Simple Steps to Moving with Ease

Maeve's Method Coach, Marla, shares our simple steps to moving with ease.

Post originally written by Marla Kabashima, Maeve's Method Coach.

Look at any of life’s most stressful events, and you’re bound to find moving on the list. Though we haven’t been able to find out exactly how stressful moving is, anyone who’s been through it can tell you that it’s stressful enough.

There are tons of tips and tricks to help you ease the stress of moving, but often these tricks overlook the big picture of moving. The start to a stressless move is knowing your goals and plans. So, as the beginning of summer approaches, as does the start of the moving season, here are some thoughts to keep in mind at each stage of your move.

Make a Plan

Much of the stress from moving can be alleviated with a realistic, well thought-out plan, and this can be more simple than you think! Sit down with a calendar and your family, significant other, dog – anyone involved in the move. Work together to make sure everyone is on the same page; set specific goals for each person and mark these on your calendar. And the more specific the better: pack bathroom sink area, unplug and defrost fridge, schedule pet sitter. Be sure to include any prep into your plan – whether you’re ordering reusable packing bins, buying boxes at your local hardware store, or picking up used boxes in your neighborhood, plan out when you’ll have them all collected. If you operate with an online or shared calendar, set-up reminders ahead of your goal.

Declutter as You Go

Moving is a unique opportunity to review all of the possessions of your life. Use this time to #declutter before you move to start fresh in your new home and take with you only what you really want to live with. Not only will you be traveling lighter, you’ll save time, money, and reduce stress with less stuff.

The best way to effectively declutter your home is to go through and touch everything you own. This is often a difficult process, but when you’re moving, you’re naturally doing this already. So, with this move, sort through and pack your items with intention. Think about what something means to you, where it’ll go in your new home, and if you’ll still have a use for it. And as you plan your move, make sure to schedule enough time to go through everything you own.

Pack for Your New Home

Pack your old home with your new home in mind. How much space will you have in your new home and can all your items go into the same rooms or will you need to make some shifts? Work through your home, room-by-room, asking yourself these questions. If you’ll be shifting items around, pack for the rooms in your new home and label each box with the room and any important items inside.

Also, be sure to plan to pack a few special boxes or suitcases filled just with the things you’ll need to get through your first week in your new home: work clothing, sports equipment needed for the kids, bathroom items, etc. Set these aside and either move them separately yourself, or label them for a certain location in your home.

Unpack with Intention

You’re almost there, and you’re at the fun part! But before we get to that, make sure to ask your movers to put boxes in the correct rooms. It’s no trouble for them and makes it so much easier when you do start to unpack. Ok, now you get to set up your home and start fresh!

Start your unpacking in shared spaces: kitchens, bathrooms, family rooms. These are the hardest areas to keep organized, so make sure they start out at their best by unpacking them before family members start sifting through and dumping out boxes. While unpacking, ask yourself, does this need to live in my new home? Will we use this? If you unpack with intention you may find yourself letting go of a few more things that really do not need to live in your home.

What’s your best moving plan? Share in the comments below!