Managing moving stress

Decrease the stress level by taking the time to organize. (Comstock)

Moving can be one of life's most stressful experiences.

Decrease the stress level by taking the time to organize. It may not happen overnight, but it won't happen at all by itself.

The second way to lessen the stress is by starting early. Experts in the field advise that leaving everything to the last minute may work for some things, but not moving.

You always have more to do than you think.

Keeping notes and lists helped Frances Sant cope with her recent move.

Sant, her five-year-old daughter Melissa and boyfriend Terry Altermann moved 10 days ago from a 2,700 sq. ft. home in Mississauga to a 1,200 sq. ft. home in Balm Beach.

She recommends keeping notes in a daytimer or notebook to keep track of things like arranging utilities, insurance and all the other necessities that go along with moving house.

To complicate things, Sant's move involved putting her furniture and all other belongings into two rooms of her new home, while renovations are being completed.

The added stress of the upgrades made it even more important to plan ahead and start early.

"It's crazy what you have," says Sant. "Throw out all you can and don't need. Don't take garbage with you and don't debate what you might want to keep. It's a perfect time to clean things out."