Moving is a notoriously stressful experience. All the hauling and packing are indeed lots of work, but thankfully, there are ways to make your move less stressful. Check out our recommended best practices for moving and how to make them stress-free.
How to Make a Move Stress-Free
We know, it sounds impossible. But don’t curse your screen just yet. Proper preparation can make a move go by with ease. So if you’re wondering how to make a move stress-free, start by following these simple steps.
Have a Plan
One of the most important parts of having a move go smoothly and stress-free is having a plan. Plans will help you create a timeline so you can keep on task, preventing you from overwhelming yourself at the last minute.
Plans also help you maintain and work within your budget. Moving is often expensive, but if you plan ahead you’ll be able to save yourself time, effort, and money.
You’ll also have a better sense of exactly what you need, such as knowing what you are willing to sell or donate, the number of boxes you need to purchase, or how your belongings will be moved. Having a moving checklist is an excellent way to help ensure you have everything you need to make your move stress-free.
Start Early
Starting early is important to make sure you limit the stress involved in your move because it will ensure that you will have the time you need to complete all your tasks. We are all busy, with countless obligations and you might end up having less time than you anticipated to move. Starting early also gives you a better chance of being able to schedule the movers you want for your moving window.
Clear Your Inventory
Having more stuff means there’s more to pack and move! Odds are that you will have accumulated junk or have other items and you feel like you don’t use enough or should go out. To help limit your packing stress, it’s a good tip to sell, donate, or gift as many of your belongings as you can.
You can give them to friends, sell them in a yard sale or online. If you’re throwing out things like old papers, magazines, boxes, bottles, and containers, do your best to get them recycled. Clearing your inventory will not only make your move less stressful in the long run, but it’s also a more sustainable approach to moving than throwing everything out.
Ask For Help
You don’t have to do it all by yourself! Ask friends and family to help with packing and hauling. Some of them might also have moving materials you can borrow, be it packing tape, bubble wrap, or some spare boxes. It’s also a great opportunity to spend some more time with the people you care about (especially if you treat them for helping you) before the big move.
To guarantee a stress-free move, you can hire professional movers. Pack-Men Movers offers full services, which means we can help you at almost every step of your move, from wrapping and packing to hauling and assembling furniture at your location.
Have the Right Attitude
As stressful moving can be, there is also a lot of excitement! You’re moving to a new place, so it’s time for a fresh new start. While it’s important to acknowledge that you will feel grief for the place you are leaving behind, you also need to look ahead. You could be excited about a new job, or maybe this new place is closer to the outdoors. You get to explore a brand new place, get to know it, call it home, and develop attachments to local businesses. Maybe there’s a friend in town that you have been meaning to meet up with. Having the right mindset going into a move will help make it seem less stressful and a little more exciting.
Moving Tips and Tricks
Moving seems to be one of those things that remains overwhelming no matter how many times you’ve done it. But there are plenty of ways to ease your anxiety and increase your productivity! Try out these moving tips and tricks to make your experience as smooth as possible.
Organize and Label
Make things a little easier for yourself by organizing items by category and labeling them. Having labels and markers will help you know what’s in a box before they’re opened and will make your packing (and unpacking) feel more compartmentalized. It’s also very helpful to know which boxes are light, which are especially heavy, and which hold fragile items. There are all sorts of ways to have an organization or labeling system for your moving boxes, so find one that works best for you.
Break Up the Work
A good tip to make your move less stressful is to focus on one thing or part at a time. For example, if you’re packing, focusing on one room at a time seems more doable than packing your entire living space. Breaking down your tasks will make your move feel less overwhelming and therefore less stressful.
Get Plenty of Rest
Not getting enough sleep is an ingredient for disaster, as lack of sleep increases irritability and stress. Make sure you get enough rest, sleep, and eat and drink well to ensure that your body is ready to take on the move.
Pack an Overnight Bag
You’ll be exhausted once you get to your new location, and the truth is that you won’t be able to completely unpack on your first day. The trick to save yourself from having to dig through your boxes looking for what you need to make it through the day is to pack an overnight bag. Having clothes, toiletries, and other necessary items ready for a few days on-hand will help take away some of the stress towards the end of your move.
Don’t Forget About Utilities
It’s important that there are basic utilities, especially electricity and sewage, at your new location, so don’t forget to try to get them scheduled or set up before the big move! Doing so will allow you to move in and get settled with as little stress as possible.
Move For Less
If you’re looking for affordable movers, then Pack-Men Movers is the choice for you! We are family-owned and operated, affordable, and have a full commitment to making sure your move is as stress-free as possible. After all, who doesn’t want to move for less? Packing, hauling, disassembling, and reassembling – we’ve got you covered. Get a free quote today to see how we can fit into your budget.