A Fresh Start: Why Moving Can Be Great

Most people consider moving to be a stressful experience. Whether it’s moving down the street or across town, compiling lists of moving tips, to-do’s, and guides may mitigate only some of that stress. But there are also many simple ways moving can transform from a stressful experience to a positive one. Before moving day, consider the following tips from Gainesville movers with UF Mover Guys and leverage all the benefits of relocating from one living space to another — including enjoying a fresh start. Should you need a helping hand with more than your mindset, our reliable movers in Gainesville have you covered!

Contact us today to request a free quote for local moving services.

Get Organized

A move is the ideal time for getting organized. Once you box up all of your belongings, you get the chance to start from scratch in your new living space. You have the opportunity to get organized and tailor where you place each item to your liking as you begin to unpack all the boxes. If you’ve always wanted to try a new layout in your living room or bedroom, now is the time! You can mix it up with different colors, layouts and even toss or donate certain items you no longer need or want instead of grouping them in with your other belongings; although this step is preferred while packing up for a move, there is no time like the present!

Create “Me” Space

Moving allows you to set some space aside for yourself. As you unpack boxes in your new home, be sure to create a space that’s specifically for you. This can be a little area you can go to when you have a stressful day or need some alone time. Whether you want to create a meditation corner filled with vibrant indoor plants and calming salt rock lamps or desire a studio space for pursuing art projects, the sky’s the limit! Creating a physical space that you love to spend time in can help ensure you free up some mental space for self-care and enjoy an overall positive post-move trajectory.

Curb Bad Habits

Over the years, we all accumulate a bad habit or two we aren’t proud of. Some of us might avoid cleaning the bathroom often enough, while others may compile stacks of unopened mail near the front door. Whatever it is you want to change, now is the time to do it. Your new home marks the perfect time to start from scratch. If you’ve identified one or more habits you’d like to change, commit to doing things in a different way that helps curb bad habits while likewise introducing positive ones. Make a cleaning schedule to ensure the bathroom and other home areas get the cleaning they need regularly. Install a letter holder near the front door and organize pieces based on priority to avoid accumulating unopened mail.

Experience Life Differently

We all have things we want to do. Maybe you’ve always dreamed of participating in a local community theater, or you’ve wanted to take an art class. Once you’ve unpacked in your new home, go ahead and try something new to experience life differently. This is a chance for you to start something you have always wanted to do, be someone you want to be, and develop skills you never knew you had. What’s more, your new surroundings might inspire novel interests; if you live near lots of trees and nature, you might want to take up gardening, or if your home is close to a running or bike path, you may think about enjoying a regular run or bike ride.

Expand Your Network

You may not have known all the neighbors in your former neighborhood, but moving to a new place affords you the chance to connect with those around you. Once you move, consider putting in some effort into meeting nearby residents. Some neighbors may make the first move by welcoming you to the neighborhood, but there’s nothing wrong with taking the initiative and introducing yourself first. Getting to know your neighbors can also positively affect your feelings of safety in your new living environment. You don’t have to find best friends, but it can be advantageous to have someone looking out for you and your home while you’re away and vice versa.

How Kids Can Help During A Move

The process of moving from one house to another is a significant undertaking. This rings especially true for parents planning to move. Between managing schedules for work and school and planning and executing a move, all the responsibilities of daily life and the impending relocation fall on the hands of parents. However, one way to help streamline the moving process is to make your kids a part of the moving process. Providing kids with moving responsibilities — that accommodate their respective skill sets — not only keeps them entertained and busy, but it can also help comfort them in the face of this significant life change. If you’re a parent planning a move, consider these four tips from movers in Gainesville with UF Mover Guys for the best ways your kids can help move.

Contact us today to request a free quote and to schedule local moving services.

Downsizing Belongings

A cardinal rule of moving is getting rid of excess. Relocations are great opportunities for paring down what we own and only keeping the things that serve a necessary function and the items that matter to us. Parents not only have to edit their belongings, but they also must tackle all their kids’ things too. Involving your kids in this organizational stage of moving is both an excellent way to delegate responsibility and help teach children the importance of living without excess and giving back to their local community. Offer kids a box and ask them to go through their belongings and to put into the box the things they no longer play with or need that another child might enjoy. Before dropping off the items for donation, sift through the collection to ensure nothing particularly important — like car keys — accidentally gets donated.

Labeling Boxes

If your child can and enjoys writing or drawing, consider handing over to them the important job of labeling your moving boxes. Labeling boxes can do a lot for moving families, especially when it comes time to unload the moving truck and decide where to put each box in the new home. In addition to labeling boxes based on where they should go in the new place, your kids can decorate the boxes by drawing the items included in each box or just doodle as they please. Delegating the task of moving-box labeler might save a small amount of time during the moving process, but it can also serve a larger purpose by keeping your kids busy and involved while you focus on packing up and moving.

Packing Their Essentials Bag

When it comes to moving, not everything should be packed in moving boxes. Each member of your family should have an essentials bag set aside. This bag should contain everything each person might need in the days leading up to and following the move. By having an essentials bag handy during the move, you can avoid digging through already packed boxes to find everyday essentials. For kids, essentials can include their toiletries, pajamas, favorite blanket or toy, books, and any other regular necessities. For children who can read, we recommend providing them with a checklist of items detailing the items they should pack. If your child isn’t old enough to read just yet, hand them a bag and tell them to go for it. In this case, you might need to make some adjustments to the bag’s contents, but it serves as a way to help kids feel included in the moving process, and some of the work will be done for you.

Mapping Our Their New Room

Relocations are a big deal for kids. Some kids might feel anxious or scared about giving up their old room for a new one. One of the best ways to help your child adjust their ideas about your move is mapping out their new room before your planned moving day. Outline what their new room will look like and ask them to illustrate how they want to arrange it. This can include where they want to put their bed, desk, or other furniture pieces, among other items. You probably won’t end up with a detailed blueprint that you can follow directly, but you might get a good idea about how they envision their bedroom set-up. Once they are finished with this project, consider sitting with them and discussing additional ideas, such as designating a space in the room for a special reading nook or a craft corner.