How to Prepare for a Move Without Losing Your Mind

Moving sounds straightforward until you’re standing in the middle of your home, surrounded by half-packed boxes, random piles, and the growing suspicion that you might be doing this wrong.

I know that feeling well.

We moved three times in three years, with the biggest move being from the Bay Area to Lake Oswego. Each move taught me something new, not just about logistics, but about how quickly stuff multiplies, how emotional decisions can be, and how easy it is to underestimate the mental load of a move.

Some of those moves were smooth. Others were not. And the difference wasn’t the house or the distance. It was how prepared we were.

Preparing for a move isn’t just about packing. It’s about timing, systems, and the energy it takes to decide what stays, what goes, and what version of your life you’re bringing with you. When you do it well, a move can feel lighter and calmer. When you don’t, the stress doesn’t end on moving day. It follows you straight into your new home.

Between my own moving experiences and my years as a professional home organizer helping dozens of families through their moves, I’ve seen what actually works and what just creates more stress. I created this guide to share the strategies that make a real difference in real homes, not the ones that only look good in theory.

This guide walks you through how to prepare for a move in a way that’s practical, realistic, and genuinely helpful.

Prepare for a Move Earlier Than You Think

As soon as you know your move is happening, start preparing. Ideally, this is six to eight weeks in advance.

Most people underestimate how long everything takes. Decluttering takes longer. Packing takes longer. And life absolutely does not slow down just because you’re moving.

From our own moves and from years of helping families through theirs, we’ve learned that the most stressful moves are almost always the ones that start too late. Those are the moves where people are packing at midnight, shoving things into boxes just to get them out of sight, and promising themselves they’ll “deal with it later.”

Starting early changes everything. It gives you space to think instead of just react. It lets you make decisions you actually feel good about. And it keeps the whole process from turning into a stressful blur that you barely remember once you’re on the other side.

When you start early, you get:

• More thoughtful decisions

• Less last-minute stress

• Fewer things moved that you don’t actually want

• More control over the process

  
  

Even if your move is sooner than that, starting today will always help more than waiting.

Before we dive into the checklist, I want to walk you through four moving fundamentals that make the biggest difference. Once you understand these, everything else, the timeline, the packing, the logistics, will feel much more manageable.

Declutter Before You Pack

If there’s one thing I wish more people understood about moving, it’s this: packing is not the first step. Decluttering is.

Packing without decluttering is how people end up paying to move things they don’t want, don’t use, and don’t even like. It’s also how boxes get unpacked months later, only for you to wonder why half of it came with you in the first place.

Before anything goes into a box, ask yourself:

• Do I actually use this?

• Do I love this?

• Would I buy this again today?

• Does this support how I want to live next?

• Do I even have space for this in the new house?
  

Go room by room, not category by category. Stand in each space and deal with what actually lives there. This keeps the process grounded and prevents you from bouncing all over your house feeling overwhelmed.

Tip: Start with the easiest wins. Like the quick nos or things that are broken.

Momentum matters. When you start with easier decisions, your brain builds confidence, and everything feels more doable.

Good places to begin:

• Expired pantry items and spices

• Duplicate kitchen tools

• Old paperwork

• Clothes that don’t fit or feel like you anymore

• Random cords and mystery tech

• Broken or incomplete items

• Trash and recycling
  

These are usually low-emotion, high-impact decisions. They clear space quickly and help you trust yourself.

If you want to go deeper, download our free Ultimate Decluttering Checklist. It includes over 100 items to declutter.

Don’t Skimp on the Movers and Moving Company

I know moving can be expensive. It’s tempting to look for places to cut costs wherever you can. But if there’s one area I’ve seen people regret trying to save money, it’s with the movers.

We’ve seen a lot of moves go sideways because clients tried to cut corners on the packing, transporting, and unloading process. And in most moving situations, you really do get what you pay for. Cheap movers often mean rushed jobs, damaged furniture, lost boxes, poor communication, and way more stress than anyone signed up for.

A good moving company doesn’t just move your stuff. They protect it. They show up on time. They communicate clearly. They treat your home with respect. And they make what could be a very stressful day feel much more manageable.

Tip: If you’re moving within the greater Portland, Oregon area, I highly suggest Bold Move. Every move we’ve done with them has made our unpacking jobs significantly easier

What to Look for in a Moving Company

When you’re researching movers, here are a few things that really matter:

• Clear, upfront pricing

• Good communication

• Strong, consistent reviews

• Proper licensing and insurance

• Experience with your type of move

Red Flags to Avoid

• Quotes that feel too good to be true

• No proof of insurance

• No walkthrough or detailed questions

• Unclear damage policies

• Poor or inconsistent reviews

• Pressure to book immediately

If a company feels disorganized before your move, that’s usually a preview of what moving day will look like.

Pack With Purpose

If you’re looking for a place to save money, packing is where you actually have control. You can absolutely pack yourself and still have a great move—but how you pack matters. When packing is done thoughtfully and strategically, it sets you up for an easier unpack. When it’s rushed, it usually shows up later as frustration, extra work, and way more time than you expected.

We recently worked on an unpacking job where the packing had been done in a total rush. Categories were mixed, labels were vague, and nothing was intuitive. What should have been a straightforward unpack took much longer than necessary.

Our client said:

“I wish I could go back and pack differently. I didn’t realize how much those choices would affect the other side of the move. Five or six more hours upfront would have saved me double or triple that later.”

That’s what packing with purpose is about. You’re not just getting things into boxes. You’re thinking about where those things are going next.

5 Tips to Pack With Purpose

Packing isn’t just about getting things into boxes. It’s about setting up your future self for an easier, calmer unpacking experience. These tips will save you time, energy, and frustration on the other side of the move.

1. Pack for your new home, not your current one

Most people pack based on how their current home is set up. But your new home will likely have different layouts, storage, and flow.

As you pack, ask yourself: Where will this live in the new house? If you can’t picture it, that’s worth pausing on.

This mindset shift alone can save you hours of re-sorting later.

2. Don’t mix categories just to fill a box

When people are tired or rushed, they start throwing random things together just to get boxes filled. That’s how you end up with boxes labeled “misc” that nobody wants to open.

Keep like with like:

• Baking with baking

• Office with office

• Bathroom backups with bathroom backups
  

Your future self will thank you.

3. Don’t pack things you don’t actually want

If you’re on the fence about something now, that feeling probably won’t magically disappear after the move.

We recently worked on an unpacking project where the client, feeling rushed, ended up packing literal bags of trash—because in the moment, it felt easier to just get everything into boxes and deal with it later.

Moving is a reset. If you already know something doesn’t fit your life anymore, don’t give it a free ride.

4. Use the right packing materials

Not everything belongs in a giant box. Heavy items need small, sturdy boxes. Fragile items need proper wrapping. Liquids need to be sealed.

The right materials prevent damage, spills, and unnecessary frustration.

5. Smaller boxes are usually better than bigger ones

Big boxes get heavy fast. They’re harder to carry, more likely to break, and more likely to turn into junk drawers on the other end.

Smaller boxes force you to be more intentional and make unpacking easier

Labeling Boxes Matters More Than You Think

Labeling is one of those steps that seems small, but it has a massive impact on how your move actually feels.

A box labeled “Misc” tells you nothing.

It doesn’t help movers.

It doesn’t help you.

And it definitely doesn’t help when you’re exhausted and trying to find something important on your first night.

I’m here to tell you: clear, specific labels will save you time, lower your stress, and prevent you from having to move the same boxes over and over again.

And yes—this happens more than you’d think.

When boxes aren’t labeled clearly:

• Movers don’t know where to put them

• Boxes end up in the wrong rooms

• You waste time redirecting people

• You keep moving the same boxes again and again

• Unpacking becomes more confusing than it needs to be

Tip: You don't need fancy and matching labels. Spend your time working on something more beneficial like decluttering.

Every extra move is more effort, more time, and more strain on your body. The goal is to touch and move your items as few times as possible.

Name Rooms Based on Your New Home

This is a step most people skip—and it causes so much unnecessary frustration.

Before you start labeling, decide what each room in your new home will be called.

Avoid vague names like:

• Bedroom 1

• Bedroom 2

• Back Room

• Extra Room
  

Those names make sense to you, but not to movers or anyone helping you unpack.

Instead, use names like:

• Primary Bedroom

• Guest Room

• Upstairs Office

• Playroom

• Bonus Room

• Craft Room
  

If your home has multiple similar rooms, be even more specific:

• Guest Room – Left

• Guest Room – Upstairs

• Office – Front of House
  

The clearer your room names are, the fewer questions you’ll get on moving day—and the fewer boxes you’ll have to redirect.

And because boxes don’t always land upright, write the label on the top and at least one side (two is even better).

Tip: On move day, label each room with painter’s tape that matches your box labels. This makes it easy for movers to know exactly where things go.

The real goal is to touch and move each box as few times as possible. Every time you redirect, re-lift, or open a box just to see what’s inside, you’re adding more work for yourself.

Clear labels help boxes land in the right room the first time—and all these little things add up:

• Less lifting

• Less confusion

• Less decision fatigue

• Faster unpacking

  
  

A Real-Life Moving Checklist: What to Do and When

We’ve talked about the mindset, the systems, and the strategy. Now let’s get into the part everyone really wants: what to actually do—and when.

This isn’t a rigid schedule. It’s the rhythm we’ve seen work over and over again, both in our own moves and with clients. It leaves room for real life, bad days, busy weeks, and unexpected curveballs.

Think of it as a loose guide to help you focus on the right things at the right time, so you’re not trying to do everything at once and burning yourself out.

6–8 Weeks Before Your Move

This is your planning and decision-making phase. Ideally, you’ll set aside about 3–5 hours a week to focus on:

• Starting to declutter one room at a time

• Researching and booking your moving company

• Gathering packing supplies

• Creating a folder (digital or physical) for moving paperwork

• Thinking through how your new home will be laid out

This is where intention matters most. The work you do here saves you the most stress later.

4–6 Weeks Before

This is when packing can start—but not the everyday stuff.

• Pack out-of-season items

• Pack rarely used categories

• Continue decluttering daily

• Start labeling clearly and specifically

• Create a donation plan

You should still be living comfortably in your home at this stage. If everything already feels chaotic, it’s usually a sign things are moving too fast.

2–3 Weeks Before

Now things start to feel more real.

• Pack most non-essential items

• Confirm details with your movers

• Change your address

• Transfer utilities and services

• Finish selling or donating items

You should still be able to find what you need day to day. If you can’t, that’s a sign your labels and categories need tightening.

The Final Week

This is about simplifying—not cramming.

• Pack essentials last

• Clean out the fridge and pantry

• Do a final donation drop-off

• Finish laundry

• Set aside what will travel with you personally

Your goal here is not perfection. It’s preparedness.

The Day Before

• Tape your boxes and confirm labels

• Set aside your essentials

• Clear walkways and pathways

• Do a snack and hydration run

• Get a good night’s sleep

  
  

This is not the day to declutter. This is the day to protect your energy.

A Gentle Reality Check

If you’ve read this far, you probably care about doing this well—and that already says a lot.

There is no such thing as a perfect move. There are only more intentional ones and less intentional ones. Some days will feel productive. Some will feel messy. Some will feel emotional for reasons you didn’t see coming. All of that is normal.

What makes a move feel lighter isn’t perfection. It’s preparation. It’s giving yourself time. It’s making thoughtful choices instead of rushed ones. It’s packing with purpose, labeling clearly, and letting go of what no longer fits the life you’re moving into.

I’ve lived through moves where everything felt rushed and reactive, and I’ve lived through moves where we slowed down and approached things differently. The difference wasn’t the house or the distance. It was the mindset.

If this guide helps you feel even a little more calm, capable, and confident as you step into your next chapter, then it’s done what I hoped it would do. And if you need support along the way, that’s what we’re here for.