Moving out of your dorm or rental after a long semester can be the most cathartic thing you’ve ever experienced… or it can be the most stressful nightmare of all time. Between the anxiety letdown from exams and the soul-crushing monotony of packing, it may feel like the straw that breaks the camel’s back. Thankfully, we’re here with a step-by-step guide to help you get your packing done with time to spare.
Step 1: Gather your boxes/suitcases/fanny packs/whatever things you have that can contain other things.
Be resourceful. Store things inside pots and tupperwares, then store those in another box —it’s just like Inception!
Step 2: Do your laundry early.
Buckle in because you’ll be doing more than one load. Have you even worn some of these things in the last 8 months?
Step 3: Remember to store things like toothpaste, shampoo, and other containers of gooey stuff in ziplock bags.
You know, just in case they explode along the way.
Step 4: If you’re packing the day before you have to leave, remember to pick out an outfit and all your travel necessities.
Lay those aside. Nothing’s worse than digging through all your carefully packed luggage at the last minute trying to find clothes and your passport.
Step 5: Start packing things into your boxes in a logical manner.
You’ve played Tetris before, yeah? This is the moment you were training for.
Step 6: Screw it, just start shoving stuff in.
How did you ever fit everything back in September? You may never know.
Step 7: Now that you’re all packed, remember to clean your room.
Run a vacuum cleaner through, dust off the top shelf, and for the love of everything you hold dear, take your old food out of the fridge!
Step 8: No seriously, clean out your fridge. And the bathroom.
Even if there’s a cleaning service, it’s nice not to force other people to dig through your ancient take-out boxes and single sludgy cucumber. As for the bathroom, do you really need me to elaborate?
Step 9: Collapse into bed and get a good night’s sleep. You’ve done it!
Just don’t forget to set your morning alarm. You’ve got a long day of travel ahead.
BONUS STEP! Once you get home, don’t unpack anything until August.
At least if you do that you won’t have to pack for the fall semester!
Media credits: dailystar.co.uk, giphy.com