Project Thoughts on Moving

I made it to Colorado a few days ago. More like the southern part of Greater Denver. I knew my son and his dad were moving soon, but I didn't know they were in the process of packing. So, I offered to help with the move.

I've had a few days to think about projects as I pack my son's room, the pantry, and the kitchen. I think about resources and manpower for this kind of work. I could ask my almost 13-year-old son to help me. But I don't and continue doing the mom thing.

I've moved around quite a bit over the years and I know it's a chore no one wants to do. A project that is not fun and it should just complete itself... does that sound like a project at work?

I would first start with a general purpose for the project. Why do I want to move? Why do I need to move? Can I postpone it? Can I make it happen sooner? Is it to my convenience to call the movers, ask family and friends to help with the move, or do it on my own? Once I'm clear on the purpose, then I know I have proven to myself that it has to be done. Today or some day in the future, but it has to get done.

I then would start with lists. I didn't think I was the list keeping type of person, but apparently I am. I would create a list of all the things I can think of about the move. Phases of the move, details about my favorite coffee and how it will survive the move and me be able to find it the first day I stay at my new place. Coffee or tea is very important for the survival of an ordeal like this, believe me I know.

Once I have written it down or kept a running list in my head, I would then look it over and think about it for a few days. I know I should bring #microsoftproject out and start detailing the phases and the tasks of the project, but do I have to be so formal about it?

I think I'm not going to be such a nerd about it, so I take out #microsoftexcel and start a spreadsheet with my task list. Then I think of grouping. I would then write out the groups:

• Planning the move - (I think I have a few more tasks here)
• The move
• After the move

Then I would have subgroups:

If I started thinking of the move early enough that it didn't just sneak up on me, I would have time to do some planning of the move. The move to most people is when a person is actively moving from one place to another, usually a home.

In the group of planning the move, I would then think of tasks such as buying moving supplies. On my list I probably have tasks to buy moving boxes, mattress protectors, kitchen specific moving supplies, bubble wrap, etc. I know I will have to buy all these supplies before moving day(s).

I would also have on my list things that I need to stop doing right before the move and think of maybe weeks before the move I need to stop buying the same amount of groceries, toiletries, and other things needed for daily living. You don't want to add to the load of things you need to carry from one place to another.

I may think I need a moving truck or a moving container. I would then think of when do I need to start getting quotes on these types of things. Probably as soon as I realized the move was a go. This would also go as a task on your list of tasks that need to be sequenced to make sure to have a successful move.

Oh, did I forget to write out in the decision phase what a successful project end would look like for my move. I probably did... so I would then have to think of what would make me feel good about the move. It could be as simple as getting it done. How many of us don't move when we have to because we just don't want to deal with it? I would guess many of us at some point in our lives.

This article is getting long... so I won't talk more about the rest of what I would do to plan out a move. I think there are enough details to start planning out your project if you are looking for inspiration, even if it isn't about moving.

I have to go back to packing the kitchen and making breakfast for my kid. I good traditional Mexican breakfast is calling my name. I'll talk to you later...

Written by Minerva Goree - Mathematician

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