An estimated 43% of people consider relocation more stressful than a breakup or tax audit, with a stunning 42% believing that moving is comparable to spending a week behind bars.
The overwhelming tasks involved, disruptions in daily life, loss of familiarity, financial strain, and social challenges are factors that make moving stressful. The good news is that with proper planning and preparation, it is possible to minimize the stress and make the process smoother, especially if you’re relocating to faraway or distant places.
Get Ahead of Stress by Planning Your Move
A recent survey by Epstein revealed that 25% of our happiness depends on how well we manage stress, and the best way to do this is to plan. Hence, it makes sense to plan things rather than let them happen. In this regard, a lifetime event such as a move requires careful and meticulous planning. Determine your move-in and out dates and start planning well in advance. To organize your tasks and deadlines, a detailed moving checklist is beneficial. Do an inventory of the things you want to keep because you will need this list for a shipping company to determine the volume of items that must be shipped.
Thus, sort through your belongings and decide what to keep, donate, sell, or discard. On the bright side, a relocation is an opportunity to declutter and organize your stuff. You should then gather quotes and compare the offers and services of different movers. For example, you might want to get quotations from at least three reliable shipping and moving companies. Once the quotes are all in, you can check out which companies offer the best value for money for a door-to-door removal, if applicable, or for a shipping cost estimate for a long-distance move inclusive of insurance costs. If you’re not availing of a door-to-door removal, pack your belongings efficiently by using appropriate packing materials. Label boxes with their contents and the room they belong to.
Don’t Forget Administrative Matters.
Moving entails a change of address, and in this respect, you have to notify your post office, bank, and service providers (water, gas, phone, and so on) of your relocation plan. It is necessary, too to arrange for disconnection and reconnection of utilities. Closing on one side means you have to redo all the things in your future address. If necessary, you should also transfer your vehicle registration.
After selecting a moving company, preparation for moving day involves doing several things. For example, pack a bag of essentials with you on moving day. If your stuff will travel interstate or even overseas, it is important to keep a box or a suitcase of things that you will need immediately. Vital papers and documents should be carried with you in person. The ideal scenario is for you and your boxes to arrive at your new residence at the same time. However, more often than not, this does not happen, especially if you’re relocating abroad or to a faraway place. Your container might take months to arrive at your new address. Nonetheless, you should be prepared to have the essential things with you, such as clothes, personal items, bedding, crockery, and so on. In other words, a startup kit can help you go through the first few days, weeks, or months before your belongings arrive.
Moving to a new location can become a daunting prospect. However, with proper planning and preparation, you can make relocation smoother and less stressful.