Even though it’s exciting, a tremendous amount of time, energy, and stress go into the moving process.
If you’re in the process of searching for a new home or just signed a contract on a new place, you might be wondering where to start on the next stage of your moving journey.
“When should I start packing?”
“When do I switch over my utilities?”
From the day you decide to move until the day you’re settled into your new home, there is a lot to be done; but don’t let the stressful thoughts of planning and packing kill your excitement. Moving to a new home can be a fun and refreshing experience.
With the proper planning in place, a move can be done simply and smoothly. Follow our six steps to help reduce stress while moving.
Make a Game Plan Ahead of Time
You’ve probably heard the saying, “Failing to prepare is preparing to fail,” and this applies to planning for your move.
There are many checklists online to help you plan your move efficiently. Whether you choose to find one online or create your own, they should include the same steps and details.
These steps should include a timeline on all of these things:
- Researching moving companies
- Sorting through items you want to keep or sell
- Filling out paperwork for utilities and change of address
- Getting moving supplies
- Planning logistics for moving day
To give you a jump start on your planning, you should start looking for movers 12 weeks before your move-out date and start packing three weeks beforehand.
A well-thought-out game plan is the first step to making your moving process more manageable and less stressful.
Get Rid of Items You Don’t Need
Clutter in itself creates stress.
When moving, it’s important to lighten your load — not only because it saves you money (since movers have to transport less), but because of the mental “restart” that comes with decluttering.
According to this Plano moving company, getting rid of unwanted and unneeded items will allow you to go into your new home feeling refreshed and ready to start a new chapter.
When going through your items, sort everything into these four categories: keep, sell, throw away, or donate.
For clothing items, the golden rule is that if you haven’t worn it in over a year, it should be sold, donated, or thrown away. Unless it’s a family heirloom, you should look into selling these items.
What’s the point of having something sitting in your new home just to collect dust bunnies?
Plus, the extra money you make here can be used for new furniture and decor. It can also go toward moving costs.
Don’t Move Alone
Packing and moving by yourself can not only be time-consuming, but it can make you feel like you have a mountain to climb all by yourself.
To alleviate this stress, consider hiring a moving company to facilitate your move. Doing this will give you peace of mind knowing professionals are handling your items. Make sure you choose a company that has insurance so you’re covered in case any accidents happen.
If choosing a moving company doesn’t fit within your moving budget, ask friends and family to help. Take it as an opportunity to spend quality time together before you move further away — or, if they are on the fence about it, you can always bribe them with drinks or snacks.
Understand That Stress Is Inevitable
As odd as it sounds, preparing for stress is a great way to alleviate it.
Preparing for potential problems and having a “plan B” for when things go awry can make the difference between a terrible move and one with just a minor bump in the road.
This mindset isn’t meant for you to assume things will go wrong; this is meant to prepare you in case any obstacles do come up. When you find yourself getting stressed, take a few deep breaths and remember that it’s completely normal to feel the way you do.
Get Familiar With Your New Environment
If you’re able to, take the time to do multiple tours of the new area you will be moving to.
Doing this will give you a sense of your environment and help you pinpoint spots you might frequent, like gyms, grocery stores, shopping areas, and your workspace.
Try to find areas you can see yourself making new friends. If you’re a coffee-lover, hang out at coffee shops. If the gym is where you spend most of your time, make sure you sign up for classes there. Volunteering at a cause that’s close to your heart is another way to get involved in your new community and meet new people.
Have Confidence During Your Move
Planning ahead, lightening your load, asking for help, and getting familiar with your new environment before you move will help reduce your stress levels during the moving process.
Remember, preparation is key, and stress is unavoidable, so plan and take your move head-on knowing you can do this!
Photo by Erda Estremera on Unsplash
