Moving is often cited as one of the top most stressful life events, alongside death, divorce, illness and other dramatic changes. Although it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to eliminate this stress entirely, you can help reduce your burden by approaching the situation with a foolproof plan in place. One of the best ways you can prevent overwhelming yourself is by taking the process step by step. Before you call the movers and have your address officially changed, start packing the right way with the following top four tips.

1. Lighten Your Load

Does your home look like it belongs on an episode of Hoarders? It might be a good time to use this opportunity to apply an “out with the old, in with the new” strategy to make your packing job a whole lot easier. Although it may all seem like junk to you, others may find your things valuable. Since one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, you can make a bit of extra dough to spend on your new home by having a final garage sale of your old things. The things you don’t sell can be donated to a charity organization like the Salvation Army.

2. Don’t Forget Your Best Packing Companions

A packer is nothing without his or her packing accessories. In addition to the boatloads of boxes you’ll need for basically everything you own, it helps to keep the following items within reach as well: marking pens, bubble wrap, newspaper/tissue, scissors, tape, and tape measure. These items help you stay organized throughout the packing process, while also preserving the safety and quality of your more precious belongings.

3. Rock the Roll

One of the most effective tips for compactly packing clothing is utilizing the “roll” technique. This process basically involves folding the item of clothing just once long ways and then rolling it from one end to the other. Sure, you’ll have a lot of ironing to do once you get there, but the roll makes sure your clothing gets there in the most space-efficient manner possible. You can even apply this technique to virtually any cloth-like material, including curtains, towels, linens, table cloths and more.

4. Leave the Paper Trail Behind

You might not expect a two-dimensional item to make a huge difference in the size and weight of your luggage, but documents, files, mail, receipts, and other paper items can quickly add up and weigh you down. To eliminate some of this baggage, go through all of the papers you’ve saved throughout the years and shred (don’t forget to recycle!) all those documents and files you no longer need. You’ll be surprised at how much junk mail gets stowed away in your filing cabinet without regular inventory.

Moving may be an inherently stressful event, but it can be made fun when you use it as an opportunity to move on to a fresh start in life. Including the above four tips into your packing strategy can help literally reduce the weight of this burden, while allowing you to shed some of the old stuff and make room for new belongings.

About the Author: Marie loves to run, practice yoga and walk her Scottish Terrier, Pete.

According to Meditation Escape, moving is included in the list of top four biggest stressors in the average person’s life, surrounded by marriage, a new job, and death. Although this may not be the most reassuring fact, it’s comforting to hear that there are steps you can take to help ease this naturally stressful life event. Planning ahead helps you dodge potential pitfalls and helps you prepare for unexpected events that may have otherwise just added to your anxiety. To make sure you have all of your ducks in a row before moving, consider the following essential moving checklist.

1. Create a Schedule

A schedule can help you stay on task and make sure everything gets completed when it needs to be, but it can often add more stress to your life if it’s not done right. To make sure your own schedule is a stress-reducer, make sure to start as early as possible to give yourself plenty of time to get the job done. For example, if you have to be out of your old place by Friday, plan your moving day on the Monday before so you have more flexibility in case something goes wrong or takes longer than expected. In general, you will want to plan your moving day between Monday and Thursday, since banks and other businesses will be open in case you run into problems.

2. Arrange Utility Transfers

Finally settling into your new home should be the period when stress levels drop significantly, but finding that the home has no running water or electricity only prolongs your stress. To make sure your new home is a relaxing oasis to work toward during the moving process, arrange your utility transfers as early as possible. This includes water, electricity, gas, internet, phone service, cable, trash pick-up, and other things of this nature. Remember to have your ADT security system set up before you move in, so you can always feel safe in your new home.

3. File a Change of Address

You can either head down to your local post office and fill out a form or simply do it online at usps.gov. This method will work for the bulk of your mail, but sometimes letters can naturally get left behind. To make sure all your mail gets to you in a timely manner, talk to a neighbor beforehand about looking out for your mail a few weeks after you move. Make a list of all of the people and organizations you regularly receive mail from and notify them of your new address to make sure the most important mail won’t get lost.

4. Have Plenty of Cash on Hand

Whether you’ll be encountering several costly toll roads or working with movers who require cash payments, research to determine an appropriate amount of cash you should have with you for the move. Carry at least $100 extra to make sure you have a back-up plan in case you miscalculated or something new comes up. If you have a debit card, remember that you can always go into virtually any place of business and receive small amounts of cash back for emergencies as well.

Moving will likely involve several personal tasks that apply to each person differently. As long as you begin early, prepare meticulously and set up a back-up plan for potential disasters, the stress brought on by your moving experience will be dramatically reduced, thus allowing you to move on to the new chapter in your life with a newfound excitement.

About the Author: Marie enjoys baking double chocolate cookies and walking her Scottish Terrier, Pete.

The great unknown beckons when you move out of the country, which can be thrilling and somewhat scary at the same time. Yes, you are leaving everything you are familiar with, but you are also opening your horizons to new adventures and interesting new people. International moving will definitely present more of a challenge than a regular relocation from one town in the U.S. to another, but here are some tips that can help make this transition as smooth as possible.

Apply for necessary permits and visas. You will need to obtain the appropriate visa for your particular circumstance — for example, a student visa — from the country in which you are planning to live. Your best source of information for the type of paperwork you will need is the consulate or embassy of the country in which you plan to live. You will also need to research what type of documents you may need to “import” your goods into the new country.

Determine the approximate size and type of your new housing. Many countries have much smaller homes and room sizes that we do in America. In addition, apartments and homes in some countries are traditionally rented out already furnished. Knowing this type of information will help you determine whether you will be bringing most or some of your furnishings or just your personal belongings, such as clothing.

Locate storage or decide what you want to do with items you can’t or don’t want to bring to your new country.

Decide what you will do with your current residence. If you are planning to return in a few years and you own your home, you may just want to rent out your place. If you don’t want to hassle with long-distance renting, you will need to make arrangements to sell your place.

Interview and hire a company that specializes in international moving. You will need to do this several months in advance to guarantee that the company you want to use is available on the dates you plan on moving.

Obtain all required inoculations for yourself and your children. Some shot series, such as Hepatitis B, require more than one shot spread over several months. Give yourself plenty of time to complete the series.

If you are a parent, you will also need to talk with your child or children’s current school(s) and the school(s) in the new country to determine what paperwork needs to be filled out in order to get records and grades transferred and what inoculations are required in your new country.

Check to see if there are any regulations or requirements regarding any pets you plan on bringing with you.

Learn what type of power your new country uses and what type of plugs are utilized. You may need to purchase converters and adapters for your electrical items.

Make a list of your goods and prepare for your move. Book your airline tickets and arrange for transportation at your destination.

These are the basics of what you will need to do before moving to another country. Depending on your destination, there may be other things, such as purchasing mosquito nets or getting a car, but these will give you a good start on your move.

Maire is very fond of baking double chocolate brownies and walking her Scottish Terrier, Pete.

Your New Office

Any number of factors can lead your company to conduct a property search, including the need for more space as the company grows. Moving into a new location can be a great time to redesign your professional surroundings, such as transforming a space once occupied by cubicles into an open floor plan that fosters communication. Read on for some tips for making your new office pleasant for employees and visitors alike.

Flooring

In the event that your company isn’t part of a chain and therefore designed to look like all other corporate locations, options abound for making the space your own. If the office you moved into has concrete floors, consider putting down laminate flooring for a smooth finish and modernized look. If floors are carpeted, give thought to replacing it with carpet squares. You’ll accomplish a similar appearance and improve upon your office’s accessibility for persons with mobility issues, such as those who use wheelchairs.

Furniture

While it’s tempting to buy out the Crate and Barrel catalog when furnishing your office, doing so is not an option for all companies. Relocating a business can be a costly venture, especially for organizations that have recently opened their doors and need capital for other ventures like onboarding employees. When sticking to a budget is a concern, visit office furniture sales where equipment like filing cabinets and boardroom chairs are sold at a discounted rate. You can often choose from gently-used pieces that will fill out your office space without breaking the bank. Pre-owned furniture can be repurposed to suit your office environment, which will give you a chance to exercise your DIY skills and design according to your specific tastes.

Always start with basic pieces, such as seating for guests and potential employees waiting to interview, and complete your office redesign at a wise pace. There’s little sense in spending your monthly budget on furniture that is nice but not immediately necessary, especially if your computer or phone system needs to be updated. Ideally, your new office will be ready to welcome visitors from the minute you open the doors. If not, consider hosting an open house that will introduce your clients to your new surroundings. An open house is a great time to re-launch your brand, including distributing new business cards with your new address and updated logo.

Accessories

Potted plants and other greenery go a long way towards making your lobby aesthetically pleasing to employees and visitors alike. Add art as time and your budget permits. You don’t want to leave the walls bare too long, but investing in large pieces of artwork can be costly and should be planned for wisely. Always be sure that necessities such as additional lighting and security systems are installed as close to your move-in date as possible. Protecting your investment and your employees is paramount.

Though redesigning an office can seem overwhelming, the process of changing spaces shouldn’t be a stressful undertaking. Start slowly, especially if your move is several months away, and acquire furniture and decorations at a reasonable pace that won’t make you regret relocating your office.
Maire is a marketing professional who enjoys networking and meeting with clients to discuss their public relations needs. She is a member of Toastmasters and likes to hike and spend time with her Scottish terrier, Pete, in her free time.