Moving is one of those near-inevitable events that is anticipated with dread and foreboding by many people. True, it’s always a stressful event. But there are things you can do to lighten anxiety and tension of moving house.
Where to Begin
One of the hardest parts of moving is just getting started. What do you pack first? You’ll need the dishes until the last minute, you can’t live without the microwave and tea kettle, and what about your clothes?
Start by writing some lists. Decide what you’ll need up until the last minute and write those things down (clothing, food and dishes, toiletries, etc.).
Next, make a list of things that can be packed immediately. Photo albums and keepsakes, boxes of summer clothing if you’re moving in winter (and vice versa), specialty kitchen items that you only use occasionally.
Make another list of moving related To Dos, such as changing your address with the bank, phone company, etc. and renting a truck.
Get Organized
Designate a place in the house or apartment for packed items. Perhaps a corner of the living room, the storage closet or den, if you have one. Putting all the boxed-up stuff in one place will keep things from getting lost and misplaced, and will lower your stress level, since you won’t be seeing half-packed boxes strewn all around your living space.
Pack up the stuff from your list that you won’t be needing to use. Then start on items that are convenient to have around, but not essential. The idea, if you know ahead of time that you’ll be moving, is to do a little bit at a time. Rather than leave all the packing until the last minute, do one or two boxes each day.
Tape boxes up as you pack them, so that you won’t be tempted to unpack a whole box looking for a CD or spatula that you don’t really need to get out anyway.
Keep in mind that it always takes longer to pack than anticipated, and the last few boxes are always the worst, because they’ll be full of the things that have been left until the last minute because no one is sure where they should go. In addition, you’ll need to schedule time at the end for cleaning (you want that damage deposit back) and filling any nail holes in the walls with putty.
Get Rid of Old and Unused Stuff
Cull cull cull! The last thing you want is to take more stuff with you in your move than you must. Get rid of all those clothes you never wear, the box of childhood action figures you never unpacked since your last move, those VHS tapes that you will never watch again because the VCR died 6 months ago. Not only do you not need this stuff, it will cost extra time and possibly money to move it, and it only means more unpacking and organizing when you get to your new place.
Also, don’t worry about holding on to stuff for other people. Get rid of the neon green pillows your last roommate left behind, the tea pot she forgot to pack; if she’d wanted them she would have kept them or come back for them. It’s not your responsibility to look after other people’s things.
This is a great opportunity to rid yourself of all the unused and unwanted junk that accumulates over time. Box things up for the Salvation Army, the food bank, the shelter or rehab centre. Other people can use the things that are only causing you stress by taking up unnecessary space in your apartment.
Ask For Help
This is one of the things friends are for. Don’t be afraid to ask them for help with boxing or moving when the big day comes. If they can’t do it, they’ll say no and that will be that. And you’ll help your friends with their own moving experiences when the time comes, so don’t waste time feeling guilty for asking other people to help you out.
Whether it’s friends or professional movers who move your things, make sure you’re not wasting their time (and, in the case of movers, your money). Know what needs to go in the truck and what stays with you, and have everything securely packed and ready to go.
Last Minute Stuff
Make sure you’ve got all your keys to hand over to the landlord, building manager or new tenants. Check through all the rooms to ensure you haven’t left anything behind.
