Moving yourself? Do you know the proper way to lift and carry your moving boxes? Here is a quick rundown on how to make sure you don’t injure yourself when lifting and moving boxes.

Stretch before you start working. Stretching is one of the best ways to prevent a strain when lifting or carrying heavy objects. Stretch your neck, arms, legs, and back for about 20-30 seconds each.

Lift with your legs, not with your back. Don’t bend over to pick up a box, no matter how light you may think it is. Squat down, bending the knees, and make sure you have a firm grip on the box before carefully standing up with it. Do the same when setting a box down on the ground.

When carrying a box, keep it close to your body and center of gravity. Holding the box out away from your body will increase the chance of back injury, and may also cause you to momentarily lose your balance and fall. Never carry anything over your head.

When carrying a box, don’t twist at the waist. This is an easy way to throw out your back. Keep the box in front of you and turn with your feet.

Don’t carry more than one box at a time. Boxes can slide pretty easily when being carried while stacked up. If a box slides off, you may damage its contents or injure yourself or someone else. Use a dolly or hand truck to move multiple boxes at once.

Always have someone with you to help move boxes too heavy or too bulky to move by yourself. Don’t be reluctant to just ask for some help.