A few of us in the office are in the process of moving.  In an attempt to simply the process, we are going to try to out a few simple ideas:

1.  One place for information. Keep all important names, numbers, dates, paperwork & costs in one place – It can be a moleskin, some sort of online tool, or even a baggie (a la the Designer’s Pouch).
2.  Division of labor. If possible, give full responsibility for certain tasks to other people.  One person schedules the movers, another transfers the utilities, and so on.
3.  Seek advice. There are lots of great resources online with lists of all of the steps to take & things to remember.  See our list below.
4.  Put tasks on a timeline. After collecting a list of all the things to do, create a timeline by starting with the move date & working backward.  Having a list of things to get done each week or each day should help cut down on the stress of moving.

Can a simple move simplify your life? You betcha.

Resources
About.com Moving and Relocation Advice
it might be love Moving Tips for Couples
The Moving Planner Blog Long Distance Moving
This Ain’t New York Works for Me: Moving Tips
Authorized Movers Moving Tips [includes a great weekly timeline]
US Postal Service Change of Address Form

Lynn Truong’s recent post at Wisebread talks about our obsession with productivity & questions whether it really helps us in the end…  It’s an interesting idea to ponder.  Being that I am always seeking balance in my life, I have decided to take action to fight the stress that mercilessly creeps up on me both at work and at home.

Run my day with a 5-item to-do list.  Guidelines:

1. Work gets 3-4 items, Home gets 1-2 items.  5 MAX.
2. Create the list the day before: Work items are added before I hop on my bike to head home, Home items are added before I brush my teeth & settle into bed.
3. I will keep a “This Week”, “Soon”, & “Someday” file on my desktop.  New tasks that pop into my mind or are thrown at me get slotted onto these lists.  I use these lists as a resource for building the next day’s list.  I only organize the list once a week.
4. I do all five things every day.  If I finish early, I’ll reward myself with fun, not with a 6th task.

Will the 5-item to-do list simplify my life? We’ll see.

Resources
To-Do List Blog What Our Lists Reveal About Us
Lifehack.org Back to Basics: Your Task List
Finance Daily 12 New Rules of Working You Should Embrace Today
Kick My ADD GMail To-Do list idea