Moving Prep Tips

Sharing a few of my favorite moving prep tips. Please note, this post is sponsored by Dunkin’ Donuts and Her Campus Media. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make this blog possible!

Moving is TOUGH, y’all. Am I right? I’ve moved more than 20 times and yet it’s still just as hard. It doesn’t necessarily get easier, but over time I’ve created a system that seems to (generally) work.

I feel as though I’m nearly a moving pro, well except the guys and gals who move folks for a living. I’ve done the packing and unpacking thing so many times that when I don’t move for a year, it feels like a crazy awesome treat. Like, how did I end up so lucky to stay in the same place for two full years? If you’re familiar with Boston, avoiding the September 1 move date is a blessing. A total blessing, I tell you.

Moving Prep Tips

So, whether you’re prepping for a major move or simply thinking far in advance, here are a few moving prep tips to keep in mind.

Make donating your new best friend. Many times, I hear of friends and family throwing out extra furniture, cookware, etc. because it was easy. Instead, donate it! If it’s in good condition, chances are that someone else will benefit from it. Instead of figuring out how to sneak it into your trash room at night (particularly if it’s a large item), donate it! Most Goodwill locations have a drop-off where you can swing by and drop off all the goods that you no longer need, but that could be beneficial for someone else.

Recharge. You may think I’m kidding, but I’m not. I am so not. Charge up! Whether that’s with granola bars or crazy big breakfasts or caffeine (hi, that’s me!) – recharge while you’re packing and organizing everything for the big move. My caffeine of record for this particularly large move is Dunkin’ Donuts’ Coconut Creme Pie Iced Coffee. Can you say YUM? Seriously, it’s like a dessert in a cup with way less guilt. Okay, not that I would feel guilty eating a slice 3 slices of Coconut Creme Pie with the craziness that is moving.

Get rid of the excess. I read Marie Kondo’s book a while back, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, and it really did help me get rid of the excess. While I’ve somehow already accumulated more than I should have, I learned more about her system of purging the items that you no longer need, along with those that no longer bring happiness. The biggest takeaway (at least for me) is that when you’re sifting through a category – say, clothes – do it ALL at once. Put all of your clothes, and I mean everything, in a pile and go through it all one by one. Don’t forget about those jackets in the hall closet or those clothes that you stuffed under the bed. If you do it that way, you’re never going to get to those outliers.

Take a break. Seriously. Step away from the packing and get outside. It’ll do wonders. Have errands to run? Take the long way. Walk instead of driving, if you can. The fresh air will do you good. Don’t feel guilty for giving yourself the afternoon – you deserve it! My favorite way to take a break from packing is to walk around my neighborhood. Sounds simple, right? It is, but it’s a welcome break from the packing craze that’s taken over my apartment.

What are some of your moving prep tips? Any musts on your moving list that help you get through such a busy time?

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