Simply put, moving is the worst. Here are some tips and tricks for making your move a little easier.

Whether you're moving because you decided to quit renting and buy the house of your dreams, or your landlord is evil and never fixed that weird toilet situation—you probably aren't looking forward to hours of packing and unpacking. Whatever the case may be, moving is a part of life and, lets be honest, an anxiety and stress inducing one, at that. Here are some tips (beyond hiring movers) to hopefully ease your move and keep you centered, and totally #namaste.

1. Keep your house clean so it'll be easier to deep clean after all of your things are gone, which will give you a better chance of getting your deposit back. Also, cleaning your things before you move will help you to not track dirt and dust into your new crib. Bonus!
2. Reconnect with your strongest friends and those that own trucks early, so when you ask them to help you move it won't be so out of the blue. "Hey Dale with a truck, how's it going? Uh no, I didn't just call you Dale with a truck! Anyway, do you still own that truck?"
3. Start packing early. Waiting until the last minute to pack is a grave mistake that ensures you'll be unorganized, messy and totally freaking out. Starting sooner will allow you to sift through your stuff and to get rid of the things you don't need. Ask yourself if you really need it. Are you honestly going to ever wear those blue and orange camouflage cargo capris again? Highly doubtful.
4. You can make some extra cash by selling your no longer needed items to Craigslist, having a garage sale, or re-selling your books, DVDs, CDs and such to stores like Half Price Books. The extra money you make could be used to hire professional movers, or to buy pizza and beer for your friends that you've begged and pleaded with (okay, straight-up harassed) to help. There are many organizations that accept donations like Goodwill, and veterans charity groups that will gladly take your things—and you can feel good knowing they'll go towards helping someone less fortunate. Many of these donation sites offer receipts and are tax deductible, which can also help you save some dough. Now that you've sold or donated most of your possessions, you'll have less to move!
5. If possible, move during a warmer time of the year. No one wants to be navigating a blizzard whilst transporting all of your life possessions to your new home.
6. Label your boxes (kitchen, living room, bedroom, etc..), or color code them so you can take them exactly where they need to be in your new home which will make your unpacking process more efficient. Is there anything more disheartening than realizing you haven't unpacked a box from a PREVIOUS move?
7. Cut a hole in the bottom of a big garbage bag and use it as a make-shift garment bag to carry your still-hanging clothes. This will save you time and energy (who doesn't hate putting clothes back on the hanger?), and you won't have to wash your entire wardrobe the day you move in.
8. Call local grocery stores and restaurants to see if they'll save some boxes for you. You will seriously be surprised how many business are willing to help you out. And technically, you're helping them out too. Boxes take up valuable dumpster space.
9. Schedule utility, cable and internet shut-offs and start-ups a couple of weeks in advance. Your future self will definitely thank you.
10. Clean your new place first for peace of mind. Nobody knows what happened there before you came, and nobody really wants to know. Even if it's been professionally cleaned before you show up, a quick once over won't hurt anything.
11. Introduce yourself to your neighbors. You don't have to be best friends, but there are many examples of nightmare neighbor situations and you want to avoid that if at all possible.
12. If you're buying a home, hire a good realtor that you trust, who won't pressure you into something you don't want. They can help negotiate and inspect the home. If you're a first-time home-buyer, a seasoned realtor will be especially helpful.
13. Realize it's going to be stressful. Things are going to be out of place and it's a big change, but knowing it's going to be a stressful situation can help you prepare your mind and body for it, so when the moving day comes you can go with the flow.

The process of moving is never fun, but make the best of it and think of it as a painful transition that will lead you to your new home where you'll make lots of great memories!