Article Navigation
Recent Articles
- Think Big Ease and Efficiency for Your Upcoming Move
- What to Look For on an Apartment Community’s Facebook Page
- Think Big about Your Dream Apartment
- What Kind of Apartment Space Best Suits You?
- Take Steps to Stay Organized in Your Apartment
- What You Should Know about Renter’s Insurance
- Which Packing Details Will a Professional Mover Handle for You?
- What Is Your Perfect Apartment Pet?
- Dealing with Weather Conditions When You Move
- Find Helpful Tax Write-offs for Your New Home
Health and Safety Tips to Keep in Mind While You Move
There’s a reason why you’re expected to tip movers: moving is strenuous, demanding work! But if you’re intending to take on a move yourself, there are things you can do to prepare your body for hauling all those boxes on and off the truck. Here are some tips to help ensure your health and safety on moving day.
Avoid loading too much in one box. It can be tempting to stuff as much into a box as possible (especially if you’re paying for boxes). But with books, for example, the weight can really add up. As you’re packing, periodically lift a box to make sure it can still comfortably BE lifted.
Rent or borrow a dolly. Rent dollies or hand trucks from your moving truck provider, local home-improvement store, or perhaps from your apartment community. These important tools will spare you a lot of lifting and help you move heavy things around much more easily.
Protect your back! This means:
- Squatting, rather than bending over, to pick up heavy items
- Keeping weight close to your body with your feet apart
- Avoiding having to jerk, twist, or move suddenly
- Turning with your whole body, not just at the waist, while holding something heavy
Depending on how much lifting you expect to do, you might also want to wear a back brace on moving day for added support.
Stay hydrated. One of your best pre-move buys might be a case of bottled water or sports drinks. While you might not have any trouble following this advice in the summer, it also applies to colder weather, when you’ll be sweating underneath your warm clothes. Also, have energy bars or other high-protein snacks on hand for a pick-me-up between meals.
Pace yourself and take breaks. This is easier, obviously, if you have plenty of time to allot for the move, but if you’re pressed for time, you still want to make sure to catch your breath now and then.
If you have friends helping, it might make sense to stagger their arrivals, rather than have everyone on the scene all day. Latecomers can join in while they’re fresh, while people who were working in the morning can take a break.
Dress appropriately. Wear comfortable clothes and closed-toe, non-skid shoes. If it’s been raining and the ground is slippery, you may need to lay down non-slip mats to help keep sure footing.
Have first-aid equipment on hand, namely bandages, antibiotic ointment to treat cuts, antiseptic towelettes or wipes, and a cold pack. Make sure you know the signs of heatstroke, and ensure your cell phone has a full battery, in case you need to make an emergency call.
One Response to “Health and Safety Tips to Keep in Mind While You Move”
Leave a Reply
Most Popular
Moving can be overwhelming. No matter how much time you allow, it’s hard to keep track of everything. This moving checklist will help you reduce stress, keep track of loose ends and stay calm, cool and collected while moving into your new place. If your moving timetable is shorter than the one in this checklist, ...
The number of things on your moving checklist can be daunting, but one item you can not overlook is making sure everyone who needs to know that you moved is aware of your new address. Make a list You may not realize it, but there are likely dozens of people and businesses that will need ...
A do-it-yourself move should save you money, but staying on top of all the important details will be a challenge. That’s where this self-service moving checklist can come in handy. Use our checklist throughout the entire self-service moving process to help keep your moving efforts organized. This checklist is separated into sections according to a timeline. If your ...
Which is more fun: moving, or filling out your tax forms? Under certain circumstances, completing the one can get you a break on the other. Here are some guidelines as to when you can and cannot take a tax deduction on your move. When you can deduct The IRS employs three “tests” of whether your ...
You’ve got a new apartment picked out and now it’s time start working on your moving budget. But you don’t want to break the bank in the process. Start out with a sensible budget and you should be able to make a smooth and affordable move. Set a target Before you create your moving budget, ...
When you’re considering renting an apartment, you’ll want to know what to expect from a prospective apartment community. That’s why asking the right questions of an apartment community manager is so important. Ask these questions during your apartment search to ensure that you have a clear picture of what it will be like to live in your ...
If you want to make sure you’re getting the best apartment for your money, you will need to focus on several details. Here are some important apartment features to consider when you are looking for your new apartment. Layout When checking out an apartment, don’t just look at the square footage in each individual room. ...
Like a home mortgage, monthly rent is a serious financial commitment. Before you get in over your head, know what you can afford. Follow these simple steps to calculate how much rent you can afford before you sign the lease. What’s coming in What you make each month will be the biggest factor in what ...
When it comes to monthly expenses, there are some costs you don’t think can get lower, like a utility bill. But with some awareness, a bit of effort and a few phone calls, you might be surprised at how much you can knock down utility costs that once seemed set in stone. Shop for the ...
Wondering how to find the best apartment for you? While the idea of the “best” apartment certainly varies from person to person, these tips should help you find the apartment that suits you to a “T.” Know thyself Before you can figure out how to find the best apartment, you’ve got to know yourself — your home ...
Readers Poll
Do you plan to move yourself or hire a moving company to assist you?
- Move myself by renting a truck (64%, 18 Votes)
- Move myself without renting a truck (21%, 6 Votes)
- Hire a moving company to help (15%, 4 Votes)
Total Voters: 28
Loading ...
Good advice, although I have to laugh at the squatting instead of bending. That repeated advice is great if you are physically fit to squat. If I could squat with my arthritic knees, I would never get up even without a box. All the other stuff suggested made good sense. Especially the drinking of the water.