Relocation is one of the biggest events in a person’s life. Like any other big change, moving house causes stress and insomnia for many different reasons. The organization of the move and adjusting to the new environment may lead to stress and sleep deprivation, which can cause a lot of emotional and health issues.

Apart from sleep deprivation, common symptoms that go together with insomnia are fatigue, low concentration, mood swings, headaches – so be sure to recognize them on time. This way you can react on time and treat these problems the right way. Therefore, if you are planning to relocate, be sure to read the most common causes of insomnia and how to handle this unpleasant sleep disruption.

Moving and insomnia – causes

When moving house, there are several reasons why many people experience stress and anxiety. This huge life event can cause sleep deprivation in many ways.

Before the move

Before people actually move to a new home, these are the most common causes of insomnia and stress:

• lack of time – working and packing at the same time is very stressful and time-consuming, so people often stay up late on purpose to finish packing;
• unreliable movers – if you accidentally choose unprofessional movers, they can often cause moving problems – as a result, you get unexpected costs and end up being late for your move;
• busy traffic – bad traffic, as well as traffic accidents, can put off your move and cause several problems as a result;
• lack of packing material – you need to prepare enough (and even more) packing materials so you can avoid these last-minute problems like not having enough moving boxes to pack your items.

After the move

You may think you are ‘safe’ now once the transport process is finished, but you are wrong. Common after-the-move situations that put moving and insomnia together are:

• jetlag – if you are moving to another country and go through several time zones, you may experience the symptoms of jetlag which can lead to insomnia;
• missing items – the first thing you do when your mover leaves the boxes is to check if there’s anything missing or damaged;
• adjusting to the new surroundings – a new home can feel like a strange place and therefore disrupt your sleep;
• trouble adapting to the new bed/bedroom – you have bought a shiny new bed/mattress for your new home; however, it takes time to adapt to it, and it may feel like a hotel bed for a while;
• getting used to the new partner/roommate – moving in together or getting married is a huge step, and therefore can easily disrupt your sleep, due to all the excitement.

What are the solutions to the problems related to moving and insomnia?

Even though it seems like a common thing, there are very good solutions to sleep problems caused by relocation. If you have a strategic approach to the moving process and if you are prepared for it, you will have no problems. Of course, there is always the option of treating insomnia with meds, but let’s see how you can avoid it in the first place. Here are some useful tips and tricks on how to sleep well throughout the moving process.

Plan your move right

Be sure to organize your move and plan everything in detail – this includes day-by-day chores, the moving budget, packing supplies, etc. When you have everything planned on paper, you will feel much more secure and ready to go to sleep.

Hire the right movers

When going through such a complicated thing like relocation, it’s okay to ask for some moving assistance when you need it. If you hire a reliable moving company, you’ll know your items are in good hands. Therefore, you’ll feel much safer and relieved since the biggest chunk of work will be done by professionals.

Have the right mindset about moving and insomnia

If you feel anxious about the relocation, you may end up with sleep disorders. Therefore, you need to find a way to feel relaxed and ready for this adventure. What you can do to achieve a good and healthy mindset is to try staying positive and optimistic, but at the same time, don’t freak out if something bad happens. Every process has bumps on the road, so expect something like that to happen and try to handle it the best way possible.

Prepare yourself for going to bed

When you arrive at your new home, you probably expect to lack sleep due to excitement and exhaustion. Therefore, be sure to go to bed at least half an hour earlier than usual, so you can calm and prepare your body for going to sleep. It’s good to think about something positive and play some relaxing music. You can leave the music on at a low volume for the whole night – it will cancel other interrupting sounds you may hear from the outside. Extra tip: instead of music, you can listen to the sounds of nature, which can be really relaxing.

Writing down your worries about moving and insomnia

We have already mentioned it is a good idea to have a written plan for your relocation for the sake of organizing and feeling safer. Once you’re done with moving, you can still use this method after you move in to your new home. Be sure to write down any worries, plans or problems you might have, as well as the solutions you propose. By doing this, you will avoid worrying about these issues when you go to bed, which can deprive you of sleep very easily. If you have everything written down, you’ll go to bed with a clear mind.

Stay positive

The bottom line is – you need to be optimistic and practical. If there are any problems, stop worrying and find the easiest way to solve them. Moving and insomnia commonly go together, because the whole moving process is stressful and very hectic. Stay positive and find a way to avoid all the stress with our simple tips.

Never underestimate that you may need help solving your sleep issues. Contact Alaska Sleep Clinic today to speak with one of our board-certified sleep specialists.