Moving: The Three Ps
Alleviate some of your moving day stresses by following these 3 simple Ps.
Statics show that moving can cause the same levels of stress in people that a funeral does. So when my boyfriend signed the lease on his new place I began biting my nails down to the quick. I took a deep breath, got out my Sicilian mourner’s veil and buckled down for the nightmare that I know NYC moving days can be. But to his credit, which he will very quickly let you know he doesn’t get enough of, it was the easiest move I’ve ever been a part of to date, and I’ve been a part of some real sh*t shows folks (car accidents, elevator fires and flying TVs). So, I thought I’d share some of what he did to make this one better than average.
Plan
When you are planning your move take your cue from Cybil and talk to yourself. Begin by asking yourself simple questions and answering them just as simply.
“How will I get from my old place to my new place?”
“ A van”
“Who’s driving?”
“The movers”
“You hired movers?”
“Yes”
“What company?”
Each answer will inform the next question and will keep you from getting overwhelmed. Just remember, keep it simple.
Purge
Use your move as an opportunity to lighten your load. Begin weeding through your closets and those miscellaneous projects you’ve got laying around the apartment and start getting rid of things. If it hasn’t been worn in over a year, has collected some dust rodents, or has been forgotten about, chances are you can let it go. If you get stuck with some items just ask yourself, “Would I carry this up to my 5th floor walk-up?” This hypothetical tends to help inform those tough decisions.
Pack
When you begin packing the finality of your decision to move begins to set in. Don’t freak out! You are still the same person with the same things, just a new space. When you pack frantically you bring that to your new space and that’s no way to get a fresh start. Leave yourself plenty of time and pack one room at a time. Label clearly and like in the Purge process, ask yourself “Can I carry this up to my 5th floor walk-up?” You might not be moving it but your mover’s will thank you, and happy movers means no broken things.
So, this what my brilliant man did to make this the easiest move ever. He’s pretty smart, huh? And I never once thought I felt the bony hand of death reaching out to me, but I did still wear my Sicilian mourner’s veil, just because.
Post authored by Josh Schulteis.
