Moving Right: How to Avoid the Most Common Moving Mistakes

We've spent a lot of time writing about what you should do during a move in these blogs. In this one, though, we're taking a deep dive into some of the most common moving mistakes, or the stuff you shouldn't do.

Moving has always been a hectic process, and it can be tempting to want to get it over with as soon as possible. But it's important to remember that moving right is better than moving fast. Moving right can mean moving with speed at times, too, but when we talk about moving right, we mean moving over a longer, more reflective period of time in which you seriously consider the step you're taking and prepare fully for moving day itself. 

Here are our top tips for avoiding the most common mistakes leading up to and during move day:

Speed is key on move day itself. You'll want to get all your boxes onto the truck, out of the truck, into your apartment, and unboxed as quickly as possible so you can start your next chapter.

When looking at the chaos of move day from a distance, it can be easy to think the entire moving process is that wild. When you move right, though, you start planning and packing weeks or even months in advance. You make sure you've chosen the right place for you at this point in your life, you keep lists of things to do and stuff to pack, and you conserve energy for the move itself. In other words, you move slowly towards the sprint that is move day. 

If you don't begin the moving process far in advance, you'll feel the urgency of the day, almost like you're in some kind of race. You'll want to cross the finish line as fast as possible, no matter what it takes. And although this urgency can be useful, try to put it to use during the early stages of the packing process. That way, when move day finally comes, you'll be totally comfortable moving quickly because you're so well prepared.

No matter what stage of the process you're in, letting it out, whether in writing or in a conversation with your partner or a friend, helps you stay focused on the task at hand. 

Even if you've begun packing way in advance, by the time move day comes around, you might forget what's packed where, and if you let that thought or worry linger, it'll allow other similar worries to pile up at the worst possible time. Ask someone close to you if they know where that thing is packed. Even if they don't, they might remind you that you jotted down a detailed inventory list where you'll definitely be able to track it down. 

The moral of this section is this: moving together is ways better than moving alone. Whether it's one person or a group of roommates, make sure you've got a support system to guide you through the ups and downs of packing, moving, unpacking, and settling in. Share your ideas and feelings about the process with them, and even if you aren't moving into the apartment together, you'll find that you're moving in a creative, collaborative atmosphere that's way more productive than a quiet, solitary one.

Avoiding stress is one of the easiest mistakes to make during the moving process. You'll have endless opportunities to relax, tune out, and wind down with a movie or episode while you pack, and although removing yourself from the moment can often be helpful for resetting when you need to, embracing stress and using it to your advantage can make the process extremely quick, productive, and smooth.

If you do need to check out for a break, do it wholeheartedly! Really try to forget about the chaos around you so that when you return to it, you'll be able to tackle it with a fresh perspective. If you procrastinate during the process, though, and keep doing so whenever things become stressful, the move, and even move day itself, will become way too difficult to manage.

Instead, when you're feeling the stress, lean into it, and use it as motivation to get to a point where you've got less stuff to do and less stress to feel as a result. View stress as an invitation to leap into and beyond it, rather than a warning to step back and let anxiety linger and intensify.

One of the most common moving mistakes of all is forgetting to zoom out and enjoy the process while it's happening. 

If you're able to stop making the mistakes of rushing, keeping everything in your head, and procrastinating, you'll find that this step naturally falls into place. Once you've set yourself up for an orderly, comfortable moving experience, you'll be able to spend more time reflecting upon the past, the exciting new chapter you're starting, and what you're looking forward to most about your new place. 

For more tips on handling stress and enjoying the move, check out the rest of our blog. 

And if you'd like to get started on the packing or planning process, reach out anytime! We can't wait to help.