As someone who just began my senior year at Mizzou, I’m very used to moving. In addition to permanently moving out of my childhood home, I have lived in a new house, a dorm and now three apartments. In my humble opinion, moving is an art form and an emotional roller coaster, yet is something we all as college students and adults in general, will all have to do many times in our lives.
It always has its pros and cons. It’s nice to have a fresh start and a new place to grow, but it comes along with the stress of figuring out how to pack everything into one or two carloads. There are also the common experiences that come with having roommates, whether you’re living with a lifelong friend or a complete stranger. Sharing a living space can really open your eyes to how differently people live and approach everyday life. So whether this is your first time moving or your fifth, here is all of my best advice to move with ease (or as much as possible, at least).
First, stay organized. It can be really easy to slack off or give up as you get deeper into the packing process, but you will be immensely grateful later on. Labeling your boxes in a way that makes it clear how you want to unpack is crucial.
Staying organized is especially important when it comes to deciding what to pack and when. Rather than trying to pack everything at once, breaking the process into smaller steps can make moving feel more manageable and prevent unnecessary steps as the moving day approaches.
It can be helpful to start packing stuff you won’t use weeks in advance, such as boxing up winter clothes if you’re moving in the summer. Keeping clothes together on their hangers and wrapping them in trash bags can also be very efficient and save you time later on. Additionally, as you pack, make a list of any things you may need to buy for your new place.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help! Let me clarify: you absolutely can do it by yourself. It may seem daunting and endless, but ultimately you are capable of handling more than you think you can. You can manage what is thrown at you at any point in the moving process. However, there is nothing wrong with reaching out to your parents, family, friends or roommates to help with the big move. Having even one extra set of hands can make all the difference.
Bags, boxes and bins, oh my! Knowing how to pack is a skill that comes with practice, but there are definitely some tips and tricks to maximize packing while spending the least amount of money. When it comes to getting the bags, boxes and bins you’ll need, there are two different routes you can take: convenient or cost-effective. When taking the cost-effective route, you’ll want to pay attention to your other friends who may be moving around the same time period or people who have moved recently, as sharing and reusing boxes is both environmentally and financially friendly. Additionally, going to big box stores, such as Walmart, can be a “hack” to get free boxes, as they’ll oftentimes give you their leftover cardboard boxes if you ask.
As for the convenience route, Walmart has cardboard boxes and bins that are relatively inexpensive. Target also has options where you could get bins and bags that may be on the cuter side, so you could use them for other things.
Knowing how to pack breakables is super important and not having broken glass in your boxes will significantly lessen your stress. You can use bubble wrap, packing peanuts, thick paper or even paper towels to help wrap breakables. It is also important to not overpack small boxes with heavy items (even if it all fits in the box) to help prevent breaking.
Pace yourself and take breaks. Moving can be both emotionally and physically tolling. Allowing yourself breaks and not pushing yourself too hard will ultimately have the best outcome and will foster the most efficiency. Especially when it comes to the actual move, don’t forget to eat and stay hydrated throughout the day! To help yourself not get too overwhelmed, it can also be helpful to do any cleaning you want to do in your new apartment before you start unpacking anything. Take things one step at a time.
As college students, moving is inevitable. Whether you’re moving into or out of your freshman year dorm or moving into a house with all your friends, it can turn out to be a (somewhat) positive experience that you can look back on and be proud of. Just take it one step at a time and remember the chaos is only temporary. Before you know it, your new place will start to feel like home. Happy moving!