It’s tough to keep it all together when you’re moving, we know that. With so many moving parts and so many things to organize, it’s all but impossible to feel organized and on top of things. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be that way. We’ve collected some tips from the experts to help you stay organized during your move.
Tipsto Stay Organized
Start Early
Want to stay organized? Get started early. The more time you allow yourself, the more likely you are to get everything in order, and the less you’ll scramble to pull it all together.
If you have the opportunity, start planning your move 60 days in advance. That will allow you to find the right mover, take your time packing, and take care of all of the finer details without scrambling. You’ll also ensure that you won’t forget things along the way.
Make a Checklist
The best way to ensure you don’t forget anything is to make a checklist. Include dates where possible so you can manage your timeline. Add everything to the list, even the things you’re certain you won’t forget. In the hustle and bustle of a move, even the simplest things often slip our minds. A bonus benefit: if it truly is easily done, you’ll get the satisfaction of crossing it off the list.
Declutter
If you just start charging through when you have the time and energy, you’ll create more disorganization than you started with. Instead, your first step should be to declutter your home.
Decluttering also means downsizing. Go through your things and get rid of all that you don’t want, need, or use. After all, why should you pack, shift, unpack, and hunt for a place for things that aren’t necessary? By allowing yourself enough time (remember the first tip?), you may even recoup some funds from some of your things by selling them.
Take it Room by Room
Tackle your packing and move planning one room at a time. Not only will you be able to stay more organized, but you will feel less overwhelmed. As you went through and decluttered, hopefully, you also returned your items to the room where they belong. Naturally, items find their way to places that they aren’t meant for. Clothes hanging on the Peloton, mugs on the office desk, kids toys in the… Well, every room.
Bring all of your belongings to their rightful place, and start packing one room at a time. Start with lesser-used and seasonal items. That way, you’ll be able to start packing early and allow yourself time to take care of it all while staying (relatively) relaxed.
Labels Are Your Friends!
Since you’re taking an orderly approach to packing, your boxes should be easy to label. After all, you’re packing only the things that belong in each room. By labeling your boxes, you’ll be organized on the other side, as your movers can ensure the boxes arrive in the right rooms.
More than labeling the rooms, be more specific if you can. When packing your bedroom, label the boxes that are for the closet, dresser, storage, etc. Make sure you label your boxes on multiple sides and the top as they’ll shift in transit.
Don’t Procrastinate, But Don’t Rush
If you’ve followed all of our tips, you’re hopefully ahead of yourself. That means you don’t have to scramble at the last minute (which always creates a mess.) You should also avoid the temptation to delay your to-do’s when you have the luxury of time. Be orderly and methodical, and you’ll have a smooth move.