Moving into a new apartment can be a very exciting time for students- especially first-time renters. Moving season can also be extremely busy and chaotic in a town like Gainesville, where a large portion of the town moves during the same one-week period. To make matters worse, most students move into their Gainesville apartment during the hot Florida summer before the start of fall semester. As exciting as it is, moving day can turn into a very difficult task without the proper preparation and planning. To avoid fatigue, injury, and headaches, try to remember a few things before your planned moving day.
Coordinate With Your Roommates
Remember that many hands make light work. The more roommates you live with, the more potential help you'll have for moving day. This will be especially true for people living in 5 bedroom apartments, though coordinating a day that works for everybody may be more difficult for those living with more roommates. If your roommates aren't all available, consider asking a good friend if they are willing to help out a bit with moving your things. Moving with the help of others has the added benefits of making the day more enjoyable, as well as providing additional input for your decorative ideas. Just be sure to social distance if you're moving during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Be Mindful of the Heavy Things
The most difficult things to move are the heaviest amongst your things. Unless you are moving into a furnished apartment, this will most likely be your furniture items including couches, beds, and tables. Depending on the vehicles you have available to you, it might be smart to rent a truck or van from U-Haul or Home Depot. These bigger vehicles might also be able to fit your smaller items, allowing for fewer trips to your new apartment.
When dealing with heavy items, it is extremely important to be careful and mindful of the fact that you could be injured in the process. Never lift with your back, and don't lift anything you think might be too heavy for you. No amount of moving speed is worth your health. For more information on safe lifting practices, consider reading this article from a moving blog: https://blog.unpakt.com/avoid-injuries-move/.
Prepare for the Heat
Gainesville is notorious for humid weather, and fall moving dates are sure to deliver on "the swamp"'s reputation. With that in mind, it is important to prepare for the heat if you want to avoid heat exhaustion. For example, you'll probably end up regretting a choice to wear jeans on moving day. Instead, consider moving a type of workout. If you dress in breathable fabrics, you'll feel less exhausted throughout the day. The same could be said about your shoes: wear close-toed shoes that you'll be comfortable walking in. Not only will this keep your legs and feet feeling fresh, but sneakers can also protect your feet from falling objects during the move.
Perhaps the most important thing you can do to protect yourself from the heat is to drink plenty of water. If you feel thirsty, you are most likely already dehydrated. Beat dehydration by drinking water consistently throughout the day. If you're moving into an apartment with a swimming pool, enjoy the other use of water and cool off with a swim once you've moved into your new Gainesville apartment!