How to Move Heavy Objects Without Hurting Yourself
The answer is easy! Hire someone else to do it!
Hahaha. We know that's the easy answer. We also know that women are more adept at this, so we asked our girlfriends, wives, and female colleagues how they do it. Their secrets? Think first, use leverage, and double-down on tools.
First, step back and figure out if this is a job you can actually do. If you're moving a piano, call some guys. One of our friends said that she used a company called 'Deathwish Piano Movers' in Massachusetts to get extricate baby grand from her Cambridge rental home. Evidently, the doors were narrow and it was quite a job. When you fully assess the situation, sometimes it's worth hiring the professionals.
Second, plan the heavy move. Measure 'the thing' and the doorways that 'the thing', whatever it is, has to go through. We've all seen the Friends epsode with the couch. "Pivot!" That said, if you need to turn a corner, figure out how that's going to work before you act. Also, if you're working with a friend, play rock-paper-scissors for who has to walk backwards.
Third, use tools! Hand trucks, dollies, lift sling straps, toe jacks, Lift Buddy, roller skids, furniture slides/glides, and skates are just a few amazing tools that you can use to make moving smarter, not harder. What's a Lift Buddy? When all you need is a little help to lift the corner of a piece of equipment or furniture the Lift Buddy will do the trick. This simple tool acts like a jack to allow heavy objects to be lifted with one hand. While the equipment is lifted you can get skates, sliders or glides in place for easier moving.
Fourth, leverage your strength. Lift with your legs, not with your back; don't pull when you can push. This is all about using the strongest muscles in your body. This, in combination with tools can make you a veritable superhero when moving heavy objects. Just make sure you stretch first.
Fifth, take it slowly. The more methodical and thoughtful you are, the easier the job will be.
These are the lessons we came away with from the many discussons we've had with our fair counterparts. The honest truth is they're way more methodical about large tasks than we are. We can help buyers and sellers with transactions all day and all night, but they can rearrange a living room or an entire house without breaking a sweat.
A man's got to know his limitations.