How to Avoid Injury While Moving Across the Country

December 12, 2022Moving Tips
Julie Grace

Originally from The Golden City, Julie has explored the ins and outs of moving and has written all the tips down.

A lot of people focus solely on safeguarding their possessions when relocating, neglecting to remember that they also need to protect themselves. Learning how to avoid injury while moving can help prevent future health issues, no matter how minor or severe they may be. It’s not difficult at all – just adhere to the advice we’ve provided in this text.

Relocating across the country can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be if you follow some simple steps for safety and preparation. By packing ahead of time, wearing comfortable clothing and shoes, and using appropriate lifting techniques, you can avoid physical injury and prevent unnecessary stress. Don’t hesitate to ask for help when needed or hire a reliable USA auto transport company to assist you if needed, and remember to stay hydrated throughout the process and take breaks throughout the day.

The First Thing You Need to Do Is Avoid Last Minute Rush

When you have to hurry to leave your home before a deadline, accidents frequently happen. You try to do the job in a limited amount of time by cutting corners, pushing yourself past your physical limits, and skipping breaks. The hardest part is that having a strategy usually makes it possible to avoid the hurry and move safely.

A BETTER WAY FOR MOVING!

Get A Quote

Create a strategy the same day your house is put on the market. Find boxes, organize your space, hire a mover, and start packing as soon as possible. This will give you a head start and ultimately make the move a lot easier. Make a timeline after deciding on a moving date to ensure that the actual big day goes as well as possible. You’ll be more vigilant and more equipped to avoid damage without the added stress.

Prep your body and ensure you have enough sleep

In the weeks before moving day, work on strengthening your core to prevent injuries. Establish a program that includes workouts like planks and sit-ups. Building the back and abdominal muscles you use when moving might also benefit from free weight training. When it comes to preparing your muscles to face a physically demanding day, even just five minutes of stretching each morning can make a significant difference.

Your physical and emotional health on the day of the move can be impacted by a lack of sleep. If you don’t get enough of it, you’ll be too exhausted and distracted to complete the work properly, which can eventually result in avoidable accidents. Make sure you get a full eight hours of sleep so that your mind and body can be well-rested and prepared for whatever moving day may bring.

Don't skip meals, and stay hydrated

Nutrition is also crucial. Prepare yourself with a high-protein meal before you begin lifting. Eggs, fruit-topped porridge, avocado toast, and protein pancakes are all good choices. Don’t forget to drink plenty of water throughout the day and take breaks for a balanced lunch and dinner.

Dress appropriately for the moving day

Whether or not you get hurt on the first day of the move has much to do with what you’re wearing. Closure-toed shoes lessen the possibility of having your toes broken if a big object falls on your foot, while pants, long sleeves, and gloves limit the possibility of getting scratched or cut. Additionally, added support from sturdy work boots might prevent an ankle from bending while moving.

Consider wearing more protective clothing, especially if you’ve already been harmed. A leg brace could support a knee that would otherwise be at risk, and a back brace could give your back the much-needed support it needs. Taking this extra care is preferable to skipping them and potentially hurting yourself.

Keep the Boxes Medium Packed and Ensure the Lifts Are Light

One of the most common relocation mistakes people tend to make is overpacking. We all get how getting rid of your possessions can be hard, but overloading them in boxes surely isn’t the right thing to do. Not only will bringing a lot of items require more time, effort, and money, but it will also increase the risk of someone getting hurt. In this case, more isn’t always better, especially when you want to move efficiently.

Instead, make a new apartment checklist with all the things you need from your old place. The belongings left behind could be donated to charity organizations (check out the website of Goodwill) and help people in need. That way, you’ll do yourself a favor by avoiding overfilling packages and not having to lift boxes any heavier than you’re able to lift.

usa auto transport stuff we move
Try not to overload the containers

Get the Right Equipment When You Want to Learn How to Avoid Injury While Moving

Using tools like dollies, furniture sliders, and straps to assist you in your move is another option to lessen your load and stay safe. It is less probable that you or your assistant would suffer injuries while relocating to a new home because this equipment can support a large portion of the weight.

However, if you’re moving out for the first time, you probably don’t have any of these, so include them in your relocation budget. In fact, there aren’t many things that may be as helpful as the right equipment when it comes to lifting heavy objects. So consider acquiring them and save yourself time and energy.

  • Lifting straps – using them will transfer the weight of the item from your lower back to your arms and shoulders, which are stronger body parts.
  • Furniture dollies – dollies are useful for moving large furniture as well as for carrying multiple boxes at once. With it, moving furniture may be done without incident and swiftly.
  • Sliders – rather than carrying anything, you can lift it onto sliders and push it toward a truck. For your rugs and carpets, use plastic sliders, and for hardwood floors, use linen.

The Path Must Be Clear When You Want to Move Safely

When people are carrying heavy things, it’s common to lose sight of what’s right in front of you, so no wonder why making a clear route through your house to the moving truck is crucial. The smallest obstruction can do so much harm.

Downsizing for a move and decluttering as soon as possible to reduce the amount of work you have to do on moving day are just some of the things to consider. After that, take a stroll around your house to check for any hidden hazards, such as extension cords, chandeliers, wall art, toys for kids, and similar items you forgot to pack that could potentially get in the way.

Make sure your children and all the furry friends are safe if you’re relocating with them. On the day of the move, your house will be fairly crowded. To prevent them from hurting themselves or distracting you and hurting yourself – hire a babysitter or ask a relative to watch them.

Open Carrier Auto Transport

Read More

Enclosed Auto Transport

Read More

Know Your Limits and Apply Reasonable Effort

It goes without saying that you risk harm if you attempt to lift heavier things than you are capable of doing with fair effort. However, if you keep working after you start to feel physically weary, you run the danger of becoming hurt and saying goodbye to a stress-free move. Based on your prior lifting and workout experience, determine how much and how long you will be able to lift, and don’t exceed those limits.

Take regular breaks even if you’re working within that window of time to allow your body a break and a chance to relax and make sure you’re not overusing muscles you don’t often utilize. You’ll need to adequately care for your muscles unless you’re a pro athlete or do regular exercise. Check out the next few tips to avoid hurting the back and other parts of your body.

  • Avoid bending or stopping while carrying heavy objects. The ideal way to lift something heavy is by bending the knees, which will keep your spine straight. Twisting, on the other hand, can harm ligaments and joints.
  • Do not put boxes on your shoulders or on your head – your balance will be shaken, and you’ll tumble more quickly if you have a weight on your head.
  • Pay attention to your body and stop right away when something doesn’t feel right. Don’t ignore it if something seems too heavy for you! Actually, listen to what your body is telling you, and if you experience any form of pain or discomfort, stop immediately.

Check Out Some Lifting Techniques That Can Come Quite in Handy

Packing furniture and relocating it often causes serious back discomfort for many people, but you don’t necessarily have to experience the same thing. Your back won’t suffer during the relocation as long as you practice safe lifting procedures.

Did you know that when lifting boxes, your back must remain straight? Moreover, should your knees be bent rather than your waist? Or should you keep that box as near to your body as you can? Watch the following video if you need more advice on how to correctly carry cardboard or other heavy materials and avoid back pain after moving furniture.

YouTube video

Hire Professional Help and Have No Worries on Your Mind

The easiest way to prevent injury is to enlist the help of an experienced relocation company that can provide you with all sorts of services. What if, for example, you want to ship your car across the country? After all, driving stress while shipping cars in the USA is a real thing, especially if you have to ship a car from New York to Los Angeles. So, leaving it to the professionals could be the best thing to do.

All you need to do is choose which services suit you better – will enclosed auto transport be the best solution for you, or maybe an open carrier auto transport? Also, when you choose the best car shipping company, you’ll get to decide between door-to-door auto transport and terminal-to-terminal car shipping as well.

Simply said, they will handle all the jobs that put you at risk for damage. One of the most important long-distance relocating tips is actually hiring professionals – you may move successfully and without stress with experienced help. As a result, both you and your possessions will arrive at your new house without incident.

Two movers taking things down the stairs
Let the experienced movers take care of your heavy objects

Move Without a Fuss and Physical Harm By Following Some Simple Steps

Although you might think relocating can be quite an adventure, don’t forget that it can still be quite dangerous, especially if you’re not following all the precautionary steps. So, if you want to have the best possible experience, ensure you have professional movers by your side who will help you with some of the most difficult tasks of the move – all the lifting and transporting.

Get a Quote

    check mark
    Download as PDF

    Moving Checklist

    Get a Free Estimate 855.675.3451