Originally posted on http://smartmovingbox.com/7-ways-to-minimize-stress-when-moving

 

Moving could be a source of great joy; it could mean that you finally got your dream job in another city, or you just closed on your dream home and you can’t wait to move. Nevertheless, despite your excitement at the thought of taking this huge step, you might be feeling some underlying frustration at having to pack your belongings in preparation for moving into another home.

We’re aware that moving can be very stressful, but there are ways to survive it without going through the attendant stress associated with this process.

Check out these seven hacks on how best to manage the stress associated with moving into a new home:

#1: Organize a Purge.

There’s nothing as stressful as clutter especially when you’re in the process of moving. Reduce the number of junks in your closets and you’ll be surprised at how much relief you get from that simple action. You can also reduce the clutter around your home by arranging those things you don’t need into a pile of three; toss, sell and donate.

The valuable or big-ticket items can be classified under your “sell” pile. Take pictures of those items and have them listed on Craigslist, Facebook or eBay.  And if the weather permits, you can also organize a yard sale.

You can also donate some of the items to Goodwill or even a local thrift store around you. This way you get to reduce clutter and get some tax deduction. Another option is to hand down some of the items to family members or friends.

Then recycle or throw away those items that are damaged beyond redemption.

This is probably the most enjoyable part of this entire process: Consume the contents of your pantry and refrigerator. You can spend the weeks leading to your move getting creative with the contents of your fridge and creating meals from what you find in your cupboard.

#2: Clear out your Calendar

Another way in which you can handle the stress of moving is to map out time on your calendar to be devoted exclusively to the task at hand. You can get somebody to watch your kids (could be a family member), to give you the time you need to concentrate on that singular task.

You could clear your schedule for an entire weekend or take some time off work. Packing continuously for hours is a lot more effective than trying to fit this task in between other activities.

You can also get your friends and family to help if they’re available. Bribe them if you have to, by promising them dinner or whatever you think will catch their fancy.

#3: Gather Boxes

One of the most cost effective and convenient ways to pack is to rent plastic moving totes. They will come delivered right to your home and the company will pick them up when you are done unpacking. But if you want to keep stuff in storage then the traditional cardboard box may be a good option too.

Start gathering boxes and newspapers weeks before your move. You’re probably wondering if it is possible to get print media in today’s world of electronic media, don’t worry they still exist. You can get free copies of your community newspaper from your local grocery store. (it could be something as simple as those weekly tabloids that provide information on the happenings around town.)

You can also ask your friends for left over boxes from previous moves. Or visit retail outlets or grocery stores and ask for some of the boxes they use for unpacking their inventory. Outlets like CostCo and Trader Joes, always have a good number of those boxes.

And if you can afford it, you can purchase boxes from any of the shipping and packing stores around or from any home-improvement store around. Purchasing these boxes means you get to use standard sized boxes (ranging between small and large sizes, and sold in 3-4 sizes), which are usually easier to load and stack.

#4: Plan Ahead

As with everything else in life, you need a good strategic plan to help organize your packing. An example of a good plan is to move from one room to the next, methodically packing the contents of each room. You can start by packing up the living room before moving to the bedroom.

Allocate a suitcase where you can keep items that your family will need to access immediately, like toothbrush, socks and clean underwear for each person. In essence, you’ll be packing what appears to be a vacation suitcase separate from the other items.

Label all the boxes according to the rooms they were packed. This makes it easier for you to know what goes where when you’re arranging the boxes into their assigned places in your new home.

#5: Keep Your Valuables Safe

Nobody wants to start their journey in their new home searching for their valuables like passport or wedding ring! This is probably one of the most stressful aspects of moving!

Make sure your valuables are kept safe in a secure location; it could be on your person (by securing it in a money belt to be worn around your waist), or inside a purse or even inside a safe-deposit box in a bank.

#6: Set Adequate Time and Deadlines For Yourself

There are few things as stressful as having to pack your things when the time allocated for packing is limited. This can be very frustrating.

You can avoid this be allocating enough time to enable you make a smooth transition. This could mean paying “double mortgages” or “double rent” for a few weeks. But this will give you much needed time – which will definitely help reduce stress.

You can also give yourself some mini-deadlines. Set a daily target for yourself, you can make up your mind to work at least two hours daily or pack one room each day.

#7: Learn To Delegate

Delegating or outsourcing is a great way to release stress. You can check out online sources like Craigslist or Facebook where you can hire people to help you. Make sure they start by packing off the big stuff like furniture. You can even hire neighbors or coworkers.

Two heads are definitely better than one in this situation, and when you’re packing you need as many pair of hands as you can get.