Unless you’re a real estate agent, a contractor, or a mover, moving is likely not a full time job for you. But unfortunately, it sometimes feels like it. With so much to do, it’s easy to get overwhelmed, especially when other pieces of your life like your job and family life don’t stop changing just because the moving boxes have come out.
Just to start, you have to:
- Find movers
- Decide what belongings to take, what to donate, and what to trash
- Make storage arrangements
- Gather packing materials
- Pack for yourself, and potentially the rest of your family
- Ensure your new home is ready
- Set up utilities
- Organize childcare
- Have everything ready for moving day
That’s a lot to handle while also juggling a regular schedule. So how can you keep your work/life/move balance in check and get everything done without wittling yourself down into a husk of who you once were? There’s no one answer, but here are some places you can start.
Let people know ASAP
Your move may not seem like anyone’s business unless they’re your boss or someone with whom you work closely, but it can help to make a workplace announcement that you’re leaving. The stress of moving is something many have experienced, and you may even get some good tips from helpful coworkers. At the very least, they’re more likely to understand your new level of stress and will cut you the slack you need to get everything done. You, of course, don’t want to neglect your work, but knowing you’re dealing with a move gives you a little breathing room and, who knows, maybe you’ll even get a little help from your team to lighten your load.
On the other hand, if you really can’t let your work slip to the wayside, you can acquire help at the other end. Hire a cleaner or service to get your home ready for moving, or ask relatives and friends to lend a hand. Hiring a cleaning service might not be as expensive as you think, and can free you up to spend time completing other important tasks. You can even hire a moving service like Elite not only to get your things from point A to point B, but also to pack, load, and unpack for you. Elite’s team of expert movers have been packing and moving Chicagoland customers for more than a decade, so our full packing service is well equipped to get all of your belongings to their destination safely and easily.
And the last bonus of letting your workplace know well in advance of your move? More time to plan your going away party! It also makes for more time to say goodbye and ensure you have the contact information for those in your workplace that you want to stay close to. Make sure you don’t let the stress of it all get in the way of maintaining friendships that you want to outlast your time in the office.
Don’t take on anything new
It can be hard to say no when good opportunities come knocking, but remember that your time and mental health are more valuable, and overextending yourself isn’t going to help you.
Don’t overburden yourself with new work or take on particularly challenging tasks you can’t fully commit to. It will only frustrate you and the people around you. If anything, decrease your workload, but at the very least keep it steady. With the cost of moving, it’s important to keep a steady income, but what’s even more important is your health and well being. Losing the pay from a few hours won’t break you, but continually overexerting yourself might. Instead, work on preparing to leave your workplace as organized as you can, and don’t be afraid to ask for help from coworkers during particularly high-stress intervals.
Get packing
Like almost everything in life, the key to moving is thinking ahead. That means start packing as early as possible, and to pack you’ll need boxes. Now, you may have boxes lying around the house you can use—boxes from packages or other storage containers—but you can also buy them relatively cheap at places like UPS, Home Depot, or even from your movers.
Elite Moving and Storage offers a plethora of moving box sets made for different sized houses and bedroom numbers so that you can more easily gauge how many boxes your home will require. They’re available straight from our store alongside any moving tools and specialty boxes you might need. We’ll even help you pack, bringing all the boxes with us, if you choose our full packing services.
Meet your new best friend: the To-Do List
The best way to stay organized is to make lists. Whether that be online spreadsheets, a binder, or post-it notes, use whatever helps you stay organized so you don’t forget anything even when you’re distracted by work. Not only are lists like these a sure fire way to stay on top of what you need to do, but every little thing you check off gives you a little boost, and serves as a visual representation of how you’re getting closer and closer to the big day—and your new home.
When keeping lists, make sure you continue to separate your work schedule and your moving plans. That way, your time isn’t bleeding between the two. It’s all about separating and conquering each part of your life separately, or else it could all get muddled. It can be helpful to have your lists in a place that’s always accessible, such as on your phone or in the cloud, but again, make sure to keep them organized. If written lists are your preference, make sure a notepad is close at hand when you are planning, packing, or talking to people like estate agents, contractors, or movers.
Practice Self-Care
You can plan, and organize, and delegate all you want—and you should—but the truth is, you’re never going to fully evade every moment of stress. And even as you’re dealing with workplace tasks and moving shenanigans, there’s one more thing you need to take care of: yourself.
Ensuring your own health and wellbeing is the only way anything else is going to turn out. If you are not in the right headspace, you risk everything becoming an uphill battle, maybe even an insurmountable one.
Three things that are non-negotiable are sleep, diet, and hydration. If you’re tired, you won’t be able to concentrate on work or your move. You’ll be more likely to forget important details, make rash decisions, and, most importantly, you’ll feel miserable. Diet is the same. It can be so easy to skip meals or forget to eat, but eating enough as well as getting the vitamins, minerals, and protein you need are incredibly important to your health and your body’s function. This is especially true because moving involves so much physical labor. At the same time, don’t feel pressure to keep up a routine of gourmet meals if you’re the one that cooks for yourself or your family. If you’re particularly tired, a pizza or takeout may be just the thing you need.
Spending time with family is also important. It may not seem as pressing as your moving duties, but it can be a good stress reliever, and remind you who you’re moving for. Remember to spend time with friends too. You’ll want to make the most of the last few months you have with them, especially if you’re moving far away.
Lastly, take some time for just you. Think about when you feel the most relaxed, what gives you the feeling of pure serenity. A face mask? A spa day? Going for a run? Curling up with a book? Or maybe curling up with your Xbox controller and Call of Duty? Whatever it is that gives you the reset you need, remember to take time for yourself.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help
The last tip we can give you is to get as many tips from others as possible, as well as a helping hand or two when necessary. When looking for contractors, realtors, and movers, it can be overwhelming trying to parse the best options from the bunch, the genuine from the scammers. So start with someone you trust. Buying, moving, and renovating are things many people have experience with, and it’s almost guaranteed someone you know will have the right person for the job.
And if your friends and family aren’t afraid to put their back into it, they can help with some of the packing, labeling, or physical moving as well. It may seem like a lot to ask, but it’s also a great opportunity to spend time with those you may not see after your move, and it will make them feel good to know that they’re taking some of the load (literally) from your shoulders.
When looking to hire people, reviews can also be helpful. Facebook, Yelp, and Google Reviews are just some of the places to start seeing what people have said about any company you’re looking at. And of course you want to talk to someone at the company before you make a deal—Elite can even offer quotes quickly and virtually to give you the best idea of what your move could look like with as little additional effort from you as possible (we know you’re busy). To learn more, visit www.elitemover.com. And we wish you the best, most tranquil move possible.