Moving Tips To Stay Safe and Stress-Free
Everyone knows moving can be a nightmare. It’s stressful and time-consuming work, and it’s not always easy on the body either. However, it’s important to stay safe and stress-free.
Here are five quick tips to make your next move a piece of cake!
1. Get the Right Gear
If you really want to move something yourself, step #1 is to get the right gear. Ever seen a team of expert movers show up without equipment? Unlikely. So if you plan to do this move on your own, take this moving hack from them.
Something cheap and easy is a pair of leather moving gloves. These will provide a protective barrier between your skin and the sharp wooden corners of a heavy oak desk. Many moving gloves even offer extra padding in high-contact areas, as well as some adding tackiness for a better grip. There’s nothing worse than losing your grip on a 300-pound dresser that’s just waiting to flatten you at the bottom of the stairs. To make sure you do it right, get some gloves.
Other professional moving gear can include moving straps, dollies, and hand trucks. Depending on what you’re moving, any or all of this moving equipment could seriously reduce the strain and stress of a big move.
2. Blaze a Trail
Before you even start moving anything, you need to blaze a trial. What you want to do is find the easiest, quickest, and safest way to get from A to B. You will really regret not planning when you are carrying a sofa upstairs and realize it can make that sharp turn out of the basement doorway.
You need to measure the objects you’re moving, as well as any doorways or hallways you plan to use. Additionally, be sure you walk the path and clear it of anything on the ground that you could trip over to avoid injury.
3. Limber Up
Moving heavy stuff is as hard a workout as any. Make sure you stretch and limber up. Stretching before any kind of physical activity has been shown to reduce the risk of injury and improve athletic performance. It’s also been shown to reduce stress, and if you’re moving, this may be just what you need. It could mean the difference between throwing a housewarming party and throwing your back out.
Here are some easy stretches to get yourself warmed up before lifting anything heavy!
4. Fuel Your Body
A big move will likely build up a big appetite. Before you start moving, make sure to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. It’s also important to eat a little bit before physical activity to provide your body with energy. An apple, banana, or granola bar are usually quick and tasty food to fuel your body.
After the move, you’ll have used a lot of energy. To recover from hard work, a well-balanced meal will really help, as well as some much needed R&R. Once it’s all done, take a load off and just rest.
5. Don’t Be a Hero
If it’s too heavy, don’t be a hero. Straining to lift something is the easiest way to hurt yourself and those around you. Not to mention, you won’t be able to move much of anything if you’re injured. An easy way to judge is this: If it feels heavy, it is too heavy.
If you strain just to pick it up off the ground, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to maintain that grip up or down a flight of stairs. Use some of the recommended moving equipment or get some help instead.
Instead of Moving Alone, Get Some Help
Sometimes there are things we just can’t do alone, especially moving. Do yourself a favor and get some help. That could either be from friends, family, neighbors, or local professionals. The mental stress from a move is enough on its own. You don’t need to add physical stress too. Follow these steps and make that move safe and stress-free.
