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Move with Efficiency
Large lifetime moves that involve a lifetime of possessions has been termed one of the most stressful events in life. Combine this already stressful event with family and children and the stress involved can be unbearable in many cases accounting for the nightmare stories involving these types of moves. However, by adhering to strategic advice, the moving day can be made much less stressful and because many of these things are done in advance to prepare for the move and the following living destination, these things will not get lost in the shuffle and reappear at the worst possible moments.
Notices including Change of Address
One of these tasks that gets lost in the shuffle is sending in the change of address request as soon as the new address and moving date is set. These requests take time, so filling out appropriate forms and getting them in is important. Other advance notices that should be made include notifying financial institutions, doctors and schools as well as friends and family with pertinent information about the new location. This should also include notifying utility companies of the new and old residence.
Plan with a To-Do List
Simply making a list and then checking off accomplishments will alleviate stress greatly. This list should be prioritized by deadlines. Also taking inventory is important for the list, but also for any insurance obligations that are necessary as a result of the move. An inventory is also important in rectifying if anything is not present at the end of the move that was loaded according to the inventory list in the beginning of the move. This is also an opportunity to lighten the load of unnecessary accumulations because fewer things to move means the costs in money and time are less, so declutter before packing up.
Plants
Plants require special moving techniques, so if plants can be donated or otherwise given to family and friends left behind, the load, time, stress and money in moving plants can be alleviated. Additionally, these can make nice parting gifts for these friends and family. However, if plants are making the move do not water for three days prior to moving. Smaller plants can be moved in personal vehicles so they are not impacted by either wind or the hot confines of a moving truck. Sometimes in long distance moves, moving plants is entirely impractical.
Hire professionals and find cheap moving boxes instead of using old used boxes that may be contaminated with foreign matter imparting smells and stains on items. Choosing to do this personally or by hiring cheap non professional movers will make life very difficult, so hire proven professionals, and many offer cheap moving boxes.
Tips for Moving Day
The average apartment requires up to 20 hours to pack by professionals, so single family homes require approximately 40 hours of professionals work packing.
Doing it personally, people will need tape and permanent pens for labeling all those boxes with information like if the item is fragile, and the where the contents are to be unpacked. It is advised to pack essentials toward the end of the packing process like toothbrushes and other required personal items because these items will be used until the move and will be the first things off of the truck for use at the destination. Pack heavy items lower and the lighter items higher avoiding heavy things on top of fragile items.
Living in the Present
One of my biggest regrets in the past ten years of my life is not appreciating the moment and the here and now more than I have up until this point. You see, this year I’ve learned how to be more present, more involved, more aware, and more relaxed. And it’s made a world of difference in how I carry myself on a day to day basis.
But as I grew up, as I made my way through college and even after graduating, I still would always look too far forward or keep myself stuck in my past. It was either a wishful “What if I had done this instead?” or a “What will I do next?” Never did I sit down and look at what was around me right then and there and just take it all in.
But learning how to do this now has made me realize what art and emotion and expression truly is, and I honestly believe it’s about living in the now and appreciating everything I have around me and what I’ve built for myself.
From moving to one place to another or just doing more hands-on art activities for expression, I’ve realized that being present is extremely mindful and healing because you appreciate what is happening in your current life. You hold onto those emotions and experiences much tighter than you ever would in any other way of going about your days.
For example, whenever I would move out from one apartment and into a new one, I would look at all the cheap moving boxes with a sense of dread for the unknown ahead of me. Or I would see those same boxes stacked up in a corner in my new place and view it all with a sense of remorse of the past.
Instead, I know now that whenever I move next, I’ll learn to look at my cheap moving boxes full of contents as an awesome opportunity for the here and now. I’ll learn to appreciate what I have, who I’ve become, and where I’m going. The present, the here and now, it’s truly a beautiful blend of both the past and the present. That, to me, is what it means to be complete. If you can balance both your past and future, you’ll know what it means to be absolutely here in the present. Once you learn that way of life, you’ll never go back to the wishful or remorseful ways that you used to live.