As you deal with the logistics of moving, you’re very likely to see your stress levels increase as it gets closer to moving day. If you’re trying to reduce your stress, one of the best ways to do this is by starting to pack as soon as possible. While this might seem like something you can do last minute, starting early is important. You’ll find that this makes the entire process easier and reduces your stress along the way.
1. Clean Out Junk
How much junk do you have lying around your house that you haven’t touched in a while? A good rule of thumb is to get rid of anything you haven’t used in one year or more. Resist the urge to keep things “just in case”, as this will only add to the bulk of what you pack.
Make this easy on yourself by making one pile to donate and another to throw away. Room by room, you’ll probably find that there are a lot of things you have to get rid of. Include toys, kitchen items, clothing, and home decor that you know you won’t use again.
2. Know How much Space You Have
If you’re hiring a professional moving company, then you need to know how much truck space you have ahead of time. This will help you determine if you need to toss out furniture or other bulky items that won’t fit.
3. Buy the Supplies
Having your supplies ready to go will make packing easier! Buy boxes, tape, wrap, markers, labels, and packing blankets and pads before you ever pack anything away. Buy more than you think you’ll need because it’s easy to use a lot of supplies quickly. If you don’t, you can always sell it later.
4. Label Your Boxes
Build several different sizes of boxes for each room and label them accordingly. It’s best to pack by room so you can keep everything together. Color coding is one of the best ways to make it easy to identify what you want to keep together.
5. Wrap Breakables
Before you pack anything else in a room, wrap up the breakables. These tend to take the most time, so it’s best to get them out of the way. Make sure these are labeled with a “fragile” sticker or text.
6. Pack Essentials
The clothes you’ll wear, cosmetics, bathroom items, shoes, etc., should all be packed in an essentials bag. Set this bag aside from all other boxes and label it accordingly so it doesn’t accidentally get packed into the moving truck.
Make Packing Easier
Packing doesn’t have to be the stressor you might think it will be! While it can take a while if you have a lot of things, the tips above will save you a lot of time. However, it’s important to remember to give yourself ample time. Instead of trying to get this one in a few days, give yourself at least a couple of weeks to make sure you pack properly and safely.
