Helping a friend move house? Here’s what you can do.

When we think about helping a friend to move house, we generally think about carrying a few boxes or lifting furniture to the moving truck. We all know that moving is hard work, so any help is always appreciated. But heavy lifting isn’t for everyone. If you aren’t physically fit or capable of doing this hard work, it poses a safety risk. However, there are other ways you can help your friend during this challenging time, and they’re all as valuable as moving boxes, if not more so.

Food, water and rest

There’s so much to do on moving day. It is much more common than you would expect to find out people forget to drink enough to stay hydrated, eat enough to have the energy to do the work, or take enough breaks to avoid fatigue.

Here are a few ideas for what you can do:

• Play the role of the water boy and make sure your friend is getting enough to drink.
• Provide snacks to keep them fed.
• Encourage them to take breaks so they get enough rest.
• Bring takeaways, so they stop for a proper meal.
• Bring a home-cooked meal that’s easy to eat and take all the dishes away with you.

Young children

If your friend has young children, offer to look after them during the moving process. Children need their routine, rest and meals and find moving disruptive. It’s also unsafe for everyone to have children around when people are carrying heavy furniture and boxes. If possible, take the children off site.

Here are a few ideas for what you can do:

• Take the kids out for a meal and a movie.
• Get snacks and play board games or complete a puzzle.
• Take a walk to a park where there is a playground.
• Bake a cake together and have fun icing it.
• Find out their favourite activity and do it.

Pets

Like young children, it isn’t safe to have pets around while the movers are loading or unloading the truck. Movers also need clear access to your property, so they will need doors and gates open. Your friend won’t be happy if their pet takes off and has an unplanned and unaccompanied adventure.

Here are a few ideas for what you can do:

• Take dogs for a walk.
• Play with pets in a safe place.
• Take pets to your home and look after them there.

Just be a friend

Moving is stressful. It’s tough on your mental health. No one is better qualified to keep up the spirits of your friend than you. You’ll know what keeps them feeling positive. Simply offering them your company will go a long way to helping them get through the moving process.