Moving House- It can be a very exciting time, but it is also incredibly tedious. Packing is time consuming and overwhelming. It’s hard on the poor back, and it’s often only when you begin contemplating the daunting task of packing up the contents of your home to move that you realize just how much stuff you have.
You need to declutter for a move.
Common thoughts that arise when it comes to going through your home and packing for a move include:
- Where on earth did this come from?
- How have I accumulated so much stuff?
- How much money have I spent over the years on all this stuff?
- Why am I keeping this?
- How do I move without losing my mind?
Decluttering for a move is the first important step to whittling down your belongings to pack. There are so many benefits to doing this, including not only feeling liberated by minimizing your material possessions to some extent but also in terms of saving money, let’s face it, removalist charge on a per-box basis.
When Should You Start Packing for a Move?
Packing for a move is a big job, even if you are only moving from a small apartment. As such, you should do your utmost to not to leave it until the last minute.
While you could pay your moving company to pack on your behalf, this is not a great idea. Not only will it cost you more, both for packing itself as well as transporting boxes of stuff you probably no longer need or want, but it represents a lost opportunity to take stock of your possessions and declutter your home for the future.
Give yourself time to pack, and declutter as you go. Plan ahead at least a few weeks, even if it means a short period of living amongst boxes and with only the essentials at hand, it makes the overall process much less painful.
The Best Way to Pack for a Move
- Plan Ahead. If you give yourself enough time, you can declutter and pack as you go, and break big jobs down into smaller tasks so the entire process is not nearly as overwhelming. Go through your home room by room, closet by closet, drawer by drawer.
- Use It. Use up extras of things you have accumulated like food, household goods, and toiletries so that you have fewer of these to transport, just restock them when required after you move.
- Rule of 3. Make three piles/use three boxes for each room or closet you tackle:
- To Keep
- To Donate/Sell
- To Discard
Consider every single thing you own and allocate it accordingly.
- Essentials Box. Pack the daily essentials you’ll need last, or pack them into a dedicated box that you can easily access and that you will take with you in your vehicle on moving day.
- Label. Label every box clearly, with the room it belongs to and its contents. This will save time and reduce stress when you arrive and start to unpack.
Decluttering When Moving Tips
- Leave difficult decisions about getting rid of those items that have sentimental value or that truly may still be useful until last.
- Have a garage sale or donate unwanted quality goods to charitable causes, these include things like books, toys, clothing, crockery, glassware, and the like.
- If something, anything, has passed its expiry date or is past its best before date, throw it out. This includes everything from the contents of your fridge and pantry to your medicine cabinet(check if there are regulations on how to dispose of unused or expired medications), makeup, skincare, perfumes, and household chemicals( check if regulations on disposing of chemicals) and cleaners.
- You only need one of many items, so if you have more than one of such things as rolling pins or toasters, get rid of the extras. Do you really need that second fridge? That extra television? The old unused ice-cream maker or bread maker? No? Then say goodbye to them.
- If you haven’t used it in a year, really consider whether it’s worth keeping. This includes furniture that’s past its prime or usefulness.
- If you haven’t worn it in a year, it’s not worth keeping either. “But I’m hoping to fit into it again” we hear you say. Well, if you get to your goal size, you deserve to reward yourself with something new.
If you don’t love it, don’t use it, or don’t need it- declutter it!
Moving house is a fantastic opportunity to declutter for a fresh start in your new abode, unencumbered by unwanted material things. Even if you only reduce your load of possessions a little, decluttering for a move represents a chance for a more streamlined and minimalist approach to your life and gives you space to breathe and focus on what matters most to you. Living your best life.
