I like moving! I have found this as a perfect way to pause any conversation immediately (especially if that is not what was being discussed). But honestly, I have always liked to move. As a child I would take any opportunity to move to a different bed room. Of the five bedrooms in my childhood home, including the master, I occupied three of them. Never the master, of course, and the fourth only because we actually sold the house and moved to a different state, but I am sure I would have made that mine as well.
But I get it…it is a lot of work and for the majority of people it can be stressful. Once the excitement of a new adventure fades away and the reality of packing sets in it can get a bit overwhelming. Just the thought of it may have already got your heart racing just a bit. Deep breath…With a bit of grace and planning, moving can be fun for all! Well, maybe not…but it can always get better.
“The important thing … is not deciding what to discard but rather what you want to keep.” -Marie Kondo
- Plan ahead. Start a moving notebook immediately (either digitally or hand written). There are a lot of great moving lists (This was one of my favorites). I also found a bunch on Pinterest. Find what works for you an start to use it immediately. There are things that you can do immediately and things that can wait for a bit, but get started. I also like to include a list of things I know for sure I will need in the new place as they come up. If you have them keep a list of measurements of your new space so you are sure not to move things that won’t fit. As much as I like to eyeball things it is best to know for sure, it saves much time and muscle.
- Take inventory of your stuff. Use this time to evaluate what you truly want to have in your life. Sell, donate or toss unwanted items. DECLUTTER!!!!! The less you keep the less you pack the less you unpack, it’s simple math. I like to go room by room with a garbage bag for toss and a box for donations. I also have a bag for items that I need to return to people. For those items that need new homes but may have some monetary worth, use Marketplace on Facebook.
- Schedule dates and people. Schedule time off at work, ask people for help and evaluate your social calendar. No need to add extra stress of over commitment if it can be avoided.
- Get a healthy mindset. Know that there is always a place of chaos before order. There is always the moments of panic, life is not perfect. Take a minute…breathe, take a walk, call a friend or refer to your lists (this always centers me). Whatever it takes to keep moving.
“Out of clutter, find simplicity. From discord, find harmony. In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” – Albert Einstein
This is your opportunity to fine tune your surroundings. You and your family get to decide what is going to fill your space. Your space sets the tone for your life. So look at this time as a positive life reset.
Or maybe you just need a little bit of help, like a personal trainer for your move. That is where I can come in. We all have our gifts and mine can be used in this situation. Just text me for a free consultation at 360-510-6771 and we can see what we can come up with.