How To Make Moving Less Stressful

So as you’ve probably seen on Instagram I just moved on to my next adventure in windy Chicago Illinois.  I was so excited and a little nervous about packing up the life I’ve created over the past 4 years.  I’ve learned so much from being a military brat and this move will be no different from the previous one except as an adult I have created some amazing relationships with some of the most inspiring people that I do not want to lose.  So today I wanted to share some of my tips for moving, everything from keeping friends to packing up your home.  These are all stressors running through my mind and I’m sure I’m not the only one.

When you leave

As silly as this may sound but make sure you have contact information for all your friends.  We sometimes take for granted having people in your life so close physically that you may not have an address written down or even their phone number saved. because we live in a technology age it’s so easy to keep in touch with old friends.  Following each other on social media is cool and a way to keep tabs on your friends in different time zones

Next, plan a trip home in a few months, this a great way to make sure your friends know you’re not leaving and forgetting them is to plan a trip back.  Planning a trip to an event or a holiday is a great way to say “yes I’m going to come back and see you.” I also like to make sure I also think reoccurring so I can visit annually.

While you’re packing make sure to pack your essentials on top or in whatever you’re taking in the first run, pack a towel, your shower stuff and enough clothes to get you through the week.  Just in case you’re getting your things late you can at least not worry about what you’re going to wear your first week of work. Packing those essentials in a convenient location will also give you the opportunity to feel comfortable in your new space with everything you need daily at your fingertips.

Getting there

So it’s moving day! What to do first:

1. Clean: making sure the whole house has been wiped down will make putting your things in so helpful.  If you can get in there the day before that can make unpacking and organizing your space so much easier if you have it all clean.
2. Move big things in first: this feels like a no-brainer but stacking boxes in rooms and not knowing where your larger furniture is going to fit just turns into just shifting boxes around the room.  From there you can get the lay of your new space and see it all come together.
3. Contact help: of course moving is way easier in numbers, get those hometown friends to road trip with you or if you have made friends in your new area bribe them with drinks and pizza.  Not only does it make moving all your belongings a lot faster it’s also way more fun to talk to someone while you’re doing it.
4. Treat Yourself: finally, once everything is in give yourself a good pat on the back, you deserve it.  Instead of rushing to unpack everything all in the first night give yourself a much-needed rest.

The first week

Make friends with co-workers: this doesn’t mean you have to hang out every day after work but you should definitely get to know them ask how their weekend went or their recommendations for a great lunch spot.  Getting to know the people you’re going to be spending most of your Monday through Friday will definitely make the weeks more enjoyable.

Explore: Get to know your city, take a walk around your neighborhood, if it’s cold when you’re moving do some Google Searches!  See what’s around and feel out what your new area has to offer.

Eat!: What better way to get to know your new city than to eat its food!  Ask people for recommendations (this is also a great way to start a conversation and make new friends!) try new restaurants.  If you’re a bit shy apps like PostMates and Seamless are so convenient and break down the limitations of ordering food!

Sign up for activities:  I love workout classes, and they are great ways to not only learn the lay of the land but keep you in shape.  I joined ClassPass as a way to try new things, there are so many different kinds of classes out there with ClassPass they are right at your fingertips!

A move is such an exciting time but can be overwhelming, don’t sweat the small stuff. Keep the new adventures at the forefront of your mind.