4 Moving Tips That Will Keep Stress Levels Low On You, The Kids, And The Pets

Posted on: 17 June 2015

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Moving is an exciting experience, but it can also be pretty stressful when it comes to keeping the kids and the pets happy. And the process of unpacking once you've arrived at your new home can take a toll on your energy, stress, and emotional levels. So it's a good idea to do some preparation for the move that will help to keep stress levels low so you and your family can focus on the excitement of the moving adventure. Here are five tips to consider implementing:

Get a Pet Sitter

Instead of stumbling over your pets as you try to pack or freaking them out by taking away their bedding and toys so it can be moved to the new place, see if a friend or family member can take them in for a couple of days before your move and for a day or two afterward. If this isn't possible, boarding them in a professional kennel is a great option too. Many kennels offer daily walking, play time, and personalized care for animals and will allow you to visit them at any time to check on their well being. Getting a pet sitter will minimize the chance of your pets running away while the door is open on moving day too.

Keep the Kids Busy

Keeping the kids busy is the key to a chaotic free life while you're moving things around the house to pack and get ready for moving day. More than likely, the kids will be curious about your packing ventures and may even want to help. But when the assistance becomes more of a nuisance than help, you'll want to make sure that you can occupy their time while staying safe and out of the way.

Popping a movie in for the afternoon is a good start, but obviously television shouldn't be watched all day. Consider packing an "adventure box" full of interactive toys, puzzles, books to read, and coloring supplies for the kids to enjoy while you're busy. Activities such as coloring will not only occupy your little ones, but engaging in these activities helps kids improve their fine motor skills and increase self esteem too.

Color Code Your Boxes

A great way to take the stress out of unpacking your boxes is to color code them based on what can be found inside of them. You can assign a different color to each room of the house or to each type of item you're packing and then use colored packing tape to seal the boxes. The moving company can put the boxes in your new home based on their assigned colors so they're ready to unpack right where everything should go.

Just put a piece of colored tape on the wall or door of each room that corresponds to the boxes that should go in them so the movers know what goes where. This technique will give you a rough idea of what can be found in each box, which can come in handy when you need your coffee pot on the first morning in your new home.

Pack an Arrival Bag

The last thing you're going to want to do on the day that you arrive at your new home is find bedding, clothing, and entertainment item for comfort during your first night. You'll probably want to eat without having to worry about pots and pans or dirtying the new kitchen too. A great way to make sure that you have everything you need for the night upon your arrival is to pack a special bag of essentials and to pack a cooler with sandwiches, drinks, and fruit so dinner time is a cinch. Let the rest of the stuff go with the local moving services.

Your move should go smooth from beginning to end when taking advantage of these tactics, and you won't have to deal with chaos once you set foot in your new home.