Moving During the Holidays? 5 Tips for Success and Fun

But you can be successful at it and still enjoy your holidays. Discover a few tips to accomplish both.

Keeping yourself organized for both a move and holiday activities will be more complicated. Checklists are some of the most important parts of doing this. Make checklists of both holiday activities — especially ones you cannot change, like your kids' holiday recital — and moving tasks with deadlines. 

Calendars can be an even better visual tool to keep on track with all you need to do. Hang a large family calendar on the wall with the most important deadlines and activities marked. Share calendars across multiple family mobile devices. And set up automatic reminders for important tasks.

This is the time to use as much professional help as you can afford. Most moving companies not only help load and unload trucks and driving, but they can also pack up your stuff for you, disassemble and reassemble items, and coordinate storage. The more of these services you budget for, the more time you'll have to spend with friends and family during the holidays.

Reduce the clutter, expense, and effort of navigating both holidays and packing. How? Be creative and think outside the box this year. 

As holiday packages arrive, turn around and pack your stuff in these same boxes. Use wrapping paper, delivery package material, and store ads to cushion packing boxes. Give gifts of items you already own that others would enjoy. And ask people for digital gifts or to wait to send gifts to your new home. Wrap presents in old Christmas sweaters. And empty your pantry by using ingredients to make food gifts. 

Don't skip the holiday decorations entirely just to simplify things. During an already stressful move, skipping holiday traditions can add to tensions and conflict. Instead, form a three-part decorating strategy.

The first part is to put up simple decorations to stay in the holiday spirit. The second is to embrace the move in your decorating plans. Let the kids decorate their boxes in holiday themes. Prepare holiday-themed snacks for moving help. Or make a Christmas tree out of your packed boxes. Have fun with the theme. Finally, prepare some boxes to open first with your holiday decor for the new house.

Of course, December doesn't just mean holidays but also the potential for cold, wintry weather. Having so much work to do when it's cold and dark outside or when ice and snow slow you down can make even the heartiest person depressed.

Fight this tendency by planning ahead to keep warm and dry. Rent or buy some extra mats for the floors. Keep plenty of winter clothes and outdoor protective gear available until the last minute. Schedule more workdays that are shorter rather than just a few long days that stretch into the dark hours. And provide hot food and beverages for helpers and movers alike. 

A professional moving service can be one of your best resources for a complicated holiday-timed move. At Christofferson Moving & Storage, we've helped families meet this and many other challenges successfully. We can help you too. Call today to learn more about our services, get tips for your specific challenges, and start crafting a holiday moving timeline that works for you.