Let’s face it, moving is physically and emotionally stressful. I’ve met so many people who have moved over the past couple of months and wanted to write about this topic.
In fact, I moved last week and experienced physical and emotional stressors first-hand. I caught myself on occasion using poor lifting techniques, performing repetitive movements, and not eating well. Most people can’t afford to have someone come to their door, pack up your belongings, move them and unpack. It’s just not realistic. So, let’s unpack a few tips to survive your next move.
- Pace yourself – Start packing couple weeks ahead of time. Set a goal for yourself, for example pack one box per day. Take this as an opportunity to go through items that you might consider getting rid of or donating. Usually the first things to get packed live in the closet. If you pack your closets first then consider where you’ll be storing those boxes. Otherwise, you may end up with empty closets and stacks of boxes in your living room which is not fun to navigate.
- Proper lifting techniques – My favourite saying is “keep your nose between your toes” as it acts as a reminder to avoid twisting from the waist when lifting and carrying. The key is to pivot with your feet and keep your core muscles engaged while breathing. When lifting boxes, get someone to help and at the very least squat down to pick up the box rather than hunching forward. Also, spend the money on moving day to rent a dolly. This can save a lot of time and strain by stacking boxes on top of each other and making fewer trips.
- Avoid repetitive strain – Speaking of strain – let’s try to avoid this. One of the more common ways of incurring repetitive strain on your body is by putting together new Ikea furniture with one of their tiny Allen keys. If possible, get a friend to help share the load or borrow an electric screwdriver.
- Prepare meals – This may sound like a silly detail but during my recent move I was more concerned about moving and unpacking than my nutritional intake. Thinking about how you’ll eat prior to, during, and after the move will help ensure that you’re mood is stable and that you’re physically capable of recovering from the long and physical process of moving.
Wishing you the best on your next move and I hope you stay healthy!