Moving is exhausting – that’s a fact. There is simply too much to do, too much to think of, and too much to worry about. So, once the relocation process is over, it’s normal to feel drained and fatigued. And this feeling of exhaustion and stress can last for more than a couple of days after the move.
Post-moving fatigue can affect your mood and well-being so much that it may ruin your first days and weeks in your new home – you may feel too tired to unpack and set up your new place, let alone go out and explore your new surroundings; you may feel too down to interact with others, let alone meet new people and make new friends; you may feel too weary to keep your daily routine, let alone try new experiences and undertake new adventures.
In order to get your life back on track and start enjoying your new world, you need to overcome your moving exhaustion and recharge your energy and your spirit.
So, what can you do to feel better? How to deal with moving fatigue?
Read on to find the solution you need:
What is post-moving exhaustion?
Post-moving fatigue is a feeling of tiredness and dejection that comes after the arduous relocation process. It’s very common and affects more than 60% of people who have moved house.
What causes moving house exhaustion?
If you’re wondering “Why am I so tired after moving?”, you need to remember that the process of relocating to a new home can take a serious toll on anyone:
- Moving is physically demanding – It requires a lot of hard work (running around to complete countless moving tasks, packing, cleaning, heavy lifting, etc.) and leaves little time for sleep and rest. (See also: How does moving house affect you physically?)
- Moving is emotionally draining – There are too many important decisions to make and too many things that can go wrong, not to mention how hard it is to step out of one’s comfort zone and face the unknown. The stress, anxiety, and worries can be extremely overwhelming and debilitating (See also: Why is moving so stressful?)
Considering all of the above, it’s easy to understand why moving is tiring – it is tough on the mind and strenuous on the body.
Side effects of moving exhaustion
While it may be normal to feel tired after moving, post-moving exhaustion is not limited to physical tiredness and lack of energy – it can affect your health and your spiritual well-being as well. Moving fatigue can lead to or be related to:
- Body aches – Even if you didn’t get injured during the move, you’re still likely to experience pain in your legs, arms, shoulders, and back for quite some time after the relocation. Muscle pain and joint pain are nearly inevitable after the strenuous moving day. (See also: How to avoid accidents and injuries when moving)
- Headache – The stress, worries, and insufficient sleep during the moving process can cause severe headaches – and they may continue for days or weeks after the move;
- Inability to concentrate – When you’re physically exhausted, your mind slows down and gets muddled – it becomes very difficult to think straight and stay focused;
- Dejection and irritability – Fatigue affects not only the body and mind, but the mood as well – when you’re too tired, you don’t want to deal with anything, don’t have any patience, everything irritates you, and things seem much worse than they actually are. (See also: How to stay in good mood during your move)
- Compromised immune system – The stress and exhaustion during the moving process cause cortisol levels to go out of whack – and since cortisol regulates the immune response and anti-inflammatory processes in the body, this leads to weakened ability to fight infections and disease. In other words, moving stress and fatigue leave you susceptible to colds and illnesses (See also: How to stay healthy during a move)
Low blood pressure, dizziness, difficulty falling asleep, melancholy, apathy, and depression are also common side effects of post-moving fatigue.
Related: How to overcome relocation depression
How to deal with post-moving fatigue
To avoid the negative effects of moving fatigue and regain the energy and enthusiasm you need to ensure a successful start to your new life, you have to find a way to overcome your exhaustion as soon as possible.
Here are some expert tips and advice for handling post-relocation fatigue that will help you recover quickly and easily after your move:
Get plenty of sleep and rest
Without a doubt, the best thing that you can do for your body and mind when you’re feeling exhausted after moving house is to get plenty of sleep and rest.
Getting enough sleep is extremely important for your physical and mental well-being, so, no matter how much work you have, you shouldn’t be tempted to stay up too late at night or get up too early in the morning to get it done.
It’s essential to allow yourself a full night’s sleep – even a couple of extra hours – during the first days after the move. It will help you regain your physical strength and your mental stamina, so you’ll have the energy and motivation to deal with various post-relocation tasks. Besides, when you’re well-rested, you’ll work faster, will think more clearly, and will make better decisions – so you’ll easily compensate for the “lost time” sleeping.
Don’t rush things
There will be a lot of tasks to complete after the move and a lot of things to take care of – and no matter how much you want to get everything done and settle down as quickly as possible, you won’t be able to do it all in a day or two.
So, don’t rush yourself – take some time to relax and unwind after the move. Take a nice long bath, listen to music, read a book, watch a movie, go out for a walk – let yourself be lazy for a couple of days, so you can recharge and recuperate.
Bonus tip: If possible, get a few days off work after the relocation. You won’t be able to concentrate and get things done when you’re too tired, so it will be better to get some free time to recover before you get back to work.
Take care of yourself
As important as rest may be, it won’t be enough to get you back on your feet – to recover your strength, you will need proper nutrition and hydration:
1) Eat healthily
It’s ok to order pizza or burgers on the evening of moving day, but in order to regain your strength and improve your stamina, you need a healthy diet.
So, don’t be tempted to live on fast food – convenient as it may be – for days or weeks after the move. Make an effort to eat healthy foods (fruits, vegetables, nuts, eggs, lean meats, low-fat dairy products, whole-grain bread, etc.) and stay away from highly processed foods, fatty foods, and foods that contain a lot of sugar – they will make you feel sluggish and even more tired.
Also, be sure to eat regularly – don’t skip meals and try to eat at about the same times every day.
2) Stay well hydrated
Proper hydration is very important for your energy levels and overall well-being, so make yourself a favor and get enough fluids during the post-move period.
Drink plenty of water, green tea (with no sugar), and other healthy, refreshing drinks (fruit juices, smoothies, etc.) and try to avoid carbonated drinks and energy drinks that can be harmful to your health.
Sleep, relaxation, and proper nutrition will help you rest your body and regain your strength. To fully overcome your moving exhaustion, however, you need to rest and recharge your mind as well.
Connect with loved ones
If you moved to a new city alone, your moving fatigue will be accompanied and exacerbated by feelings of sadness and loneliness. You will miss your family and friends and it will be even more difficult to find the motivation to brave your new world.
To make things easier and overcome your sadness, your need to connect with your loved ones – call them, text them, use video chats and social media, etc. There are many ways to stay in touch with the people who matter to you and share your experiences, thoughts, and emotions. The encouragement and support your loved ones will provide will help you regain your strength and will rekindle your enthusiasm and optimism.
Related: How to stay in touch with loved ones after moving
Do the things you love doing
One of the best ways to overcome moving exhaustion is to engage in your favorite activities – hobbies, interests, passion projects, etc.
Doing the things you love doing will bring you joy and will take much of the stress and fatigue away – it will help you clear your mind of move-related worries and will make you feel refreshed and invigorated.
Afterwards, you will have the stamina to face new challenges and the energy and desire to explore your new world.
Treat yourself to something special
After a successful move, you deserve to be rewarded for a job well done – and a good reward can go a long way toward combating mental fatigue. It will lift your spirits and will make you feel good, improving your overall emotional well-being and helping you regain motivation and excitement for your new life.
Your best bet is to get a massage or go to a spa (it’s not only enjoyable and relaxing but also helps reduce body aches and pains), but you can choose anything that brings you pleasure and joy – have dinner at a fancy restaurant, see a movie or a play, attend a sports event or a cultural event, etc.
You can even set up a mini-vacation for you and your family – visit a place of interest in your new area, go to a nearby amusement park, go camping, or fishing, or hiking, or skiing – just do something fun and enjoyable to recharge yourself with positive energy.
See also: How to reward yourself after a move
Explore your new world and enjoy your new life
Once you’ve had enough rest and recharged your batteries, it’s time to get out of the house and explore your new world:
- Get to know your new neighborhood – walk around the streets, discover local businesses and amenities, find out key places and local hotspots, etc.;
- Get involved in the community life – visit local events, volunteer at local charities, participate in community activities, etc.;
- Take every chance you have to meet new people – introduce yourself to your new neighbors, spend time in public spaces, hang out at local hotspots, engage in casual conversations with whoever is interested in talking to you, accept social invitations, etc.;
- See what your new city has to offer, try new things, and say “yes” to every opportunity.
With every exciting experience you have and every new friend you make, a bit of your moving fatigue will go away – and before you know it there will be no trace of your post-relocation exhaustion left. You will be full of energy and enthusiasm and will be more than ready to face whatever challenges may await you.
Bonus tip: Using professional moving services can help you prevent moving exhaustion to a great extent – the pros will not only do all the hard work for you (so you won’t be physically exhausted) but will ensure your safe and smooth relocation experience (so moving stress – and moving fatigue – will be reduced to a minimum). Just make sure you hire reliable and experienced professionals for your relocation and relax – all will be well.
