As a kid, moving was often something I looked forward to. I was able to participate in all the “fun” activities (taping boxes, writing labels with colorful permanent markers, pretending my books were Tetris pieces while packing them), while avoiding the less than enjoyable ones (carrying heavy furniture, boxes bags, etc.)
Moving Fun
(image via flickr lululemon athletica)
The memory of moving carried over into my adult life and put a positive twist on the idea until, of course, I realized that what I didn’t have to think about as a kid (the heavy lifting) was now my responsibility. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to bring the fun back to moving.
Go on a treasure hunt
Sorting through everything you own is a daunting task, but it’s much easier sorting through what you want to take with you before you move, rather than deciding what you want to donate when you’re unpacking. To keep it light, try to think of a few possessions that you haven’t seen for a while and make a mental list of them. While you sort through everything, feel free to shout “eureka” whenever you find one.
Turn things into a game
As a kid, we often turn things into games. When we get older, this coping mechanism often goes out the window, which is most likely due to the fact that games aren’t considered “cool” anymore. Before you scoff at this idea, think, “Which is better; stressing out and having a bad experience, or acting a bit silly and having a good time?” Hopefully your answer to this is the latter.
So… you’re a bit out of practice, you say?
The thing I always start with is packing books. Books are all relatively the same size and fit in boxes very well. Think of each book as a Tetris piece and place them into the box so there’s no empty space. If you can get it filled to the top you win. To take this game to the next level, blast the theme song in the background and slowly increase your speed until you’re out of books.
Throw a dance party
Dance music makes every situation more bearable (if you don’t believe me, go listen to Dance Music by The Mountain Goats, and then come back this post). Even the most stressful situations are mitigated by a good bass line. Invite some of your best friends over and utilize the empty rooms that you packed up. Have some fun before the big moving day.
Have help lifting the heavy stuff
The thought of the multiple trips back and forth with heavy boxes and furniture is unpleasant alone and, while they might be the best friends in the world, the people you had over for that fun dance party the other night probably dread the idea of carrying your sofa down a few flights of stairs and putting it onto the moving truck just as much as you do. To make sure that there are no bad vibes during your move, hire a Moving Helper to do the heavy lifting for you. Unlike your friends, Moving Helpers signed up for the opportunity to move your stuff, and they’re good at it. So, before you start trying to think of how to rope your friends into moving your stuff, go to MovingHelp.com
What tips do you have to make moving fun? Have you done any of these things before? Let us know below in the comments section.
