Packing for a move of any kind can be incredibly stressful. With move-in day approaching, many people may have already started to put everything together. Before you leave your driveway, double check that you are making the easiest move possible.
Get Organized
No matter what type of living situation you will be moving into, I would recommend organizing items by room/use. Everything for your bed in one bin, everything for food in another, then so on. Not only does this make the unpacking process much easier, but it also helps keep track of what you have and what you may have forgotten.
Try Space Bags
These guys have come in handy for me so many times. While I don’t bring my entire wardrobe with me, I do bring a hefty amount of clothing. It’s an amount large enough to not be able to fit in a normal sized duffel bag. With three large space bags, I have been able to compress every shirt, pant and sock to the thinnest possible width. These are also great for comforters/blankets, pillows, stuffed animals and anything else fluffy.
Review Your Checklists
Although I’ve been packed for a while now, it was only a recent thing for me to make a checklist. Since I will be living in an apartment this next year, I need more than I would in a residence hall. By listing everything off, not only do I budget, but I also have something to look at while at the store. This way, I don’t get caught up in the excitement and energy of everything then forget anywhere from one to 10 items.
Consider Your Luggage and bins
One of the things that has helped is making what things are packed in easy to carry. For any freshmen moving to Atlanta’s Spring House residence hall, the elevator is tiny and doesn’t work all the time. If you are on one of the higher floors, you will most likely take the stairs because the elevator fits a cart and two, maybe three, people inside. Think about how heavy the bag or bin you’re using will become, what you’re putting inside and if you will be somewhat okay with lugging it up a few flights of stairs.
Only pack your must haves
Over packing is a common symptom in new students. I’ve been there and I’m sure every other student has as well. When you bring your clothing, only pack favorite shirts or the clothes you always wear. I encourage being over prepared, but only bring the necessities. You won’t need every type of medicine the store has to offer, at most Ibuprofen and cough drops. My issue is over packing books. I have an entire library in my bedroom at my parents, however, I’ve stuck to bringing only my favorites.
