Did you know that moving falls under the top 3 of the most stressful life events? And it gets even more unnerving if you’re selling or buying property. Knowing the effects all of this can have on your overall health, it’s only natural to look for ways to make this process a bit easier. Here are some ideas on how to move with as little stress as possible.
Get rid of what you don’t need
When you think about your belongings, you’ll probably say you don’t have that many things and that packing them will be a piece of cake. However, once you start going through all your closets, shelves, boxes and the back of all your cupboards, you’ll realize how wrong you were. Since you’re already going through your things, separate those you use and need from those you don’t, and then get rid of anything unnecessary. This includes some of the furniture you don’t plan on moving to your new home. You’ll probably throw some items away, but there will be those that are new, but have never been used. Those you can donate to a charity, sell online, or even have a garage sale one of these days. It could help you save some money for the more important things, while allowing you to pack more quickly and make better use of your time and space.
Make a plan
Doing everything at the last possible moment can only lead to chaos and more stress. Try avoiding this and reducing the stress by making a plan, putting it on paper in the form of a to-do list and sticking to it. This means better organization and less chance of forgetting to do or bring something important. Include things like changing your address, forwarding your mail to your new home or, for example, defrosting your freezer on time. Another thing you can plan is where you’ll put things once they arrive at your new living space, so make a rough sketch of where each bigger piece of furniture will be placed within each room. And most importantly, collect all your documents and put them in a folder or a binder, so that you know exactly where they are and that they’re at your reach at all times.
Ask for help
No matter how well you’re organized and how capable you are, if you try doing everything on your own, you’ll probably end up frustrated and anxious. Moving is difficult and it’s one of those situations in which you should definitely ask for help. If any of your friends would be willing to offer a hand, make sure you provide them with some food and cool drinks while they work, since carrying boxes and furniture is hard work. You’ll also need a van or even a truck, depending on how much things you have to move. When renting one, make sure you get it at good rates, which you can if you opt for the professional Budget truck rental services. They offer a wide range of trucks and vans, so that you can choose the size perfect for the things you have to move.
Equip yourself
The best way for your packing to go without too many complications is to get equipped before you start. First of all, you’ll have to get enough boxes, but also some bubble wrap for the fragile things, several magic markers and plenty of tape. You can probably get some boxes for free at your local supermarket or at one of the furniture stores near you, but if that’s not enough, make sure you buy more. As far as bubble wrap is concerned, if you go without it before you finish packing all your glasses and plates, use some of your towels, dish clothes, and if those aren’t enough, you can always put some stuff inside your socks. Label each box with your magic markers and seal them all tightly using tape.
Pack your things smartly
The order in which you decide to pack your belongings is far from irrelevant. Quite the contrary, it’s essential, since it’s how you determine the order in which you unpack when you get to your new home. Another great idea is to write or print the detailed content of each box, as well as the room they are supposed to be put in. And if you number all your boxes, you’ll be able to keep track of where they are and if any of them got lost or stolen during transport. Last, but not least, remember to pack a bag or a box with some essentials and toiletries. You’ll feel much more relaxed if you don’t have to go through half your boxes to find your toothbrush and then a few more to find a clean towel on your first night at your new place.
Although moving house can put a lot of pressure on you and your whole family, there are ways to make things less complicated and difficult. By planning everything early enough and with some patience and common sense, you can evade a lot of the tension and chaos that moving can become.