I don’t have to tell you that packing is an ordeal, especially if it’s for college. You’re moving from one location to another, and you only have a limited amount of time. College students, freshman for sure, have to condense their lives to a small dorm room that they will share with one other person. It can definitely be stressful! Here’s a progression of the thought process of college kids while packing.
1. Okay. It's time to start now!
You won’t. Anything and everything will distract you, especially when you have Netflix on while you’re trying to pack.
2. I'll make a packing list!
Don’t even bother. It’s a big waste of time to try to document every little thing you are going to take. You’re bound to forget things, or get bored and give up halfway through like I did.
3. I don’t leave for another week, so I have time.
True, but a week is not enough time to completely pack from start to finish. Do a little work at a time, then stress out when it comes closer to your departure date.
4. I can’t believe I’m about to leave all my friends.
You knew this was coming, but it doesn’t really hit you until right before you leave. Don’t neglect your high school friends; this could be the last time you see them for up to a year. But don’t let last minute get-togethers cause extra stress to your packing.
5. Let’s look at Pinterest for some good packing tips.
Yes, just yes.
6. Speaking of Pinterest, how will I get my dorm room to look Pinterest perfect?
Don’t worry about having the most visually appealing dorm room at first. Go for functionality, then work on cosmetics. You have a whole year to live there; it doesn’t have to be perfect on your first day.
7. Dorm stuff is so expensive! How will I get everything I need without going broke?
It’s not a requirement to get all new stuff for college. Most people just recycle the things they already own and rarely use, and repurpose it for college! That way you don’t break the bank and get a (seemingly) new item for your dorm.
8. I need to bring every single thing from my room, right?
No. You don't need to bring everything, because odds are you won't be in your room enough to use it all. Only bring the essentials at first if space is an issue. If you ask your parents nice enough, they may make a special trip down to see you and bring the things you forgot.
9. Yeah, but I’m going far from home. It may be a while!
For some of us, college isn't just an hour down the road (it's seven hours and four states away for me) and we can't just run home and grab stuff. Never fear! Snail mail is fabulous for shipping things that aren't worth going home for, or if your parents aren't able to make the trip to see you for a while.
10. What kinds of clothes do I need?
One of the hardest things to pack for girls (and probably some guys, too). Just go through your closet, drawers, anything and pick out what you think you want to take. Then go through all the things you pulled out and make sure you need them. Easy, right?
11. There is no way I can pick which shoes I want to bring.
If this is your problem, just know that I am right there with you. I love shoes and have so many pairs. So I started out bringing one of the different kinds of shoes I have (tennis shoes, Toms, Chaco’s, sandals, etc.) then filled in the gaps. The trick is not to bring shoes that can satisfy the same outfits. Go for diversity!
12. All my college stuff takes up an entire room. I will never get it all there!
Don’t underestimate the value of a good packer. Just find someone that’s good at Tetris and a big truck. You’ll be fine! If all else fails, you can just ship some of the less important stuff to your college mailing address.
13. I can’t believe I’m actually going to college!
Well you better believe it! It’s happening sooner than you think. The past 13 years of school has finally paid off. Congratulations!
