing at an oddly shaped lamp that refuses to fit anywhere, wondering if you've made a terrible mistake.

Moving is, in short, a stress factory. Studies have shown that it's one of the most stressful life events, up there with divorce and public speaking (which is particularly bad if you're delivering a TED talk about your divorce while moving house). But fear not—removal professionals have seen it all and have plenty of wisdom to share. With their tips and a few psychological tricks, you can get through this without losing your mind—or your cherished mug.

Embrace the Chaos Before It Embraces You

Denial is an understandable but unhelpful approach to moving. Pretending it's not happening until the week before is how you end up stuffing kitchen utensils into bin bags at 2 AM, whispering, "This is fine" to nobody in particular.

The key is to start early and break tasks into manageable chunks. Psychologists recommend something called "chunking"—the art of breaking down overwhelming tasks into bite-sized pieces. Instead of panicking over the entire house, tackle one category at a time: books today, kitchenware tomorrow, miscellaneous junk you forgot you owned on Thursday.

Write It Down, Or Suffer the Consequences

Your memory is not as good as you think it is, especially when it's running on adrenaline and caffeine. Sure, you think you'll remember which box contains the kettle, but will you? Or will you end up using a saucepan to make tea on moving day?

Label everything. Be ridiculously specific. "Kitchen stuff" is a useless label. "Mugs, plates, and the fancy teapot I never use but refuse to part with" is better. And if you really want to level up, create an inventory. It sounds obsessive, but future you—the one searching for a phone charger at midnight—will be grateful.

Don't Be a Hero: Accept Help

You could move everything yourself. You could carry that wardrobe down three flights of stairs with the strength of sheer determination and regret. But why? Professional removal services exist for a reason.

Hiring movers doesn't just save your back—it saves your sanity. They've lifted a thousand sofas, navigated impossible staircases, and packed vans with the precision of a Tetris grandmaster. If you're worried about cost, remember that medical bills for a slipped disc are significantly higher than a moving fee.

Even if you don't go full-service, at least rope in some friends. Bribing them with pizza is a classic strategy, though it's important to note that friends paid in pizza are less reliable than professionals.

The Art of Letting Go (No, Really, Let Go)

There's something about moving that brings out the hoarder in all of us. That chipped plate from university? Might be useful. The coat you haven't worn in five years? What if it comes back in fashion?

Stop. Be ruthless. Moving is the perfect excuse to shed the unnecessary. If you haven't used it in a year, it doesn't deserve a seat in the moving van. Donate, sell, or recycle what you don't need. If parting with things is hard, remind yourself that dragging them to a new house won't make them more useful.

(And yes, if it really brings you joy, keep that random ceramic frog you impulse-bought in 2014. But not everything can be special.)

Pack a Survival Kit Unless You Enjoy Suffering

Moving day will come, and with it, the realisation that you have no idea where anything important is. At this stage, some people consider simply setting fire to everything and starting fresh.

To avoid that temptation, pack a survival box. This should contain:

• Your phone charger (because it will disappear otherwise)
• A kettle, tea, and/or coffee (you do not want to be caffeine-deprived in a crisis)
• Toiletries and a towel (moving is sweaty business)
• A change of clothes (you will need it)
• Your favourite mug (if you lose it now, you may never see it again)

That way, when exhaustion hits and all your worldly possessions are in disarray, you can at least make a cup of tea and pretend everything is under control.

Prepare for the Inevitable Moving Day Shenanigans

No matter how well you plan, moving day will throw you a curveball. Maybe the keys to your new place won't be ready on time. Maybe the van driver will get lost. Maybe your sofa won't fit through the new front door despite very precise measurements.

This is where mindset comes in. Psychologists talk about "cognitive reframing" — the ability to see stress as a challenge rather than a disaster. Instead of spiraling into panic when things go sideways, take a deep breath, acknowledge the chaos, and adopt a "well, this will make a good story later" attitude.

Having a backup plan doesn't hurt either. A list of nearby cafes (with WiFi) for unexpected delays, a spare set of keys kept somewhere sensible (not in a taped-up box), and a number for a local locksmith are small steps that can save you from total meltdown.

Children, Pets, and Other Moving Day Wildcards

If you have small children or pets, moving day becomes even more exciting—by which we mean exponentially more chaotic. Nothing slows down the process like a toddler unpacking boxes as you pack them, or a cat bolting under the sofa and refusing to leave.

The best option? Offload them. Not permanently, of course—just for the day. A babysitter, a willing grandparent, or a pet-friendly friend will make your life much easier. If that's not possible, create a "safe zone" in an empty room with snacks, entertainment, and zero trip hazards.

And for the love of all that is good, keep pet carriers accessible. The last thing you want is a frantic search for a missing cat five minutes before you're supposed to leave.

The First Night: Lower Your Expectations

You are not going to fully unpack on the first night. You may think you will, but you will not. Instead, you will reach a point where exhaustion wins, and you will collapse onto whatever vaguely soft surface is available.

This is fine. Accept it. The goal for night one is not a fully set-up home—it's a functional space where you can sleep, eat something vaguely nutritious, and locate the bathroom without using your phone flashlight.

If you've packed a survival box (see above), you should be able to scrape together some dignity. If not, you may find yourself eating takeaway off a cardboard box, wearing yesterday's clothes, and seriously questioning your life choices. Either way, the real unpacking can wait.

That Wasn't So Bad, Was It?

Eventually, the dust settles. The boxes disappear. The kettle finds its place, the WiFi is connected, and slowly, your new house starts to feel like home.

Moving is never entirely painless, but it doesn't have to be an unmitigated disaster either. A bit of planning, some psychological tricks, and the wisdom of seasoned removal professionals can make the whole experience more bearable. And if all else fails, just keep your favourite mug close—it's the little things that get you through.

Article kindly provided by swiftremovals.co.uk