Moving has its pluses and minuses. For one, you just never know what is going to go wrong. There is just so much you can tally on a to-do-list before it starts to get exhausting. Everything is crucial, from checking the four corners of the closet (hoping not to leave anything behind) to making sure that every single one of your roommates know that you are leaving – a farewell, a kiss, a hug, whatever floats your boat.
Through this learning experience, there are some key points that I picked up during my move over the last weekend that I could use for my next move (because there is probably going to be another one).
1. Don’t stress it – probably the first thing you will learn about moving is that it’s a lot of stress. It’s not a one-day trip – it’s a lot of planning, phone calls, packing and unpacking, just to be brief. And so it can definitely be frustrating. Five days after your move, you might just be unpacking the pillow cases. It will take a lot of energy but for a start, depending on the size of your load, it’s best not to pressure yourself into unpacking in one day. Set some time aside to chill!
2. You probably won’t need all that clothes. For the sake of saving space and time, it’s not going to be useful packing clothes you haven’t worn in more than a year. Don’t feel guilty! Donate whatever you can and throw out whatever you can’t. It helps!
3. Budget – There are some things that you may not want to take with you (they may have been old or damaged). That’s OK. Budget! Moving can be very expensive so carefully prioritize your spending and discipline yourself to spend within your means. Create a plan and stick to it. When the important stuff is taken care of, then go ahead with the extras.
4. Get to know your roommate – Not just the landlord, your roommate! sometimes it doesn’t help to wait until you fall asleep on the first night in your new apartment. Hypothetically speaking, you probably don’t want to wake up to Justine Bieber in the middle of the night. Knowing your roommates helps: good friendships, someone to watch your back and a good way to learn more about the place.
5. Quite frankly, moving is just a part of life if you still haven’t gotten where you want to be!!!
