Smart Pack – Relocation done right

You’ve prepared yourself for money problems, health problems, and every other life problem you can think of, but now you’re sitting in the middle of your new living room surrounded by boxes and don’t know where to start. Moving can be stressful, and when it’s all said and done, you don’t want to have to worry about finding an outfit to wear the next day because you don’t know where everything is. I give you some great tips and advice to give you a boost!

First of all, it is important to decide what you need to bring. Moving is an opportunity to sort out some of the clutter you’ve accumulated. I recommend a three-pronged approach: Give, Throw, Pack. Sort your items by what you can/should gift, throw away, and pack for your new life. Not everything has to be saved, and you can often capture the memories of the item without having to preserve it by taking a picture of it. Photos, especially digital ones, take up much less space than your favorite college sweater that you’ll never wear again; there may be someone out there who could really use that sweater and by giving it away you are giving it new life. If you have children, try to work with them on this same process. They may not need to keep all the toys they have or all the adorable outfits they’ve ever worn.

Now that everything is sorted, manage your time well so that you don’t end up packing half of your things into random boxes just to finish; a box labeled miscellaneous never helped anyone. Give yourself a time limit to pack a box and then double it. Set aside a certain amount of time each day to pack and make it your priority. Don’t check your email, phone, and delegate to make sure no other distractions pop up. Figure out how many boxes you can pack in that allotted amount of time, then plan the number of days it will take to pack all your belongings. Also, make a list of the things you can’t live without during this process and be sure to pack those items last; do the same with any other family members who may be part of the move.

If your relocation is not permanent and you won’t be taking all of your belongings with you, or you know you won’t have access to all of your belongings until a few days or weeks after you move, it’s important to know what to do. pack so you don’t have to buy everything you need, wasting time and money. I recently spoke with an attendant on a private jet about what he brings with him for each short-term relocation. This information is valuable to anyone traveling by air and can be applied to numerous relocation scenarios. Take only three bags, your carry-on, your personal luggage, and your checked item.

Carry-on luggage should contain all the things you need for your daily life: three to seven days’ worth of medicine, valuables, important documents, a cleanup (or at least clean socks and underwear), two-dollar worth of non-perishable food to four meals, any electronic device and universal chargers and adapters necessary for your electronic devices. If you’re carrying a bag, try putting it in your carry-on or rearrange your bag so it can be your carry-on.

Your personal luggage should include the important but noncritical items that will last you a couple of weeks, like your clothes, toiletries, shoes, appliances, concentrated laundry detergent, a traveler’s clothesline, and ten pegs (you may not have access to a washer and dryer), and any other items that fit the size limit you feel is necessary.

The final bag isn’t mandatory (especially if you don’t want to pay to check something in), but it can make all the difference in what kind of experience you have those first few days in the new location. Checked luggage should include items that will help you feel more at home in your new place. You can pack a set of sheets, your favorite bowl of cereal, or some books and games—anything that helps you feel like you’re not too far from home.

If you pack wisely, you’ll be able to enjoy settling into your new place and won’t have to deal with the unwanted stress of putting your house together. So pack smart and enjoy the rewards!