Kibworth Osteopaths discussing… Moving House
10 April 2025
As some of you know, the Coombes family is on the move.
It might only be a few miles down the road (so don’t worry—the clinic remains unaffected!), but a house move is still a house move!
Moving is a well-known stressor and the ultimate emotional roller coaster.
From the moment you decide to relocate, you’ve booked your seat on that ride—and you’ll want to buckle up, because it’s a wild one.
So far, I’ve experienced a full spectrum of emotions: nerves, excitement, confusion, frustration, more excitement and confusion, and a massive dose of gratitude.
Let’s break down the moving process and explore how to stay as physically well as possible.
I’ll also touch on looking after your mental health—though I’m not a specialist in that area, so if you need support, I encourage you to reach out to a mental health professional.
Preparing Yourself and Your Current Home
You’ve made the decision. The FOR SALE or TO LET sign is up. Enter excitement—and likely, a burst of nervous energy! And of course, the “BIG TIDY UP.”
Show-Home Status is officially underway. Honestly, a quick tidy was never going to cut it at Casa Coombes—four humans and pets made sure of that!
We needed several hours before viewings just to get the house and garden in shape. Cleaning and tidying are physical tasks, often involving a lot of leaning, reaching, and lifting in a short amount of time.
We asked for all viewings to happen on the same day to manage the load.
Daily visits would have been too much, so we ensured our agent knew we preferred viewings in blocks rather than scattered throughout the week.
I have a massive appreciation for our dog. After the chaos of cleaning, heading out for a walk across the fields while the agent handled the viewings provided the perfect mental and physical reset.
I’d like to say the same for the cats, but let’s be honest… they didn’t care (I love you guys if you’re reading this)!
Finding Your Next Home
This is where things kick off. Excitement, nerves, frustration, and confusion—they all make an appearance.
We stayed close to where we already lived, so no long drives were required.
But break the journey up if your move involves travelling a greater distance. I recommend taking a 5–10 minute break every 90 minutes to reset your mind and body. Walk around your car or a service station—just get moving.
The toughest moment in our process so far was walking away from a house the survey clearly advised against. It meant going back to square one.
Once again, I’m incredibly thankful to our buyers for their patience, the professionals involved, my dog for dragging me into nature (and being the best listener), and my parents, who spent hours helping us trawl through listings online.
My regular exercise routine also kept me grounded. I’m unapologetically committed to my morning movement—some days it’s a run, others Pilates—and journaling.
Staying physically active and mentally grounded was crucial. It gave me space to think, process jumbled thoughts, and maintain some sense of normality amid the upheaval.
The Paperwork (That Multiplies Overnight)
Once the offer was accepted, hello, excitement, this was closely followed by a mountain of paperwork that can feel completely overwhelming.
The documents multiply independently between estate agents, mortgage brokers, and solicitors. I recently spoke with a patient who’s also moving, and he said, “The solicitor’s paperwork is intense—and I am a solicitor!”
Give yourself the time to handle this correctly, ideally on a laptop or pen and paper, not on your phone (hello, tech neck!). Take regular breaks (hourly is ideal) to avoid fatigue.
I’m so grateful for my parents’ help (hours on the phone!), the professionals who answered my many questions, and again, my dog, for encouraging those walks that helped clear my head and move my body.
Packing Up
There are two options: hire a company or go the DIY route. We went DIY!
It turned out to be a pretty cathartic experience—I chose to approach it with a mindset of pleasure, not pressure. It also gave us the chance for a long-overdue clear-out.
Some top tips for protecting your body:
- Mind your back! Avoid overpacking boxes—use smaller ones for heavier items like books to make lifting safer.
- If packing at floor level, squat rather than bend over. I preferred placing the box on a table, gathering items to pack, then carefully sealing and lifting using good form: engaging my core, bending my knees, keeping the box close to my body. Once lifted, I didn’t twist to put it down—just stepped back and lowered it gently using my knees. (Thanks, years of squat training!)
Pace yourself. In the lead-up to moving day, we packed one box a day—or seven on a Sunday if life got hectic. This prevented physical burnout and kept the process manageable.
For bigger jobs (like clearing the loft), we were extra careful—we took breaks, lifted with awareness, and stretched at the end of the day.
If you have any known weak spots in your body, be kind to them. Use heat or ice as needed (free advice sheet on my website), or contact me or your healthcare professional for tailored support.
Unpacking
This is the phase where you realise that half your belongings don’t quite fit in the new space.
Feelings of exhaustion, overwhelm, and disbelief are normal, often accompanied by unexpected bursts of laughter. Settling in takes ages.
There will be another round of decluttering. Take your time, listen to your body, and respect your limits.
Be sure to stretch at the end of each day, breathe deeply, and acknowledge how far you’ve come.
In Summary
Moving house is undeniably stressful, outrageously expensive, and mentally draining. But it’s also a reminder that we can do hard things.
I learned that I can still function in complete chaos, thanks to a solid routine built around well-being, exercise, and structure.
I also realised I’m far more capable than I ever gave myself credit for (seriously, that paperwork is a beast!).
I’m proud of the wins and grateful for the lessons that gave me newfound confidence.
I’m learning to ask for help when I need it. Stepping outside of your comfort zone is the only way to grow—and when you grow, you glow.