Shipping to Israel involves much more than packing boxes. There are countless tasks to complete before moving day, including decluttering your home, deciding what to ship, selling or donating unwanted items, setting a packing date, completing insurance forms, and preparation for packing day.
One reason these tasks often get pushed aside is something known as Parkinson’s Law, which states that work expands to fill the time available for its completion. When your move is still a few months away, it’s easy to think, “I have plenty of time.” Then, almost overnight, moving day is only a few weeks away, and everything suddenly feels urgent.
We see this at Aliyah Lift Shipping as well. Every year, people contact us at the last minute looking for a shipping quote or hoping to schedule a pickup, sometimes days before they need to move. Fortunately, we’ve often been able to accommodate these requests. However, that’s not always possible. During busy periods, packing crews, truck schedules, and vessel departures fill up quickly. Sometimes there simply isn’t enough lead time to arrange everything.
The best way to avoid unnecessary stress is to begin preparing early.
Here are five simple ways to overcome the tendency to procrastinate:
- Break large projects into smaller tasks. Instead of writing “Prepare for aliyah,” make a list of small jobs such as cleaning one closet, sorting one bookshelf, or organizing one filing cabinet.
- Set personal deadlines. Don’t wait until your moving date is approaching. Give yourself target dates to complete decluttering, paperwork, and packing well before your shipment is scheduled.
- Work consistently. Spending just 30 to 60 minutes a few times each week adds up over several months and keeps you moving forward.
- Use a checklist. A written checklist helps you stay organized, measure your progress, and reduces the chance of forgetting something important.
- Contact your shipping company early. Even if you don’t know your exact moving date, requesting a quote and discussing your plans early gives you more options and helps ensure that your preferred pickup dates are available.
Preparing for aliyah is also an opportunity to simplify your life. Every item you donate, sell, recycle, or discard is one less item to be packed, shipped, unpacked, and find a place for in your new home in Israel.
Starting early won’t eliminate every challenge, but it will make the process far more manageable. By taking steady, consistent steps and resisting the urge to wait until the last minute, you’ll reduce stress and be free to focus on what matters most—beginning your new life in Israel.
