“Moving is my favorite thing to do” said no one, ever. But moving is a part of life. Movement is something we experience each day, marking change and fluidity in our lives. Taking our things and moving them from place to place signals new beginnings, shifts, and betterment. 

But moving from one home to the next? That is one stressful scenario that, when mentioned, draws groans from everyone within earshot. Not only is it emotionally exhausting to leave a place you have created so many memories in, but the hunt for a new space is physically exhausting. It can even be a full-time job depending on where you are moving. Plus, trying to clean out your home while you pack and manage goodbyes is even more intense. Pack all of this in with configuring the logistics of the move, insuring your items, signing the paperwork on your old home and new home, closing out accounts for utilities and opening new ones, physically moving, and then unpacking your life, and you have a true recipe for disaster.

After spending (wasting?) months of my life actively looking for an apartment, I have never appreciated unsolicited advice more than when people have empathy for my journey and offer their words of wisdom unprompted. The more advice, the better. 

My advice: Organize your move in Hive — it’s not just project management software for the office, you know.

How to organize your move using project management software

Keep everything organized. Take time to lay out your plan. Let yourself map everything out – over a weekend, a few hours within your week, or during another dedicated timeframe – so that you can manage your stress heading into this major life event. (Because, truly, no matter how many times you move throughout your life, it’s always an event.) 

My personal moving project board is set up in Hive in Status View, or the Kanban Board. (That is my go-to viewing option in the app by preference, and I love how you can cater it to your learning style and needs.) I really enjoy the way I configured mine, because it allows me to see all of the tasks I have to complete before the move, during the move, and after the move. 

1. Use it to build an apartment or house hunt plan

While a lot of housing rental websites are developing their own (clunky) apps, Hive is the perfect place to keep track of the properties you are interested in. I have an entire board dedicated to my cross-country move, where each card is the address of a property I am interested in, and each list you can move the card to is a different inquiry status. I have updated many of mine to items like: “reached out,” “followed up,” “responded,” “scheduled viewing,” “waiting on additional information,” and “unavailable.” Within each card, I include the property’s address, details, broker information, move-in fees, move-in date, and amenities as best as I can.

Should you choose to add “Apartment Hunt” to your “Status View” list, you can still add each property to the drop-down, updating its status as I have within my board. Keeping more detailed notes, with your favored units toward the top and anything that has been rented out being marked as “complete” can help you keep track of information from many different rental sites in one place, easily accessible via app or in-browser.

2. It will help you establish a moving timeline 

This particular list will include a card with moving company options and quotes (until you find the chosen ones), moving timeframe options (until you nail that down), and any friends or family members who are down to join the cause. (Don’t worry, this list also includes food to provide on moving day and other ways to repay, pay, and tip everyone.) This can help to drastically reduce anxiety heading into the big day.

In my “moving timeline” card, I included estimated start and end times at each location, the estimated window for the company to complete the drive, and other factors based on how many people show up on each end of the move to help. This list also includes big moving items that are required to seal the deal, like contract signing, moving fees and payment, and any lease or management details. 

3. It’s golden for wrapping up tasks

This drop-down includes tasks that I can approach and complete while I am still at my old apartment, or in my current city, before the move. My first few cards in this list are canceling different accounts, like my electricity, renter’s insurance, and internet services. (If you forget to cancel your renter’s insurance before the move, many insurance companies will prorate up to 3 months to correct any overages.) 

The “Wrap Up” list also includes items like “go through boxes in storage” with subtasks that outline available dates to go to storage to complete the task. After each visit to work on condensing my items, I leave notes in that card about which boxes were flattened, where new items went, and what I got rid of. I also leave a checkmark on the total box count, which allows me to visualize myself a step closer to making everything more manageable!

Something else you may even consider adding to this list? Any “going away” plans you have, or people you must see before you move. I have a card prepped with multiple happy hours and coffee shops I will want to visit before I leave, ready to rearrange once I find my new place and have a solidified timeline to work with. Having something like this can keep something fun to look forward to in your project board, which can also help everything feel less daunting. 

4. Make setting up your new space a breeze

The other fun adventure to a move is re-discovering everything you own while you unpack. A set-up list will be necessary in any board that involves moving. Here, you can keep track of internet options and set up dates for all utilities. You can make a list of potential handymen/helpers in the area for random tasks, and list out any furniture you need to purchase, items to hang, and specific organization notes. 

Had an idea to set up your second bedroom as a photography studio for your side projects? Build out a card around that, with furniture to put in that space – new and to purchase – and inspiration for different backdrops. The fun part about Hive is that it can be used to plan in such detailed ways. Save some of your favorite inspirational photos in your room cards, and create a mood board around how you want your new apartment to feel. 

Hive can be integral to not only your thriving work life and career, but also your personal goals and social life. This board is one concise place to ensure you don’t miss a beat in the chaos of moving, which can drastically benefit your wellbeing.