Ever find yourself in a bit of a moving slump?
There's already so much to stress about moving (like "where am I going?" and "with what money?"), why add the stress of packing mania to the gig? Alas, the woes of packing and moving one's stuff is an inevitable woe that will come (unless, by chance, you have fairy god parents). I found through my recent struggles with packing up and moving (for the third time in three years, mind you), that there are a few almost sure fire ways to keep the crazy at bay! I have single-handedly learned nearly all of these valuable packing lessons by doing nearly the exact opposite of them!
Hopefully what I learned during my frantic packing phases will help others going through the same!
1. Organize
I recently just learned the hard way about poorly organized boxes. It may seem easier at first, but once unpacking comes around, you'll be pulling your hair out every time you find a pair of socks with your silverware.
2. Distract your pet
Give your floof a toy, or crate them, or temporarily move them. They're curious and confused and will get in the way. A lot.
3. Don't distract yourself
Put on a movie or TV show you use as background noise. Don't get lost in every inevitable nostalgia trip, no matter how many sentimental movie stubs you find.
5. Donation boxes are your friends
If you're anything like me, you've accumulated a lot of stuff over the years. Despite how attached you may be to all of it, there's got to be an old Avril Lavigne T-shirt from high school wasting space in a drawer somewhere. And you should only pack the things you want to unpack at the old place.
6. Plan ahead. A lot.
When I say plan ahead, I don't mean the Thursday night before you're meant to move on Sunday morning. I mean start the rudimentary organizational process a few weeks in advance. That way you have a decent amount of time to go through your things, sort out donations, and figure out the supplies you'll need for the endeavor.
7. Have supplies at the ready
It's better to have too many boxes. I promise. Nothing is more annoying than having to stop in the middle of your packing groove to go scout your local liquor store for whiskey scented moving materials.
8. Don't wait until the last minute to buy/aquire packing supplies
If you're living in a college town, or a town where people often are packing up and moving about all at once during a certain time of year, then you should start hitting up places for packing materials a few weeks to a couple months in advance.
9. Don't hesitate to ask for help
Once all your personal stuff is packed, or anything you wouldn't want a packing buddy to see (ie: toiletries, undies, an Arnold shrine), ask for packing help. Bribe them with food, booze, friendship. Whatever it takes. Packing is not only faster in pairs, but also way easier on the boredom and stress.
10. Give yourself goals, and stick to them
Pack an area a day, or a room a day. That way you can focus on being organized without rushing, or without the packing process being too overwhelming.
11. Take inventory
It may sound tedious, and it may be tedious to do, but making an inventory of all the things you packed will help quell (or rectify) that sneaking suspicion that something is missing. Have a friend help, double check behind you.
12. Stay comfortable
Drink plenty of water, eat when you're supposed to, take a break to play with your floof when you get tired or overwhelmed. Keep yourself at ad low a stress level as you can!
And remember one thing: soon your journey at this place will be over, and your journey at a wonderful new place will begin!
So, always keep your chin up!
