We’ve all seen enough articles telling us how stressful moving can be. One survey ranked moving as the second most stressful event in a person’s life after divorce! Divorce, guys! That’s crazy! And it does not have to be that way. I moved five days ago. Here are the real, fresh tips that I learned less than a week ago.

1. Have the right people on your moving crew

Can’t afford or too proud to hire a moving crew? Me too! So I recruited the best of the best to help me move. Of course you need someone who can lift those bigger items but you need someone who can do it with a good attitude. My brother, Ed, is the ideal example of this. He is the funniest person I know. Ed brought upper body strength and comic relief and it made the entire day easier and more pleasant.

The next person you need on your crew is the leader. This is a classic father role where my dad in particular shines. He knows how to load a moving van, the best way to lift without hurting your back and what should happen when. Without him, the rest of us when have been chucking things around with abandon.

My personal favorite role is the relief player, a role gleefully filled by my mother. She showed up four hours after we started the process. Her hair was perfect and she was balancing platters of sandwiches and cookies for lunch. The meal and the cheery new face resurrected our crew and gave us the needed morale boost to get back to work.

My final recommendation for your move-in crew is the comforter. Moving, as we discussed, is stressful. Having someone there who keeps you calm is essential for a pleasant move-in day. My boyfriend, who is the most obnoxiously Zen person, has an incredible gift of keeping stress at bay and bringing perspective to stressful situations. Throughout the day he reminded me of some essential things. For example, that this was a very exciting day, that my mother was trying to help, and that I was likely hot and hungry and not actually upset (this is true 99% of the time).

2. Scout your location 

Thank goodness for the amazing team at Camden Fourth Ward. I went to visit the day before I planned on moving in and it made all the difference! Not only did I get my keys early so I could start my move-in when I wanted but I also saw the exact route my crew would be taking. By warning everyone in advance about some stairs and a narrow elevator, we were able to prepare. Visiting before move-in day and finding your path is a MUST.

3. Plan for neighbors and be a good one

Like most people, I moved in on a Saturday. It felt like a great idea but not quite. Pulling up we saw a resident having furniture delivered and another new move-in. This meant three giant trucks parked on one street. All of us were planning to move large things through the same door and elevator. Me being me, I immediately got frazzled. My dad being my dad, made friends with the movers and the other new resident. We ended up helping each other with hard to grasp objects, tricky stairs and holding doors. What I thought would be a complication ended up being a huge help and we made a friend in the building in our first three hours of being residents.

Photo courtesy of Camden

4. Don’t lose steam

Moving is exhausting work there is no doubt about it. If you want to make the most of your move the best thing to do is stay focused and on task. If you sink down into that comfy couch or if you lay it's likely you won't get up. Don’t lose your momentum, stay on task and get excited for the amazing night of sleep you’ll get once you’re done.

5. Think about tomorrow not today

As moving wears on your mind and your body, as you watch your beautiful new home fill with cardboard boxes and plastic bags and old duffel bags filled with who knows what – think about the next day in your new home. Moving can be so overwhelming but the end result is something amazing – it’s a new home! For me, my new home is a gorgeous, modern apartment that I get to share with my best friend. On move-in day it looked like the last 20+ years of my life had exploded in this stunning space. When I visualized the final product, I was motivated to get back to work. Now my apartment is a haven of comfort, friendship and joy for me, my wonderful roommate and our family and friends who get to visit and share in it with us.