According to research by O2, the stress of moving home is keeping over seven million people awake at night. The new research makes moving home as one of the top five most stressful things you can do in your life.

17% of movers admit that worrying about the big move keeps them awake at night, with the cost of moving and time it takes to move top of our worries:

More than a quarter (27%) worry about the cost, as 39% sacrificed nights out with friends, spent less on clothes or gave up a holiday to compensate while nearly one in five (19%) worry about finding the time to pack

Tea, TV and take-ways were identified as the things we do in the first few hours to help us feel at home after a move - 61% of us make a cup of tea, 42% set up the TV and 14% even find the local takeaway within the first few hours of moving in.

Whilst more than a third (37%) admits to procrastinating over their unpacking, it seems getting online is important to home-movers with around half (49%) getting online in the first two weeks.

But if you live next door to a new mover, don’t expect a visit anytime soon, 21% of movers have put off meeting their new neighbours and 9% take more than a month before they get around to saying hello.

With so many things to think about it’s no surprise that millions of us get stressed about moving home, O2 Home Broadband and home moving expert Alison Cork have come together to offer advice and tips to take the stress out of moving:

MAKE A PLAN: Stress is caused primarily when events happen that are outside of our control. The best way to deal with moving is to have a clearly defined and realistic moving plan so that you feel you are in charge of the process. Start by writing out a tick list of all the tasks that you need to cover off, with a timeline that starts at least three months before the move date.

BUDGET: More than a quarter of us (27%) admit to worrying about the cost of moving so why not build this cost into the mortgage to help spread the cost of payments, don’t forget to account for this cost when doing your sums.

SPREAD THE COST: With 16% of us cutting back on luxuries such as holidays and clothes because of the cost of moving, your new home might seem like a punishment when it should be a pleasure! To help, set up a separate savings account called ‘Moving’ (even if you are not yet thinking of it) – just a few pounds a week will fairly quickly cover the cost of moving. Better than losing that week in the sun!

TAKE TIME: Nearly one in five (19%) of us admits that we were worried about finding the time to pack and all the things they had to organise for the move. However, most of us underestimate the time we will need. Don’t put yourself under unnecessary pressure. Take more time off work than you think you will need and get as much as possible unpacked and sorted, what you don’t unpack immediately tends to sit around in boxes for months afterwards! It’s a completely false economy not to take enough time to unpack properly.

DECLUTTER: It takes us on average two and a half weeks to get our home in order after the big move*. Packing and unpacking is challenging both practically and psychologically, as it forces us to look closely at all our possessions. Make it easier by taking some time well in advance of moving, to edit your possessions, de-clutter, and get rid of/sell your unwanted items. Not only could this offset the cost of moving, but it will mean you have less to take!

PRIORITISE: Around half of us (49%) make sure we get back online in the first two weeks following the big move. Part of achieving a smooth and stress free move is to feel that you have moved seamlessly into your new home without a break in services. So make a list of what means most to you – your internet or TV – and make sure that these are prioritized so that whatever else happens on move day, you have the reassurance of these comforts. There are many people who can help along the way, like O2 Gurus, technology experts offering advice and help with any questions you might have about setting up broadband in your new home.

GET LOCAL: Whilst more than a fifth (21%) put off meeting our new neighbours, we shouldn’t underestimate the importance of getting to know them. Having a local support network and a sense of community is vital to your personal wellbeing, and it is important to take the time to connect with those living around you. Ultimately, a house only becomes a home because of the people living in and around it, not because of the thickness of the carpet!

Five quick and simple tips to help take the stress out of moving home:

1.       PLAN AHEAD: Remember to change your suppliers so you have essentials such as home broadband, electricity and gas as soon as you move in. Don’t forgot to update your to your new address too - organise a re-direct of post from your old address for at least two months after you move – new tenants/owners often forget to forward on mail.

2.       USE YOUR MOVE TIME WISELY: If you are hiring your own moving van, don’t be tempted to take a small van, unless you have very few possessions. A small van will mean more trips, and take longer, which can be exhausting.

3.       RESEARCH THE LOCAL AREA: Just in case you don’t have any electricity, research in advance the local restaurant or takeaway, so that whatever else happens, you can feed and water the all important troops!

4.       BE PREPARED ON THE DAY: Create a moving box that stays with you at all times on moving day – make sure it contains the important things you need to hand – a kettle, tea bags, treats for the kids, small toys and games to keep them busy, toiletries to freshen up, loo roll and face towels. Anything that makes you feel clean and comfortable amongst all the boxes!

5.       GET EXPERT HELP: Getting the internet set up in our new home is important to millions of us. If you need help, O2 Gurus are technology experts that offer free advice and can answer any technical queries you might have when setting up broadband in your new home

Alison Cork, home moving expert, commented: “Moving home doesn’t have to be stressful. In fact, it should be an exciting time when you embark on a new chapter and make new friends. There are lots of ways to take the stress out of moving home from giving yourself plenty of time to plan ahead or asking your friends and family for help to advice from experts.”

Phil Nolan, Guru Leader, said: “We understand that moving home is one of the most stressful things our customers ever have to go through. And we want to make it as quick, easy and stress free as possible by having dedicated experts on hand to help. Our O2 Gurus are technology experts; they are UK-based and available 24/7 on the phone and can help make sure setting up your internet is simple and straightforward - giving you one less thing to worry about when you’re moving home.”