Unless you’re a professional mover, the moving process is a time filled with chaos and stress, no matter how much you plan for it. As you are planning and going through the process of a move, unexpected mistakes and mishaps can occur, which can undoubtedly send you into a spiral of anxiety and anger.

If you’re in the middle of a move, preparing to move, or are looking for some moving tips, here are six easy moving mistakes you should avoid.

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1. Packing At the Last Minute: During a move, things can get pretty stressful. You most likely are frantically scheduling movers to come and assist you, getting utilities set up, and trying to keep a level head amidst it all. As you are planning your move, one thing that is obvious, though you might forget, is packing. Sometimes, living in a space for so long can make packing belongings feel like a hassle and challenge, which can make you feel unmotivated. Don’t decide to pack at the last minute, as it can make things even more stressful for you and cause you to make more mistakes like forgetting to label boxes and having terrible organization.

2. Forgetting the Labels: When you are in the middle of a move, your adrenaline is undoubtedly elevated above its normal levels, which can cause you to do some crazy things like forgetting to label boxes. Labeling boxes is hugely important, as doing so not only allows you to know what is in your boxes but also helps you (or your movers) to know how to handle and pack the boxes in a moving truck. You don’t want a box of fragile dining ware and wine glasses on the very bottom with books and heavy boxes on top, but you wouldn’t know this was the case unless you labeled each box. Some boxes come with lines to help with this, so try to categorize the contents of the box by room or item type, rather than clumsily putting random items together.

3. Mismatched Organizing: Another mistake that should be avoided at all costs is mismatched organizing, i.e., putting random items in a box that have nothing to do with one another. This is fine, mostly, if you label the box with the contents that are in it so you at least know it is mismatched, but if you don't, you can run into a bad problem of losing or misplacing important valuables. For example, placing kitchen items with miscellaneous sentimental items might lead you to think that the box could be stored away, leaving your poor kitchen utensils to be forgotten. When packing, carefully put similar items together for a smoother, less-confusing unpacking process.

4. Not Having an Essentials Bag: As you are nearing finalizing your move, you can get carried away and pack just about everything in boxes, including essentials that you would most likely need to have nearby for the first couple of days. While you’re packing, keep this in mind and pack an essentials bag to have you covered in case you can’t get to unpacking a specific box or you’re too tired to go to the store. In the bag, include toiletries like toilet paper, toothpaste and a toothbrush, a hairbrush, deodorant, clean clothes, dish and hand soap, band-aids, showering items, towels, etc.

5. Forgetting to Change Your Address: You finally got all of your belongings from one house to another, and are getting settled in your new place. But now, none of your mail or packages are showing up. Changing your address is something that is easily overlooked by many busy movers, and it can pose some inconvenient problems if you forget to do so. When you have your move-in day and every detail is finalized, remember to forward your mail to your new address and later change your address for good to ensure that you get every piece of mail, important and insignificant, to your door. You don’t want to have a bill, an important package, or a time-sensitive document delivered to someone else at your old address!

6. Little to No Packing Materials: Packing your items carefully is a necessary step to ensuring that your belongings make it from point A to point B. While many of us don’t have the best packing materials sitting around at home, it is important to pick up essentials like bubble wrap, packing peanuts and bubbles, moving tape, newspaper, tissue paper, moving boxes, etc. during your move so you have everything you need to effectively store your possessions.

During a move, there are so many things to evaluate and consider, which can lead you to become easily overwhelmed, forgetful, and prone to making mistakes. If you are considering moving, remember to avoid these mistakes for a smoother process and overall transition!