8 tips to avoid freaking out about moving your stuff
by Heather Markel
8 Tips to Avoid Freaking Out About Moving Your Stuff Moving any place carries its own set of challenges. I personally hate packing my belongings, and it seems like there is no way to avoid your life being thrown into a state of upheaval. However, here are a few tips that may help make the process a little less stressful: 1 - Make a list of everything you need to do. Since moving involves not only packing, you'll want to be sure you remember to call the phone company, cable company, electricity company, etc, and, as the date gets closer, these are the things that often slip your mind and cause stress - so keep them on your list which should be stored someplace visible. 2 - Outsource what you hate most. Take that list of things you need to do, and note the ones you hate the most, or that cause you the most stress. If you feel that it will ease your stress dramatically, consider hiring someone to do the pieces you hate the most. For example, you can pay a moving company a little extra to pack your boxes for you. 3 - Ask for help! Moving is a huge job, you don't have to do it by yourself. Consider hiring a handyman to help you remove fixtures you're taking with you, or offer your friends a free dinner if they'll help you pack or unpack boxes. 4 - Number your boxes. This is really important. Every box that gets packed should have a number, and, on a sheet of paper, note the contents. Here's why this is so important. First - you'll know how many boxes there are, so when they arrive in your new home, you can count and make sure they're all there. Second - on the first night, when you're looking for, say, the sheets, or a pan to cook in, you'll know exactly where to find it, and this will cut down a lot of frustration. 5 - Plan to Pack a Small Suitcase and Keep it With You. If you're moving locally, this bag should have all those necessities you are positive you'll need your first night. Pajamas, toiletries, medication, sleeping bag, clothes for the next day, etc. Also, if you have any small, valuable objects, you'll want to plan to store them here. If you're traveling abroad, then this bag should, again, have necessities you need immediately and valuables that can be taken on the plane with you. 6 - Plan Out Where the Big Furniture Goes. In your new home, it will make unpacking a lot easier if you have your moving company place large objects (the bed, the sofa, the entertainment unit, etc) exactly where you'd like it to go. Less work for you to move it later, and it allows you to unpack into these items right away. 7 - Eat Yourself Out of House and Home. A few months before you leave, take stock of all the canned food you have in the cabinets. Rather than boxing them up, and adding to your moving cost - save money by eating in and using all these up! If you can't use them, consider donating them. 8 - When in Doubt, Throw it Out! My mom says this to me a lot, and it's a great motto! Throw out as much as you can BEFORE you move. It will be less to pack, and less to deal with. Besides, you'll be happy to recreate yourself - clothes, furniture, etc after you move. If you found these tips helpful, consider downloading my eCourse, "8 Steps to Feel at Home Anywhere in the World" for additional tips and implementation strategies to successfully transition to a new culture. Heather is a Culture Transition Specialist. She works with Expatriates (anyone that transfers to a new city or country for work) and their families to handle the social, personal, and professional challenges that arise after relocating to a new city or country. Learn more at http://www.culturetransition.com where you can sign up for the Culture Transition Success newsletter, and get a free article with more useful tips, and a free affirmation file to encourage you along the process! You can access my eCourse "8 Steps to Feel at Home Anywhere in the World" at http://www.8stepstofeelathome.com - a $19.97 value Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Heather_Markel Guestbook • Contact • Answers ASAP • Our Community • Blog Site Map • Privacy Policy • News • Videos • Experts • Links |