5 Tips For Moving In The Summer That’ll Help You Beat The Heat & Stress

First things first: If you’re moving in the summer, give yourself lots of time to pack up your belongings and clean your current space. Allot an afternoon or two on the weekend to wrap your mugs and dishes in bubble wrap, and a hour before work on a Monday morning to go through the food in your fridge. You’ll thank yourself later, when you’re not-so exhausted or stressed about where your items are. Trust me.

Because your roomie, best friend, or significant other will ask you, “Hey, do you know where our plastic containers are?” and you’ll have an answer. You’ll be able to picture the kind of box they’re in, and where in the moving truck that box is. You’ll be able to easily find your shampoo, conditioner, soap, and other products you need to take a shower after a long day of hustling and hauling. Phew!

Your friends are there for you whenever you need to fulfill an ice cream craving or decode a text message from your crush. So, why wouldn’t they be there for you when you’re moving in the middle of the summer? The answer to that trick question is, they will be there, helping you carry boxes down two flights of stairs and manuever your couch into the tiny elevator.

They’ll bring snacks, water bottles, smiles, and make the entire experience much less stresseful. That’s why you can, and really should, ask them for help with the tough stuff, like lifting your furniture, that you can’t do by yourself.

Then, when you’re going back and forth from your apartment, you should talk and catch up on life. You should make some plans or daydream about the adventure trip on the West Coast you’ve been hoping to take. Before you know it, the boxes will be moved and you’ll feel closer to your besties, too.

I can’t stress this enough: When you’re moving in the summer, you need to make time for healthy meals and hydrating. The sun is likely going to be beating down on you, as you load up the truck, and the air conditioner in your apartment isn’t going to be running anymore. Finding shade, taking breaks to cool down, and fueling your body will be #necessary.

It’ll keep you feeling energized and strong, and also give you a chance to eat at the restaurants you’re moving away from or closer to. It’ll let you explore your new area, and find the best vegetarian eateries or bagel places, and take your mind off the moving to-do list that’s, well, endless.

Most importantly, it’ll put you in a more positive mood, and make all the emotions and change that comes with moving much less overwhelming. If you only take away one piece of advice from this article, let it be this one.

When my boyfriend and I were moving out of our apartment, I asked my Instagram followers to send us advice, tips, and good motivation. I knew we were going to need it, because the day ahead of us seemed very long and hot. One of the best pieces of advice we recieved was to keep our new home in mind — to think about all the beautiful things to come in the future.

To be honest, it helped so much. It made every box feel like a step in the right direction, and the whole process of moving more exciting and rewarding. It turned my focus away from the countless number of stairs I still needed to do, to being able to decorate, set up our office space, and toss things that we don’t need or use.

Spoiler alert: That’s the best feeling when you move. It’s your chance to hit a reset button, and embrace minimalistic living. It’s a reminder that good change is on the horizon, and that it’s likely happening with the people you love.

Last but not least, like eating and drinking lots of water, getting enough sleep is so important when you’re moving. It prepares your body for a day of heavy lifting, driving, and trash runs. It also makes you feel less drained from the inevitable chaos and stress.

Sure, you’ll likely sit down in your new place at the end of the day and still feel, well, exhausted. (Seriously, did I mention that moving is no joke?) But, you’ll be able to stay up and watch a few episodes of your favorite Netflix show to unwind from the day. You’ll be able to unpack a box, or take a bubble bath.

During that unwinding sesh, I highly recommend stretching your muscles, too. Moving in the summer is basically one big workout, and you just exceeded all of your goals.