How to Overcome the Fear of Moving: 10 Tips for a Fearless Move

“There is nothing to fear but fear itself.”

This can’t be any truer, considering that it is the cold, iron grip of fear that stops people from striving for their dreams, expressing their authentic selves, trying new experiences, and moving forward in life.

The paralyzing effect of fear is especially evident in the “real” moving process –instead of excitement and happy anticipation at the prospect of a fresh start at a new place, people often feel immobilized by anxiety and fear in the face of relocation.

It’s normal to be scared of moving – the relocation process is difficult and has the potential for all kinds of disasters along the way. Worse still, it forces you to step out of your comfort zone and face the unknown with all its challenges and insecurities. It’s very hard, indeed, to leave favorite places, comfortable routines, and loved ones behind and get used to new surroundings, new people, and a new lifestyle. You have every reason to be afraid.

Yet, moving is a chance for a new beginning and a happier life – it offers plenty of opportunities and opens up new possibilities, driving you to find your true self and fight for your dreams.

To be able to build a better future for yourself, however, you need to get over the anxieties that are holding you back and make the most out of your move. Here are a few suggestions on how to overcome the fear of moving and ensure a smooth and successful relocation experience:

Fear of the Unknown

The greatest fear of moving to a new place comes from the uncertainty and unpredictability of your new life. You don’t know what your new area is going to be like, what kind of people you’re going to meet, whether you’re going to like your new job, if you’re going to fit in with your new community, etc. You don’t know what difficulties and problems you may encounter during the relocation process, if your decisions will prove right or wrong, if you’ll manage to cope with it all…

However good or bad your current situation may be, at least it’s familiar – you know what to expect and what to do and how to do it. A new situation will pose new challenges and new obstacles – and you may not be able to easily overcome them. There are too many insecurities and worrisome “what ifs” that make you feel anxious and scared to move out.

To overcome your moving anxiety, you need to stay positive and keep your focus on the reason why you chose to move.

Whether you decided to move someplace new in order to go to college, start a new job, or start a family of your own, you probably wanted a change – you may have been sick and tired of your daily routine or may have wanted to advance in your career or your studies, etc.

If a house move is likely to bring you any closer to accomplishing your goals or achieving your dreams, you should not allow any fears to hold you back.

Focus on the opportunities in front of you and see what your new place has to offer – lucrative career options, great educational programs, exciting entertainment venues, etc. You will be able to try new things, acquire new skills, expand your knowledge, gain plenty of experience, and see things in new perspective. Eventually, you’ll become confident in yourself and will be able to build the life you’ve always wanted.

See also: How to adapt to a new environment when moving

The fear of the unknown is the cause of other common moving fears as well:

Fear of Moving to a New House

Your home is your safe haven, your comfortable and cozy sanctuary, so you probably love it and enjoy it. You know every nook and cranny of your old house, its characteristic smell, its perks and its charm. You have your favorite spots in it and feel like you belong.

When you need to leave your sweet home and move into a new house or apartment, your heart won’t be there – you’ll have no memories associated with the new place and it will feel distant and strange and not yours at all. Not to mention that you may worry that some of your favorite furniture, family heirlooms, or other cherished belongings may not fit in the new space and you may be forced to part with them. Who can blame you if you’re nervous about moving into a new house, then? (See also: What to do if you move into a haunted house)

From another point of view though, moving to a new place is the opportunity of your lifetime – it gives you the chance to create the home of your dreams. So, instead of being afraid of moving house, you should do your best to create your perfect home:

• Find the right new home for you – research the real estate market in your new area and choose a property in a good overall condition that suits your lifestyle and meets all your needs and preferences (in terms of size, layout, available features, location, cost, etc.);
• Make a floor plan of your new place, so you know if your old belongings will fit in and where they will fit best. A floor plan will also help you envision your life in your new surroundings and design the perfect home environment for you;
• Arrange your new living space to your liking and make it practical and comfortable;
• Make your new place feel like home – hang your favorite pictures and photos on the walls, put your most treasured pieces of art, decorations, collectibles, and other cherished possessions on visible places, surround yourself with beloved items, etc.

Your new house or apartment will turn into your sweet, cozy home and will be your impregnable fortress in your new world.

Fear of Moving to a New City

While it is quite normal to be afraid to move to a new house, it’s even more natural to be afraid to move to a new city. You’ll need to adapt to a new environment, form new relationships, prove yourself in a new job, and find your place in a new community. A daunting prospect indeed. (See also: The effects of moving to a new city)

Yet, this fear of a new beginning stems primarily from not knowing what to expect – if you know what challenges you’re likely to encounter after the move, you’ll be able to prepare and this will give you confidence and peace of mind; if you know what opportunities you’ll have in your new city, you’ll be able to focus on the positive and get excited about your new life.

So, what you need to do in order to overcome your fear of moving to another city is get to know the area and get ready to change your life for the better.

Do some research and gather facts and insights about the change you’re anticipating – find out what your new city has to offer, what daily life in the area looks like, what residents love and hate about their city, what to expect from the weather, etc. Collect as much information as possible about the social practices and norms in your new community, the local laws and regulations, the business environment and cost of living in the area, the level of crime, medical care, education, etc.

Having a clear idea about what your post-relocation life will be like will help you get more comfortable with your future reality – you’ll feel better prepared and less vulnerable.

The more you know, the less you’ll fear.

Fear of Moving Away from Family and Friends

However scary the prospect of stepping out of your comfort zone and diving into the unknown may be, it cannot compare with the dread of parting with loved ones – when moving away, you’re going to leave family and friends behind and you’re going to miss them. A lot. You’ll feel lonely and sad and… downright terrified. There will be no one to share your joy and your pain, no one to offer support and encouragement when you need them, no one to make you laugh and laugh with you…

See also: Moving to a new city alone – challenges and solutions

To get over your fear of moving away, you need to remember that this is not the end of your relationship with loved ones, but the beginning of your journey towards your dreams.

Your special bond with your family and friends will not disappear simply because you’re a few hundred or a few thousand miles apart – you’ll still care for each other, no matter what (or where). There are many ways to stay in touch with the people who matter to you (phone calls, video chats, letters, social media, visits, etc.) and many ways to deal with moving to a new city alone (building a routine, working towards your goals, engaging in enjoyable activities, trying new experiences, making new friends, etc.).

Eventually, you’ll overcome your homesickness and will learn to stand on your own feet and strive for your own dreams.

This is all the more true for young adults who’re about to start living on their own for the first time. However scared to move out of parents’ house they may be (and even those who appear confident about leaving home experience some level of anxiety when the time comes to do so), this is their chance to prove themselves, become self-reliant and self-confident, grow as persons, find their true selves, and build the lives they want for themselves. (See also: Pros and cons of moving out of parents’ house)

The fear of moving out of parents’ house is just one manifestation of the fear of moving away from home – even people who are not moving out for the first time often feel anxious about the upcoming change in their lives:

Fear of Losing What You Have

The fear of losing friends and the comfortable familiarity of home may be the strongest of all moving fears, but it is not the only one. You may be afraid of losing your hard-earned place in the world (your reputation, your status, your influence, your social circle, etc.), your enjoyable pastime (you may not be able to practice your hobby or favorite recreational activities in your new surroundings, or you may simply not have who to practice them with), your accustomed conveniences (easy access to whatever you need, reliable services, friendly neighbors, etc.), or anything else that felt good in your life so far or helped you get where you’re now.

You know that things will change after the move and may, therefore, feel sadness, emptiness, and confusion at the thought of leaving it all behind. Besides, there may be things you wanted to do in your old surroundings and never got around to doing, so you’re likely to feel regret over the missed opportunities as well.

To overcome that fear of loss, you need to acknowledge what you’re giving up and set your goals for the future. Be grateful for all the wonderful people and great things you’ve had in your life, allow yourself to be sad for everyone and everything you’re leaving behind, and then let the hope for a better future chase the sadness away.

Fear of Making the Wrong Choice

With so many important decisions and consequential choices to make when moving house, you have every right to be afraid of making a mistake. You may not be sure if it’s the right time to move; if you’ve chosen the right place to move to; if you’ve found the right movers for the job; if you’ve made the right decision as to what to take and what to throw, etc. You may be apprehensive that your plans might not go as expected. You may be afraid of failure. You may be worried that others will judge you harshly.

To get over such fears, you need to stop thinking about the mistakes you might make in the future and start thinking about what steps to take in order to achieve what you want in life. Making mistakes is inevitable on your journey to success – you should not set your expectations (of yourself, or others, or your new reality) too high and should not yield to the judgment of others.

Whether you’re scared of moving out of state or afraid to move away from family, all these moving fears are associated with (or more precisely put – caused by) the ultimate fear of change. It is natural and universal and applies to all aspects of life.

Yet, there are specific moving house fears that only occur in the event of a residential relocation.

See also: Moving house emotions

Fear of Not Having Enough Time

Time is one of the greatest stress factors in modern life – people never have enough time for anything. Especially so when trying to organize a house move and take care of all the arduous relocation tasks while also working, looking after kids and/or pets, and saying goodbye to family and friends. Time just seems to be ticking faster and faster as moving day approaches.

See also: How to save time when moving

So, the fear that you’re falling behind schedule and won’t be ready on time for the big move is completely rational. The only way to cope with your time anxiety and make sure you’re on track with your moving preparations is to create a detailed moving checklist and an intricate packing timeline and follow them strictly, no matter what. This way, you’ll stay focused and organized throughout the moving process, will be able to prioritize your work and deal with the numerous moving tasks one at a time, and will complete your moving preparations in a quick and efficient manner.

Fear of Breaking the Bank

Considering how expensive moving is, it comes as no surprise that people are afraid of spending too much on their moves and encountering financial difficulties as a result:

• You may be afraid that your savings won’t be enough to cover the cost of your move and all relocation-related expenses (See also: How much money to save for moving);
• You may be afraid of wasting your money on unnecessary moving services or inappropriate moving materials, etc. (See also: Where to get free packing supplies; How to save on additional moving services);
• You may be afraid of being overcharged or scammed by dishonest movers (See also: How to avoid moving scams);
• You may be afraid of overspending after the move (See also: How to save money after moving to a new city).

These are all legitimate fears that can easily dampen your moving excitement. Yet, you should not succumb to financial anxieties, as there are many ways to make your relocation affordable and protect your move from fraud:

• Create a moving budget to better organize your finances and keep track of your moving expenses;
• Schedule your move well ahead of time and try to avoid peak moving times when moving companies charge more for their services;
• Find cheap, reliable movers to help you relocate – Learn the red flags of moving fraud and research your movers well to make sure you’re hiring licensed, insured, and trustworthy moving partners to work with;
• Pare down your possessions and reduce the number of items you have for moving as the final moving cost is based on the weight of your shipment;
• Pack your items yourself – get cheap packing materials, use efficient packing techniques to optimize space and materials, be sure to provide your belongings with good protection, etc.;
• Be well prepared for moving day to avoid delays and extra charges.

Fear of Having Your Belongings Lost or Damaged

When moving house, you need to take all your earthly possessions (or at least those of them that have high practical, sentimental, or monetary value) to your new location – and regardless of whether you’re moving yourself or using professional moving services, your treasured belongings are at a high risk of damage during the relocation process. Not only can your possessions be easily broken or ruined during loading/unloading and transportation, but you have certainly heard numerous horror stories about rogue movers disappearing with their customers’ belongings or holding them hostage for a ransom.

It is, therefore, easy to understand why the fear that one’s possessions may not survive the move is so common.

The best way to handle this particular fear of moving house is to pack your belongings with great care, using the right materials and the safest packing techniques for different types of items (or even better – have your stuff packed by experienced packers), and find experienced, trustworthy movers to take care of your possessions. Getting appropriate moving insurance will also help ensure your peace of mind.

Fear of the Logistics of Moving

Last but not least, you may be afraid of troubles and disasters along the way – after all organizing and performing a house move is a very complicated process, prone to all kinds of disasters. And even if nothing goes wrong, the mere hassle of moving is daunting enough.

To make your relocation simpler and smoother, you need professional moving assistance. The pros can take care of your move from start to finish, if you wish so, or handle the more difficult, riskier aspects of the process, if you prefer to do some of the work yourself. The experienced specialists will complete the job in the safest and most efficient way possible, so you’ll have nothing to worry about.

Just make sure you find the right movers for you – and move into your new life without a fear or concern!