When relocating, many people devote all of their attention to protecting items, forgetting that they need to keep themselves safe, too. Learning how to avoid injury while moving can prevent future health problems, no matter how small or serious they can get. It’s not complicated at all – just follow our tips listed below.
With our tips, relocating even the trickiest belongings won't be a problem
Ensure You Had Enough Sleep to Stay Focused
Every relocation is a tiring process, taking much of your time and energy and making you weary and exhausted. It doesn’t come as a surprise that people want to speed it up and be done with relocation-related tasks as soon as possible. One of the common relocation mistakes they make is staying up late, trying to do as much work as possible before the move. However, it can and often does more damage than good.
Lack of sleep can affect both your mental and physical condition when the relocation day finally comes. Not getting enough of it will result in you being too tired and unfocused to do the job right, which, eventually, leads to unnecessary injuries. Therefore, make sure you have a full eight-hour night’s sleep – let your body and mind rest well and be ready to face anything relocation day brings.
Plan Ahead and Avoid Doing Everything Last-Minute
It’s not only the lack of sleep that can affect your performance, but also the amount of pressure and nervousness you feel. Relocation stress is a frequent companion during the move, and it only intensifies if you have to worry about the small amount of time left and all the work that has yet to be done.
Good organization is always the key to success. Therefore, ensure to form a relocation plan and go through with it. Instead of running around and getting injured in the process, a well-thought-out plan will help you keep your head in the game.
Good organization is almost half of the work done
Writing Down a Checklist Is an Essential Part of Relocation – Good Organization Goes a Long Way
Writing a list of things to do when relocating into a new house is an excellent way to make sure you don’t forget a single task. Overlooking things to do and items to pack is a common issue that causes a lot of relocation stress, so your cross-country moving list will be a great asset in fighting the pressure. Be sure to write every single thing down – you’ll later realize how much this relocation hack made your move easier.
Have an Expenses Checklist When Moving to a New Home
A lengthy checklist will help you avoid common relocation mistakes, but let us mention another of the ultimate tips for moving cross country – a list of things to do before relocating to a new home isn’t enough. You will need another list, and that’s a relocation budget checklist.
Relocating to another city or state is not only a challenge but also quite pricey. Spending can quickly get out of control, so it’s crucial to keep track of your money, and writing everything down will allow you to do just that. This is especially important if you are about to move out for the first time.
Follow the Move Out Day Dress-Code
When you decide to pack clothes, ensure you set aside appropriate attire for the relocation day. Comfortable pants, long-sleeved shirts, and sneakers are essential wardrobe pieces, but you are free to choose some additional protective gear such as helmets to prevent head injuries. Avoid T-shirts because they can’t protect you from incidental scratches. Closed footwear is also necessary – it will keep your toes safe if you drop an item or a box.
Even if an accident happens, an appropriate wardrobe can save you from getting harmed
Try Not to Overpack and Overfill the Boxes
Overpackacking is a common mistake people make when relocating. However, it will not only take more of your time, energy, and money to bring a large number of things, but it will also amplify the possibility of someone getting injured (especially if you opt against getting professional packing services). The more, the marrier is not one of the relocation rules – just the opposite.
Simultaneously, keep in mind that people tend to overfill the package as a way of saving up on packing supplies. It’s a rookie mistake – an overfilled box can fall apart while being carried or be too heavy and cause muscle injury. Therefore, don’t fill the boxes with more items than you can lift.
Clear the Pathway on a Relocation Day
While we’re on the topic of carrying boxes, remember that you should move every object that stands in your way to the relocation truck. Even the tiniest obstacle can cause so much damage! Chandeliers, pictures on the wall, children’s toys and things alike – pathways must be clean from all of that.
Additionally, if you’re relocating with pets or children, make sure they stay safe. Your home will be pretty crowded on the relocation day. Hire a sitter or ask a friend to watch them so they don’t get injured or distract you and cause you to get harmed.
Get To Know the Best Lifting Techniques to Prevent the Injuries
Many people complain about severe back pain after moving furniture, but you do not have to be one of them. As long as you use proper lifting techniques, your back can go through the relocation unharmed.
Did you know that you must keep your back straight when lifting boxes? And that you should bend your knees and not your waist? Or that box should be kept as close as possible to your body? If you need more tips on how to lift cardboard and other heavy objects properly, take a look at the following video.
Begin Packing 3-4 Weeks Before the Relocation
When relocating, a packing list is the key – knowing what you want to pack will save you plenty of time. Still, wrapping the entire house can’t be done in a day – that’s why you should start at least 3-4 weeks before the move. Start with the least used rooms in the house and then go from there. Boxes packed last should be those from the kitchen and bathroom, as you can hardly last long without them. Pay special attention to fragile items – they will require a lot of bubble wrap and paper.
If you think you won’t be able to make enough time for wrapping furniture or other large things in the house, you can always consider hiring cross-country movers for packing service. In most cases, this is the best way to handle wrapping countless boxes. Although you won’t have trouble wrapping clothes, when it comes to handling more complex belongings (like wrapping glasses, for example), it’s best to let professionals take over.
Start Decluttering About a Month and a Half Before the Big Day
No one can pack all the items they’ve been piling up for years – if you want to move stress-free, you will need to declutter the entire home. This might take longer than a day or two, depending on how many rooms you have – be sure to make time for this task. Decluttering isn’t complicated – all you have to do is go room by room and sort items into these piles – keep, sell, donate, throw out, and recycle. An excellent way to get rid of stuff you don’t want to pack is by organizing a garage sale – check out the video below to see how to do this.
Keep the Injuries Away by Getting the Right Equipment
When it comes to heavy lifting, not many things can be as useful as proper equipment. It will not only prevent you from being hurt but also help you save time and energy, so consider getting:
- Lifting straps – they will move the weight of an object off your back to the stronger parts of your body, such as the shoulders and forearms.
- Sliders – instead of carrying an object, you can lift them on sliders and push them in the direction of a truck. Use plastic sliders for your carpets and rugs and linen for hardwood floors.
- Furniture dollies – dollies can be helpful with heavy furniture but also practical when you want to move more than one box at once. With it, relocating furniture can be done quickly and injury-free.
How to Avoid Injury While Moving – Let Professionals Deal With Backbreaking Work
While relocating a few items is a task you can do on your own, people often have much more to do when preparing their household for a move. If you need to move a piano, for example, or have an extensive packing list, it’s always better to ask for help. Trying to do everything by yourself is just a recipe for disaster. Even if you’re relocating to a new state alone, ask your friends and family to come to your aid. Look at it this way – the less you have to do on your own, the lesser are the chances of being injured.
Hire Reliable Cross-Country Movers and Let Them Help With Back Breaking Work
Getting assistance from a professional long-distance moving company is the best solution for avoiding injuries. Simply put, all the work during which you can get harmed will be done by them. If your current financial situation allows it, get professional cross-country moving services. With a reliable relocation company, successful and stress-free relocation is guaranteed – you and your belongings will get to the future home unharmed.
Using long-distance moving services is the safest bet when it comes to any relocation task
How to Avoid Injury While Moving In? Use Each Safety Tip Mentioned When You Arrive at a New Home
These relocation hacks are very beneficial for every part of the move. Be careful when you lift, get all the equipment needed, and stay focused on the task ahead. And if you decide you would rather leave it all to a trustworthy relocation team, don’t hesitate to look for recommendations for companies and employ the best one to help you. Good luck and stay safe!
