Americans move an average of 11.7 times in their lifetime. If you haven't already relocated your home, you'll likely do so in the future. If able most people would prefer to hire professional movers, but there will be moments in life when you may have to take on the move yourself. Moving can be a strenuous task because it involves transporting everything you own, usually in a few hours. If you're not careful, you can easily injure yourself from lifting heavy boxes or tripping over obstacles.

Whether you're moving down the block, to another city, or across the country, learning invaluable safety tips to ensure a smooth moving day can save you from an unwanted accident. We'll discuss our top six moving safety tips to consider for the big day.

Clear All Obstacles From Your Pathway

One of the moving safety tips is to make sure your paths, stairs, hallways, and sidewalks are clear of any obstacles that may cause you to fall. With so many things going on during the moving day, people often don't take the time to ensure their routes are safe, but having an unobstructed walkway is the easiest way to avoid a possible injury. Before you move anything outside, inspect your route, and ask yourself these questions:

• Is there anything I can trip over?
• Are there tight spaces that my boxes or furniture won't fit through?
• Are there any moving supplies or unpacked items on the ground?
• What's the weather like today? If it's raining or snowing, is the ground slippery?

Use Correct Lifting Techniques

People often hurt themselves while lifting heavy boxes. To avoid throwing your back out, adopt these moving safety tips for proper lifting techniques:

• To prevent back injury, use your legs, not your back, to lift heavy items
• To prevent tripping, hold items close to your body and walk with slow and steady movements
• To prevent fatigue, avoid carrying heavy boxes for an extended time
• To prevent head or neck injuries, never lift heavy items over your head
• To prevent lower back pain, bend at the knees instead of the waist
• When possible, push heavy objects instead of lifting them

Purchase Boxes with Handles

Using boxes with handles will make your moving process easier and faster. If you can't find boxes with existing handles, simply cut some holes into the sides of your boxes.

Make Use of Moving Equipment

To ensure an injury-free move, work smart, not hard. We highly recommend purchasing or renting moving equipment. Not only will you decrease the risk of sustaining an injury, but you'll also save a lot of time. Here are some essential tools to make relocating easier:

• Furniture dolly
• Ropes and straps
• Blankets or pads
• Stair roller
• Scissors
• Duct tape

Sometimes, spending money on necessary equipment will save you time and hassle in the long run. Try it for yourself! Your body may thank you for it.

Know Your Limits

If it feels too heavy for you to lift, it is too heavy. It's understandable to want to get settled into your new home as soon as possible, but if you hurt yourself before you move in, you may end up in the hospitable first. Listen to your body, and avoid pushing it to exhaustion. Ask for help from family and friends, or hire a professional moving company to help you get the job done safely.

Consider Hiring a Professional Moving Company

Most people view moving as an ordeal, and we get it - it's not a fun task. Moving is exhausting, tedious, and expensive. Sometimes, the best course of action is to hire a professional moving company to do the hard work for you. Moving companies have the experience and skills necessary to get the job done safely, allowing you to focus on more exciting tasks, such as decorating your new space.

NL Wilson Moving & Storage has been proudly serving residents in the Kansas City area since 1965. Contact us today for your moving needs and we'll get your belonging safely put where they need to be!