Reduce Your Risk of Getting Hurt When Relocating to Your New Place

Are you planning to move from one home to the next in the coming weeks or months? If so, you’re probably thinking about all the work you have to do, such as packing boxes full of clothes and other belongings, carrying items out to your vehicle, loading things in and out, and unpacking when you finally arrive at the new place. While you’re likely feeling excited about the move, the thought of all the strenuous work that goes into the process isn’t nearly as exciting. If you’re concerned that you might strain your back and body when moving, check out these simple ways to prevent injuries and get through the ordeal with less stress.

Bend with Your Knees, Not Your Back

If you know you’ll bend to lift heavy boxes on more than one occasion, make sure you’re doing it the right way. For example, when you move forward to grab the box, you should bend from the knees while keeping your back positioned upright instead of leaning your back forward. Improperly handling heavy loads can have dire consequences, causing severe lower and upper back pain. In addition to back pain, you could potentially sustain injuries to other areas of the body, including your knees, arms, and hands.

Use a Hand Truck to Avoid Lifting Too Much

Do you have an old hand truck in your garage that you haven’t used in ages? If so, pull it out and use it to make your move much less strenuous! Stacking boxes on a hand truck and pushing it to your vehicle means less time spent carrying heavyweight boxes that can take a toll on your body. Even if you don’t have one, you can go to your local home improvement store and rent one for a day or two to get more done in less time while minimizing the physical stress that moving can have on you and preventing pain from developing. You can still strain your muscles and ligaments when using a hand truck if you’re doing too much at once, so make sure to do little loads at a time.

Choose Rolling Storage Bins Instead of Boxes

If you’d like to play it safe and save yourself from doing a lot of heavy lifting, consider investing in rolling storage bins instead of using cardboard boxes. The rolling storage bins are spacious, come in various sizes, and allow you to pull your belongings back and forth so that you’re not stuck lifting everything down several staircases. While these bins cost a bit more than cardboard moving boxes, they’re reusable and can come in handy after the move for storing holiday decorations, guest room supplies, and more.

Do a Little Bit Each Day

When trying to get everything done at the last minute, you have a much greater risk of suffering from multiple injuries, such as back pain, knee pain, and even torn ligaments. Don’t overwork yourself to the point that your body has to suffer the consequences. Instead, try to do a little bit of moving each day. You can focus on packing one room at a time and then work shifts with family members to bring down boxes and handle other moving-related tasks. Spreading things out means you won’t get stuck trying to complete a move in one day.

Moving to a new home can take a significant toll on the body because of all the work involved. Be prepared for your next move by taking these measures to lower your risk of sustaining injuries while relocating.