If you’ve sold your home and you’re going to be moving into a new home, you’re probably excited to reach the next stage of your life. Maybe you’re planning to start a family so you need a few extra bedrooms, or the kids are moving out so you’re ready for something smaller with less upkeep.

Unfortunately, moving home can be an incredibly stressful time, and the many details involved with ensuring the move goes well can be overwhelming at times. Here are some ways you can cut down the stress if you’re moving to a new home:

Focus on Organisation

If you’re the type who generally leaves things until the last minute, you’ll be causing yourself more stress than you need to when you move house. Ideally you should have everything sorted and should only need to walk into your new home and decide if you like your furniture where it is or if you’d like to rearrange it. However, in order for this to happen, you’ll need to get organised.

The best way to do this is to make a list of all of the things that need to happen before you move into your new home. Then, divide the tasks among the people who are moving and commit to getting them all done well in advance. Check in with each other to see if anyone needs help with their jobs, and make sure you look for more efficient ways of doing things. One great way to make sure that your furniture gets delivered on time is to use Shiply which has an excellent reputation and is also reasonably priced for those wanting to move without the stress.

Ditch the junk

It’s not until we move that we often realise just how much stuff we have that we never use. Moving is the perfect time to get rid of the junk we don’t need, since it’ll mean not only will you have less to move, but you’ll be able to start fresh in your new home without worrying about where you’ll put those clothes you never wear.

Invite some people over for a clothes swap or simply ask them to take some of your clothes off your hands. If you have kids and then need to get rid of some of their old toys, it’s a great opportunity to teach them about donating to those less fortunate. Another option is to have a garage sale and allow everyone to keep the money they earn from their stuff- see who can make the most money if your family is on the competitive side.

Collaborate

Often you’ll find that only one person ends up handling most of the details involved in a move. This is unfair for the person who’s in charge since they end up feeling stressed out and resentful. Make an effort to include everyone in the move and you’ll find it goes more smoothly and everyone has a sense of accomplishment when it’s time to move in.