Moving can be such a stressful time in one’s life.  While there are various reasons for moving, the fact is that it is a huge task and one that can be quite stressful.

I trust that what I have learned from moving a few times will help you in your upcoming move!

1.  For a stress-free move, plan ahead. 

For example, if you live in an apartment and your lease will be coming up for renewal, think about the possibility of moving.  Would you want to move all the furniture you have?  If not, 1-800-GOT-JUNK is the best place to call to remove your furniture.  You don’t need to call them right away, but be prepared to call them or to put your furniture out on the curb with a “free” sign.  You can also sell it online.

One thing I am glad we did was to get some furniture we did not like out of the way right away.  We also did not declutter all our clothing but used it as packing material.  Any old t-shirts or worn-out clothes you do not plan to wear will make excellent packing and can be re-purposed once again as cleaning rags after your move.  Or, you can donate them after your move.

Will you move your frozen and pantry foods or eat them prior to the move?  This is something else to consider.  If you will eat them, adjust your grocery shopping plans accordingly.  If you plan to move them, you can pack them up and leave the boxes opened so that you can still get to the pantry items and yet tape up the boxes quickly when it is time to move.

If you are hiring a moving company, please know that most of them will not transport frozen foods.  Ask right away to be sure.

You will also want to make sure your spring cleaning is finished.  Since you are planning a move, you will be renting or selling your home, and you want it looking its best to get the best offer on it.  You can read more about spring cleaning here, here, and here.

2.  For a stress-free move, have the correct supplies. 

Again, as soon as you think you may move, begin to collect boxes from any orders you receive at your home.  If you do not need them, you can always give them away to someone who does need them, or you can recycle them.

It is helpful to have many boxes that are the same size.  File boxes are perfect for books.  Totes are excellent for packing quilts and other larger items.  Be sure to pack any canned goods in smaller boxes as well.  Your back will thank you on moving day!  

You will want a dolly (hand truck) to help move 5-6 boxes at a time instead of carrying boxes one at a time.

Also, to make sure that your boxes stay together, have quality packing/shipping tape, and use it generously, especially on the bottom of heavier boxes.

3.  For a stress-free move, begin packing early. 

Seasonal clothes, seasonal décor, seldom-used serving dishes, and most books can be packed ahead of time.  There is no need to wait to pack these.  The dishes can be packed with any heavy quilts if you are short on packing materials such as bubble wrap.

4.  For a stress-free move, label each box clearly.

You definitely want a system for your boxes.  Trust me, you do not want to arrive at your destination and wonder which of your 100 boxes contain your kitchen essentials.  You can put a number on each box and have a list of what is in each box.

At the least, label each box clearly by room. Label it on top and at least on one side.  If you are really organized, you can print off or write 3×5 cards for this purpose and tape them to the boxes.

5.  Keep up with your cleaning tasks. 

Unless you are an expert at moving, your home will be dirtier than usual while you are packing and moving.  Keep your bathrooms, kitchen, refrigerator, and home clean; you will be thankful when you are giving your home a final cleaning before leaving.

If you would like specific product recommendations to keep you feeling your best during a move, just fill out this short questionnaire, and I will get back to you within 24-hours with a personalized recommendation.

6.  Accept capable help. 

Capable help is priceless.  If you don’t have any, it would be a good investment to hire some help, whether it is for the entire moving/packing process, or for a move-out cleaning of your home.

7. Complete all packing the day before your move.  

You will want to get the moving truck packed and get a good night’s sleep before you leave the next day.  Packing takes much work, and you may need to keep your calendar clear so that you can stay on task.

8.  Schedule your groceries to be delivered to your new home. 

Your focus at your new location needs to be on cleaning and unpacking.  Get groceries delivered to save you time, stress, and money.  Depending on where your new home is, it may take you several hours to drive to the store, find what you need in an unfamiliar store, and get back home.

One factor that made our move stress-free is that we had a Misfits box delivered to our new home the day after our move.  Use my link to save $10 on your first order.  It is a grocery delivery service with very reasonable prices for organic produce, gluten free baked goods, breads, sustainably grown and sourced meats and fish, and much more.  I also cooked and froze meat ahead of time to help with meal planning at our new home.

9.  Be in optimal health. 

It takes energy to move.  If your energy levels are low, it will definitely impact your move.  I know from personal experience!

Also, you will probably be using muscles you normally do not use on a daily basis, and you will be lifting and carrying more in one or two days that you do in a normal week or even month.  Your joint health needs to be excellent.

In addition, no one wants to be ill during a move.  Illness can postpone your move or make it much more miserable than it needs to be.  Be sure you are not eating junk food and carry out.  Plan your meals ahead of time, and have several freezer meals that you can put in the crock pot those final days of moving.

Here are a few other tips:

• If you are moving less than a few hours away, clean your new home thoroughly before you move in.  Yes, it is double work to clean the home you are leaving and to clean the one into which you are moving.  It is considerably easier to clean an empty house.  If you are moving several hundred or thousand miles, it may be worth it to stay in a hotel or Airbnb for a day or two until you can get your new home cleaned.  Just be sure to book an Airbnb that has excellent reviews for being sparkling clean!
• Plan your moving route.  If you are traveling through major cities such as Minneapolis, Chicago, Los Angeles, Dallas, or other cities notorious for traffic jams, avoid those cities between 7-9 am and 3-6 pm.
• Pack a box for your first night.  Make sure you have a change of clothes (or two), all your toiletries, cell phone chargers, snacks, food, important books, and cleaning supplies.
• Be familiar with the van or truck you are driving.  If you have never driven a large vehicle, get some driving tips from a professional semi truck or at least box truck driver.

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