Even if there’s a group of gorgeous women (or men) standing around, don’t play the hero and try to powerlift a huge box above your head.  Believe me, when you blow out your lower back and have collapse onto the ground in agony and a puddle of your own tears, your only hope to save face will be to make it onto YouTube or America’s Funniest Home Videos. 

So check out our top 10 tips on lifting those heavy boxes…trust me, you will be thankful you did.

10 Tips on How to Lift that Heavy Box

Tip # 1 ~ Wear proper footwear: Before you even think about lifting anything, be sure to wear good shoes with great grips.  Flip-flops, high heels or bare feet are not good choices, even if they do match your pants and shirt.

Tip # 2 ~ Clear a path: Before you try to stumble your way down a flight of stairs or through a hallway, be sure there is nothing lying around to trip you up.  The last thing you want to do is take a flip or have to do some ninja-like moves to avoid clutter.

Tip # 3 ~  Bend & Stretch: Yes!  Doing some light bending and stretching before lifting is a great way to warm up your muscles.  This will cut down on strains and pulls and save you some pain down the road.

Tip # 4 ~  Do a test lift:  If you haven’t packed the boxes yourself, be sure to give it a little test-lift before you try to haul it all the way up. If it’s too heavy, then find help or use a trolley.

Tip # 5 ~ Get a firm grip: Just like lifting anything else, it’s important to have a good grip on it.  If your hands are sweaty or you are prone to dropping things, then wear a pair of leather gloves that will provide a good grip for you.

Tip # 6 ~ Use a buddy:  It’s okay not to be the strongest person on the planet.  So unless you are indeed theIncredible Hulk, grab a buddy to share in the lifting and moving process.

Tip # 7 ~ Use your knees:  Squatting down to pick up a box is the recommended position.  Never bend from the waist to haul a heavy box.  This is how you blow out your lower back and find yourself on AFV.

Tip # 8 ~ Lifting with your legs: Once you have squatted down and have a good grip on the box, slowly stand up, lifting with your legs and keeping your back straight.

Tip # 9 ~ Hold it close to your heart:  Even if you don’t particularly care about the contents of the box, holding it close to your chest gives you a better grip and saves your arms from muscle strain.

Tip # 10 ~ Position your feet:  When you put the box down, be sure to have your feet and body directly in front of where the box will go.  Twisting and placing (or dropping) a box may have you on the floor in agony.

Now that we have given you 10 great tips on moving heavy boxes, you should never find yourself in the misery of injury.  However, if you feel the need to show off your lifting skills, be sure to have someone standing by with a video camera rolling.

Tip # 1 ~ Be Organized

There is nothing worse (besides having to pack up everything) then running out of supplies right in the middle of it all.  So before you start, be sure to gather all the supplies you will need.  This includes boxes, packing tape, bubblewrap/packing peanuts/newspaper and markers.  Once you have your supplies on hand you can begin the sorting and packing process.

Tip # 2 ~ Pack Effectively

No one likes the task of packing things up, but try to resist the temptation of just dumping the contents into a box and taping it up.  This method will leave you more work at the other end and will be very frustrating to go through.  Also try to keep your boxes under the 50 pound mark.  Any heavier than this and you run the risk of hurt backs and sore shoulders.  In addition, a lot of boxes will weaken under such a heavy load, so you don’t want to have to repack any split cartons.

In addition, pack your heavy objects on the bottom and lighter things on top.  This creates a good balance and won’t have the boxes toppling over from being top-heavy.

Tip # 3 ~ Packing the Fiddly Stuff

Small loose items like kids toys, jewelry and such should be packed into smaller boxes and marked, then added to a bigger box.  This will keep it all organized and stop it from being misplaced or lost. These small items can also be packed in Zip Lock baggies to keep it all together.

Tip # 4 ~ Don’t Repack It

If it’s already packed, don’t repack it!  Dresser drawers full of clothes do not have to be packed in boxes, it is already ready to roll.  Simply duct tape the fronts of the dresser drawers so they don’t pop open when in transit and you’re ready to go.  Also other items like flatware, that is already in a nice little tray, can be slid into bubble wrap and taped up to keep it from falling all over the place.  Easy peasy.

Tip # 5 ~ Your Marker is Your Best Friend

This may be the most important tip of all; you have a marker so use it!  Labeling all your boxes will save you a tremendous amount of time and hassle down the unpacking road.  Label each and every box boldly on the front (not top) of the boxes.  Another great idea is to label your essential boxes with “load last, unload first” written on them.  This can include your toiletries, kitchen stuff, kids important must-haves etc.  In a sea of brown boxes these little reminders are a great time-saver.

Take the hassle out of moving by following these simple tips.  With a little prep work and the right tools and attitude your moving day can become a breeze.

Read the Paperwork

Before a student moves into a dorm, they will be sent a package from the resident life dean; be sure to read through this information.  This packet will tell you the time, location and procedures of moving into the dorm.  Pay particular attention to the loading and unloading rules.  This can be very precise, so you will want to know what is going on before you get there with a car full of boxes.

Pack What is Needed

Dorm rooms are small and cramped, so this is no place to bring everything you own.  A good rule of thumb is, if it can’t all fit into a minivan or regular-sized car, it’s too much.  Most dorm rooms already come equipped with the basics; bed with mattress, desk, dresser, chair, bookshelves, curtains and wastebasket, so there’s no need to bring this along.  However, you will need to bring; bedding, pillows, lamp, clothes hangers, throw rug (if hardwood), laundry essentials, cleaning supplies, mirror and personal items.  If you are going to have a roommate, this is a good place to share some of the “common” things that are necessary, like small appliances, dishes and cutlery.

Use Storage Bins

When packing up items, it is best to use plastic totes or cardboard boxes versus plastic garbage bags.  Boxes stack better than bags and can be easily labeled for quick reference.  If you use an under-the-bed plastic tote, fill it with spare towels and bedding so it can be easily slid under the bed without unpacking it.

Pick and Pack Clothes Wisely

There is not going to be enough closet space to bring every article of clothing your student owns, so pick and pack these wisely.  If the school is located in a warm region, bulky sweaters and jackets most likely will not be needed.  In addition, if possible think ahead to different kinds of events that will occur, then make some clothing choices.  For example in the Greek system of certain universities there are get togethers that will require more dressy clothes, or music majors may want to attend a concert, so packing something spiffy won’t leave you desperately looking for the appropriate wear the night of the big event.

Comforts of Home

Even though the dorm room may be cramped, you can still have touches of home added to your packing list.  Photos that hang on the wall, throw pillows or even a stuffed animal can all make the room more homey, without taking up loads of room.

Moving into a dorm should be an exciting new beginning, not a lesson in frustration and stress.  Be organized, pack wisely and plan ahead as much as you can to make this move fun and an exciting new step to a bright future.