9 Tips to Overcome the Stress of Moving

We all know that one person who is an expert at moving, they feel no fear in undertaking the task and worse still, they do it all by themselves.

Whether they are born with that talent or otherwise is a discussion for another day but the reality is that for most of us, the stress of moving is like going to war. In fact, 61% of people find moving to be the most stressful life event, beating out divorce, breakups and starting a new job.

Surely there could be a way this stressful process of moving could be made easier? Luckily for you, we have compiled nine helpful tips to de-stress before moving.

1. Throw Away Stuff First

Moving is a great way to declutter and get rid of stuff you no longer use. Here is a simple rule that you can follow- If you have not used something in over a year then it is time to throw it out.

Remember, every pound of stuff that you do not have to move will make moving much easier and less stressful. A good idea is to sell the stuff you do not want to keep on EBay or Craigslist and make some extra cash as well.

2. Make Sure You Have Enough Boxes

This one prep task itself will greatly reduce your stress of moving. After decluttering, take a look around and estimate the number of boxes you will need. Now take that number and multiply it by three. That’s the actual number of boxes you will need.

Here is a great tip to get them for free. Visit your local Wal-Mart late at night, when they are likely to be restocking. If you’re lucky, they might let you take some boxes they were going to throw away.

3. Keep the Essential Stuff Together

This is a great way to start packing up. Take all the things that you are likely to need right away (before you have even unpacked) at your new place and pack it up together.

This will save you the trouble of ransacking through all the boxes just to find that one little something that you absolutely need. You can also color code your boxes (e.g. with colored duct tape) to quickly help you identify where you kept what.

4. Pack the Fragile Items Carefully

Fragile items, especially those made of glass, are the items that people worry most about when they are moving. There are ways in which you can make the job easier. For instance, packing glassware in socks not only provides them with an extra layer of protection; it also saves you from worrying about where to stuff the socks. Similarly, you can also wrap up plates in t-shirts.

If you have young children, then you are likely to have stuffed toys lying around. These toys, along with pillows and towels can also be used as padding for fragile items. Another good tip is to make sure that you use an extra box for fragile items, especially if they are heavy.

Here’s a helpful video that shows how to pack fragile items without breaking them.​

5. Egg Cartons are Your Friends

No, we are not telling you to save the empty egg cartons for the new place. Instead, you can use these cartons for packing small items, like jewelry, as these cartons already have well divided space where small items can easily fit. Just make sure to tape the carton shut tightly after you are done packing.

6. Moving Electronics

There is a reason many people save the original box that a particular electronic item came in. The fact is that electronic items fit best in their original boxes. So dig out the original packing and pack all your electronics safely.

Similarly, before you dismantle a home theater system or a gaming rig, just make sure to take pictures of the wiring scheme so that you can easily put it back together once you are setting up the system in the new house.

7. Update Your Contact Information

If you want to continue getting your mail then it is important that you fill a ‘change of address’ form at your local post office at least a few weeks before you are about to make the move. Similarly, give the utility company at least 2 weeks notice and have them shut off the power a day after you move away. Likewise, make sure the power at the new place is turned on, a day or two before you move in.

If you have kids who go to school, then you need to notify the schools of the move a couple of months in advance so that they have enough time to transfer all the necessary information over.

You can use these nifty “we’ve moved” cards to send to friends or anyone else that you need to notify about your new address. They definitely come in handy.​

8. Asking for Help

Almost everyone has, at one time or another asked friends or family for moving help. Let’s face it, as nice as they are to show up to help you, they don’t want to haul a bunch of heavy boxes around.

So make sure that you have everything packed up and ready to go before they come in. No one likes to stand around and wait while the packing is still being completed. At the same time, make sure that you reward their help adequately (by buying them lunch for example). Remember, it is not their job to help you move, they are merely doing you a favor. Don’t add too much extra stress on their plate too.

9. Getting Professional Help

There is no shame in getting professional help, especially if you have a lot of heavy items or if you are making a cross country move. In fact, hiring professional moving company can be one of the best ways to eliminate the stress of moving.

A lot of people are under the misconception that hiring movers can be an expensive affair but it isn’t so.

For instance, most people move at the beginning or the end of the month and as a result, movers will charge you more around that time. Avoiding that window is the key to reduce moving expenses.

Also make sure to thoroughly search online for moving options in your area, you never know what amazing deals you might come across. Once you have selected a bunch of movers that appeal to you, visit Yelp to read reviews about them.

Moving Doesn’t Have to Be Stressful

As you can see, moving doesn’t always have to be stressful. Use the nine tips given above and we can bet that you will find the process a whole lot more manageable.