We’ve all heard the adage “A place for everything, and everything in its place,” but when expectations collide with the realities of your busy lifestyle, your best intentions of keeping a tidy house can quickly fall by the wayside. Moving can be stressful and challenging even for people who have embraced minimalism, but don’t lose hope. With a little extra foresight and planning, you can pack a messy house to move.
1. Clear as Much Clutter as Possible
No matter how long you’ve lived in your current home, you’ve probably accumulated a lot of things you no longer want or use. Why waste energy and money packing and moving these items? Go through each room in your house and sort belongings into piles labeled “Keep,” “Donate” and “Trash.” If you have younger kids, you can even make a game out of it by setting a timer and challenging them to see how fast they can sort through their stuff. Involving your kids in the moving process is one of the best ways to keep them engaged and ensure they feel comfortable with all the events unfolding around them.
2. Allow Yourself to Take Breaks
As you’re packing a messy house for a move, emotions and memories can bubble up to the surface when you least expect them, complicating the process and making you feel less motivated. Whether you uncover your grandmother’s heirloom china in a dusty corner of your garage or find a handmade Valentine from your spouse, moving might get sentimental. When packing gets too hard, give yourself permission to take a 10- to 20-minute break to collect yourself before moving on. Spend the time stretching tight muscles, meditating or doing breathing exercises. You’ll be more productive when you aren’t mentally and emotionally exhausted.
3. Don’t Procrastinate
It might be challenging to find time for your moving to-do list among all your other responsibilities, but don’t wait to start packing a messy house until a day or two before your moving crew arrives. Procrastination will only make things that much harder on you and your family. On the other side of the coin, don’t start boxing up items too early – you don’t want to live surrounded by cardboard, with the belongings you need out of reach at the bottom of a crate. Depending on your home’s size, give yourself at least a week to pack after you complete the sorting and decluttering phase.
4. Set New Organizational Goals
A move is a significant life milestone, and it represents a chance to make a fresh start in your new home. If you let your old living areas get messier or more cluttered than you were comfortable with, now is the time to wipe the slate clean. Whether you dream of a tidy, well-stocked pantry that allows you to see all your ingredients at a glance or closets that would make Marie Kondo proud, create a plan and get any shelving or storage materials you need to achieve your goals.
Request a Quote for Your Next Move
When you’re planning to move to, from or within Chattanooga, let Fox Moving and Storage provide you with top-notch service every step of the way. We are proud to serve the Scenic City’s residential and commercial moving needs from one doorstep to the next. Reach out to us to request a complimentary moving quote today.