Efficiency 101: Organizing Your Move

I had some kind of brain fart last week and totally forgot it was Monday when I made my post.  So we’re back to Efficiency 101 this week (even though it’s the 4th of July).  Today I want to talk about something that isn’t an every day occurrence but one that plagues everyone who has to do it.

Moving.

Regardless of whether you have months or weeks to prepare for moving, it’s a great big pain in the patootie.  It’s stressful and difficult, and for many people, incredibly overwhelming.  As I write this, I am preparing for my fifteenth move, so I’ve learned a few things about how to make the process…well I can’t say totally painless, but LESS painless.  This is probably what I’ll be talking about in Efficiency 101 for the next few weeks, considering that’s what’s going on in my life.

I think the first time I moved with my husband (who lived the same place all his life until he married me) was the first time I realized that not everyone had moved a lot and not everyone knew how to approach packing.  I figured this out about the time I walked in on him still standing in the middle of a room, wondering where to begin.  This is not a prospect of just throwing everything you own in boxes and hoping it turns out okay on the other end.  That way lies madness.

I approach moving like I approach almost everything else–with a list.

C’mon, it’s me.  You knew that was coming.

Am I going to suggest you list everything you own and organize it on paper before you start trying to box it up?  No.  I AM going to suggest that you make a list of every room and closet in your house and then subdivide it by the things/areas that need packing.  For example, my living room has built in book cases that are loaded with accessories.  There’s also the entertainment center, pictures on the walls, and other assorted decorative stuff.  So this list would go something like this:

Living room

  • Entertainment center components
  • Media (DVDs, video games, etc.)
  • Accessories
  • Books
  • Pictures

I’m going through and doing this for my entire house because it gives me a discrete list of steps I can take as I go through and pack up the house.  Which I can CROSS OFF as I complete them.   And guess what?  Same information goes on the box so that I know where it needs to go in the NEXT house.

Next week, I’ll be talking about whether you really need that…

5 thoughts on “Efficiency 101: Organizing Your Move

  1. Moving is a curse word, IMO. We moved here four years ago, and I’ll never move again, I swear. We threw away a ton of stuff and still came with too much. The amount of last minute crap that has no place is amazing!

  2. My lists have lists. One room at a time, what you need ASAP separate fm what you can take your time w/. I even keep the original boxes electronics come in and repack them. Keep shoes in clear, plastic boxes so they stay clean & when moving, don’t get trashed. Call me anal, but my stuff arrives and I know where everything is.

    Of course, it helps that I hate clutter and get rid of clothing I haven’t worn in a year. On the downside, when John & I married he was a pack rat. He’s learned if he leaves the moving to me b/c he’s gone ahead, I have major garage sales and his “precious” items that he never uses or looks at are gone. He’s no longer a pack rat.

  3. Yep, I’ve moved several times and my hubby only once. Being an ex military brat I know how to pack things. Mine would be like your husband trying to figure out where to begin. Good luck with all your packing. Great list of how to do it. I have to remember when packing books, if I can’t lift the box, then it’s too heavy. My brother’s complaint from a couple moves. 🙂

  4. I’ve only moved twice in my life. The first time, I just brought some clothes–I’m meeting my parents in the U.S. for the first time. The second time, I just packed everything else. I don’t have a lot of stuff anyway but I’ll be at a loss with what to do when it comes to moving.

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