What Is Lazy Moving and How Can It Take the Stress Out of Moving?

Moving can be an overwhelming, all-hands-on-deck kind of affair. It requires making checklists, packing away items and hauling off heavy boxes. It’s a stressful ordeal that quickly leads to burnout.

However, many people are turning their experience around by implementing lazy moving. This approach makes moving smoother by taking some things off your to-do list so you can focus on settling into your next chapter.

What Is Lazy Moving?

Lazy moving involves a mix of strategies to make relocation simple and stress-free. Instead of packing every box yourself and spending entire weekends on logistics, lazy moving leans on smart planning to do the heavy lifting for you.

Lazy moving is an excellent way to navigate relocation, especially when costs can already create stress. Lazy moving streamlines the process and minimizes the emotional and physical toll that comes with it.

In 2023 alone, around 212,616 people moved to Washington, while 215,277 moved out of state. People move for various reasons, but many downsize to reduce expenses or simplify their lives. Washington’s housing market is also expensive. With the median home value now at $912,100, it’s no wonder many are moving to smaller homes or a different state.

How Lazy Moving Takes the Stress Out of Relocation

Moving may be one of life’s top stressors, but there are ways to ease it. Lazy moving reduces the load that comes with relocating by simplifying each step of the process. For instance, it helps you preplan and organize all logistics online. It prompts you to outsource the physical tasks that may be too much for you to do on your own.

It’s also extremely helpful for tackling areas of the home that become easily cluttered. For example, the garage is often the top space for storing rarely used items, so it usually turns into an area with an overwhelming collection of goods.

By the time you’re ready to start packing, you could be spending hours sorting through everything. Lazy moving eases this burden by utilizing services that can handle donation pickups, recycling or junk removal for you. This is only one example of how this tactic helps, but it’s a great way to keep things running smoothly from the start.

How to Accomplish Lazy Moving

Lazy moving is a “work smarter, not harder” strategy, so here are a few ideas for making your next move easier.

1. Create a Digital Moving Checklist

Organize your to-dos using an app that caters to moving. These tools help you track tasks, manage timelines and inventory your belongings in one place. Using checklists lets you keep track of what you need to do and enables you to delegate easily if you’re hiring help. Home-organizing experts recommend planning and scheduling tasks one to two months before moving day so you can establish everything in order.

2. Hire a Full-Service Moving Company

Skip the heavy lifting and look for full-service movers in Washington who offer packing, loading, transportation and unpacking services. Many local businesses provide end-to-end moving experiences made for downsizers and busy families.

3. Handle Utilities and Address Changes Online

Instead of making a ton of phone calls, you can update your address through the USPS online portal and transfer utilities using different online services. Some platforms offer to switch your electricity, water, internet and home security so you don’t have to lift a finger.

4. Declutter Everything

Downsizing means you’ll have to get rid of items you no longer need or can’t easily fit into your new home. However, decluttering every room takes time. Fortunately, you can use junk removal services or schedule donation pickups to haul away the clutter. Many allow you to book online appointments and will take the items from anywhere on your property.

5. Order Pre-Labeled Packing Kits

If you’re packing a few things yourself, consider organizing your boxes by ordering pre-labeled or color-coded moving kits. It saves time when unpacking and helps movers know where everything belongs.

6. Consider a Moving Concierge Service

For the ultimate hands-off move, some services will handle every aspect, from updating subscriptions and forwarding mail to coordinating movers and deliveries. It’s an excellent option for downsizers or anyone managing a full-time schedule.

Creating a Smooth Move With Lazy Moving

Lazy moving eases the process of relocating. From using digital tools to outsourcing the heavy lifting, you can turn a typically stressful phase of life into something more manageable, freeing up your time to get excited about your new space.