By Vince Mancuso, Storage.com
Moving day is here, and while there is an adventure on the horizon waiting for you at your new home, first you have to get through this difficult day. Outside of the stress of packing and unpacking all your things, this day can potentially be filled with organizing your belongings, the manual labor of lifting and hauling, and the ever-present fear of something going wrong.
With so much going on, bad and good, you’re going to go through a cycle of emotions today. But don’t worry, everything is going to turn out ok in the end. Just remember the seven stages of moving day.
1. SHOCK AND DENIAL
You stare down the endless horde of boxes of carefully packed dishes, neatly folded clothes, and the hurriedly tossed contents of your junk drawer, and you have a moment of panic.
Before you lose yourself, do one thing: take a breath. You’ve marked boxes, planned for your new home, and have friends and family on their way. You’ve even got a coupon for post-move pizza. In short, you’ve got this.
2. EXHAUSTION AND PAIN
Those days of lifting five-pound dumbbells are put to the test, and while you may not be in agonizing pain, the muscles start to ache and soon you’re exhausted.
We’ve got four words for you: hand truck, snack break. Be sure to always lift with your legs, do what you can to lighten your load, and always have some healthy snacks within arm’s reach.
3. FRUSTRATION AND ANGER
Bumping into each other, sweat rolling, and the ever-present risk of something breaking—few things test the limits of emotions and friendship like hours of packing up a moving truck.
Before reaching full-blown Hulk mode, now’s the time to do something fun. We suggest gathering your crew, cranking up the music, and having a short dance break. Point is, you need to add some fun.
4. LONELINESS AND REFLECTION
The truck is packed and your friends are making their way to the new house to unload, leaving you to give your former home one last look-through. Sure, you think you’re looking for any forgotten items, but you’re really just lost in your thoughts and memories.
Yeah, it’s sad seeing a place where you’ve lived now empty, but before you lose yourself to nostalgia, remember this: it’s not the place that makes the memories, it’s you and your loved ones who do.
5. THE UPWARD TURN
With one last goodbye to the old place, you hit the road for your new home. The drive is a breath of fresh air and a break from all the work of moving. As the name of this stage suggests, things are starting to look up. May we suggest rolling down the windows while belting out your favorite ’90s hip-hop?
6. RECONSTRUCTION
You had your break, and there’s still work to be done, so now it’s time to take on the next challenge of creating your home in a new house. Get to it!
The best part about this stage in moving is that you can mix things up and try those crazy things you never thought you could get away with in your last place.
7. ACCEPTANCE AND HOPE
The final step in moving may not always come on moving day, but it will come. Before long, you’ll find yourself completely comfortable in being your goofy self in your home.
It doesn’t take too long, but the stages of moving can still be a vicious cycle of emotions. Give yourself a pat on the back, you’ve survived.
Now enjoy your new home!
