How to Reduce Stress During a Move

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how to reduce stress during a move

Moving can be an exciting time in your life. Or, it can be a negative, unwelcome event. This is especially true if you’re moving to a new city and you’re not sure if you chose the right neighborhood. Moving, in fact, is one of life’s top stressors, right along with a job loss, a major illness, divorce, and death of a loved one.

Luckily, there are lots of ways to reduce the stress of moving. Here are 7 ways to manage your stress before, during, and after you’ve boxed up your whole life and decided to start over.

1.    Outsource and delegate.

As the saying goes, many hands make light work. And when moving, you need as many hands on-board as you can get. Craigslist and TaskRabbit are good online resources that you can use to search for people who can help you pack and move.

Prior to them leaving, request them to help you assemble the furniture and get the big stuff done first.

2.    Create ample time and deadlines.

Time is not always in your control. Sometimes you may need to move last minute when a move has sneaked up on you, and you’ll have to act fast. If it’s possible to plan ahead, allow yourself a couple of weeks. Eight weeks will do!

If you are planning a summer move and/or need to hire movers, then you’ll need even more time. Generally speaking, though, eight weeks are enough to do everything without putting too much stress on yourself.

3.    Protect your valuables.

how to reduce stress during a moveMoving is a major undertaking and in the process, your belongings can easily become damaged. Luckily, there are ways to avoid that.

Below are tips to pack your valuables when moving house.

  • Get sufficient packing supplies. How you pack your valuables determines whether they will remain in one piece during the move or not. Ensure you have enough bubble wrap, packing paper, and boxes.
  • Consider purchasing insurance for your valuable items. Contact your insurance company and ask them if your current home insurance policy covers the relocation of valuables from one point to the next.
  • Make a detailed list of your valuables. Also, keep any accompanying documents like certificates of authenticity, warranty cards, bills, receipts, etc. Don’t also forget to take photos of the items.
  • Pack your valuables safely. You want to invest in high-quality cushioning and protection. Most valuable articles are rather delicate and easily breakable.

4.    Clear out the clutter.

how to reduce stress during a moveDecluttering is a must before moving house. Some of the benefits you’ll get include:

  • Your new home will be easier to organize/clean.
  • You’ll have less to unpack in your new home.
  • Your home will be easier to stage (if you are selling).
  • You’ll save money. The less you have to move, the less it’ll cost to move it.

Before you begin decluttering, have markers, a shredder, and trash bags ready to help with the process. Next, be methodological and start small. Decluttering smaller places first will give you a sense of accomplishment that’ll help you tackle larger tasks later.

As you declutter, keep this quote in mind: “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.”

5.    Hire professional movers.

No one really likes packing and lugging around furniture. If your budget allows it, then consider leaving the work to the experts.

Here are good reasons why you should consider moving experts:

  • Professional movers are insured. Having peace of mind that you’re protected by a professional mover’s insurance is priceless.
  • Professional movers have storage facilities. You can rely on them to safeguard your possessions either for short- or long-term durations.
  • They have the vehicles. They supply both workers and drivers as well as trucks of all sizes to fit your needs.
  • They have the right equipment. They arrive armed with labor saving devices like dollies, lifts, and ramps.

6.    Plan the move.

how to reduce stress during a moveCarefully planning can make things go a lot more smoothly. To be efficient, pack your stuff methodically. Move from room-to-room packing everything before proceeding to the next one.

Keep one suitcase for each person. Pack it as if you are going for a vacation, and then pack the rest of your home into boxes. Store the items that you’ll need to immediately access, such as clean socks, underwear, and a toothbrush.

In addition, clearly label each box based on the room it should be deposited to.

7.    Have a backup plan.

Have some options should some things fall out of place. For instance, allow a few days on either end of your move out/move-in day should your moving company not show up or cancel.

Also, keep a short list of back up movers and rental agencies, just in case.

Moving is part thrilling, part awful, always emotionally fraught. Be that as it may, it’s something that most of us will do at some point in our lives. With these tips, you can rest assured that you’ll have a stress-free move when that time comes.

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