Mistakes can set you back when you’re moving out of your apartment. Maybe you are in a time crunch and need to be out before the day is over. Maybe you’ve packed your boxes too lightly or heavily, misusing the space and making more work for yourself on the back end. Maybe you have a hard time saying goodbye to the things you don’t use, and now is coming to your next place. These are mistakes that not only can take away from the experience of clearing a space (and your own energy), but the opportunity of a fresh start. Moving takes strategy, particularly if you don’t have many extra hands to help apply it. It takes preparation and a level of openness that prevents complications when you already have enough going on. Here are eight mistakes to avoid when moving out of your apartment.

Not Asking For Help

Moving is taxing both physically and emotionally. You’re using your strength to pack and transport your belongings while also saying goodbye to the current chapter of your life. Even if the move is on bigger and better things, your apartment was your home. It saw you in certain stages of your life and became the setting of some of your experiences. It’s almost (exactly) as if you’re saying goodbye to a part of yourself. So, the extra hands that could contribute towards smoothing the transition are ones you should ask for and appreciate. Help doesn’t make us weak. Not asking weakens our capacity for connection, for trust, and will ultimately tire us out across the board. And when you’re moving, and in general, nobody has time for that. Ask for help! Allow people to show up for you by showing up for yourself.

Your furniture and knees will thank you. While not asking for help is the biggest mistake, here are several others you’ll want to avoid when moving out of your apartment:

• Not Assessing The Space and Vibe of Your New Place Before Packing
• Waiting Too Close To The Move-Out Date To Get Started
• Packing Too Lightly Or Too Heavily
• Not Labeling Your BoxesNot Marking Your Boxes Fragile
• Taking Everything With You
• Over-Unpacking In One Day

Because how much space do you have? Not assessing the space and vibe of your new place before starting to pack up your old place is almost criminal. Some things that you already have will fit in perfectly; other things will not. Similarly, waiting too close to the move-out date to get started will send your stress levels to the roof. When you start looking for apartments, start cleaning your space – it’s a great practice. And while you’re at it, make good use of the space – in your boxes. Packing too lightly could mean more boxes and packing too heavily could mean a medical bill, and worse than that, possibly for somebody else.

If those heavy things just have to go together, consider investing in/renting a dolly and labeling the box as heavy. Labeling what goes where and whether or not it’s breakable will make for a calmer and more organized moving experience.

‘Everybody Can’t Go’ Applies To So Many Areas Of Life

As you’ve probably learned from your own prior moving experiences or that of others, everybody can’t go. And that’s in reference to your things! We already don’t need everything that we have and everything that we have has energy. Do we need old energy in a new space? Can someone benefit from this old thing that brought you joy? No and yes. Lastly, in the excitement of moving and getting it all into your new space, you’ll want to feel fully at home as soon as possible. Pace yourself. Give yourself and your helping hands permission to move at a manageable speed. Moving your things into their new space mindfully will mean less work on the back end.