Making the decision to move to another state is a really exciting one – the change of location can offer new opportunities, both big and small, as well as a fresh start in many aspects of your life. Unfortunately this exciting time often is paired with a lot of stress when you get into the logistics of things. How am I going to get my stuff there? Where am I going to live? Movers cost how much?!

And listen, the stress is normal. It happens. I made the move from New Jersey to Chicago in 2011 and most recently a move from Chicago to San Francisco at the beginning of 2015 (and I promise, I’m not completely insane). Some advice for preparing for a long distance move to help keep stress at a minimum  and make the transition as smooth as possible:

1. Do Your Homework: Step one, spend some time researching your options to get your belongings to your new location. Do you want to get a U-Haul trailer for your car? Would you rather hire movers to take care of everything? Are you up for the roadtrip of renting a moving truck and driving it yourself? Would your stuff fit nicely into a storage pod that you could pack up and have delivered to your new home? There are a ton of options when it comes to moving logistics and a pretty wide range of costs associated with each. Be sure to dedicate the time to doing your homework on moving options early on to get a clear understanding of what you’ll likely be spending so you can budget accordingly. Unfortunately moving ain’t cheap and it’s good to be aware of this upfront – no one likes the last minute surprise of a big bill!
2. Purge While You Prep: Moving is the perfect time to clear your life of clutter and unnecessary items. Before you even start packing, start to go through your closets and sell, discard or donate anything that you don’t totally love or can be easily replaced once you’re settled in your new home. And don’t forget about your furniture as well! Craigslist is your best friend to sell any furniture that you’d rather not pay to have moved or aren’t sure will work well in your new space. The less you take with you, the better off you’ll be – moving is a clean slate after all!
3. Gather Immediate Essentials: Set aside anything you see yourself needing immediately and make sure those items are able to arrive to your new home ASAP (think an air mattress, a week’s worth of clothing, your beauty supplies, dog food, any medications, etc.). This is especially important if you choose to hire movers because often you won’t know exactly when your items will arrive since the delivery schedule depends on the truck’s route and other drop offs, which means you’ll likely be given a broad estimate of “within 14 days” when you ask when you can expect them to arrive. If you’re using movers and have a one way ticket booked to your new home, mailing the items is a great option or if you’re driving a car, be sure to pack your essentials in the car with you instead of loading them up with the movers.
4. Stay Organized: The more organized you are the better when it comes to a big move. Make a detailed list of your moving inventory before the movers arrive so you can keep track of your belongings and verify that they have all arrived once the truck is unloaded. Have all of the important information for your new lease on hand to make move in quick and easy. Save your movers phone number to your address book so you never miss an update on your belongings or the delivery date. Keep all receipts handy to track expenses (especially important for tax season!). Moving is a pretty chaotic time and it can be easy to lose track of things but make staying organized a priority.
5. Go With The Flow: Listen, things will happen and moving can be pretty unpredictable. Don’t beat yourself up over it or freak out. Things can be replaced. New apartments can be found. Flights can be rebooked if you miss yours. Life will go on and having a go with the flow attitude will help you stay calm during the craziness. Moving can be not only stressful but really emotional – remember that it’s okay to be both sad and excited and never underestimate the power that a “we’ll figure it out” attitude can have on your outlook.