Disclaimer: For those of you who do not know, my family of five is moving to Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico on October 15th, 2016. We are selling about 95% of our belongings, including our home and one of our cars and plunging into a new life (read more about what brought about our decision here). We are excited to join the ranks of other expats as they find a new life and adventure beyond the border! Feature photo credit: mexperience.com
Moving out of the country is easier said than done, that’s for sure! I am BEYOND excited and anxious and excited and nervous and excited and terrified and excited about the move. I’m also exhausted. Just THINKING about all the work involved in moving makes me want to hide under my favorite Berkshire Blanket and take a nap (yup, linked it because you should get one too, or feel free to gift our family one as I’m steady fighting these kids for it).
Moving entails a whole lot of adulting. A whole darn lot!
Between listing our home, renting out our income property, selling cars, transferring health insurance carriers, and selling our home goods, I feel like the juggler in the circus who has the task of keeping all the plates spinning on the poles, each one wobbling precariously close to crashing to the floor. What’s more, is that with three small humans circling our feet nearly 24/7, finding the time (and brain space) to attend to the small details is like,
So, where am I going with all this? Moving is crazy. For everyone, no matter where you’re going, whether it’s down the street or across the world. In this process I have learned (and am still practicing) many ways to maintain sanity and organization during a home move. Here’s a quick list of 7 tips you can use today to help you too!
- Carry a small notebook for lists. It is so common to remember things here and there while out shopping or driving or even in the shower! Keeping a small notebook (or a digital list on your phone) is essential for capturing those ideas (before they’re whisked away by the idea fairy that visits us moms every darn day) and storing them in one consistent location (because that fairy will steal your little scraps of paper notes too).
- Use the eight-season rule to eliminate unnecessary clothing that is wasting space in your closet. If an article of clothing has sat unused for two or more cycles of the season it is designed for, consider blessing someone with those items. Many thrift stores are happy to receive donations and consignment shops may be a financially beneficial option for good quality, well-cared for designer items.
- Hire a sitter. Packing, sorting, making phone calls and organizing all take effort, concentration and time. While some tasks can be inserted amongst the typical tasks of the day, there will come a time when paying for childcare (or asking a kind, sweet, wonderful, brave friend for help, gratis) will be well worth the splurge. Especially on moving day!
- Do an Opportunity Cost v. Economic Cost Analysis and make the best decision for you. For example: it may cost you less cash money to invite friends to help you move and rent a truck by the hour than to hire a professional moving service, however, the time (and damage) saved by allowing the pros to do everything correctly and efficiently can allow you to attend to other tasks (like child-wrangling), thereby making the extra bucks worthwhile. We used The Professionals for our last move in the Chicago area. Hands down, they were awesome.
- Start early. Start often. Take on tasks little by little. Pack a box each morning before the kids awaken or throw a couple items in your donation bag while digging for your favorite pair of jeans. Every little bit helps! *full disclosure, I’m still struggling with this one my own self #toomanykids #toolittletime #notenoughwine
- Research, Research, Research. This is especially true if you are moving to a foreign country. Each country (and city too, if you’re moving domestically) has a different set of laws and requirements. Familiarize yourself ahead of time by obtaining and completing the necessary forms, visas and other permits and review any restrictions on what can and cannot be imported.
- Lastly, wine. Always wine.
I’ll take one of each please n’ thanks!
Getting this house completely empty and our family perfectly prepared by our October 15th deadline will be nothing short of a miracle. I believe in miracles though, do you?! Just like with everything else, little by little, day by day and everything will fall into place.
I know this list is certainly not exhaustive so, what bits of advice would you like to share with other readers that have helped make your move go more smoothly? Let’s start a conversation in the comments!
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