I wish my boxes and suitcases looked like the one above when I'm packing up, but let's face it, packing can be messy. Whether you're packing for school, moving to an apartment, or even going on an extended trip, it can be hard to figure out what you need and what you don't. Even when you have all of that narrowed down, fitting everything into boxes and bags without making your car overflow can be a real struggle. You can stress less about packing and get organized by asking yourself four questions when you're having trouble packing up!
1. Do I actually use it?
How we actually feel when packing.
GiphyThink about how many pairs of jeans you own and how many you actually wear. Looking through my dresser, I found that I have nine pairs of jeans, which is ridiculous considering I wear jeans twice a week max. Since I realized that I have way too many jeans, I'm only packing my five favorite pairs that I actually wear for school. The same can be said for shirts, shoes, and many other objects you might be thinking about packing. That shirt in your closet that you always think about wearing might have looked cute in the store, but if you still haven't worn it yet and you've had plenty of opportunities to, leave it behind. Only bring what you actually use.
2. Where will it go in my new space?
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Just because your floor lamp fits perfectly in your room now doesn't mean that it is meant to go in your next space. For dorms, you might not have enough floor space to fit in that extra lamp. And taking the lamp out of your room now means it won't be there when you go home to visit, and you might want the light when you're back!
For clothes, separate them out into what you want to hang up and what will go into the dresser. Unpacking will be easier and you won't have to make a snap decision about where you want your clothes to go.
3. Can I fit anything else into this box?
GiphyThere are always small crevices in boxes that just don't get filled up with clothes, or there is an awkward amount of space left at the top that doesn't leave room for more clothes but definitely leaves room for a little something else. If you have any delicate items, put them within clothes to keep them from breaking. Hangers are also pretty flat so they can be stuck into the tops of boxes, and since they are something you'll want to unpack earlier, it makes for easy access.
4. Can it go into furniture I'm already bringing?
GiphyIf you plan on keeping your shoes in a bin under your bed, then pack your shoes in the bin so you have one less box. The same goes for other plastic storage- fill it up ahead of time so you know what fits. I packed all of my school supplies and notebooks into the storage boxes I'll be putting on my desk, so when I get to school all I have to do is put them on my shelf. Michael's sells photo boxes for $3 each that are perfect for storing smaller items, so stock up on those! They have tons of different patterns.
Packing is time-consuming and frustrating, but it can be easier if you can figure out what you want to bring and where you want to put it. Be mindful of what you're bringing and moving in can be way less stressful! Moving somewhere new is your chance to redesign your own space, so take your opportunity to get organized and pair down how much stuff you have to make your new place feel like home.