On the Move: Essential Steps for a Stress-Free Move

Moving? Again? Are you using affordable storage or just moving directly to your new home? The average person will move house several times over the course of a lifetime. It can be one of the most stressful events in a person's life, but it can also lead to new opportunities and a fresh start.

First up is gathering your supplies. Boxes are the bedrock upon which all moves are built. You'll need them in a variety of sizes, and you'll need lots of 'em. Start dropping by local businesses to ask for boxes they're throwing out as soon as you know you're moving.

In addition to boxes, you need two things: something to keep the contents of the boxes from being bumped around in transit, and something to tell you what's inside the boxes. Save your newspapers, buy a roll of bubble wrap, and keep plenty of permanent markers on hand.

Once you have your materials assembled, start putting them to use! Plan to pack for at least an hour a day every weekday, and more on the weekends. It's important to stick to a routine to spread out the work and keep you from falling behind.

If your home is also your office, you need to take extra precautions to ensure your business and clients suffer as little disruption as possible. Your office should be the last room you actually pack fully, but you can start by organizing your paperwork and equipment, packing up things you're sure you won't need for several weeks, and getting rid of anything you no longer use.

While you're in removal mode, moving is the perfect time to declutter your entire house. Sell or donate to charity anything you haven't used or worn in over a year, and really think about whether or not you like something enough to justify packing and hauling it to your new home.

Whatever it is that's got you on the move, taking simple steps to keep yourself organized will make the workload more manageable and keep the stress level down.

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