Ask anyone who has completed a move recently and they’ll tell you—organising and completing a move can be a stressful and nerve-wracking experience. And all that stress can cause homeowners to act rashly which, in turn, can lead to injuries.
But moving doesn’t have to be stressful and, with the proper prep, it is possible to get your things moved while keeping yourself injury free. We’ve gathered our top tips (saving the best for last) on how to pull off a move without pulling a single muscle.
5. Don’t Rush
It may sound silly, but many accidents happen when people are rushing to get things moved because they’ve run out of time. And people run out of time because they didn’t plan accordingly.
As you plan for your move, build in extra cushions of time. If you’re moving yourself, determine the longest time you think it will take you to get everything moved (and be realistic), then add another hour or so to your timeline. The same goes for moving everything into your new place. Giving yourself more time than you think you’ll need will keep you from rushing…and likely prevent injuries.
4. When It Comes to Lifting, Lighter is Better
We all know that lifting heavy items often leads to injury, yet we still cram boxes to the brim with heavy items to reduce the number of boxes we must pack.
Here’s a good rule of thumb—make sure boxes weigh no more than 20kg when packing. Perhaps the single-most important thing to remember is this…if, during your move, your back begins to ache or your hamstrings start to sing…stop what you’re doing and rest your body.
3. Get Your Body in Moving Condition
No, you cannot transform yours into a Schwarzenegger physique in the weeks leading up to your move…but you can strengthen the muscles you’ll be using most during the move and prepare them for the task.
Your core—the muscles found in your abdomen, around your spine, and throughout the trunk of the body—will be fully engaged during your move, so why not work on strengthening it beforehand? Likewise, the muscles in your legs and arms will be getting a workout, so adding in some strength training and stretching won’t hurt.
You might also contact your local gym to see if they offer a functional fitness training class. These classes focus on training that prepares your body for everyday activities like bending, reaching, lifting, and hauling—activities that are a major part of a home move.
2. Use the Right Equipment
If you’ve watched professional removalists work, you know they bring plenty of equipment on moving day… and you should, too. Having the right accessories on hand dramatically reduces your risk of injury.
Depending on the logistics of your move, you may need to have on hand:
- A variety of dollies (furniture, stair, and/or appliance)
- Moving straps
- Furniture sliding discs
Be sure to read all instruction manuals and familiarize yourself with how each product works before moving day arrives. If you are reluctant to purchase the necessary equipment, know that most can be rented from your local removal company.
1. Hire a Professional Removal Team
There’s a reason this is our number one tip. Professional removalists are called pros for good reason—they’ve earned the title.
If you’ve tackled a move on your own before, you know how physically demanding the task can be. Yet, movers take on the challenge day in and day out and maintain their good health thanks to the intensive training they receive. Your removalist team knows exactly what they can lift and what they can’t, and they are required to follow the Australian Work Safety regulations to maintain a safe working environment.
When professionals tackle a heavy item, they’re not just assessing the weight. They’re also using their wealth of experience to determine how far the load extends from the body, the distance load must be carried, the maneuvers required to get the load out to the truck, and if twisting and bending are required while carrying the load. There are so many factors that affect the likelihood of injury, and professional removalists are experts at assessing them and staying injury free.
The best way for you to avoid injury on moving day is to let a professional team do the work for you. If you’re in the market for a reliable team, we hope you’ll contact us at Holloway Removals. Our team of moving experts is ready to answer any questions and offer you a custom quote for everything you need and nothing you don’t.
It’s time to move the right way…with Holloway.
