In my personal opinion, moving is the absolute worst. We’ve been there, in the past five years, our family has moved twice. One of those moves, all our stuff was in storage and moving trucks while we lived out of a hotel for two weeks. (Yes: two weeks of hotel beds, take-out, and the only things we owned being what we’d packed in a suitcase.) And yet: you can absolutely move and pack without hating your life. Here are the best moving and packing tips that helped us and will help you, too.
Table of Contents
Start Early – The Moving and Packing Tips That Save Your Sanity
When you’re planning a move, one of the best things you can do is begin now. Not tomorrow. Not when you’re already panicked with half-boxes everywhere.
- Reserve your moving company/truck early (if you’re using one) or book your rental truck early.
- Gather supplies: boxes (various sizes), bubble wrap, packing paper, tape, labels, and markers.
- Begin by packing non-essentials (seasonal decor, out-of-season clothing, books, etc.).
- Label every box clearly: not just “Kitchen” but “Kitchen – Pots & Pans – Use First”. That way, when everything arrives, you know what to open first.
Because we moved twice and lived in a hotel for 2 weeks, we really learned the value of having a “first night box” (more on that below) and being ahead of the game.
Declutter Before You Pack
- One of the best moving & packing tips: less is more.
- Go room by room and ask: Do we love this? Do we use this? If not → donate, sell, or recycle.
- Think of the hotel experience: we were living on minimal items, making us realize how little we actually needed while “in limbo”.
- The fewer things you pack, the fewer things you move, and the fewer things you’ll need to unpack.
Pack Smartly – Use Zones, Labels & Inventory
Here are some practical moving & packing tips for the actual boxing-up part:
- Zone by room: keep like items together (all the bathroom items, all kids’ rooms, etc.).
- Label like a pro: On top + on two sides of the box write: Room, Category, Priority (“Open Me First”).
- Inventory list: Keep a spreadsheet or list of what’s in each box. When we were in the hotel waiting for our stuff, that list meant I knew exactly what we didn’t have yet, and what we did.
- Fragile items: wrap carefully, don’t overload.
- “Open-Me-First” box: As I mentioned, we deeply regretted not doing this in the first hotel-week move. Include change of clothes, toiletries, basic kitchen items (coffee maker!), phone chargers, kids’ favourite toys, pet supplies (hello Nyla the Sweet Rebel!).
- Pack heavy items in small boxes, light items in large boxes so they’re easy to lift and stack.
Moving Day (or Days): Stay Calm, Stick to the Game Plan
Whether you’ve hired movers or are packing, loading, and moving yourselves, these moving & packing tips apply:
- Confirm the arrival time of the moving truck/movers.
- Designate a point person (for us, that was me) who knows the inventory and check-off list.
- Do a walkthrough of the “old place” and the “new place” to make sure nothing is overlooked.
- If you’re moving into temporary housing (like our hotel scenario), plan for what you’ll need to live on that’s “minimal” for the interim.
- At the new place: check major systems (heat/AC, water, electricity, WiFi) before diving into unpacking.
Unpacking the Right Way – Because ‘Moving and Packing Tips’ Don’t Stop After the Truck
The move is not over when the truck pulls away. The unpacking phase is where you’ll feel the relief (or regret) of the earlier planning. Here are tips to make it smoother:
- Start with the priority rooms: kids’ rooms, bathroom, kitchen, pet area (hello Nyla & her cats Milo and Taco).
- Use the inventory list to guide you: open the “Open-Me-First” box immediately.
- Set a “one room a day” goal instead of trying to unpack everything at once; it keeps momentum without feeling overwhelmed.
- As you unpack: revisit the decluttering mindset. If you packed it and haven’t missed it in two weeks, maybe it doesn’t belong.
- Take pictures of the new layout/setup and share them on Instagram/Pinterest (a little family-life branding bonus!).
After-Move Reflection & Family Life Integration
Moving isn’t just about boxes; it’s about family rhythm and managing stress while keeping the vibes positive. Here’s how:
- Have a family meeting post-move: talk about new routines, what’s different, what’s exciting (new neighborhoods, new schools, new parks).
- Let your kids help unpack: it gives them a sense of ownership and helps them feel at home faster.
- Include pet routines: our Sweet Rebel Nyla needed her familiar spot and toys unpacked early so she could settle in.
- Use this fresh start to embed organizational habits: label storage, map out routines, and plan how you’ll keep things organized in the new space.
- Celebrate: Moving is hard. Order in pizza, have a “first night in the new place” family movie, take a walk around the neighborhood. Make it a memory, not just a stretch of stress.
Final Thoughts
If there’s one takeaway from our two moves (and that crazy 2-week hotel stay while everything moved from one truck to another): planning + smart packing + staying calm = moving with your sanity (and your family’s joy) intact.
By using these moving and packing tips, you’ll transform what feels like a chaotic transition into an opportunity to refresh your space, reset your routines, and make your family life even stronger in the new place.
Want a ready-made moving & packing checklist or printable to keep at your fingertips? I’ve got you.
And if you’re already in the thick of moving… breathe. You’ve got this. Time for a new chapter (and yes—as always—a beautifully fit soul).