5 Ways to Navigate Stress While Moving in Manhattan
Moving can be full of excitement as you prepare for a new place and a fresh start. It’s good to clear the mental cobwebs and get inspiration flowing again through a big change like this. However, moving in Manhattan can also become quite exhausting and stressful. Tasks often take hours longer than initially thought, budgets get blown and backs get sore. But we’ve complied a list of 5 potential stressors with tips and ideas to help you navigate those. It doesn’t have to get overwhelming. With a little planning to stay organized and efficient, it’ll go a lot smoother.
1. Acknowledge normal stress.
There is a certain amount of inevitable stress you’ll incur over the course of your move. But it doesn’t have to be detrimental. And part of keeping the stress at a manageable level is to acknowledge that it will happen. Accepting some amount of stress will help you move through it without it setting you back so much.
2. Set aside enough time (and then some).
One of the biggest hurdles to moving is time. Specifically, never having enough of it. Tasks you thought would take a few minutes, take an hour and projects you thought might be two hours take five. And you’re not dealing with infinite time here or flexible move-out dates. There is literally a day you have to be out by. So planning ahead and giving yourself ample time to pack up and move is crucial to managing your stress levels. Set aside a couple days for a one bedroom or three to four days for a two bedroom just to pack everything up. And don’t forget all the other steps along the way you’ll need time for. These include finding movers or a truck rental company, cleaning your old place, cleaning the new place, and setting up utilities at the new home. Give yourself a generous amount of time for each task and then add a little extra on for good measure.
3. Begin small.
Sometimes the overwhelm of moving can paralyze us and we don’t know where to start. The key is just to start. Somewhere. Anywhere. Start small with a single dresser or that one bookshelf in your living room. Get something packed and you’ll start to immediately feel better as you see it can be done.
4. Get and stay organized.
Staying organized throughout your move is crucial. Label boxes well to make them easier to find and unpack later on. Pack like items together so you don’t find yourself looking for the coffee maker only to realize boxes later it was crammed in with bed linens. You’ll also want to make sure you keep all your important documents out and together. This includes the new lease or contract, paperwork from the moving company or storage unit, and any other must have documents.
5. Get some sleep.
Lastly, get as much sleep as you can. It’s easy to cut this out when you’re pressed for time. But skimping on sleep will only lead you to feel more run down and overwhelmed as the move progresses. Block out time for rest and decompression at the end of the days and then get as much sleep you can.
Use these five suggestions as a starting point to help you plan and organize your upcoming move. These tips will all work to make your Manhattan move a little less stressful.