Many things which cannot be overcome when they are together, yield themselves up when taken little by little. ~ Plutarch

Moving is a big life transition. If your home feels full, you are not alone. This guide gives you simple steps that feel kind to your body, your time, and your budget. You will clear space, reduce stress, and prepare for a smoother move.

Key Takeaways

  • Start preparing to declutter as early as possible, especially if you have lived in your home for many years or feel overwhelmed by your belongings.
  • Reduce what you bring into your home before your move, and use clear criteria to decide what to keep, donate, recycle, or discard.
  • Create one central moving plan, on paper or digitally, to track projects, tasks, deadlines, and who is responsible for each step.
  • Declutter storage spaces first, identify the final destination of large items, schedule donation pickups, and label everything to make packing and unpacking easier.
  • Ask for help from friends, family, or a professional organizer so you feel supported, less stressed, and more mindful during this big life transition.
  • Bonus Resource: Curious about moving costs? Watch this quick explainer video from EverSafe to understand how distance, volume, and services impact your budget.

1. Stop Bringing In New Items Before Your Move

If shopping or accepting freebies feels comforting, that makes sense. You are human.

Why abandoning accumulating helps

  • Fewer new items means fewer decisions later.
  • You lower moving weight and cost. How to do it
  • Pause bulk purchases and “just-in-case” buys.
  • Create a simple rule: “Only buy what we’ll use up before moving day.”
  • Put a sticky note on your front door: “Is this coming with me?”

If you reduce the number of objects that you bring into your home between now and your move date you will have less to evaluate. Of course being mindful of what you bring in is wise at any point in your journey, but it is especially important to pay attention when preparing to move.

The only exceptions are packing boxes and tape if you plan to do any packing yourself. I find that many people underestimate the number of boxes they need and end up running out to buy more boxes multiple times. Afraid of buying too many? U-Haul allows you to return unused boxes, so not to worry. You will need your receipt so I recommend taping it by your front door.

2. Establish clear criteria for what to keep and what to let to

For example, you may decide to move with only books that you actually intend to read within the next six months. Or you might choose to leave behind furniture that no longer brings you joy. It may help to download our free “Personal Criteria for clutter reduction” PDF to guide your decisions.

When we were packing to move, I discovered that a part of the fees charged by the moving company was based on the weight of the objects in the truck. That helped me make decisions about letting go of things that were heavy and that I did not love or use! My neighbors were very helpful in picking up things we no longer wanted when we posted them on our neighborhood listserv. One helpful resource for considering what to discard before moving can be found HERE.

3. Make a central list of projects with action steps

This is not the time to jot down your ideas on the backs of envelopes or in the margins of a newspaper. When moving it is incredibly helpful to create a central place or tool that will allow you to collect all of your to-dos in one system. Share on X If you are a fan of lists, a paper list, a spiral notebook or a spreadsheet will work just fine.

One important action step is to get a handle on your moving budget.  Check out this resource from This Old House on how to create a moving budget HERE.

If you are not a list-maker, use a paper or digital mind map or a large paper pad. The key is to keep all of the action steps in one place and make it accessible to all of the members of your household. One client whom I supported through two moves had a spiral bound notebook that she and her husband both used. The only challenge was that when time got tight, all three of us were frequently asking “where is the book!?” But it still worked!

Another client was proud to show me her large pad with several to-do lists which supported her and her husband during their move. This one was always easy to find!

Digital options for capturing your moving plan:

  1. Spreadsheets – a very simple way to create lists is to create a spreadsheet in Excel, Numbers (Mac) or Google Sheets. All of these allow you sort by any column in the spreadsheet. Information to include might be: the task, the person responsible, a target date and a column to indicate whether the task has been completed. One big advantage of using a Google sheet is that it can be shared with others.
  2. Applications for task management. There are many applications that allow you to manage tasks or to do lists on your digital devices. Here at Mindful Decluttering & Organizing, we use a fantastic web-based product called Asana to keep track of our to-dos. The basic version is absolutely free and is quite adequate to meet most people’s needs for planning a move. You can create projects with individual action steps and assign them to specific people in the family. If one family member gets swamped the assignments and deadlines can easily be changed. I love the email alerts that remind me when I have not yet completed a task.

4. Declutter storage spaces first

Decluttering storage areas will be easiest because much of the stuff in storage spaces is seldom used and will therefore be easier to make decisions about. We recommend preparing to move by first decluttering and organizing your attic, garage, or basement.

Bonus: After you have decluttered these areas, you will have space to store boxes that have been packed and labeled.

In the photo below, we began with the client’s shed, which created space in which to store things during the showing of the home.

5. Identify the final destination of each large item

I worked with a lovely woman who was moving to an independent senior living community.  This client was lucky to have two daughters who lived in town and supported her in the process. Together we created a very simple SYSTEM for identifying where each object was to end up. One of her daughters purchased colored dots such as these and came up with this system of color coding each item in the house:

  • Yellow – going to her new home
  • Green – recycling or donation
  • Blue = Trash

The dots were helpful for larger items that were spread throughout the home. For collections of smaller items, we created “zones” in the home where we gathered things that were to go to specific locations. Community Forklift is a fantastic organization for donating tools and building supplies in the DC metro area. See below how we created a zone for objects to be picked up by Community Forklift volunteers.

Additional stations were created for treasures to be offered to the two daughters, donations for a local thrift store, and items that were in the “undecided” category.

6. Arrange a donation pickup (or several!)

Do yourself a favor and set up donation pickup dates with Salvation Army, Community Forklift or your favorite donation organization. Setting these dates both saves you a trip to drop off your items, and gives you a deadline by which you must make progress in your decluttering.

Besides, by donating items to an organization that helps others, you can feel good about letting go of your things.

7. Label. Label. Label!

Use sticky notes, masking tape, painters tape or other inexpensive labeling products to make note of any items that have been packed or zones you have created. This will not only help you to remember where to stash things but will allow others to help you out.

This also makes it much easier to unpack when you arrive at your new home. When your boxes are clearly labeled with their contents and the rooms they belong in, it’s easy for your movers to place items and for you to unpack them!

8. Get the support you deserve

The longer you have lived in your home, the more time you should plan for preparing to move. It’s common sense – how can you expect to sort through 30 years of accumulated STUFF in just a few months!?

Ask anyone who has moved and they will tell you that it is never too early to start preparing! Moving can be very stressful and can create friction within your household, particularly if a lot of loose ends are left until the last minute. Moving is rated one of the top 5-10 stressful life situations on multiple lists!

Friends may be happy to help, but not at the last minute and with little notice! 🙁 It helps to plan ahead and offer pizza!

And we at Mindful Decluttering & Organizing are here to support you in person or virtually. Watch this short video of our founder Pam virtually supporting a young woman going through memorabilia in preparation for her move.

How Much Does It Cost to Move? (And How Decluttering Reduces It)

Moving costs vary by:

  • Distance (local vs. long-distance)
  • Volume or weight of your belongings
  • Services chosen (packing, packing materials, disassembly/reassembly, storage, insurance)
  • Access issues (stairs, elevators, long carry, narrow streets) Why decluttering matters
  • Many movers price by weight or volume. Letting go of heavy items and duplicates lowers your total cost.
  • Fewer boxes means less labor time and cost on both ends.
  • You may be able to choose a smaller truck or skip storage if you have decluttered ahead of time.

How to budget for your move

  1. Get at least three written quotes with in-home or virtual surveys.
  2. Use your criteria checklist (see section 2!) during quotes. Ask, “If I remove these items, how does that change my price?”
  3. Ask for line items: base rate, fuel, weight/volume, packing, materials, access fees, valuation/insurance.
  4. Confirm peak-date surcharges and cancellation terms.

Moving Takes a Lot of Time and Energy! Important things to allow time for when moving:

  • Choosing a moving company

Choosing a moving company is a big decision and you will want to interview more than one company. Get recommendations from friends and neighbors if you can. Once you have a few companies to consider, you might also find the moving companies comparison chart included in this article helpful.

  • Change of address

You can either pick out a change of address packet at your local post office for free, or you can change your address online where they will charge you a $1 verification fee.

  • Updating credit cards

As soon as you have an address (even if it is not permanent) change it with at least one of your main credit card providers. If you are not not changing all of your cards at once, make a checklist so that you will know which ones you have changed.

  • Switching your utilities

Brendon DeSimone, author of Next Generation Real Estate, recommends “As soon as you have a closing date, call the utility companies and set up a service switch.” This and other helpful moving tips can be found in a helpful Moving Checklist from Good Housekeeping.

  • Choosing an internet provider

    Though you will not be able to set up service with an internet provider until you are in your new home, it won’t hurt to do some research and make your decision without rushing.

Moving is a fantastic time to get clear on your goals and values and remember what is truly important to you (hint: it’s probably not the majority of your stuff!)

It is also helpful to have a deadline (donation pickups and ultimately, your moving date!) and a pressing reason to make decisions about stuff that has been tying up your mental energy for years (whether you are aware of it or not!)

Frequently Asked Questions About Mindfully Decluttering Before a Move

Q: How much does moving usually cost?

A: Moving costs vary depending on distance, volume, and services needed. This short video from Eversafe offers a breakdown of what to expect and how to be better prepared to budget for your move.

Q: How early should I start decluttering before a move?

A: Start decluttering as early as you can, especially if you have lived in your home for many years. The longer you have been in one place, the more time you need to go through your belongings without feeling rushed. Many people try to handle decades of belongings in a few weeks and end up exhausted and discouraged. When you start months ahead, you can work in shorter sessions, listen to your body and your emotions, and still have time for rest and daily life.

Q: What is the most mindful way to decide what to keep and what to let go?

A: Mindful decluttering begins with clear criteria that you decide in advance. For example, you might choose to keep only books you truly plan to read in the next six months, or furniture that you use and that still brings you joy. You can also consider practical factors like the weight of items, since heavier belongings can increase moving costs. Using a written guide, such as a “Personal Criteria for clutter reduction” checklist, lets you step back from guilt and “what if” thinking, and make kinder, more intentional decisions.

Q: Where should I START decluttering to make the biggest difference?

A: Start with storage areas, such as the attic, garage, basement, or shed. These spaces often hold items you rarely use, so decisions feel a bit easier. When you clear these areas first, you also create space to store packed and labeled boxes before showings or before your moving date. Once the storage spaces feel lighter, you can move into more emotionally charged areas with a little more confidence and breathing room.

Q: How can I keep track of all my moving tasks without feeling scattered?

A: Choose one central place to capture every moving task and project. That might be a spiral notebook, a large paper pad on a table or wall, a spreadsheet, or a simple task management app such as Asana. In that central list, write down the task, who will do it, the target date, and whether it is complete. The exact tool does not matter as much as using only one main system that everyone in your household can access. This keeps you from losing ideas on scraps of paper and helps you see your progress, which is very calming during an emotional move.

Q: What should I do with items I do not want to move, and how can I feel better about letting them go?

A: Items you do not want to move can be donated, recycled, sold, or offered to friends and family. You can create simple “zones” in your home for each destination, such as donation, recycling, trash, family gifts, and undecided items. Scheduling donation pickups with groups like Salvation Army or local organizations saves you time and gives you a clear deadline. Many people feel emotional about letting things go, especially when memories are attached. It often helps to remember that your belongings can continue to help others, and that making space in your new home supports your well-being.

For more expert tips on moving, check out the collection of moving tips from 16 professional organizers (including me!)

If you give yourself ample time, get the support you need, and break large tasks down into manageable action steps, moving can be an excellent opportunity for growth.

We wish you all the best during this exciting transition!

Discover more ways to mindfully declutter your home or office here! >>