Moving During the Holidays: 7 Tips to Make It Less Stressful

Moving during the holidays can add extra stress to an already busy season, from coordinating movers to keeping up with holiday traditions. Planning ahead can help you stay organized, avoid last-minute scrambling, and still make time for the parts of the season that matter to you. 

In this guide, we’ll share expert tips to help you prepare for a holiday move, stay organized, and settle into your new home with less stress. Whether you’re moving to a new home in Zilker or relocating across town to a home in Austin, these strategies can help make your holiday move feel a little easier.

Key takeaways

• Start planning early, especially if you need movers or other professional services around a major holiday.
• Declutter before packing to reduce how much you need to move and unpack.
• Keep everyday essentials, holiday items, and first-night necessities separate and easy to access.
• Create a moving timeline and break larger tasks into smaller steps to stay organized throughout the move.

1. Declutter before you start packing 

Before packing up your home, take some time to decide what actually needs to make the move. Decluttering can reduce the number of boxes you need to pack, transport, and unpack, which can be especially helpful when you’re already balancing holiday plans.

“My number one tip for moving is to start as soon as possible,” states Catarina Breithoff, owner of Habitual Home Organizing. “The holidays creep up on all of us, and when you're moving close to the season, you want packing and unpacking to be as efficient as possible. Bringing only what you love into your next chapter will make your move so much easier and faster.” 

Try breaking the decluttering process into manageable sessions rather than tackling your entire home at once. 

You can also organize belongings into categories such as:

• Keep
• Donate
• Sell
• Recycle or discard

>>Check out: 17 Moving Hacks to Make Your Next Move a Breeze

2. Book movers and other services early

Holiday schedules can fill up quickly, so don’t wait until the last minute to arrange the services you’ll need. In addition to movers, you may want to consider professional packing, organizing, cleaning, or junk removal services to help lighten your workload.

“Moving is stressful enough on its own – add in holiday guests, gift shopping, kids out of school, and unpredictable weather, and it can feel completely overwhelming. The good news is that with a little extra planning, you can get through your holiday move without sacrificing the season,” encourages Kris Hargrove, owner of Organized By Kris. “Delegate and hire where you can. Movers, packers, a professional organizing company to get you unpacked and set up quickly, and a trash hauler to clear out boxes and packing paper fast. Book these early: the weeks around the holidays are when service providers are the busiest and the hardest to get on short notice.”

Getting these details handled early can give you more time to focus on your family, holiday plans, and other moving preparations.

3. Create a detailed moving timeline

A holiday move can involve more than simply loading a truck and driving to your new home. If your move involves different move-out and move-in dates, travel, storage, or a long-distance relocation, creating a detailed timeline can help you keep track of each step.

“For a holiday move between cities, start with when your family needs to be settled and work backward through delivery, transportation, loading, and packing,” recommends Nathanael Campbell, founder of Smooth Moves Texas. “Ask your mover for a written plan covering both homes, what the price includes, and who is responsible at each stage. Knowing how the entire relocation will unfold gives families fewer details to chase while they’re juggling holiday travel, hosting, and celebrations.”

Once you know your moving date, work backward and set deadlines for tasks such as:

• Decluttering and donating unwanted items.
• Booking movers.
• Packing nonessential belongings.
• Confirming transportation and delivery details.
• Arranging temporary storage, if needed.
• Packing an essentials bag.
• Preparing your old home for move-out.

4. Keep holiday essentials separate from moving boxes

A holiday move is easier when your seasonal essentials aren't mixed in with everything else. Set aside the items like gifts, winter clothing, toiletries, medications, chargers, and a few decorations to help the new place feel settled. 

“Establish a dedicated festive ‘staging zone’ to keep holiday gifts and decor physically separated from brown packing boxes,” says Jen Porton at Jens Pro Organizing. “Pack a designated ‘First-Night Holiday Box’ filled with winter essentials, immediate toiletries, and a few favorite decorations to instantly bring warmth and comfort to your new space.”

Consider creating a dedicated holiday and first-night area with:

• Wrapped gifts
• A few favorite holiday decorations
• Winter clothing
• Toiletries
• Medications
• Chargers
• Bedding
• Basic kitchen essentials

>>See: Moving Checklist: Everything You Need to Know for a Smooth Move

5. Consider professional packing help

Packing can be one of the most time-consuming parts of a move, and fitting it around holiday shopping, gatherings, travel, and other responsibilities can make it even more challenging. If your schedule is already full, professional packing services may help you get ready for moving day without taking on everything yourself.

“Moving during the holidays can be stressful, but planning ahead and getting the right help can make all the difference,” shares Kate Frailicks at Bobcat Movers. “Professional packing services and quality packing supplies can help take the hassle out of preparing for your move, so you can spend less time worrying and more time enjoying the holiday season.”

Even if you don’t hire a professional packing service for your entire home, you can still make packing more manageable by:

• Starting with rooms and belongings you use least.
• Clearly labeling every box by room.
• Keeping holiday and everyday essentials separate.
• Packing an essentials bag for the first few days.
• Setting aside important documents and valuables.
• Asking family or friends to help with smaller packing tasks.

6. Help kids and pets adjust to the move

Moving during the holidays can be a big adjustment for the whole family, especially when children and pets are involved. Instead of trying to keep every holiday tradition exactly the same, focus on familiar routines and a few meaningful activities that can help everyone feel more comfortable during the transition.

Ben Johnson, senior director of operations at Atlas Van Lines, recommends keeping children involved in the process and maintaining familiar routines whenever possible: “For children, try to keep routines as consistent as possible. Familiar meals, bedtimes, and holiday traditions can provide comfort during a time of change. Consider letting kids help decorate or label their own moving boxes, choose a special toy for moving day, or pack a holiday-themed ‘treasure box’ filled with favorite items they’ll want right away in the new home.”

Pets can also find moving day stressful, particularly with unfamiliar people, open doors, and the disruption of their normal environment. Johnson recommends keeping pets in a quiet, secure space with familiar comforts during the move: “Keep pets in a secure, quiet room with familiar bedding, toys, food, and water, or arrange for a trusted caregiver, daycare, or boarding facility if that’s the best fit for their needs. Update ID tags and microchip information with your new address before the move, and watch for holiday hazards like tinsel, ribbon, and unattended treats in a home full of boxes.”

7. Plan for weather and holiday schedules

Moving during the holidays requires extra flexibility, especially when winter weather and seasonal travel can affect moving timelines. From icy walkways to busy roads and limited availability, planning for potential delays can help you avoid unnecessary stress on moving day.\

To prepare for winter conditions and holiday-related delays, consider these steps:

• Choose your moving date strategically: If possible, avoid moving on major holidays or scheduling important celebrations immediately after your move.
• Monitor weather and road conditions: Check forecasts as moving day approaches and discuss backup plans with your moving company.
• Prepare walkways and driveways: Clear snow and ice, apply salt when needed, and protect floors from snow and slush tracked inside.
• Arrange utilities in advance: Make sure your heat, electricity, water, and internet are ready before you arrive at your new home.
• Update your mailing address: Notify the post office and update online retailers before holiday cards and gifts are shipped.

Moving during the holidays: Make your move less stressful

Moving during the holidays takes some extra coordination, but planning ahead can help you stay organized and reduce last-minute stress. Book movers early, keep holiday essentials accessible, and don’t hesitate to bring in professional help when you need it. Once the basics are covered, you can focus on settling into your new home and enjoying the season. 

Moving during the holidays: FAQs

Is it more expensive to move during the holidays?

Moving costs can vary depending on your location, moving company, timing, and the services you need. Holiday moves may also have limited availability, so getting quotes and booking services early can help you plan your budget.

>>Discover: How Much Does It Cost to Move? Everything You Need to Know About Moving Costs

How far in advance should I book movers for a holiday move?

Start contacting moving companies as soon as you know your moving date, especially if it falls near a major holiday. Booking earlier generally gives you more options for dates and services. 

What should I pack separately when moving during the holidays?

Keep everyday essentials, medications, important documents, chargers, a few days of clothes, and holiday gifts or decorations you’ll need right away separate from the rest of your belongings. An easily accessible essentials bag or “first-night” box can make your first few days in your new home much easier.