moving away — BLOG

There’s no way around it — Moving is one of the most stressful experiences, packing often being the worst of it. When it comes to gathering your belongings and boxing them up, it can be hard to determine where you need to start. As someone who’s moved about ten times in the past seven years (I’m crazy, I know), here are a few of the most helpful hacks I’ve learned throughout my experience.

Clean Out Prior

It’s always amazing to see how much junk accumulates when you live in a space for 6-10 months. I give myself a month prior to moving to start freely tossing things out, so I don’t have to limit myself to a day or two before boxing. I find that I am able to pare down my belongings easier when I throw a few things away per day. If you come across something you don’t want/use or something that’s broken, don’t waste your time putting it away if you’re less than 30 days away from your move. Goodbye, junk!

Designate One Area for Completed Boxes

When I get to packing, there’s always ONE area I set aside for boxes that are finished. It helps me track my progress, and I try and leave a few boxes open just in case I find anything random I forgot to pack that doesn’t take up much space. When you have movers come or friends help you, all of the boxes are in one spot and ready to go.

Organize By Room

This may seem a bit obvious, but I promise you that throwing everything into random boxes will hinder you from unpacking quickly and efficiently once you reach your new destination. I usually buy 2-3 boxes per room, broken up like so:

Bathroom: 2 medium boxes
Bedroom: 2 medium boxes
Closet: 3-4 wardrobe boxes
Living Room: 2-3 medium boxes
Decor (specifically wall hangings, frames, knick knacks, etc.): 1 medium box
Kitchen: 3-4 medium boxes

I buy my boxes at Uhaul, so I can return whatever I don’t use. If you’re using a moving company, they’ll usually let you buy boxes from them at a discounted rate and return whatever you don’t end up using.

Stock Up on Newspapers + Packing Tape

I always snag a ton of free newspapers where and when I can in the week leading up to packing. I like to wrap breakables in two sheets of newspaper — Especially those wine glasses! I’ll also stuff newspaper scraps in pots/containers that I fill with smaller items. When wrapping stuff, I place the item on one corner of the newspaper, rollout up diagonally to the opposing corner, and tuck in/tape the extra on the ends.

Here’s where the packing tape comes in handy: I tape my pots closed once I fill them up with things like measuring spoons, peelers, kitchen gadgets, etc. I also tape my stacks of plates and bowls from bottom to top so that they can’t shift around in my boxes.

Use Suitcases and Totes for Shoes

I have two methods for packing my shoes, but I’ve found that tossing them in a suitcase or two is always the quickest way to pack them. I know that I’ll have to reorganize them based on storage at my next place, so I don’t mind if they get a little mixed up in a bag. If you happen to get wardrobe boxes, you can also toss them in the bottom of each box before hanging your clothes. And yes, wardrobe boxes are 100% the best way to transport your closet.

Pack Moving Day Essentials in an Overnight Bag

Chances are you’ll be running around like crazy the day before your move and the day of. I always place an overnight bag with medicine, toiletries, chargers, two outfits, and any electronics I may need ASAP in the corner of my room when I start packing. I’ve found it to be MUCH easier to pack everything up when you aren’t worried about packing something you may need. It also makes it easier to settle in once you get to your destination, knowing anything you may need is in one place. I use a standard size duffel, and it goes in my car with me — Not the moving van!

Place Bigger Items on the Bottom of the Box

There’s a method to my packing, of course! I start with bigger, more rectangular/cube shaped items on the bottom of my box and work upward. For example: our record player, Xbox, and board games always get placed in our living room box first. On top of that I’ll do the records themselves, coffee table books, and top it off with remotes and decor.

Use Contractor Trash Bags for Linens

Toss ‘em all in. Tie the bags up. Voila. I usually wash our sheets and blankets in the first few days of settling into my new place anyways, so if they get a little wrinkled it doesn’t matter much.

Place Frames Front-to-Back

I learned this one from an old boss of mine and it’s saved quite literally ALL of my art through the years. Whether you’re placing your frames in a box or the back of your car, try facing them front to front and back to back so the frame hanging hardware doesn’t scratch the glass of the frame behind it. The only case in which I don’t do this is canvas art.

Use Small Boxes for Books

My boyfriend would want me to include this for any men dating bookworms out there… I’ve learned the hard way that no one likes to carry a giant box full of books. Not only is it suuuuuuuper heavy, but I’ve had a few boxes break on occasion. Oops!

I hope you find these tips helpful! Do you have an upcoming move? What are some of your best packing tips?

Anyone who’s moved knows this to be true—Even the smoothest of transitions is bound to be emotionally, mentally, and physically exhausting. Keep your head above water through every phase of your next relocation with these helpful self-care tips.

Schedule downtime. With all of the physical and emotional stressors of a move, it’s imperative to block out some down time to avoid burning out. Even if it’s just 20-30 minutes per day, actively de-stressing will keep you from getting sick or injured. Some yoga, light reading, watching movies, or even just spending time with loved ones around the dinner table will help bring you into the present moment and out of your moving-induced stress.

Create a schedule and to-do list. An organized move depends heavily on the prep you do beforehand. Winging the process leaves plenty of room for mistakes and will likely leave you in a rush to finish packing. Don’t wait until your back is up against the wall to start planning—Assign each task to a different day and break them down into smaller to-do lists so you can take your time (and a few deep breaths while you’re at it).

Set an intention to start your days strong. While some people find it easier to stick to a routine than others, setting an intention to at least begin each day with a deep breath and healthy habits will ensure your stress hormones don’t spike first thing in the morning. Sip a hot cup of coffee, take your pooch for a walk, or enjoy breakfast with the family before splitting up to tackle to-do lists.

Remain mindful. If you’ve never practiced mindfulness, now’s the time! You don’t need to meditate to reach a zen state. Pause throughout the day and bring awareness to your breath, your body, and your mind.

Make time to exercise. Maybe exercise is part of your scheduled down time each day, but even if it’s not—There’s no better way to ward off the moving blues. Even a quick 30 minutes of cardio per day can help increase energy levels and decrease stress.

Ask for help. Spoiler alert: You don’t have to do it all on your own! Moving is hardly a one-person job, and there’s no shame in asking for a little help where you need it. Your friends, family and loved ones have likely been through the same process and understand how challenging it can be.

Get quality sleep. It can be difficult to stick to a bedtime routine when moving, especially if you spend all day away from your home. Being stressed can lead you to have difficulty sleeping, which in turn puts more stress on your body and mind. Create a peaceful, safe space to recharge at nighttime by incorporating lavender essential oils, a white noise machine, or weighted blanket into your evening relaxation.

Keep a journal. Practicing stream of consciousness journaling is the perfect way to untangle those messy thoughts swirling around in your head before, during, and after your move. Some people find it more beneficial to journal first thing in the morning, while others enjoy doing so before bed. Do what works for you, and don’t judge yourself in the process. Even if you don’t know where to start, getting in the practice of writing out your thoughts will help keep you feeling level-headed.

Originally Written for MorelandBlog.com