When moving, you often have to lift and carry many heavy boxes, potentially leading to injury.
Taking some precautions is essential to ensure you complete the move without causing injury to yourself or those around you. Learning how to lift boxes, among other best practices, is the best way to prevent moving day injuries.
To help your move go as smoothly as possible, here are some tips you can use to ensure you safely and efficiently finish your move!
Don’t Rush
Rushing is a surefire way to get injured when moving. Rushing can also lead to forgetting things and not moving efficiently. Be sure to take your time when completing your move. If you are getting sore or tired, take a break and get back to it when you feel restored.
Prep Your Body for Work
While you can do some exercises to build up your core strength, simply taking a long walk, stretching regularly, and treating yourself kindly can make a big difference. Have a healthy meal, stretch, and make sure your body is ready before you start the move!
Don’t Overexert Yourself
When packing boxes, don’t fill them to the point where they are difficult to pick them up on your own. You should never lift more than 35 pounds alone as it could cause strain or injury. While some are much more physically impressive, dropping and picking up large amounts of weight for an extended period can begin to cause some damage.
If you are unsure how many boxes you’ll need for your move, check out our ‘How many boxes do I need for a move?’ article.
Lift Boxes Properly
Lifting a box incorrectly is one of the most common ways someone can get injured during a move. That is why it is essential to learn how to lift properly. To lift correctly, keep your feet shoulder-width apart, squat to reduce pressure on your legs, and keep your back straight. Also, never lift with your back, only your legs, don’t contort your body or lift heavy items above your head, and make sure you’re on solid footing before you start to lift.
Get Some Equipment
Rather than lifting everything on your own, get some equipment that will make the job much easier. Things like dollies and lifting straps can make a move much easier, especially when transporting large or heavy items.
Keep Organized
When moving boxes, keeping the space around you organized will make it a much safer process. This will also make a move go a lot faster as you will not have to dodge boxes and other items when emptying your home of your belongings.
Dress for the Occasion
Be sure you have an attire that matches the job at hand. Avoid short sleeves and shorts, and get some gloves to make the lifting more manageable and avoid scratches and cuts. Closed toe-shoes will also prevent your feet from being injured if something falls. For those with existing back issues, a back brace may also be helpful.
Get Help
Moving on your own with the help of others is sure to lead to injury. Ask family members, neighbours, friends, or anyone else kind enough to help. The second pair of hands will also reduce the time the move takes while potentially decreasing the chance of injury.
Hire Professionals
To reduce the chance of injury entirely, enlist the help of professional movers. Movers will also know how best to handle your belongings which could prevent some items from getting damaged.
If you’re considering hiring a moving company, check out our ‘Why hire a full service moving company? Pros & cons’ article.
Moving can be an exciting time, but you must take some precautions to ensure you don’t strain yourself or get injured in the process. Keep these helpful tips in mind during your move so you can do so safely and efficiently.
To learn more about how best to go about a DIY move, check out our ‘Great ways to save on a DIY move’ article
