5 Ways You Can Make Moving Less Stressful

5 Ways You Can Make Moving Less Stressful

Laurie Larson

 

Image by Pexels

 

Did you know that moving homes is one of the most stressful events you will experience in your lifetime?

 

Whether you are switching apartments or single family houses, the common stressors are all the same when it comes to planning, organizing, and packing most effectively.

 

Moving can seem like a never ending process that takes longer than you thought it would, but using the following five tips, you can make moving less painful, stressful, and nerve racking.

 

Accept the Reality of the Situation

 

You must first accept that no moving job is not going to be stressful, even if you think you have less belongings than you used to. It is easy to underestimate or kid yourself on how much stuff will need to be sorted through and discarded or brought with you.

 

The stress will be less of a setback if you are ready for and anticipating it. Stress is a natural response that you cannot necessarily fight; in fact, stress can work for you and be a good thing. So embrace it!

 

Prioritize Your Packing

 

As part of a moving strategy, it is important to prioritize, or else it is easy to get overwhelmed and not know where to start. Start with the necessities, packing what you will need for the first couple of days and nights you will be staying in your new home.

 

This packing includes your survival kit, toiletries, a change of clothes, medicine, and any other essentials you need. Keep this packing with you instead of inside the moving truck so you have it while you are in-between homes.

 

Once you have the bare necessities that will last you for a few days, be strategic about the next round of packing you choose to do. If you need to hit a milestone to feel accomplished, you can continue by packing up space taking non-essentials, like china and all the old books on your bookshelf. Knocking those out can give you an encouraging boost.

 

Remember to pack a little at a time and take your time. Try packing one room at a time, and ask someone in advance to come over to tackle tougher rooms to pack like a kitchen.

 

Stay Organized and Purge, Purge, Purge

 

Prioritizing is one method of staying organized, and labeling is another. Labeling your boxes either with what the contents are or by color coding is essential. The last thing you want is to have tons of boxes in your new garage and have no idea what’s in any of them.

 

In addition to labeling, it is important to separate key documents like passports and other records in one easy to remember place that won’t get lost in the shuffle. Another great way to stay organized and not get super stressed is to simply throw away what you no longer use or need.

 

Decluttering means less boxes to pack and less headaches when you get to your new home, when you open boxes labeled ‘miscellaneous’ and have no idea what to do with the contents. Take this time when you are moving to purge items you have not used in two years or more. It’s worth making the tough decisions on what to keep and what to throw away before you move into the new home.

 

Don’t be Shy - Ask for Support

 

Your true friends are the people that will show up and help you on your moving day - family members included. Do not shy away from asking for help, and don’t convince yourself that if you just work hard enough and long enough, that you can do it all yourself.

 

If you are all alone in the area you live, it is worth hiring professional movers. Some moving companies both pack your belongings and move them, so you may want to look into pricing options for both.

 

It is important to do your homework on moving companies and pick the one you both trust and that has good online reviews. Word of mouth is important too. Schedule a meeting in advance where they visit your current home so they can give you an accurate moving estimate.

 

Remember to Take Care of Yourself

 

It can be easy to procrastinate with moving tasks and then try to pull an all-nighter to be ready for the actual, scheduled moving day. The less you rest, the more stress you will bear.

 

If you have significantly less sleep for a few nights in a row, then you will experience sleep deprivation symptoms like irritability in addition to stress, which is not a good combination when moving! The more time you invest in taking care of yourself and properly resting, the more efficient you will be in the moving process.

Along with these five tips, it is also important to be mindful of safety precautions when moving you and your family, as well as often unanticipated moving costs. Moving can be part of such a huge step in life, so use these tips to cut the stress of this life transition in half.