The big move is over, and we are just about settled into our new place on moving day. I don’t have inward serenity yet(things in just the right places), but I do have “outward”. Meaning it looks like we have lived here a while. No boxes or bags or moving clutter in sight. I continue to learn more and more about making moving a more joyful experience. I am getting good at this moving gig. It ended up getting done in record time. It took the movers three hours to load and unload our furniture and set up the beds.
Special note:
Some have asked why we moved, especially after we had just moved recently. My husband’s health has improved, and we no longer needed the level of care he was receiving in the old place. I missed cooking meals and the freedom we used to have as well. And we wanted to conserve our money by moving to a better place for our budget.
MY TOP 5 MOVE DAY TIPS
TIP ONE: GET UP EARLIER THAN YOU THINK YOU NEED TO
Get up early on moving day – movers often come earlier than they say they will – ours came at 8:30 a.m. rather than 9. I was on my way back from delivering my husband to our new home. I informed the front desk of our building to let them in and tell them to begin without me. When I got there, they were well on their way to padding up the furniture. They said they were pleased I was so organized and would make it easier to move everything. I had all the floor areas clear and things removed from the top of the furniture in the old place. It was mover-ready for sure! I also had things on the other end cleared and ready. And be sure to have something quick for breakfast waiting for you on the other end! I don’t normally use this type of oatmeal but it comes in real handy when you are super busy. You just add water.
TIP TWO: STASH YOUR STUFF
Put what you don’t want the movers to move in a front closet or out to your car. Things like the bedding you took off the beds and all the last-minute things you needed to spend the night there. Inform the movers that the stuff in the closet is not being moved by them. The photo below is the stuff I took out to the car before the movers came and before I drove my husband to the new place. I found the large shopping bags to be invaluable. They are great for ease of carrying and quickly stashing and finding things.
TIP THREE: ALWAYS KNOW WHERE KEYS AND CELLPHONE ARE
Keep your keys on a lanyard around your neck at all times except when you are driving. This is my greatest source of stress if I do not! And your cellphone and wallet in a tiny crossbody purse around your neck. This is also a lifesaver! If you don’t know what I am talking about see my vlog called “Tiny Purse”. You will regret it if you don’t have this done. Also, misplacing and looking for things will just add to your already high-stress level! I also had cash to tip the movers and a charger in my new kitchen drawer.
TIP FOUR: KEEP IMPORTANT THINGS TOGETHER
Have essential things in a small shopping bag that you can easily transport to a new place- something you want to have handy. Put it on your kitchen counter in your new location. I kept packing tape, labels, scissors, chargers and anything else I wanted handy and easy to locate!
TIP FIVE: FIRST THINGS FIRST
Make the beds as soon as the movers set up the beds. Hopefully, you have the sheets in a handy place and won’t have to search for them. You do not want to wait until you are too exhausted to do this essential task. Get outside serenity first. By this, I mean your horizontal surfaces clear – floors, top of counters, dressers, desk, tables etc. You want to hide things in our closets to give your new place a serene feel right from the start – day one! Then put things like sofa pillows on the sofa and towels on rods and other things that make your place feel like it is ready to live in. Then you can relax and feel less stressed. The work ahead of you is still there and it can wait. For now, you can have serenity and that will greatly help you relax after the big move. You may not have everything arranged perfectly in your cupboards and drawers but at least you can find things if you need them. Resting after a long day is so important! You have worked hard all week and you deserve a good rest now! We ordered a nice dinner delivered and watched a movie on our tv.
CONCLUSION:
Moving Day can be crazy if you don’t think things through! The movers are moving very quickly, your mind is scrambled, and your body may be functioning on only a couple of cylinders. Again, just like before the move, you want to write everything down. I am so glad I worked for two days prior to the big move, and moved all the smaller items and stocked the place with a little food. Make a MOVE DAY LIST. You may have trouble falling to sleep that first night in your new place, so keep a pen and notepad by on your nightstand for late night thoughts on what you need to do the next day to make your place a home.
I hope these five tips will help you when you have a moving day. Stay tuned for next week’s tips on what works for me and hopefully you as well, after a move.