Ways to Reduce Stress When Moving in Hamilton

by Mike McCarthy Realty

Moving can be exciting. It can also be exhausting.

Packing, coordinating movers, changing your address, cleaning, dealing with deadlines and trying to keep normal life going at the same time can feel like a lot—particularly when you're moving from a longtime family home.

The key is to avoid treating the move as one enormous task.

Break it into smaller pieces, start earlier than you think you need to, and give yourself enough time to deal with the things that inevitably come up.

Here are five ways to make your Hamilton move more manageable.

1. Start Earlier Than You Think You Need To

One of the easiest ways to create unnecessary stress is to leave everything until the last few days.

Once you know you're moving, start working through the things that don't need to happen immediately.

Pack seasonal items first. Deal with things you rarely use. Start sorting through storage areas, closets and other spaces that tend to accumulate belongings.

If you're downsizing, this is particularly important.

You don't want to discover on moving day that you're trying to decide what to do with decades of belongings while the movers are standing at the door.

Give yourself time to make those decisions.

2. Don't Move Things You Don't Want Anymore

A move is an opportunity to take a hard look at what you're actually bringing with you.

Ask yourself:

"Do I really want this in my next home?"

If the answer is no, deal with it before moving day.

Donate what can be donated. Sell what makes sense to sell. Give things to family members if appropriate. Dispose of items that have reached the end of their useful life.

This isn't about getting rid of everything.

It's about making sure you're moving the things that actually belong in the next chapter of your life.

That's one of the reasons the Reflect stage of my 3R Method™ matters. Before you relocate, you need to think about what you're leaving behind, what you want to take with you and what you want your next home to feel like.

3. Choose Your Moving Company Carefully

Moving day is not the time to discover that your movers aren't reliable.

If you're hiring a moving company, ask questions before you commit.

Find out what is included, how the pricing works, what happens if the move takes longer than expected and how your belongings are protected during the move.

Get the important details in writing.

And don't automatically choose the lowest price. A moving company that communicates clearly and has a process for handling your belongings can make a significant difference on a day when there is already plenty happening.

4. Make a Moving-Day Checklist

There are dozens of small things that can get forgotten during a move.

Create a checklist and work through it before the big day.

Things to consider include:

Confirm the movers and arrival time
Keep important documents and valuables with you
Confirm where you'll pick up the keys
Pack a first-night box
Keep medications and essential items accessible
Make sure utilities and services are arranged
Complete your change-of-address notifications
Keep basic cleaning supplies handy
Make sure you know where the essential items are going in the new home

You don't need to rely on your memory when you're already juggling a hundred things.

Write it down.

5. Give Yourself Permission to Take a Break

This one sounds obvious, but it's easy to forget.

Moving is work.

If you've spent weeks packing, sorting, cleaning and organizing, you're going to be tired.

Don't expect yourself to have the entire new house unpacked and perfectly organized immediately.

Get the essentials set up first.

Then take your time.

The goal isn't simply to get everything from one address to another. It's to arrive at a home that works for the life you're moving into.

That's ultimately what Rejoice is about in the 3R Method™—getting settled, exhaling and enjoying the next stage rather than spending all your energy worrying about everything that isn't finished yet.