1. You cannot survive off chicken nuggets and mac and cheese.

This was the most disappointing thing I've learned, but after a couple days of this, you'll start to feel sick. Eat a vegetable or something every once in a while.

2. Clorox wipes are your best friend.

Seriously, these things are a miracle—especially if you're like me and get grossed out by unfamiliar furniture you have to live with for extended periods of time!

3. Nobody is there to hold you accountable for anything.

Nobody is there to nag you about cleaning your room, or doing your laundry, or your homework, or getting up on time for work/class… it's all on you. Which is terrifying, because you have no scapegoat if you screw up now.

4. It can get lonely sometimes.

I take for granted how much I'm usually around my family. I always have someone to talk to (or to annoy) if I want to—and even if I don't want to. When you move out on your own, there's a chance you'll have roommates that'll be friendly. Or you'll have roommates that all stick to themselves, like mine. Sometimes we don't realize how much we talk to others in a day until we don't anymore.

5. Nobody is there to tell you what to do.

This is both good and bad. On the one hand, freedom is really nice. Like, really nice. But on the other hand, nobody's there to hold you accountable. See #3.

6. Unless you’re a really good cook, you’ll learn how to appreciate a home cooked meal.

I can never make things quite like my mom does, and it's very frustrating at times.

7. Always expect the unexpected.

My apartment has a small ant infestation in the kitchen. I did not expect this. I'm kicking myself for not thinking about the possibility of bugs in rural Maryland, but at least it's a lesson learned for next time!

8. Make lists of everything.

Okay, if you read my work frequently you're probably sick of me pushing lists for everything. "We get it, you write literally everything down all the time, give it a rest." But hear me out: as much as I love lists, I didn't think to make lists of everything I packed in each box, or lists of what I need to pack in my field bag every day, or anything small like that. I make lists of things to do, not things to bring, but ever since I started making regular packing lists my life has changed for the better. Seriously. Even if it's just before, during and after a move, keep track of what's going where so you don't lose anything!

9. You're going to want to hug your mom more.

Seriously, how did she do this??