We all know that moving house can be tremendously stressful, and when we are under that much stress, we tend not to make the best decisions. Leaving things until the last minute will often hinder any good intentions we have toward moving in an environmentally responsible way. So, what is the answer?
Advanced preparation and simplifying play a huge role in reducing the stress you feel on moving day, and will help you make good environmentally conscious decisions. But what if you are someone who has collected so many belongings over the years that you don’t know where to start? Tackle it a little at a time. For example, you could take a little time every day and sort through just a few items. Try placing them in three piles, one pile for items to keep, one for items to donate, and another pile for a yard sale. In this way, the task will not be overwhelming, and you will be able to recycle the items you no longer want.
We all have areas in our homes with items we don’t want like old paint cans, chemicals, used batteries, and out of date electronic equipment, etc. Although it is an unpleasant task, don’t leave it until moving day to sort out these areas as you will likely dispose of them improperly. Taking care of them well in advance of the move will give you time to take care of them in the correct way. Plus, it will make moving day a lot less stressful.