The First 10 Things to Do When You're Getting Ready to Move

No one's favorite thing to do, I'm afraid. Well, here's how to make it easy.

1. Get the Gooding Accountability System ( http://www.susandunn.
cc ).

This system will help you organize all the different parts of the move!

2. Get the Don't Die at 50 Weekly Organizational Calendar ( http://www.
susandunn.cc )to remind you that no matter what this week is like every other week as far as what's really important!

You've never seen an organizational calendar like this one, trust me.

3. Get a realtor who wants to sell you house.

A realtor who really wants your business and knows his own, can greatly facilitate the job. He or she can supply invaluable resources -- names and phone numbers of painters, wallpaperers, tilemen, carpet installers you don't have to pay till the house sells, repairmen and so forth.

4. Assemble the tools you'll need.

This is the fun part and makes the work fly. U-Haul has all the boxes you'll need and they'll buy back the ones you don't need. They throw in the magic markers free. Get good strapping tape with that designer dispenser. Popcorn, bubble wrap, dividers for glassware, CLEAN wrapping paper (newsprint drives me nuts, how about you?)

5. Speaking of ' fly,' you've got to start decluttering, so visit TheFlyLady ( http://www.flylady.net ) right away.

She'll tell you how to do it, and provide lots of compansionship while you work.

6. Do this mind-trick and alleviate a LOT of stress.

Start in a small, little-used room (assuming you have one). Baby steps! Get your tools and work with 3 piles -- one to box up, one for Goodwill, one for your garage sale. Time yourself. You may find, as I did, that one room takes one hour and then -- voila! -- the task is no longer "going to take forever," it's only going to take 1 hour x ___ rooms.

7. Remember, isolation is a disease.

Get a coach if you don't have a friend who's also moving. Right now I have 4 clients who are moving, and I am too, so we can commisserate, support and give tips. Don't be isolated ever, especially when you're moving.

8. Big furniture items you need to get rid of?

There's a Habitat for Humanity in almost any town. If not that, there are others charities, like homeless shelters, that will come and haul these things away free, plus you're helping someone in need, plus you get a tax writeoff.

9. Locate the Goodwill donation center near you!

Or similar charity. They're all over, sitting in strip centers. Here's the path -- from the garage sale to the Goodwill donation center. Repeat as needed.

10. Remember, it's a gift to know when something is "over."

In other words, whatever stage of life you're in, it's time to end some part of your life or something in your life you've been needlessly hanging on to. Throw things out and make room for
something new to come into your life.