Relocation Tips
Moving is one of the most stressful times in anyone’s life — even me as a Professional Organizer — found it very stressful when I moved one block away to a rental after living in a condo for 25 years. You need to take an inventory of every single belonging you own and touch it as least once when you decide to either put it in a moving box or get rid of it by donating to charity, to friends/family, selling, or putting some of it in the trash.
This article will give you steps to start minimizing your possessions and please start well before your move (months and even years prior):
Come up with a plan of attack to declutter and what you’ll do with the items such as:
Furniture, Clothing, Papers, Books, Toys, Kitchen items, Décor,Holiday decorations, Outdoor gear, Gadgets
- Start sorting: Donation; Recycle; Trash
- Follow the general rules of decluttering:
Just because you’ve had an item a long time doesn’t mean it has value.
Don’t keep an item because you feel guilty about getting rid of it.
Don’t keep items that make you feel down/heavy/negative when you think about it.
Don’t keep any items you haven’t needed/worn/used in a year and never think you will use it again.
Don’t keep an item you wouldn’t buy again.
- Consider temporary storage: Store items you can’t get yourself to part with in a friend’s basement to avoid the cost of a storage unit. If you still want the items 6 months or a year later, then go get the box and incorporate the items into your new household.
- Set goals: A little bit of decluttering is better than no decluttering. And try to hold yourself accountable to your goals. A Professional Organizing is often invaluable to help people start their overwhelming decluttering projects and give you a sense of what will fit in a smaller space and help you make the decisions you know you need to make before your relocation!
The Minimalist Move: How to Lighten Your Load Before You Pack
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