Moving can be extremely stressful, can’t it? Here are some ways to make it easier next time you move. 

Toss Your Extra Junk 

Moving is a great time to re-evaluate your possessions, especially things you have tucked into the back of a closet. Even the most minimalist of us has some clothes we don’t wear or some accessories for a hobby we used to do. Deciding whether something is worth packing and moving will help you eliminate old junk. 

One way to do this is to bring a trash bag and a donation box around with you. The usual advice is that if you haven’t used it in a year, give it away or throw it away. But you know what’s best for you, I know I have some special things  that I want to keep. 

I find myself accumulating books, all the time. I try to regularly look over my shelves, and get rid of novels I’ve read that aren’t keepers forever. I’m lucky to have a couple local friends to swap my used books with, which is just great for new reading material, and then I have a friend to talk about my latest read with. But I get just as many books as I trade away, so it doesn’t really clear out my bookshelves. Anyway, I always seem to have at least a few books I don’t need to keep, and a move is a great time to go through them and get rid of excess. 

But don’t get rid of too much! Books make a home! Even with my strictest purges, I still have loads of books. I remember reading Marie Kondo’s suggestion to keep just 30 books, and I thought that was completely impossible. Can you do it? How many boxes of books do you have?

Hire Quality Movers

Let’s be real, books aren’t the only thing you’ll have to move. And do you really want to carry your couch out to a van? Hiring professional movers will save you time and stress. A company like Fresh Start – The Moving Crew will reduce your muscle strain, and move your furniture and belongings with care.

Like hiring any other professional, when you’re looking for movers, you’ll want someone with experience and good reviews. (Sorry to all the Craig’s List movers.) Fresh Start – The Moving Crew has good reviews for packing and moving in Worcester, MA. They have the 5-star People Love Us Yelp badge, too. When you have quality movers helping you, you can relax, save your back from lugging heavy boxes or furniture around. Just unpack all those boxes of books at your new place!

Update Your Address

You can do this one online, so it doesn’t take much time at all, and it’ll make everything so much smoother for your move. Update your address with the post office, and make sure all your mail is forwarded to your new place. Of course, this isn’t an instant update, so be sure to schedule it about a week before moving day. 

After this one form, most of your mail will be sorted out, but be sure to update your new address with your bank, too. Sometimes your ATM card requires a zip code, so make sure you have the right one. 

Pack and Organize, Room By Room

Ok, this one might end up being more aspirational… Let’s all accept that the last few boxes are just going to be labeled Stuff, if we even label them at all! But try to pack room by room, and make sure to label boxes by room. That’ll make it so much easier when you’re settling into your new place. 

Also, label your sheets and towels, since you’ll need them right away to make your new place comfortable. You won’t be able to get everything unpacked and set up the first day, so make sure that first night is comfortable. If I can sleep well and take a hot shower in the morning, I’m ready for a day of unpacking.  

Don’t Forget Your Essentials Bag

Pack your chargers, toiletries, any medicine, a clean outfit and other essentials in a bag or backpack. Bring this one with you when you head to your new place. Moving is tiring, and you don’t want to wake up and immediately start opening boxes to find your toothbrush.