Chicago summer is full of lake days, patios, and moving trucks. Career changes, school starting up, and nicer weather all contribute to summer being a peak moving time here in the city. Whether you’ve just started looking for apartments or moved last weekend, moving is incredibly stressful. According to a recent survey of 1,000 people who moved within the last 3 years, 45% of them identified moving as more stressful than divorce, getting married, or having kids (DCA, 2020). A 2022 research study found that moving is not only stressful but that those who move more frequently have higher baseline stress levels than those who move less often (Cheung, K.-S., & Wong, D.). If you are in the throes of moving stress, you’re not alone! And this blog is here to help. 

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Before the Move

The time before a move is tricky. Pack too early and risk living in a box maze for weeks. Pack too late, and it can become a mad dash of throwing away pots and pans because packing one more thing seems overwhelming. Not to mention figuring out how to fit packing into an already full work or school schedule. Here are some tips to keep in mind: 

1. Discernment comes first. 

Decision fatigue is real, so especially if you have some time leading up to the move, start by organizing. Donate or discard what you don’t need so that when the time comes to pack, it’s all coming with you and you just have to throw it in a box!

2. How to organize. 

Sorry Marie Kondo, there’s a better question to be asking than “Does it spark joy”, and it’s: Does my life change if this is gone? That random cable sitting in a drawer you’ve never used. If it disappeared, would that impact your life? If you find yourself saying “But I might need it someday!”, weigh the mental load of this item. How much time, energy, etc. is spent keeping that just-in-case cable? Is it worth packing it, unpacking it, remembering it’s there, just in case? How easily replaceable is it? 

3. A little bit at a time goes a long way. 

Packing or organizing for even 20 minutes a day can make a huge impact. Set a timer and get as much done as you can. 

4. Planning. 

Set aside a weekend, a day, or even a 1-2 hour chunk leading up to the move and make it designated packing time. If you have a while before moving, planning a moving time every week leading up to the move can take stress off when it’s crunch time. Even if you’re just sorting through clothes or picking up moving supplies for when it makes more sense ot start packing. 

5. Support systems are key! 

It takes a village, so reach out to your friends and family for help. Whatever that means to you. Whether that’s babysitting your kids so you can focus, bringing you a home-cooked meal, or having them throw stuff in boxes with you. If it’s within your budget, getting good movers can make a world of difference. 

6. Self-care is essential. 

You need time away from moving! Take breaks when you need to and engage in restorative care to ensure you have capacity. This is a huge life transition. Support yourself by taking care of you. 

After You’ve Moved

If you’ve moved already and are in your new place, congratulations! It can be a relief to finally be done with the move. And then the stress sets in. Suddenly there’s a million things to do, you don’t know what box you packed your shoes in, and life doesn’t slow down for you. Take a breath, you’ve got this! 

1. Balance is key. 

Shoehorning a move into an already full calendar of work, social obligations, etc can be incredibly overwhelming. Allow the move to be a stage of life rather than a task to be completed. Go slowly, do what you can when you can, and create a life outside of moving. Do things for yourself, see friends, relax among the boxes. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. 

2. Again, a little goes a long way! 

Set a timer once a day and be done once it goes off. Plan some longer days or time blocks to do the bigger projects. It can feel like such a relief when you schedule hanging curtains rather than looking at your windows every day frazzled that the task hasn’t been completed. 

3. Function over finished. 

Priority number one is to exist in a liveable space. Your home might not be HGTV ready right away. It’s more important to be able to use your kitchen than it is to have a picture-perfect living room. 

4.In a similar vein, things just need a place to go for now. 

Your furniture arrangement, design of the space, maybe even what drawer you keep your utensils in will change as you actually live in and use your new space. Allow yourself the flexibility of this. The couch doesn’t have to be in the perfect spot. It just needs to be somewhere. 

5. Support support support! 

Again, ask friends, family, partner(s), neighbors for whatever you might need. Order pizza and have an unpacking party. Recruit your friend with a car to donate those extra bags of clothes you brought with you. Protect your weekly therapy appointment and book an extra if need be. 

6. Cost benefit analysis.

Is stress worth saving money? If you only have the weekend to build furniture, is it worth paying someone else to do it for you so you can relax? Obviously everyone’s financial situation is different, but if some cash and a professional with a power drill can complete tasks for you AND give you a break, it’s something to consider.

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Resources in Chicago

Lastly, I wanted to provide some free or reduced-cost local resources that might come in handy during the moving process. From tool rentals to moving supplies, here are a few helpful resources: 

• EcoShip - Collects your gently used shipping materials and gives them to individuals and businesses to reuse. Boxes, bubble wrap, packing paper, etc. 
• City Recycling Centers:
  
  • Far North Side -  6441 N. Ravenswood
  • Near South - 1758 S. Clark Street
• The Chicago Tool Library - Rent out any tool you may need! Power drills, ladders, and even ice cream makers. Remember, you need a break from moving too! 
• Library of Things - Located in Uptown, this branch of the Chicago Public Library has stud finders and bicycle pumps to check out. 
• Facebook Marketplace - Great for buying, selling, or giving away furniture/items. Also has tons of free moving boxes. Make sure to take proper safety measures when meeting up with folx! 

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Conclusion

While these tips and resources may be helpful, they may not eradicate moving stress entirely. Take it slow, and be kind to yourself during this time. I hope you love your new home!  

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Sources

• Cheung, K.-S., & Wong, D. (2022). Measuring the Stress of Moving Homes: Evidence from the New Zealand Integrated Data Infrastructure. Urban Science, 6(4), 75. 
• Oppenheim, B. (2020, November 3). Survey finds moving more stressful than divorce. California Department of Consumer Affairs.