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Finally, it helps to accept that not everything will go perfectly, and to build a little slack into the schedule rather than planning to the hour. A move that runs slightly behind but stays calm tends to be remembered far more fondly than one that runs exactly to plan but leaves everyone exhausted and irritable by the end of the day.

Starting early is the most repeated piece of advice for good reason. Packing rarely takes as little time as it seems like it should, particularly once sentimental items, photographs and paperwork enter the equation. Beginning with rooms used least often, such as a spare room, garage or loft, allows the harder decisions about frequently used items to be made later, without the pressure of an empty house around them.

Sorting possessions is often the part people underestimate. Rather than trying to decide everything in one go, many find it easier to work room by room over several weeks, setting items into simple categories: keep, pass on to family, donate, or let go of. Involving children or close friends in this stage can help, both practically and because family pieces sometimes find a natural next home rather than being boxed away.

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ISSN: 0004-7163