Feeling Anxious About Moving? Read These Tips to Reduce Your Stress Level!

We may not think about it very often, but moving anxiety is a very real thing. After all, moving to a new home, a new town, maybe even a new state is a big change, and big changes can be exciting, but they can also produce a lot of stress. The average American moves 11 times in the course of their life, but if you or a family member are a part of the United States military, that number may be considerably higher.

According to professionals who study job and family stress, the various changes and logistical hurdles that come with moving invariably create a certain amount of anxiety. Fortunately, there are lots of things that you can do to help reduce stress and make your next move as easy as possible on you and your family.

Make a Moving Plan for You and the Family

A lot goes into a successful move, so it can help to have a plan before you get started. And of course, the foundation of any good plan is understanding how much time things are going to take. So, if you have a move coming up, it’s time to sit down with your calendar, figure out when you need to start preparing, and mark out all the big events that are related to the move, such as renting the truck, buying moving supplies, renting a self storage facility for anything that won’t fit in your new place, and so on.

When actually making your family plan, remember that everyone in the family has a job to do. The kids can clean out their closets and toy chests to find items they no longer want or use that can be donated. One person can be in charge of renting a moving truck, while someone else is packing and staging boxes. And of course, don’t forget to reach out to friends and extended family members who can help you out on moving day. As you make your plan, write everything down and keep it all together in a folder or filled out on your calendar. There are even time-saving apps that you can download that will help you plan your move and schedule everything accordingly. 

De-Clutter Your World

One way to make a move easier on yourself and your family is to simply move less stuff. Getting rid of items that you no longer want, need, or use is a good way to eliminate excess stress anyway—experts have found strong correlations between clutter and stress—and there’s no better time to de-clutter than right before a big move. Sort through everything you’ve got in the attic, the basement, the garage, or anyplace else that’s out of the way, and find anything that you don’t want to take with you to your new place. You can have a garage sale, or simply donate the stuff that you no longer want to Goodwill or some other thrift store. If you’ve still got stuff that you can’t bear to part with, but that there isn’t room for in your new place, self storage in Oklahoma can help you stay de-cluttered, even after your move. 

Make Sure You Have the Right Moving Supplies

When we think about moving, we often focus on the big stuff like furniture and appliances, but the fact is that we have a lot more little stuff, and to move all of that stuff, you’ll probably need some good packing and moving supplies. That starts with boxes, but it doesn’t end there. Think packing tape, bubble wrap, and lots more. You may want a utility knife, especially to help break the boxes down when the move is done, and you’ll definitely want a few markers so you can write on the boxes. (Write which room the boxes are destined for, and also a quick summary of their contents so that things are easy to find once you get where you’re going.)

Fortunately, you can find all of these moving supplies and lots more at your local Oklahoma self storage facility, where helpful self storage specialists will also be able to answer any questions you may have and provide you with tips to help your move go smoother.

Rent a PENSKE Moving Truck for the Big Day

We’ve all experienced the move where we invited over every friend and family member we know who has a pickup truck, SUV, or trailer and piled it high with all our stuff. It’s a pain to coordinate all those vehicles, and nothing ever fits quite right. While there’s certainly something to be said for having all those extra hands to help—feel free to invite everyone over still, just treat them to the traditional pizza afterward—it will actually take a lot of the stress out of your move if you rent a single truck to haul everything.

Not only will all your stuff be together, and you’ll only have one vehicle to coordinate, but you’ll also find that everything just fits better in a truck that was specifically designed for just this situation. Fortunately, Storage ‘R’ Us in Lawton and across southwest Oklahoma is one of the largest PENSKE truck rental representatives in the state, so you can reserve your rental truck at the same time that you pick up moving supplies or pick out a self storage unit.

Use Climate-Controlled Self Storage to Store Your Stuff

When you move, you may often find that not everything fits in the new house. Maybe you’re downsizing, or maybe you just want to reduce clutter and free up some space for a new hobby or an old one that you’ve been neglecting too long. Maybe you want to finally have the space to park the car in the garage. Whatever the reason, if you have treasured belongings that just don’t quite fit in your new home, climate-controlled self storage is the perfect solution to keep everything accessible and in good shape, while also keeping it out of the way.

Climate-controlled self storage is perfect for more fragile items that may be damaged by changes in heat, cold, or humidity. Talk to your self storage professional about the best ways to store your belongings, and if you’re storing something that’s particularly valuable to you, it’s always a good idea to ask about insurance. Self storage facilities take the security of your belongings very seriously, but even they can’t protect against events like tornadoes, floods, or other natural disasters.

Consider Vehicle Storage or RV Storage for that Car, RV, or Boat

Just as you may find yourself longing to de-clutter when you move, you may also get to your home and find that there’s just not a space for your project car, your boat, or your RV. Some homeowners’ associations actually have rules governing what kinds of vehicles can be parked where. So, if you find that you can no longer store your boat or RV in the back yard, it’s time to think specialty vehicle storage at Storage ‘R’ Us in Lawton. You can find covered and uncovered vehicle self storage in Lawton and across Oklahoma, so talk to your self storage specialist about what type of vehicle storage is right for you. It’s also a good idea to ask for tips and tricks if you’re planning to store vehicles for the long haul. We’ve got a few suggestions.

Self Storage in Lawton and Around Southwest Oklahoma can Help!

Whether you’re planning a move because of work, family, or a military change of station, Storage ‘R’ Us has seven locations across Oklahoma offering everything from military self-storage to specialty vehicle storage to moving supplies and lots more. Visit us in Lawton, Newcastle, Duncan, Moore, or Chickasha, OK and let us help you get ready for your next move, wherever you may be headed!

Storage ‘R’ Us has been providing superior self storage solutions to the Oklahoma community since 1972, and we’re looking forward to helping make your next move your best one!