Are you getting ready to move? A lot of times, it feels like a stressful event. But it doesn’t have to feel that way! Find some easy tips for moving and packing in this post.
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I have moved A LOT. While I was growing up, we moved to a new house at least every two years. My dad is a builder, so we would often live in a house he built for a couple years, sell it, then move into a rental while he built another. Thankfully, they were all in the same town, but just the same, it was a lot of packing and unpacking!
And, in fact, my husband and I in the middle of a move right now. Our family graciously allowed us to live with them while we built a house. And now the new house is done enough that we can move in, and I’m so excited for this new chapter!
But, friend, moving can be stressful. Am I right?
How Do You Deal with Stress During a Move?
When you are getting ready to move, stress can skyrocket if you’re not careful. And even if you are, it can still be a struggle.
Does any of this sound familiar?
- Everything is everywhere
- All your stuff multiplies one-hundred fold (“How do we have so much stuff?!“)
- Things come out of the cobwebs that you’ve forgotten about or lost or thought you’d already given away. (Extra single sock that keeps showing up in the hamper, I’m talking to you!)
- Or, my favorite…things you always had tabs on suddenly disappear in the mess (a sharpie, anyone?).
Actually, unless there’s a time crunch, there can be an element of fun in moving. (The worst time crunch I ever had was to pack for an indefinite move in a little under two hours, but that’s another story!) I like to think of challenges I face as “games” I get to play, and as Mary Poppins says, “In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun. You find the fun, and – SNAP – the job’s a game!”
So, one of my main tips for moving is to face it like it’s a game or a fun challenge.
But where’s the “game” in moving? It’s all in your mindset and your preparedness.
3 Ways to Overcome Challenges while Moving
When facing a daunting task like moving, you want to attack it with a growth mindset, which basically means you come at it with positivity, a willingness to try, and a can-do attitude.
You can do this by utilizing a few techniques.
- Find Your Why – Motivation is always easier when you know why you’re doing something and it resonates with you on a deeper level. Sure, your Why could be as simple as needing to be moved out of your apartment by X date because your lease ends. But it helps me to go deeper than that. In this case, I had a goal to know where more things were after this move. This deeply motivated me because I find it really stressful when I can’t find things. So during this move, I labeled meticulously and set up a system to keep things organized during the move.
- Practice Staying Positive – There’s a lot to do and so many things that can go haywire. When you feel your mind heading down a path toward bickering, complaining, or feeling bitter and sorry for yourself, try to re-frame the situation with a positive spin. Even when things aren’t going well, there is likely something going right. Pinpoint what that is and focus on that.
- Cut Yourself Some Slack – You’re going to try some things that won’t be successful. And that’s okay. Offer yourself grace.
Also, maybe applying these tricks and tips for moving will help your moving go easier. Below, I’ve listed everything I can think of that has helped me stay organized and at least a little sane while packing up old places and preparing for new ones!
48 Easy Tips for Moving and Packing to Make Your Life So Much Easier
Create a To-Do List
Nothing is too small to go on the list. Anything you think of can be added. Keep it near you, whether it’s a note on your phone or a folded sheet of paper, so you can jot things down as they come to you. My list contains everything on this list, plus extra lines for your own information. And it includes check-off boxes, because who doesn’t like to check off items as they’re completed!?
Put Together a Shopping List
Keep a running shopping list tacked to your fridge/bulletin board/phone, etc. and continually add to it. Think nail-hole putty, a better broom, touch-up paint, and other supplies for repair work. There will always be something, so don’t waste time by going to the store a million times. Rather, do it in chunks if you can.
Schedule Carpet Cleaners Early
You don’t want to risk not being able to get on their schedule because you forgot to call them. Some rentals require you to clean the carpets before you leave, or it might be in your contract when you sell your house. Not to mention, it’s a courteous thing to do. Don’t forget about calling these guys until it’s too late!
Schedule Your Service Disconnects
Similar to the carpet cleaners, don’t forget this step until the last minute. You won’t want to be paying for services when you’re not even living there.
Forward Your Mail and Change Your Shipping Address Online
Forwarding you mail is as simple as getting on the USPS website and entering your information. Doing this will give you some time to contact all of your credit card companies, subscriptions, relatives, etc. with your new address. But the post office only forwards your mail for a short period of time, so be aware of this fact and make sure you do indeed contact everyone you need to.
Also, don’t forget about changing your address on your online shopping sites, like Amazon. This was something I really had to keep in mind during my previous move because we were moving at the beginning of December….right when we were buying Christmas gifts and having them shipped! You don’t want to order that new decor for your new house and then find out after the fact that it was shipped to your old address (after you moved).
Ask for Help (Ahead of Time)
If you’re going to be asking your church family, your friends, and/or your relatives to show up on moving day and help you load the truck or help transport belongings to your new home, please be considerate and ask them at least a week or two in advance. People lead busy lives, so you’ll have the best chance of getting help if you ask in advance (before they fill their weekends).
If You Hire Help, Schedule Them Early
By the same token, make sure not to wait until the last minute if you’re hiring movers. For one thing, you need to be on their list so you can move when you’re supposed to. And for another, some movers have policies that you’ll need to be aware of right away. For example, when we used a moving company to move out of state, their policy was to pack the boxes for us.
Track Your Moving To-Dos on a Calendar
As you schedule your cleaners, movers, moving day, etc., write it on a calendar. Don’t simply mark it off your to-do list, but also keep the dates in one place. This could be a physical calendar you leave hanging on your wall, or it could be on your phone (complete with reminders, so you don’t forget).
Delegate
Moving is a big job, so whether it’s scheduling, the actual packing, or running errands (like shopping or dropping things off at Salvation Army), don’t be afraid to ask for help and then let someone else handle those responsibilities.
Get Discarded Boxes from Stores/Businesses
This is a fairly simple way to get boxes for your move. Grocery stores, newspaper offices, furniture stores, and other similar places sometimes have a storeroom or warehouse corner for discarded boxes. These boxes are generally sturdy and a good size for moving. And usually, you can get them for free as long as you cart them away! I’d personally go this route first before spending money on buying boxes. I’d keep that step until the end, when it becomes apparent that you need a bigger or differently-shaped box than what you can get for free.
Downsize Your Stuff
Designate a couple of large boxes or bags for stuff you don’t want/need anymore. As you go through your belongings, sort your unwanted items by trash, donate, and sell. Maybe even a fourth category would be give away to friends and family (there’s always an item or two that you know your sister wants whenever you’re through with it). Simplifying your collection of belongings will not only lighten your packing load, it’ll keep your new place looking less cluttered and it’ll free up some mental space for you as well. There’s something freeing about letting go of the extra stuff you don’t actually need.
Old Newspapers Make Great Stuffing!
Keep your old newspapers or advertisers for a few days or a week and use the pages to scrunch and stuff inside your boxes. They’re great padding for stuff that will be damaged if jostled.
Start with Decor
When it comes to the actual packing, start with decor on the walls. You won’t miss it, or need it, in the next coming weeks, and you won’t be frantically trying to take them down last minute, then trying to fill nail holes, etc. on moving day.
Pack Barely-Used Items First
After the wall decor, pack the barely-used items next. Books you’re not going to read between now and then, basement lamps, off-season clothing, etc. are all good examples of stuff you won’t need before the move. Think about what you use on a daily basis–and pack everything that doesn’t fit into that category.
Save Out Fluffy Things for Stuffing
Don’t pack the extra blankets, towels, and pillows just yet. These items make great (free!) stuffing and packing for other items. If you put them all in one box by themselves, then you are missing out on some great packing material. It would be like packing your bubble wrap roll in a box without using any of it on your fine china.
Sort Stuff by Genre/Category
For example, if you store your kids’ shoes in one area of the house and your shoes in another, then pack them in separate boxes. And as best as you can, keep all similar items in the same box, lest you end up with boxes and boxes of random stuff to sort through once you unpack. It’ll save you a lot of time if the inside of your boxes don’t look like the contents of your junk drawer.
Fill Boxes Completely
You may think your boxes are sturdy enough, but once you start stacking them, you’ll be surprised how some will begin to crush or collapse if they’re not filled to the top. Plus, why waste valuable packing space and end up having to pack extra boxes because of it?
Label Your Boxes By Room
Labeling your boxes by room has been one of the best strategies for me. Saves a lot of stress if you don’t have to search each and every box in the house if you’re only trying to find the silverware.
Also Label Your Boxes Specifically by Item
As best you can, label the outside of the box with what’s inside. So, similar to #18, that way if you’re looking for the kids’ sippy cups, you can bypass all the other kitchen boxes and only open the specific one you need at that moment.
Put Heavy Items in Smaller Boxes
It stands to reason, but sometimes we forget to do it. For example, it’s better to have several boxes of books that are manageable than to have a couple of huge boxes that cause you to throw your back out of alignment.
Mix Light with Heavy, if Necessary
Remember how I said to leave out the extra blankets, towels, and pillows? Here’s a great place to use them. If you’re packing a box of something heavy, and don’t want to weigh down the box TOO much, then fill the rest of it with a pillow!
Use Packing Tape Instead of Folding Boxes
I’ve tried both, and folded boxes will definitely open from the underside as you load them in the truck. Plus, if you have to put any of these boxes in storage for a while, you risk rodents and bugs getting in through the gaps/cracks. Packing tape seals everything in, nice and tight.
Hangers and Trash Bags
This one doesn’t work so well if you’re moving across country, but if you’re just going across town, this is a good one and saves on boxes. Keep your hanging clothes on their hangers. Poke a hole in the bottom of trash bags. Insert hanger hooks through the hole so that your clothes are inside the trash bag. Then tie or cinch up the bottom of the bags, and voila! All of your hanging clothes are ready to transport. Pretty easy to unpack, too. Simply tear away the trash bag and hang them in your closet. **Note: Tying up the bottom of the bag is helpful because if a sweater slips off its hanger during the move, it won’t fall out and get dirty or left behind.
Wrap Electronics
You don’t want to scratch your TV in the move. It’s best to either put your electronics in their original boxes or wrap them in thick blankets or bubble wrap. You don’t want to assume they’re survive unscathed and then find out after the fact you were overly confident.
Label Your Electronic Cords and Take Pictures if Needed
Putting a simple piece of tape with a label around your cords will help you distinguish one from another when you arrive at your new home. For extra precaution, pack any cords you can with the electronic device they go with. And if you need a reminder of how the cords went into your computer or TV, etc. then take pictures with your phone/camera to refer to later.
Use Original Plastic (or a Couple of Tarps) Around Mattresses
Your mattress will definitely get dirty in the move if you don’t cover it. The original plastic is nice because if fits correctly. (We store ours under the bed.) In a pinch, you can also use tarps, or see if your local mattress store has extra plastic they will donate to you. Since these won’t fit perfectly, you’ll want to use tape to hold it all in place around the mattress.
Save on More Boxes by Packing Your Suitcases
Don’t forget about your suitcases (and trashcans)! Why move them empty when you can fill them with stuff?
Wrap Fragile Things in Bubble Wrap or Blankets
This probably goes without saying, but buy a huge role of bubble wrap (probably a few roles) and use them liberally. I’d rather have too much padding (if there is such a thing) then too little and regret it when I unpack and find things scuffed or broken.
Pack Plates and Picture Frames Vertically
Packing them vertically, with bubble wrap/towels between them will make them harder to be damaged in the move.
Pack Picture Frames Front-to-Front and Back-to-Back
Packing your artwork/photo frames in this manner will help them not to get scratched up by the screws/nails/brackets on the back of the frames beside them. Don’t forget to also slip a sheet of cardboard, bubble wrap, or thick towel between each frame for extra padding.
Pack Dried Flowers with Blankets or Newspaper
I have a bunch of dried bouquets in vases. When I pack them, I put one in a box by itself, a box that is tall enough to close over top it. I also pack newspaper in the empty space (and bottom corners) of the box—basically pack around the vase so it doesn’t fall over. And if I’m moving a far distance, they stay in the car with me, rather than going in the moving van!
Write FRAGILE When Needed!
Don’t be afraid to write “fragile” on the boxes you need to. Don’t assume that just because a box says “Dishes” that your well-meaning friend is going to be careful with it. Better to err on the side of caution.
Photocopy Your Important Papers
This can take a little while, so start early, but it’s definitely worth it if you’re moving a good distance away. With all the boxes going with you and in the moving truck, etc. you don’t want to risk losing the one box that has your marriage license, birth certificate, passport, etc. (Because if one box gets lost, Murphy’s Law says it would be this one.) Best to have a backup set.
Use Food in Your Cupboard and Fridge Rather Than Buying More
Rather than having to throw out a bunch of food and waste a bunch of money, why not make a game of trying to use up the stuff in your freezer? Cans of beans can move with you but that frozen roast? Maybe not. Why not stick it in the crock pot and also throw in those frozen veggies while you’re at it? (So, don’t pack up your crock pot right away!)
Defrost Your Fridge and Deep Freezer and Clean Them
A day before the move, clear the remaining food out of your fridge and deep freezer and clean them. Also defrost them. That way, whether you’re moving them with you, or it’s left for the new homeowners, it’ll still smell fresh in a few days.
Fill Nail Holes and Use Touch Up Paint
Probably don’t leave this to the last second because it might take a while, but you’ll definitely want to fix up the walls. Especially if your rent deposit depends on it.
Fix Any Small Repairs You’ve Been Putting Off
Did some baseboard come away from the wall a while back and you’ve just been covering the spot with a potted plant “until you could get to it”? We all have spots like that. We mean well, but sometimes the bigger things in life take precedence. So take this time to fix up those things before you leave, maintaining the quality of the home for the next owners/renters.
Designate One or Two Boxes for Immediate (and Overnight) Use
When you get moved into your new place, chances are it’ll be a few days before you can find everything. So pack a box or two with things you’ll need right away and keep it separate from the other boxes. Things like toilet paper, shower stuff, toothbrush, a towel, pajamas, and a few days of clothes. Maybe even consider putting a box of food bars in there in case your food boxes are buried. You’ll need some sustenance your first morning in the new place before you tackle the unpacking.
Save Your Cleaning Supplies Until the End
Don’t pack up your cleaning supplies, sponges/paper towels/rags until the very last thing–because once everything is packed and loaded, you’ll need to give the place a final cleaning.
Have Someone in Charge at Both Locations
It’s moving day! If the place your moving to is close enough to the place you’re leaving (like, across town), then consider having someone “in charge” at both locations. One person can delegate the jobs of loading and last-minute packing while the person on the receiving end can direct traffic. That way, you don’t have one person rushing back and forth to be in charge everywhere they go, and basically running themselves haggard. Also, after the movers leave the old place with a load, the person staying behind can either begin to clean or organize a plan for more loading when the movers return.
Stack Heavier Boxes on the Bottom
If you don’t, the heavier boxes with squash the lighter boxes. And then they’ll fall on something, or worse, someone, and that’s obviously no good.
Load Larger Items First
If you can, load larger things first. This would be stuff like the couches and other furniture. Then you can play Tetris and load the smaller boxes around the larger. **And BONUS tip: Leave your bookcases and other free-standing shelves assembled. Line them along the outsides of the moving van for extra boxes. (You can also stick boxes inside dressers, but remember to take them out before you break your back trying to move the dresser into the new place!)
Keep a Ziplock Bag and Small Box Handy
When you’re leaving the old house, you’ll probably find little, random things left hanging around that didn’t get boxed up. Screws, pens, spare keys, the dog’s dish… you’ll want a way to collect all of it and bring it with you.
Have a Plan for Furniture Layout
It would be good for the “person in charge” at the new place to have at least a vague idea of where things should go. That way, when people arrive with couches, beds, etc. they can lay them out in the right place. Otherwise, you’ll have to move everything around later–why not do it while you have the help available? It helps, too, to assemble things like the bed frames when it arrives (So bring your tools!).
Unload boxes into their designated rooms
This is for the person directing traffic at the new house (and why you should label the boxes by room). When movers come to the door with boxes, let them know in which rooms to set them down. Otherwise, everything you own will be piled up in the living room and entry way, and then you’ll have to distribute it yourself tomorrow.
Do a Final Walk-Through
After everything is out and you’ve cleaned the place, walk through it to make sure you didn’t forget anything. Double check the shelves and dark corners of each closet, on top of the fridge (if it’s staying behind), inside the washer and dryer, and inside each drawer/cabinet. You just want to be sure you don’t leave something precious behind.
Take a Few Deep Breaths
I know, moving can be stressful. So take a few deep breaths, pray for patience and tranquility, and do your best. Roll with the punches, because a few hiccups are bound to happen. Remember that it’ll all come out in the wash eventually.
Show Gratitude
When everything’s said and done, be sure to thank those who helped you move. Order them pizza, or lay out sandwiches, or take them out somewhere. Provide water, especially in the summer. Even consider sending out thank-yous (Maybe something to put in your immediate-use box?). Whether or not they’re paid to help you, people have still made your moving day that much easier, and it’s always a good practice to show how thankful you are!
48 Easy Tips for Moving and Packing
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