You don’t even know how much stuff you have until you have to move. All of a sudden, every drawer, closet, and cabinet seem like a hoarder’s paradise. You might have been excited about a fresh start, but now that you’re drowning in boxes and trashbags, you start to wonder if you really needed this. If only there was something you could have done to make this easier…

Believe it or not, there absolutely is. Moving doesn’t have to be insane. In fact, it could be an opportunity to make your life simpler and walk into your next place with less baggage – literally and emotionally.

If you’re not a minimalist, that’s okay because it’s not the point. The trick is making small, intentional changes that take a big chunk of stress out of moving. 

Let’s talk about how to do it. 

Declutter, Declutter, Declutter

The first thing you should do is to book a moving company. Keep in mind that the cost will vary greatly depending on where you live and where you’re moving to. For example, movers Atlanta residents use will charge you about 85-119 USD per hour, meaning a studio apartment will cost you close to 400 USD, while a 4+ bedroom house might end up costing you just shy of 3000 USD. 

Moving companies in Dallas will charge you about 103 USD per hour, while a moving company in NYC will have an average hourly rate of 127-154 USD. 

The price will be dependant on these factors:

• Where you’re moving from
• Where you’re moving to
• Local move vs long-distance move
• How much stuff are you moving
• Home size
• Time of year
• Insurance cost
• Accessibility
• Additional services

So, as you can see, a lot of things can play into how much it’ll end up costing you. 

Once that’s been taken care of, it’s time to declutter.

1. Start Early and Go Room by Room

Decluttering works best when you take it one step at a time, otherwise it will overwhelm you. If you try to overhaul your entire home in one weekend, you’ll burn out. Instead of this, pick somewhere to start, like a bathroom or a guest room, and focus your energy there before moving on to another room.

Create a simple timeline for each space based on how much stuff is in there and how often you use it. Bedrooms and kitchens will probably need a few days, while something smaller like a linen closet can be done in an afternoon. 

1. Keep, Donate, Toss Method

This decluttering system is a classic because it works. As you sort through each room, place every item into one of the three piles: keep, donate, or toss. It’s really important that you’re honest with yourself about what you truly need, meaning that, if you haven’t used something in a year, there’s no point in keeping it. 

Things that are in good condition can be donated to local charities, shelters, or second-hand stores and anything that’s damaged or unusable should be thrown out or, preferably, recycled. You can even sell valuable items online to make some extra cash for moving expenses. 

2. Leave Sentimental Items for the End

When you come across old photos, childhood keepsakes, or gifts from old friends, it’s easy to get nostalgic, which is why you want to handle these items last. If you get to sentimental stuff first, you’ll stall your progress and most likely end up emotionally drained. 

Once you already have momentum going with easier decisions, you’ll feel more prepared to sort through belongings that are meaningful. When it comes to the pieces you can’t take but don’t want to forget, you can photograph them or create a small memory box for the most special items.

Organize What You Plan to Take With You

Moving is very stressful and there’s really no way to make it pleasant. That is, unless you have someone else do everything for you, but other than that, you’ll just have to deal with stress for a while. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t make it as easy as possible on yourself and, if you get organized, you’ll do just that. 

Once you’re done with decluttering and you know what’s coming with you, it’s time to organize it all. Make a simple inventory of essentials and valuables so you have a clear picture of what needs extra care and what can be packed right away. As you pack, label each box by room and you can even add a note about priority, like ‘open first’.

If you want to make unpacking even easier, use a color-coded system with tape or stickers so you can just glance and see where each box belongs. Fragile or awkward items like glassware, electronics, and oddly shaped decor should be securely wrapped with a lot of padding and you should always keep heavier boxes at the bottom. 

You can use a digital tool to stay on top of everything, like an app or a spreadsheet. This way, you can track what’s in each box and where it’s going. If you can stay organized at this point of the move, there’ll be no chaos of hunting for your toothbrush or chargers in a pile of boxes that all look alike later. 

Conclusion

Almost every move becomes an episode of ‘Survivor: Cardboard Box Edition’ sooner or later because hardly anyone takes the time to properly organize their stuff. But wouldn’t it be great if you could unpack with no mystery boxes and no ‘why on Earth did I bring this?!’ moments? 

Grab a coffee, turn on your Spotify playlist, and take it one small step at a time.