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How to Avoid Getting Sick During a Move

Anyone who has ever moved knows that it can be a very stressful experience. Not only do you have to worry about packing and organizing all your belongings, but you also have to deal with the stress of being in a new place. And if you're not careful, that new place can quickly become a breeding ground for germs and illness.

But don't worry - there are plenty of ways to avoid getting sick during a move. Just follow these simple tips, and you'll be on your way to a healthy and stress-free relocation.

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Make Sure to Pack a First-Aid Kit

This way, you'll be prepared in case something does happen, and you or a family member needs to patch up a minor cut or sprain. If you don't know where to begin when assembling your first-aid kit, here are some essentials:

  • Disinfectant wipes: These will come in handy for cleaning off doorknobs, keyboards, light switches, and other objects you might come into contact with within your new home.
  • Bandages: You can easily find bandages that are gentle on sensitive skin.
  • Pain reliever: This will be especially useful if you're packing and lifting heavy boxes all day long.
  • Thermometer: A thermometer is essential for checking your temperature if you happen to get sick, plus it helps identify whether or not bacteria is present.
  • Feminine hygiene products: If you're a woman who uses tampons or menstrual cups, don't forget to pack several of these.
  • Anti-itch cream: You might also want to pack some anti-itch cream if you or a family member has sensitive skin that tends to break out in rashes and hives.
  • Bottled water: Drinking plenty of non-carbonated, disinfected bottled water throughout the day is not only good for your health overall, but it will help prevent illness if you happen to do some damage to your stomach lining while moving heavy objects like furniture by yourself.
  • Hand sanitizer: This will be important for killing off bacteria and other harmful microorganisms before they can spread.

Drink plenty of Fluids

Drinking enough fluids will also ensure that you don't get dehydrated. And because moving can be so strenuous on the body, it's essential to keep yourself hydrated when performing tasks like packing boxes, carrying heavy items up or downstairs, and driving items like furniture long distances in a moving truck. Plus, drinking water throughout the day can also help prevent illness by keeping your body adequately flushed out.

Get Plenty of Rest

Between packing, driving, and unpacking boxes, you'll be hard-pressed to find time to get a good night's sleep. But if you want to avoid getting sick while moving, you must try your best to get at least six hours of rest every single night. Not only will this help keep your immune system healthy, so you don't get sick, but it will also help relieve the stress of moving.

Keep your Stress in Check by Staying Grounded

Stress can weaken your immune system, so if you want to avoid getting sick while moving, it's essential to maintain a healthy balance of optimism and realism throughout the process. It's also essential that you stay positive and relaxed about the move. You can help keep your stress levels down by letting go of all the negativity you might have about moving. After all, it's not a decision that you made lightly. Now is the time to look ahead and embrace this new chapter in your life.

Avoid Packing Anything that might contain Bacteria

Since you're packing your belongings, you must try to avoid packing anything that might have bacteria lurking on it. This includes pet food, dirty laundry, or anything else you wouldn't want to bring into your new home.

Be Specific about Where Things Should Go

If you're directing movers to move specific boxes or pieces of furniture, you must specify which room you want each item to be taken into. This can prevent confusion, plus it will ensure your belongings are packed away in their appropriate places where they'll stay clean.

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Pack Items in Plastic Bins

Plastic bins are also helpful for keeping your belongings separate one from the other, plus they're usually fitted with lids that can be sealed shut as another way of keeping everything as clean as possible until it's time to unpack.

Pack up Personal Items Last

It may help if you pack up your items last, so you don't unpack them until after you've moved into your new home. This would prevent you from getting sick if you happened to do some damage to the items while moving them, plus it's a good way of saving yourself from unpacking something that might be contaminated with harmful bacteria or viruses.

Wash your Hands

Keeping your hands clean is one of the best ways to avoid getting sick while moving. This means washing them frequently with soap and water especially before you eat and after using the restroom or handling raw meat (which can contain harmful bacteria that will make you sick) or dirty items.

Keep your to-do List Short

If you're moving in the middle of a busy season at work, it might be tough to find time to pack or load boxes onto a truck. However, if you try to take on too much while also packing up your house, there's a good chance that you'll get exhausted and burned out. Not only will this increase your chances of getting sick, but it will also make the moving process even longer and more stressful than it needs to be.

Take a Multivitamin Each Day

And lastly, if you're intending on staying healthy while moving, there's a good chance that you'll need to take on some extra vitamins. Try taking a multivitamin each day to ensure that you're getting enough nutrients, plus it will help nourish your body even if you're not eating healthy during the entire process.

Conclusion

Moving is a stressful process, and unfortunately, it can also make you sick. However, by following the tips in this article, you can minimize your chances of getting sick while moving. Stay hydrated, get enough rest, avoid packing anything dirty or hazardous, and keep your hands clean at all times. And don't forget to take a multivitamin each day for an extra boost of nutrients!

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FAQ's

Do I need to get rid of my pet before moving?

In most cases, the answer is no. If your new home or apartment allows pets, there's usually no reason you can't move with pets or bring them with you. However, if this is not the case, then you can call around to find a pet-friendly shelter where you can keep them until your next move.

What are some ways of keeping my hands clean?

Keeping your hands clean is important if you're trying to avoid getting sick while moving. Wash them frequently with soap and water, try using wet wipes when there's no soap available, and don't forget to clean your hands after using the restroom or touching raw meat.

What are some ways I can stay hydrated?

Staying hydrated is one of the best ways you can avoid getting sick during a move, so be sure to get plenty of water. You should also try eating healthy foods rich in water content, such as fruits and vegetables.

What about packing up food?

Whenever you're picking up food items during a move, make sure they stay clean at all times. Try only to use the freshest ingredients, don't cut any of them until right before you're ready to cook, and avoid getting raw meat or eggs anywhere near your other food.

What if I get sick before moving?

If you feel ill before moving, then there are a few ways to minimize the risk of getting sick while packing up your house. First off, try not to lift anything heavy (or at least ask someone else in the household for help), avoid eating anything greasy or fatty, and if possible, try to pack up your house in small batches over several days.

What happens if I get sick during a move?

If you find yourself getting sick while packing up your house for a move, there's a good chance that it will only make everything take longer than necessary. To avoid this, you should try to buy some medicine that will help cure what ails you, or at the very least get treatment from somewhere so that your symptoms don't get any worse.

What if I'm really busy during a move?

If you're in the middle of a tricky work schedule and might not be able to deal with packing up your house, you might want to consider hiring a service. UHaul is one company that can help with moving in general or even packing up boxes for you. However, if this isn't an option either, try splitting the work up into smaller chunks with other household members.

Can I work out while moving?

It's generally not a great idea to work out during a move, especially if you're trying to keep the physical strain low. Try keeping your exercise routine at home for the time being, and only attempt it again once everything is packed up and moved over to your new place.

How can I make my move less stressful?

To make your move as stress-free as possible, be sure to prepare yourself properly. Take the time to clean up everything you don't use anymore and sort through everything else before packing it into boxes or loading it onto a moving truck. If possible, try breaking the move into smaller chunks, so it doesn't feel like such a big weight on your shoulders. You may also read our manual on things to prepare before moving into a new house.

Are there any other helpful tips I can use during my move?

Yes! Try to drink plenty of water and eat healthy foods while moving because it will give you more energy and keep your immune system in better shape. You should also try taking multivitamins every day, even after your move, because it will help you get over your illness faster.

What are some other ways I can avoid getting sick during the move?

You should try staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water or other unsweetened beverages, eating healthy foods that are rich in water content like fruits and vegetables, taking care not to eat anything greasy or fatty while moving, keep your hands clean by washing them with warm water and soap, avoid raw meat and eggs while packing up food, get medication if you feel sick before a move so that your symptoms don't get worse while moving, split the work up into smaller chunks with other members of your household if it's too much for you to handle alone, stop exercising until after your move if it might make the physical strain worse, and take multivitamins to help your body recover faster.

Is there anything else I should do before moving?

One final tip that is extremely important! Ensure you have all the proper legal documentation ready before your move because it will help make the process run more smoothly. Try not to purchase any products or materials before your move that you won't use within the first few days, and pack up private documents like your credit report or passport beforehand.

Also See: List of Cheap Moving Companies in the America