Most people hate moving. The whole process is tedious, especially trying to live/work in the midst of packing and unpacking.

I’m not one of those people. I’ve moved every year for the past 8 years. I like the change of scenery and being in a new space. I also hate the inevitable increase in rent, so moving just become my norm. I moved across the country once when I relocated to Dallas. But moving across the country this time was DRASTICALLY different.

I wrote about moving out of Texas in this post, but I didn’t go into detail of what really went into the move. I finalized my move, packed up my car, sold my things, and drove over 19 hours, all in less than a week. To say it was hectic would be an understatement. Since I’ve moved so often, so quickly, and so swiftly, I’d like to provide some tips for moving. I’ve narrowed the moving process down to 3 phases: Reflect, Relocate, Rest.

Most people put all their energy into phase 1 and 2, but phase 3 is just as important. Here’s a breakdown:

1. Reflect - This is everyone’s favorite part: packing. This stage is important because with each move you’re looking to make some sort of change. As you’re making a change, all of your things can’t come with you; they may not fit the change in lifestyle, location, ambiance, etc. You start to decide what will be coming to your new space and what you have to let go of. You also need to decide what will be the best way to move things. It will making UNpacking so much easier if you have some type of system for packing. I typically use bins to move things and I pack everything that goes in ONE room altogether in ONE bin. For example, my entire bathroom goes in a bin and my entire kitchen goes in a bin, NOT the bathroom mixed with the kitchen in a bin.

2. Relocate - This is the big day: moving. This phase depends on where you’re moving to and what your budget allows. You can use movers, moving trucks, auto transport companies, flights, friends, family, etc.

   • If I’m moving within a city, I always use movers (umovefree.com has always been a major help in providing free movers for 2 hours).

   • If I’m moving within a state, I would use my vehicle or a moving truck depending on how much of my things I am bringing.

   • If I’m moving across the country, I’m using my vehicle/luggage and whatever can fit, nothing more, nothing less.

3. Rest - This is the aftermath of it all: adjusting. This phase, often overlooked, depends on you because only you know you. It takes a lot of mental, physical, and emotional energy to move, so you need time to recoup. Take time off of work, if possible. Put your devices on DND when you’re not at work. Recreate routines that serve you and your new space. I’m getting better at resting after moving, even though the hustle of life can make me feel like I shouldn’t.

Here’s how I applied these 3 phases to my most recent move.

1. Reflect - Deciding what I was going to keep vs let go of determined what I would be using to move everything. I went back and forth a lot between getting a storage, adding a tow hook to my car, shipping my car, packing my car, etc., but I was trying to keep costs as low as possible. Ultimately, I decided to pack my car and if it couldn’t fit in my car, it wasn’t coming. I sold all of my large pieces of furniture. I packed the necessities, mainly clothes and bathroom items. I gave away everything else. We tried to keep everything in its own luggage/container, but it wasn't as easy working with a tight space. The biggest THANK YOU to everyone who helped me via phone or in-person.

2. Relocate - I drove my car, which helped me keep costs low. Because I’m a woman who takes care of her car, I did some car maintenance ahead of time. I bought two new tires, rotated my tires, checked my tire pressure, checked my oil/fluids, and checked my brakes. (If you’re planning to make a long drive for any reason, please get your car checked out beforehand.) It was a very long drive, but we made it all 1300 miles with no issues. *I’ll have to give some tips on surviving that long in a car.*

3. Rest - I took two weeks to rest and recover. Fourteen days. Two work weeks and two weekends. I spent that time unpacking and organizing my things because the way I packed my car, I was more concerned with using all the space than organization. I slept in until noon. I ate at my favorite places. I hugged my family. I went to the beach. I did what I wanted to do, not what I had to do. I did what I had the energy for and two weeks later, I felt ready to get back into the swing of things.

At this point, it’s safe to say I’m a professional mover.

I’ve been learning to embrace change, so I try to switch things up whenever I get a chance. I make it a point to not do what others are doing because when I see the crowd heading in one direction, I like to see where we’re headed for myself or head in another direction.

Whether you have a move coming up or not, reread phase 3. I run into so many people, family, friends, and strangers who would benefit so much from some rest. Rest isn’t only physical either, it’s mental and emotional as well. It can be awkward at first to not do anything, in fact, I know many people who can’t/won’t/don’t sit with that stillness. But when you lean into it, there’s peace in being able to stop while everyone and everything around you seems to be rushing. It’s a privilege to be able to control your time. A privilege that many of us don’t take advantage of because social media tells us to be productive 24/7. This week, I challenge you to take some time to rest, physically, mentally, or emotionally.

Travel Tip #8: Rest.

I’m glad to be back home, in the sunshine state with plenty of beaches welcoming me to rest and reconnect.

Get some rest,

Mai