Ask the vast majority of adults what some of the most stressful events in life are and we’d bet that ‘moving home’ is top of the list.
Something of a curveball has entered the equation over the past year though. It comes in the form of homeworking.
In other words, our homes aren’t just used for ‘living’. For many of us, work has also come through our front door.
If you are about to move home, this can certainly be daunting. You need to keep everything in check at home, without losing any productivity from a work perspective.
Through today’s article, let’s take a look at some of the ways you can achieve this.
Your essentials box needs to be redefined
If you were to refer to any checklist for moving house, we’d assume that you’ll come across the essentials box.
Put simply, this is a box that contains everything you’ll need in your first few days of moving home. Toothbrushes and pans are two of the most common items.
However, now that you are working from home, you need to branch out somewhat. Your computer, and any must-have documents need to live in here, so you’re not frantically tearing through boxes at the peak of your move. You shouldn’t need a huge number of work items, but calculate the ones that are going to eliminate the most stress from the next few days.
Always have one eye on security
We hate to say it, but plenty of criminals thrive on house moves. People are stressed, high-value items are moving in and out of a property, and there are plenty of opportunities to take advantage.
Unfortunately, when work equipment enters the picture, this can escalate. High value computer equipment is a dream in the eyes of a burglar, so make sure that this is locked up safely as soon as you move it from the van to your home.
An even better tip is to disguise such equipment. Make sure it’s in an unbranded box, or under soft furnishings, so nobody knows what’s truly being transported.
The crucial broadband factor
Something else that you shouldn’t take for granted is the broadband factor. Again, you’re trying to cause as little disruption to your life as possible, and not having internet in your home office is one way that this just isn’t going to happen!
As such, get on the phone to your supplier weeks before you make your move. Some will insist that you have already moved before booking your appointment, but others will be more flexible. This will allow you to get to work the day after making your move – rather than waiting weeks to get connected.
Paperwork becomes even more important
Mail redirections are nothing new in a house move, but when you’re working from home, there’s a high chance that even more important documents are going to come your way.
The solution? Set up a mail redirect. Sure, it costs, but it’s far easier than trying to bombard yourself with work to update addresses. You can do this gradually once your move is complete.