Moving is a process stressful and mentally draining. Setting your expectations is the first step in minimizing stress during a move. Accept from the get-go that stress during a move is natural, understandable, and pretty much unavoidable. It is okay if your fuse gets a little shorter or if you feel anxious about getting everything done. When stress gets to be too much, it’s better to: 1. Adopt the right attitude. When moving, try to adopt a can-do attitude to help you through the tough parts. Focus on the positives, like meeting new people, exploring a new area, and finding fun activities to do in your new place. Even if it’s just one little thing, like being close to an interesting restaurant, keeping that positivity in your mind can help you to mitigate your stress. 2. Make a checklist • Getting enough boxes or other storage for your items. • Making any down payments or security deposits that are required for your new location. • Making a travel plan, including the best routes, potential stops along the way, and how many trips you will need to take. • Packing everything! Preferably at least a few days or weeks in advance of your move. • Putting things into a storage unit or taking them out, depending on whether you’re downsizing or upsizing. 4. Declutter and organize By decluttering your home long before the big move rolls around, you can make it a lot easier for yourself on moving day. Also, when packing, organize and label you boxes so when the moves come, the have easy direct access to your items when loading the truck. The movers will also know where to unload your boxes easier and quicker. 5. Start early. As with almost anything, leaving all of your packing, cleaning, and moving until the last minute will likely multiply your stress considerably. Some parts of your move, like decluttering, can be done weeks or even months before you move. Others, like packing, can be done slowly over a few days or weeks, leaving only the essential items until the last minute. 6. Accept help. The most important thing to remember about moving is that It’s okay to enlist the help of friends when it comes to packing, moving your heavier things, or even just bringing food on your busy moving day. Just remember to pay back the favor. Buying drinks or a meal for your helpers is a common way to thank them for all they’ve done. Keep in mind to hire professional movers if the job is too big for your friends to tackle alone. 7. Say goodbye. Saying goodbye to your friends, your favorite places, and your old home can be difficult, but it’s also an important step in moving on. If you’re moving far away and it’s possible that you won’t see a lot of these people or places again, take the time to give an earnest goodbye. Let your last memories of your old home be good ones.

Dos and Don'ts to Get You Through Your First Move Information is power! It’s so much easier to do something when you know how to do it, right? Even the fairly complicated process of moving house can be turned into a problem-free and stress-free experience when you’ve got a convenient list of things to know before moving out. Make your move the easiest one yet by being 100% prepared in terms of what to expect from your move and what to do to keep the relocation as smooth as possible. Here’s what to know before moving - Things you must be familiar with when moving from one home to another. Precise cost estimation is the first step. Shop around for good movers. If one estimate is severely lower than another...there is a reason. Following a moving checklist . Saving money when moving is a priority, but it's not the only one. Make sure you are paying to adequately protect your stuff by using a moving company that is licensed and insured. Declutter your home. Packing by yourself can save you a fortune. Here’s some of the most important do’s and don’ts to ensure your first move goes off without a hitch—or at least as few hitches as possible. If you are moving for the first time and want to experience a smooth relocation, you need to remember: Do not delay your packing, make sure that you are in constant communcation with your moving company. When you update the company with an accurate inventory it helps them gauge the move better and create a more efficient plan. Do not forget to put labels on boxes. It's a lot easier to unpack your stuff if the movers have put the boxes down in their designated rooms. It helps a ton when you're trying to settle into your new home. Pack valuables yourself - most moving companies wont pack or move your valuables and will suggest that you move those yourself. It will give you peace of mind and ensure that you have retained possession of family heirlooms, jewelry, etc.  If you want to move without any stress, make proper plans and keep in mind the do’s and don’ts mentioned prior.