You’re moving! You should be more excited, but the bitter reality is that you just aren’t prepared for all that packing and frustration. We feel your pain, and we give you five practical tips to make moving a day a breeze!
1. MINIMALISM
It’s not just a fad. Some even take it so far as to say it’s a lifestyle. When it all boils down to it, it’s your best friend on moving day. The key here is to think small and efficient. Do you need all those old birthday cards? Are you actually going to use that old Chip’n’Dip? Minimalism encourages people only to keep the things that are necessary and consistently used in their daily life. Do some of your beloved items stand the test of time? If you’re unsure, ask yourself these three questions:
- Does this item still serve its purpose?
- How often do I use this item?
- Could someone else get more use out of this item?
You can sell what’s sellable, donate what’s not, and rest easy knowing you’re helping others and yourself.
2. CATEGORIZE
This may seem like a challenge, but it’s a thousand times more helpful than you think. The tricky part here is not falling victim to creating a bunch of small categories that scramble your brain. Start with a maximum of ten categories and slowly work your way up from there. If at the end of the day, you end up with a pile of strange things that don’t really fit any of your categories, you can always create a MISCELLANEOUS category and call it a day. Or, even better, just start de-cluttering and throw away the odd pieces that you don’t need and that can’t be categorized.
3. LABEL, LABEL, LABEL
Whatever you do, don’t forget to label! This is a game-changer when it comes to unpacking. You can even take it a step further and purchase yourself a label maker. Do away with illegible handwriting. Take your labels to the next level.
4. PROFESSIONAL MOVING COMPANIES
Surprisingly, this one takes a little more effort than the other things. Skimming through Google might hinder you rather than help you when it comes to finding good movers! LIFTNYC recommends that you really do your research and double-check on these so-called “moving companies.” While many companies are reputable, some are just people in moving vans looking for some side cash. Once you find a truly worthy moving and packing company and have read the fine print, the hard work is in their hands and out of yours.
5. HONEY-DO LISTS
You may be thinking you don’t need a moving to-do list to keep track of everything. How many things could there possibly be to remember when you move anyway? The truth is that they really start to add up as the days’ countdown! Whether you’re marking dates on a calendar or jotting down seemingly insignificant reminders on your notepad, you will thank yourself later. Writing everything down even comes in handy when figuring out what items you are keeping, donating, selling, and everything in between. When keeping track of everything on a notepad, remember this. Nothing is too silly to jot down. When that final moving day arrives, you’ll have everything you need to know right there at your fingertips.
