Time Management Tips for Planning a Move

One of the worst things about moving is that intense feeling that there’s never enough time to do everything that you need to do. Tight deadlines and the constant addition of new tasks to take care of can make the situation stressful and difficult to manage.

Fortunately, you can turn this chaotic moving experience into a structured process that gives you enough time to handle everything and keep it moving according to plan. Below are some of the best time management tips for planning a move. This advice can help you identify problems, stay ahead of your deadlines, and maintain your composure whenever bumps in the road come up.

Stick to Your Moving Timeline

The first thing you should do is establish a moving timeline. We recommend planning at least eight weeks ahead of your moving date. From there, you can break tasks down by a weekly basis and start with the most time-sensitive ones first.

Your first move should be to find a reputable moving company. It’s important to hire licensed movers to minimize potential damage to your belongings. Schedule your moving company at least six weeks in advance to make sure they’re available when you’re ready to move.

Try to use the early periods to declutter your space, working one room at a time. This process often takes longer than people expect, but removing clutter and organizing your belongings can reduce how much you need to pack and move with you.

Organize Your Packing Strategy

A common mistake that people make when moving is randomly packing when they have some free time. Instead, try to maintain consistent sets of time to pack every day, like an hour after dinner or two hours in the morning. It’s a good idea to focus on one room at a time so you don’t mix up what came from which room. Creating a more systematic approach helps you maintain your thoughts and prevent confusion.

You should always label each box, but we recommend adding more specificity. Instead of just labeling a box as “kitchen,” consider writing “kitchen (glasses).” Proper categorizing can help you keep track of your belongings and make unpacking a more straightforward process.

Your packing strategy can also help you determine which boxes or belongings are essential for your new place. Right after moving in, you will need your kitchenware and bedsheets but not your Christmas decorations. To help eliminate the stress of packing unnecessary belongings, consider finding a storage option for your household goods to keep them in your life but take them out of your move.

Each of these packaging strategies is designed to streamline the process of moving, saving you time at every stage.

Handle Administrative Tasks Early

Another time management tip for planning a move is to take care of your administrative tasks as early as possible. Fill out change-of-address forms at the post office and let your utility companies know when you plan on moving out. Take this opportunity to also inform other services (like your bank, insurance, and subscriptions) about your new address.

Successful moving requires treating time management as your most valuable tool. Establishing a timeline and taking care of these major tasks in a structured, weekly order makes the whole process more manageable.