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Whether it’s for work or personal reasons, there will surely come a day in your life when you will have to move. Seeing as how this can be a really stressful endeavor, you want to make sure you are prepared properly for the day in order to not forget anything important. Moreover, it’s also vital that you prevent injuries that can easily happen on moving day. With that in mind, here are some tips that will keep you safe if you’re moving soon.
Make sure you’re in shape
For starters, before you start moving, you want to make sure you are in proper shape. While we all like to stay fit, you can take some extra steps so that you are properly prepared for the move. For example, do more squats on the days leading up to the move, take the stairs more often, or stretch every morning. That way, you will be engaging the muscles that you’ll be using when carrying boxes and other heavy stuff. Furthermore, make sure you warm up before you start doing anything; rotate your joints and loosen up your body.
Prepare everything on time
Besides properly warming up, it’s also crucial that you don’t do everything at the last minute. Rushing to get things packed, carried, and transported can easily result in an accidental injury. Therefore, you want to take your time and start preparing for the move well in advance. As soon as you realize that you will be moving, you can make a list and organize yourself so that everything is done on time. Get the boxes you will need, rent a moving truck, and handle all other responsibilities that come with relocating.
Don’t carry too much weight at once
When packing, you need to pay attention to how much weight you are putting into each box. If you make them too heavy, you can strain your back or drop them on your toes. Decide how heavy the boxes will be depending on your fitness level. Moreover, it’s not just boxes that you will be moving. Seeing as how you might own plenty of heavy furniture, look into whether you can break it down into lighter pieces so that your loads are smaller.
Hire professional help
To prevent injuries, it’s also a good idea to turn to professionals. For instance, it’s easy to find local moving services that will assist you with everything from creating a relocation timeline and providing you with boxes and other packing materials to packing and unpacking. By doing this, you will ensure you are not injured during the moving process and you can rest assured that your belongings will be in good hands. However, you want to make sure the company you hire offers various kinds of insurance to stay on the safe side.
Rent helpful equipment
No matter if you include the pros or not, you can make use of some equipment. For example, moving straps, furniture sliders, and stair, furniture, and appliance dollies can all help with the move by making your loads lighter. That way, you can avoid carrying too much weight and straining your back. You should be able to find these in most home improvement stores or rent them from moving companies. Just make sure you read the instructions on how to use the equipment properly.
Dress for the task
In addition to turning to useful equipment, you also want to dress for the task. It’s recommended that you wear long pants and long sleeves as well as gloves to prevent cuts and scratches. Moreover, closed-toed shoes are a must to reduce the risk of hurting your feet. Heavy-duty shoes are a great option, if you own a pair. In case you’ve been injured before, looking for other protective gear, such as back or knee braces, is also a good idea.
Keep the paths clear
Finally, to avoid injuries while moving, you want to clear a path for everyone carrying boxes, furniture, and appliances. Get all clutter and tools out of the way so that no one trips over them. Children and pets should not be present during the move, to protect their safety as well as to prevent them from causing accidents.
The process of moving can be stressful on its own. Adding an injury to the mix is not something you want, so keep these tips in mind to stay safe.