Let’s face it, moving is never that fun. Sure, it can be a thrill getting to a new place and meeting new people, or discovering new cities and neighbourhoods. But before you get there you have to go through the process of sorting, packing, cleaning and hauling. It’s exhausting, no matter how you look at it.

With all the stress with moving, it can be compounded if, for one reason or another, you have to move last minute—we’ve helped people who have had to move the contents of their large homes in under two weeks. And while it’s never easy or carefree, there are ways to make the transition go a little more smoothly.

Whether you are packing up a condo, home or office, we’ve come up with some tips on how to make the move a lot easier, even if it is last minute.

First, get organized. The whole process of moving can seem overwhelming if you look at it as one big job, so it’s a good idea to start compartmentalizing. Whether it’s room by room or closet by closet, making lists or a game plan for how you are going to approach the task can make the whole move seem more manageable.

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Getting organized also means deciding what to take with you to the new place and what to get rid of. One advantage to a last minute move is that people are often ruthless in getting rid of the unused stuff that’s been accumulating. A good idea is to create three piles in each room—one for things you will keep, one for things you will donate and one for things that will go in the trash.

De-cluttering and getting rid of stuff is liberating and the more you can part with, the less you will have to move. If you’re having a hard time deciding what to get rid of, a good rule of thumb is to ask yourself if you’ve used it within the last year. Chances are if you’ve gone through 12 months without needing something, you won’t miss it if you never see it again.

Once you’re organized, you can continue on the the preparations. Now that you’ve got an idea of what to tackle first and how much you’ll be packing, you can gather supplies. Having proper boxes or plastic bins that are properly closed and labeled will make all the difference in the world when you reach your next destination. You’ll thank yourself in a couple of days when you can easily find your coffee maker in that nicely labeled KITCHEN box.

Next, start small to get you going. Usually bathrooms or hall closets are good jumping off points because you can pack them up quickly and you won’t need to reopen them again. It’s a waste of time to pack up all your essentials too soon so keep a couple of plates and towels out as you go. Now that you’ve got a few boxes under your belt, you’ll feel motivated to keep going and you’ll have momentum on your side.

Once the little things are done, it’s time to reach out and ask for help. Family and friends can usually be persuaded with the promise of pizza and beer and if you can organize a few people to come over and help, you’ll be amazed at how quickly things get done.

And while it’s good to ask your loved ones to help out to an extent, it can also be a huge help to hire movers. Professional movers know how to protect your belongings, have all the proper equipment and tools to stay safe. Let’s face it, you don’t want to be responsible for your best friend’s thrown out back because you two tried to move your heavy couch.

If you are moving last minute or have an extended time to plan, hiring professionals to help is a major stress relief, and reduces how much you have to do, giving you more time to focus on the packing and sorting and organizing and cleaning and all the other millions of things that require your attention.