Moving is not only stressful and expensive, it is also exhausting. There are endless tasks to complete and each one is more laborious, time-consuming, and nerve-racking than the other. You need to be focused and careful all the time and you need to act quickly and efficiently if you’re to finish all the necessary moving preparations on schedule. And even if you manage to do so, you’ll still have to brace yourself for the culmination of all the exhausting work – moving day itself. Even if you’ve hired professional movers to help you relocate, there will still be a number of things to do on that chaotic day. On top of it, just when your relocation seems to have come to an end, you’ll have to deal with unpacking and arranging your new home as well.
To be able to do it all – and achieve a success – you need to be in top shape: healthy, alert, and full of energy. But how can you keep firing on all cylinders for so long and under so much pressure? How can you keep stress and fatigue at bay and stay motivated throughout the entire relocation process?
In fact, it is easily possible – you just need to know how to keep your energy up during a move:
Get enough sleep
Good sleep is essential for your well-being and vitality. The better rested you’re, the more energy you’re going to have and the clearer your mind is going to be – thus, you’ll be able to do more work, stay more concentrated, and make better decisions. On the contrary, if you don’t get enough sleep, you’ll be sluggish, absent-minded, and unproductive the next day.
So, no matter how much work you have, don’t be tempted to stay up for a few extra hours (or get up a couple of hours earlier) to get it done – sacrificing sleep will not give you more time, it will only deprive you of energy and diminish your effectiveness.
It is estimated that healthy adults need between 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night to function at their best – sleeping any less will have a negative impact on your health and your stamina and will hinder your performance (something you definitely don’t want during a move).
Eat healthily
Eating well is difficult during a house move – you have many important tasks to complete and no time to plan and prepare meals; your kitchen is partially (or fully) packed; you’re tense and tired and food is the last thing on your mind; etc. It’s much more convenient to just order a pizza when you feel hungry instead of invest time and effort in getting a healthy meal.
Yet, healthy eating is very important during the taxing relocation period as it will give you the strength you need in order to handle the laborious moving tasks and will keep you invigorated and refreshed.
Healthy food will sustain your energy level during the moving process and will help reduce stress and fatigue. So, make sure you:
- stock up on healthy foods – fruits and vegetables, lean meats, eggs, whole grain bread, low-fat dairy products – milk, cheese, yogurt, etc.;
- prepare healthy bulk meals ahead of time;
- find healthy picks at local carry out restaurants;
- keep healthy, high-energy snacks at hand – nuts, protein bars, peanut butter sandwiches, etc.;
- eat a nutritious breakfast to start the day energized and ready for relocation adventures.
See also: How to eat healthy when moving
Regular, healthy meals will ensure your well-being and vitality while moving and wholesome snacking will keep your energy up at all times – sounds good, right?
Stay hydrated
It’s critical that you stay properly hydrated during a house move, even if you’re not carrying heavy boxes around and drowning in sweat. By drinking enough water, you’ll keep your body systems functioning at an optimal level and prevent the all too common drop of energy that comes with not getting the right amount of hydration.
This is especially important during summer moves when the intense heat can quickly dehydrate your body and pose a great risk to your health. So, make sure you drink plenty of water, green tea (with no sugar), and other healthy, refreshing drinks (fruit juices, smoothies, etc.). Avoid icy beverages, carbonated drinks, and energy drinks that can be harmful to your health.
If you’re moving in cold weather, hot tea and/or coffee will work wonders for your comfort, energy, and general well-being.
To sum it up – hydration has a major effect on energy levels, so make yourself a favor and get enough fluids during your move.
Related useful read: How to stay healthy during a move
Break down your work into mini tasks
Moving house is a huge, complex project that can be truly overwhelming when taken as a whole. To be able to successfully deal with it, you need to break down the big project into smaller, doable jobs. With an achievable goal in sight, it will be much easier to focus and summon the energy to complete the task at hand in a quick and efficient manner. One mini job will be completed after the other and you’ll be encouraged to keep going and strive towards the end goal – performing a smooth and successful move.
This simple trick will keep both your energy and your motivation up during the entire relocation process, as every finished task will give you a reassuring sense of progress and achievement.
Related: How to motivate yourself to pack when moving
Reward yourself after each completed goal
All work and no play won’t do – you need (and deserve) rewarding breaks every once in a while. Doing something enjoyable to break the long hours/days of hard work will lift your energy and help you rediscover your motivation and regain your focus, so you can resume the moving preparations with renewed vigor and dedication.
You can either promise yourself a big reward after you complete a major moving task – set apart a day to rest or organize some sort of adventure with your friends, or come up with smaller rewards after each completed mini task – see a movie, go for a walk in the park, invite a friend over for a cup of coffee, etc.
See also: How to say goodbye to your friends when moving
The enjoyable activity will not only will give you something to look forward to while dealing with tedious moving tasks, but will also fill up your energy bar for the hard work ahead.
Listen to upbeat music
Staying focused is key for completing the moving preparations in a timely and efficient manner, so you’re advised to eliminate distractions (TV, phones, etc.) when working on a relocation task. It is a good idea, however, to play some rhythmic music while organizing and inventorying your belongings, packing your items, cleaning your old home, or doing any other laborious and time-consuming moving tasks.
Listening to your favorite upbeat music will cheer you up and keep you active and entertained – what’s more, it will raise your energy level and will motivate you to work faster and better – just what you need when preparing for a house move.
Make it fun
The higher your spirit is, the more enthusiastic and energetic you’re going to feel. So, do your best to turn your relocation endeavor into an exciting experience:
- Ask your friends to come over and give you a hand – not only will they help you finish the work faster, but you’ll be able to spend some fun time together telling jokes, remembering past adventures, making new memories, etc.;
- Organize moving games – hidden object quests, treasure hunts, memory associations, karaoke contest, etc.
Related: How to get friends to help you move
Make use of these clever reinvigorating tips when moving house – your energy will flow and the results will show. Good luck with your relocation adventure!
