For many of us, at some point in our lives or another, we move from place to place. The move could be for many reasons, such as a job opportunity, desire to live elsewhere, family reasons, etc. As the summer season is the busiest time to move, with over 60% of annual moves in the U.S. taking place between May and August, you may be looking for ways to make your move smooth and stress-free during these hot summer months.
Are you planning a move this summer? Looking for some tips to help you along the way? Here are some summertime moving tips that will ease you through your next move!
1. Make a Plan: No planned, large-scale life change goes without stress, but having a plan can at least make the stress more manageable. Get yourself a notebook or binder and write down all of your plans when you intend to move, including the official moving day, weeks set aside to pack, deadlines for certain responsibilities, etc. Clearing your schedule and assigning specific days for moving duties can help you organize what you need to do.
2. De-Clutter: One common problem most of us share is that we all have unnecessary clutter that we’ve been holding on to for a number of months or years. This may be old documents, clothes that don’t fit, outdated electronics, etc. You don’t want to lug around this clutter to your new place, so it’s a good idea to clear any clutter you may have. Doing so will make the process easier but not only reducing the number of items to pack, but also lessening the items to transport from one place to another, which can be super tiring- especially in the summer heat.
3. Schedule the Move in the Morning: The physical strain a move takes on you is undeniable. Lifting heavy boxes, moving furniture, transporting items up and down the stairs, etc. are all tasks that can leave you feeling physically exhausted and drained. During a summer move, these feelings can be more amplified as warm temperatures and high humidity points are common. As the hottest times of the day typically run between 11am and 4pm, it's important to try and schedule your move for the early morning hours or later in the evening if that works for you. A blog post by Unpackt notes, “There’s one benefit of those long summer days, which is that you’ll have plenty of hours with daylight to get your things moved. Set your Plan B for late in the day, when the sun is past its peak and temperatures are cooling down.” Doing so at this time of day will give you a bit of relief with cooler temperatures.
4. Remember to Stay Hydrated: During a move, you tend to get caught up in the chaos of physically moving around, whether it's picking up boxes, making runs up and down stairs, or arranging furniture. The excitement and adrenaline, along with the desire or need to get everything unpacked from the moving truck as quickly as possible, can leave you practically running on empty and forgetting to stay hydrated. A blog post by Mayflower suggests, “Plan the night before by stocking a cooler full of water bottles. On the day of the move make sure you have ice ready to fill the cooler and let everyone know who is helping out with the move where to access the cooler. Another cool tip is to roll up several wet towels to the ice-filled cooler and let them chill for a couple hours.” In the summer months, hydration is essential to feeling good and functioning well, and it should be of even greater priority during a move.
5. Turn on the A/C Beforehand: When dealing with suffocating summer heat and loads of physical activity, there is nothing more desirable than the cool, crisp feeling of air conditioning. Among the busyness of the move, there is a chance you could forget about running the A/C in your new home. So, a day or two before move-in day, turn on the utilities in your home so by the time you unlock the door and start unloading, your home is cool and comfortable.
6. Take Time to Relax: The hectic nature of moving can take a toll on you both physically and emotionally, leaving you drained and exhausted at the end of the day. While, of course, it is important to prioritize tasks during the process, do not forget to take time for yourself to relax and spend time with loved ones after the move. Reserve time to sit down and have dinner with family or friends, take a trip with a friend to a park, have a mental-health day to binge your favorite show. Do whatever makes you feel relaxed and comfortable after dealing with the move!
As someone who is planning on making a large-scale move from home in the upcoming months, I completely understand the stress of dealing with summer heat among gathering everything up, saying goodbye to home, and starting a new life elsewhere. Just remember that though it may be difficult at points, you’re moving to better your life and it will all pay off in the long run! Friends and family will always be there for you, no matter how far away you may be. As always, good luck!
If you're looking for a place where you can call home this summer, don't hesitate to contact me and I am more than happy to answer all your inquiries.
