Make moving stress-free
Moving to a new home is supposed to be exciting. But, as thrilling as your future may be, moving is stressful. It demands a lot of time and effort, and it’s common to feel anxious at the prospect of an unfamiliar location, culture, or workplace.There’s also the financial stress of hiring movers, putting up deposits, and travelling to your new destination.
It’s infamously one of life’s biggest stressors.
Yet it doesn’t have to be that way. Moving stress can and should be minimised. Read on to learn how to make your move as stress-free as possible!
Target your stressors
One of the biggest reasons people get stressed about moving is because they feel overwhelmed. By putting a plan in place and doing some prep work well before you start the moving process, you can nip that problem in the bud.
Start with your utilities. The last thing you want is to move into your new home and realise the water hasn’t been turned on yet. About a month in advance, call up your local municipality and other service providers (telephone, satellite television, internet service providers, etc.) and let them know you want to transfer your services. If your current provider isn’t available where you’re moving, let them know the date you need service terminated. Then set up a new account to have service turned on a few days before your move-in date.
Hire movers early
Book movers no later than a month in advance. If you wait until just before your move date, the higher-rated and/or cheaper companies will almost certainly be booked.
Clean items as you pack them, so you’re unpacking items that have already been dusted and wiped down.
Pack a special suitcase with a change of clothes, toiletries, medications, and anything else you might need to have on hand before all your belongings are unpacked. If you need to head into the office during or shortly after the move, make sure you set aside work clothes on hangers so they won’t be wrinkled.
Get organised
Feeling like your day is out of control or worrying that your belongings are missing is stressful. Keeping your move as organised as possible will minimize that stress.
Create an inventory of everything that’s being packed and moved. Label your boxes clearly, by room, so your movers know exactly where to unload them. Then write down everything that’s in each box. Print a few copies of your inventory in case one gets lost. When your movers begin unpacking, you can reference your list and ensure everything is accounted for.
Make a moving day checklist with a realistic timeline. With this checklist, you can input to-do entries from six weeks before, counting down to the big day.
Have the names and phone numbers/emails of all your points of contact for move day saved, in case you need to reach someone on the fly.
Build in some buffer time
Everyone hopes that moving day goes smoothly. Of course, there’s always a chance that mishaps derail your schedule. Packing might take longer than expected, or maybe your movers forget something at your old place.
It can also help to tackle packing in small chunks – in between your other life responsibilities – instead of trying to get everything done in a matter of days. For example, start small; go one room at a time, beginning with your least-used rooms. You might also negotiate with the buyer/seller to give you more time in your current home.
Consider booking an extra day with your rental vehicle. You never know what obstacles you’ll face while packing the truck or what extra stops you’ll make along the way.
If you need to take some time off of work to accomplish your move, try to schedule an extra day after your move to decompress, if you have the vacation time available. You’ll likely be arranging furniture, unpacking boxes, and organizing closets for days or weeks after the official move-in date.
Outsource your responsibilities
Many people plan on a total DIY move, taking on too many responsibilities for their timeline. This is where reasonable outsourcing comes in.
Even if you’re a bit strapped for cash, there are solutions to get the help you need for a stress-free move.
Here are some tips to consider for outsourcing your moving tasks:
• Hire professionals when possible. Having movers and cleaners come in to give a hand can make a big difference. If you don’t have a lot of extra cash, ask family and friends to help out. Maybe you have a parent who could babysit while you focus on directing the movers, or a buddy with a truck who can help you save money on transporting larger items.
• Delegate tasks as much as possible. If you have a spouse, children or teenagers, even nieces or nephews, put them to work. Cleaning, packing, and other smaller tasks are not nearly as difficult when it’s a group project.
• Choose the right day and time for moving day. When you move is just as important as how. Attempting to move during times of high traffic or bad weather will only add to the stress of the situation. Most people try to move on the weekends when they’re most likely to have time off of work (and family/friends are more likely to be available to help), so it can pay to wait until mid-week. Booking your move for a Tuesday or Wednesday will help ensure you can get a reservation with your chosen moving company and at a lower rate.
• Don’t forget to food prep snacks and drinks for the day of the move. Let’s be honest, no one wants to deal with you when you’re “hangry”. But the hustle and bustle of moving might mean you skip meals or have to resort to fast food. And don’t forget to carry plenty of water with you to avoid getting dehydrated.
There’s no guarantee any move will be entirely stress-free. But if you prepare well ahead of time, pace yourself, and have a game plan, a lot of the usual anxiety-causing culprits won’t seem so bad.
*This report was originally published as How To Make Moving NOT One of Life’s Biggest Stressors. Find it here: https://blog.hireahelper.com/moving-and-stress/