Planning on moving? Good for you! Planning on staying healthy while doing so? Even better! But, here’s a catch: maintaining a healthy lifestyle can be challenging even on the best of days, let alone when something wreaks havoc in your daily routine. The constant running around leaves you drained, and when you factor in the mental stress of moving, the whole experience can become overwhelming. However, there is a way to it, so we’ll gladly share some of the tips and tricks to keep you on track, and help you breeze through the whole ordeal.
As it goes with most things, safety comes first
Moving may seem like light physical work, but do not be fooled. Lifting, carrying and packing in a state of hurry leaves you exposed to a certain risk of injury. In order to avoid hurting yourself and staying healthy, it is advisable to get the proper moving gear and safe moving equipment. Some of the things that should be on your list include:
- working gloves: carrying things requires a good grip, so consider investing in a quality pair of working gloves.
- furniture glides: good for putting items neatly into their right place.
- moving straps: when it comes to moving heavy objects, we recommend that you reconsider, since the risk of injury is high. But, if there is no way around it, moving straps will save your back, shoulders, and knees, and help you lift safely.
- dollies: there is really no need for you to do all the lifting, and using dollies can make the job a lot easier.
Be smart, stay safe
Staying healthy = getting enough Z’s
At first, it may seem that sacrificing sleep for more working hours is a smart move. By sleeping less and you’ll do more – it’s just simple math, right? Well, you might want to reconsider. Studies show that good 7-9 hours of sleep at night will significantly boost your productivity and have a positive impact on your health. Although it’s just good ol’ physical work, not some complicated rocket science, handling tasks will come easier once you’ve rested well.
A good night’s sleep
Maintaining a healthy diet
A well-balanced meal plan is one of the keys to staying healthy. Getting the right nourishment will be beneficial for your physical performance and make you feel energized throughout the busy day. So, consider using these hacks:
1. Plan ahead
Making meals ahead of time can come in handy when the days are packed with activities. Try preparing as many variations that would include vegetables, meat, rice, and pasta. Seeing as these meals are full of protein and carbohydrates, it’s good to have them as a main meal of the day, since they’ll keep your strength at its peak.
2. Start with what you already have
Emptying the fridge, freezer and pantry are ahead of you, so you might as well eat what you find in there. A good guideline is to eat what you have at home since it’s usually healthier than any takeout. Mix and match so that you have something different every day.
3. Schedule your meals
When you plan the meal ahead, you put some thought into it and make it as nutritious as possible. Having the time to sit and eat in peace will make you feel full longer. You can also have a break from all the work and just relax. Losing track of time and catching yourself starving rarely leads to good decisions.
4. The right snacks
High energy food is always a better choice than empty calories. Go for dried and fresh fruit, nuts, peanut butter and protein bars.
5. Stay hydrated
This one may be the most important. Be sure to drink plenty of water, no juices or sodas. It keeps you hydrated and makes you feel full longer.
Staying healthy by eating right
Keeping it stress-free
Avoid rushing. Take the time to plan everything ahead, thus making your days easy to go through. You’ll be sure that everything is moving along at the right place, plus you get the sense of accomplishment. To-do list is a must in every big project. You can start by decluttering. By doing so, you’ll immediately get rid of all the unnecessary things that would eventually get in your way. Afterward, you can plan what goes where by sketching it on paper, or just making a list. It will save time on organizing later. Lastly, prioritize. Big furniture should be first to its rightful place, next come the curtains, essential boxes, kitchen appliances and other. Start with the most used rooms first, so if you’re not finished on the same day, at least you can get a shower and sleep in a made bed.
Give yourself a break
If in any way possible, try to get some time off from work. Doing the move over the weekend seems plausible and it indeed can be done, but there is little to no chance that you’ll be ready for the full week of work ahead. Two days plus the Saturday and Sunday should be enough if you are not moving to another country. Start packing earlier, and begin with some of the things that are not necessary for everyday use. Try to have as much of it done before the moving day.
Find someone to watch over the kids. If they are too little, it’s hard to keep track of their needs and work on relocating. They can stay with grandparents or with friends. This way you’ll make sure that they get all the needed attention and care, while you’re focused on the move.
As gym-goers around the world can attest to, any physical work is easier with music, so we see no reason to skip it now. Make an uplifting playlist that will keep you motivated and cheerful. Time will run by faster, it will lift up the mood and make it a much more pleasurable experience.
In the end
Keep a positive outlook. As you can see, staying healthy with a change of the routine isn’t impossible. These are not strict rules, just some guidelines to have in mind. Adjust them to your liking and possibilities, with the right goal in mind, and everything will work out just fine.
