How to overcome the fear of moving out of state

So, you want to move out of state but you’re scared to do it? You’re not alone – fear of moving is a common thing. The mere idea of leaving one’s entire life behind and starting anew in a new place is so utterly terrifying that many people dismiss the prospect of moving without a second thought. Yet, many of these people later come to regret their decision.

Fear of change, while well-founded, is quite detrimental – it holds us back and chains us up. It causes us to stay put and miss great opportunities, stalls our growth and development, makes us complacent, and prevents us from striving for more. It needs to be overcome – so we can venture out into the world and spread our wings.

Therefore, even though you have every right to be nervous about moving to another state (it’s a stressful, complicated process with many risks and challenges), if you feel that it’s the right step to take, you should take it – you should not allow your fear of moving to keep you from following your dreams and achieving your goals in life.

But how to overcome the fear of moving out of state? How to get over your relocation anxiety and stress? It may be easier than you think – just follow the effective fear-managing strategies below.

How to overcome the fear of the unknown when moving to a new state

The fear of moving to another state stems from the many unknowns of your new life there – you don’t know what your new area is going to be like, whether you’re going to like your new job, if you’ll fit into your new community, etc. Everything will be new – new places, new people, new rules, new routine, etc. – and everything unfamiliar tends to be scary. There are too many uncertainties, too many risks, too many pitfalls. You don’t know what to expect and whether you’ll be able to successfully deal with it – so, you feel anxious and afraid.

While stepping out of one’s comfort zone – out of the safety of familiarity – is indeed a daunting endeavor, you can take certain steps to reduce the risks and, thus, reduce your fear of moving out of state:

• Learn as much about your new area as possible before the move – research your new state and city (job market, real estate market, cost of living, weather, crime rates, social norms, cultural scene, etc.) get familiar with the local rules and regulations, find out what your new city has to offer, etc. The more you know, the better you’ll be able to prepare for your new life and the less you will fear;
• Find an appropriate new home – a place that suits your needs and preferences (in terms of location, size, layout, design, available features, price, etc.) and where you’ll be able to feel at home right from the start. When you have a safe haven to retreat to (your home is your fortress, you know), it will be easier – and less frightening – to deal with the unfamiliar outside world;
• Set up an efficient moving budget – calculate your moving costs and post-relocation expenses and make sure you have at least double the amount you estimated as necessary for your big endeavor. Feeling financially comfortable with your move will greatly reduce your relocation anxieties;
• Remember your reasons to move – whether you’re moving for work, college, or love – or just in pursuit of new horizons – you probably have a good reason to leave your current home and move to another state. Focusing on that reason will help you find the courage and determination to overcome any challenges along your chosen path;
• Stay positive -moving to a new state will open a world of opportunities before you (new job options, new educational opportunities, new entertainment venues, new experiences, etc.) and will give you the chance to build the life you’ve always wanted for yourself. Getting excited about your new life will drive all your moving fears away.

Knowing what to expect, what challenges you may encounter, and what opportunities you will have when you move to your new area will give you confidence and peace of mind – and you will no longer be scared to move to another state.

Related: How to adapt to a new environment after moving

How to overcome the fear of losing what you have

When moving to a new place, you will lose more than your comfort zone – you will also lose your place in the world (reputation, status, influence, leadership, connections, etc.) and everything that you liked about your old area (favorite places, favorable climate, outdoor opportunities, enjoyable local events, etc.). You may not be able to practice your hobby or some of your preferred recreational activities in your new surroundings (or you may not have who to practice them with), you may not have access to everything you enjoy and are accustomed to (goods, services, amenities, etc.), and you will not have a support network in your new area. Knowing that you’ll lose so much if you move out of state is certain to make you sad and scared.

Yet, if you never live someplace else, if you never experience something new, you’ll never know if it won’t be better, if you won’t grow to love your new area even more than you loved your old one, if you won’t “win” much more than you will “lose”. You may miss wonderful opportunities and you may always regret it.

So, if your heart is telling you it’s time to move, you should listen. You should not allow the fear of loss to rob you from a brighter future.

Acknowledge what you’re giving up, have a meaningful goodbye, and move on. There is a big, bright world out there waiting for you. Who knows what it has to offer?

How to overcome the fear of moving away from family and friends

You may be afraid to move to a new state because diving into the unknown is truly daunting, but you probably dread the thought of parting with loved ones even more.

When moving to another state, you’ll leave family and friends behind – you’ll be able to stay in touch, of course, but you won’t be able to spend time together and have fun together, won’t be there for one other whenever needed, and will miss each other very much. And you’ll be lonely in your new area – at least in the beginning – and will feel sad and vulnerable. And that’s downright terrifying.

To get over your fear of moving away from family and friends, you need to remember that you won’t lose your loved ones, but will get a chance to create new friendships and start new relationships. The physical distance between you and your family and friends will prevent you from seeing each other often, but your special bond will not disappear and you won’t stop caring for each other. Then, you will meet many new people in your new area and will certainly find some good friends among them. (See also: How to make friends in a new city)

How to overcome the fear of the moving process

Moving is a difficult, expensive, risky process – especially when moving from one state to another. There is a lot of hassle to deal with (decluttering your home, researching movers, scheduling your move, taking care of the paperwork, packing your belongings, etc.) and many things that can go wrong (you may not be able to complete all the necessary moving preparations in time, you may fall victim to moving scams, your belongings may get lost or damaged during the relocation, etc.). It is, therefore, quite normal to feel nervous about moving out of state.

The best way to deal with your fear of moving is to get organized and get professional moving help – follow a detailed moving checklist, find trustworthy interstate movers to take care of your relocation, pack your items in a safe and efficient manner, etc. When your move is well-planned and well-organized, when you work with reliable moving professionals and avoid rookie moving mistakes, moving to another state won’t be so stressful or so scary anymore – everything will go smoothly and you’ll have nothing to worry about.

Must-read: How to prepare to move out of state

Most often, people are scared of moving out of state because they’re afraid of making the wrong choice. So, to overcome your fear of moving to another state, you need to be sure that you’re making the right decision – that it’s the right time to move, that you’re moving to the right place, that you’ve organized your move the right way and have found the right movers for the job. Then, you’ll have nothing to be afraid of.

See also: Pros and cons of moving to another state