There’s rarely anything easy about moving. Once you get past the point where your possessions fit in a backpack, it can become a monumental task. Fortunately, there are a few ways you can make your move easier.
Start by having a strong plan. Grab your boxes from a supply store (or grocery stores), book your truck, and set up your move out date. The more information you can get down before the craziness of the move begins, the better. Every aspect of your plan might not survive the move, but having a few goals can make your life easier.
Next, start cleaning. While your home or apartment might get dirty during the move, it’s actually quite helpful to get the trash out of the way now. This will make the space look less cluttered and help you to feel less stressed out as you begin your move. As a bonus, this will help you to avoid some of the cleaning you’ll need to do after all of your possessions are out of your old place.
Don’t try to balance work and moving. Instead, clear your calendar when it’s time to move. Make sure to clear out the day after your move as well, because you’ll certainly need a little bit of time to decompress.
Get rid of your stuff! One of the best ways to keep your move stress-free (and to save some money) is to get rid of what you don’t need. As a rule, if you haven’t used it in a year you’re not going to miss it – so donate it or toss it in the trash.
Don’t be afraid to move in stages, especially if you are moving alone. Move the little stuff in your car before you get the truck, or take over a few things when you have the time. This will take some of the pressure off of you on the big day.
Finally, don’t feel like you have to do it all. Get help from friends and family if you can. Even if you can’t get free help, you don’t have to turn to movers. You can usually get a bit of cheap labor from sources like Craigslist for a fraction of the price of what a moving company will charge you.
While moving might be stressful, it doesn’t have to be complex. Take some time to plan things out, to figure out how to make the move easier, and to allow yourself some breathing space. Remember, the end goal is getting to a new place – and in the end, that’s usually worth all of the attendant stress.