Relocation is consistently ranked as one of life’s most stressful events—it even ranks up there with divorce, job loss, and major illnesses. But unlike other big life moments, the average American will move nearly a dozen times over the course of their life. Thus, it comes as no surprise that PCS moves are a top concern and stressor for military families.
From the perspective of a seasoned mover and military spouse, I can say with certainty: moving never gets easier. But the one thing we CAN do is be more prepared and ready for whatever curveballs are thrown at us! In this article, I hope to share some creative tips and insight on how to best prepare for your next relocation. And while I share from a military perspective, this information is still very relevant for civilian moves, too!
1. Purge, purge, and purge again
Decluttering will create more available transport space, which is important if you’re capped to one truck or container. If you have items you intend to donate or throw out, now is the time! Consider things like unimportant documents, furniture, old clothes, household items/décor, toys, expired medications, cleaning supplies, old cables/cords, and old bedding. Be sure to properly dispose of hazardous materials such as old paints, oil, tires, medications, etc.
2. Clean, make checklists, and narrow down a timeline
If you don’t plan to hire a move-out cleaner, you can start small with tasks here and there in the weeks and months prior (fridge cleaning, wiping walls & baseboards, patching holes, wiping down drawers & cabinets). Create checklists to stay on task with cleaning, change of address notifications, important dates/contacts, potential moving expenses, and so on. Identify a timeline with important dates such as move-out/move-in, starting/stopping utilities, travel days, and so on.
