Each year 43 million Americans move between the months of May and September (US Federal Census Bureau), which is why May has been declared as the National Moving Month. The following organizing tips can help reduce your moving stress by transitioning you smoothly into your new location:

Tip #1: Blueprint Your New Location

Determine where to put your belongings in your new home by drawing a rough draft of each room and outlining where to place major items. It is easier to plan this out beforehand instead of trying to figure it out by shuffling heavy boxes and belongings once they arrive at your new location.

Tip #2: Pack with a Purpose

Most people pack items into boxes without thinking much about their final destinations. Pack with a purpose by following these simple tips:

•         Instead of blindly packing everything up and moving them into your new place, consciously determine what you really love, use, need, want, or have space for and eliminate the excess.

•         Box items together that will be used together in your new location.

•         Group items together that need to be unpacked first in each room. Identify these boxes with “open me first” labels.

•         Use linens (tablecloths, bed sheets, towels, etc.) to wrap around breakable items before packing into boxes.

Tip #3: Color-code Your Boxes

When you have several volunteers helping you move, things can quickly get out of control causing movers simply shove boxes in any available space. Color-coding your boxes helps movers quickly and easily place your items in the correct locations. Here are a couple of color-coding options:

•         If you are moving into a multi-level location, assign a specific color to each level and put the corresponding color on boxes that belong on that level.

•         If you are moving into a one-level location, assign a specific color to each room and put the corresponding color onto boxes that belong in that room.

•         Label both the top and side of boxes for easy identification.

Tip #4: Send “We’ve Moved” Cards

Filling out the “change of address form” found at your post office is how junk-mailers track you and keep you on their junk-mailing lists. Instead of using the change of address forms, send “we’ve moved” cards to people you care about as well as to your utility companies, etc.

Tip #5: Print & Post Monthly Organizing Checklist

Each month there will be a new checklist for you to print and post in a visible location. These checklists will include the most common tasks to accomplish each month to help keep you on track all year long. This month’s checklist can be found at www.simplyinorder.com