Ah, the joys of packing. Whether you’re moving across town or across the country, there’s nothing like the feeling of being surrounded by boxes and bags full of your most precious possessions. And while you don’t think that any human being actually enjoys doing it, there are ways to make packing a little easier on yourself—and that includes downgrading what you’re taking with you in order to reduce the amount of stuff you have to cart from Point A to Point B.
The first set of things to get rid of are those you never really needed in the first place.
These are things that served as “someday” items, or that you kept because they were gifts.
As a rule of thumb, if you haven’t used something in the last six months, chances are you won’t need it anytime soon. If an item is broken or doesn’t work, get rid of it right away—but keep any parts that might still be useful later on.
The next set of things to get rid of are those you needed at one time, but no longer do.
If you haven’t used it in six months, get rid of it. If you haven’t used it in a year, get rid of it. If you haven’t used it in two years, also get rid of it (if your item is an appliance or larger piece of furniture). You don’t need these items anymore and they’re taking up space that doesn’t belong to them.
The last category is things that are sentimental value only — meaning they have no monetary value whatsoever and aren’t useful at all; they just make me feel good when I see them (or smell them or touch them) because they remind you of your childhood or some other significant event or person in your life. These items should be kept for two reasons: 1) They’re valuable reminders about where you’ve been and can therefore help you stay grounded when you’re feeling overwhelmed with stress during downsizing our lives; 2) They might be worth something someday! For example if you were moving across country and had no room for most furniture but wanted something from your old apartment as a souvenir (and knew there was someone back home who would love and care for this thing), then perhaps there would be something worthwhile staying behind — provided that this “thing” had sentimental value beyond its monetary worth (because otherwise why wouldn’t you just sell everything?).
When deciding whether or not something has sentimental value only rather than both sentimental AND monetary value consider asking yourself these questions: 1) How often do you use this item? 2) What else could/would fulfill this purpose instead? 3) Would anyone else want/use this item more than you if you didn’t keep it around anymore?
The third set of things to get rid of are those you’re holding onto for a rainy day.
If it’s been three years and you haven’t used something, chances are that it’s time to let go.
For example, if your husband left his favorite coffee mug at the office and no longer wants to drink out of it, he probably won’t miss it when he sees it packed away in the closet when he gets back home. Don’t hesitate—just toss them in the trash or donate them right away!
The fourth set of things to get rid of are your sentimental items.
The thought of parting with your sentimental items can be incredibly difficult. Tossing out a cherished piece of jewelry or an old teddy bear may feel like losing a dear friend. But if you’ve followed the first three steps in this process, you should have already eliminated most of the things that no longer bring you joy. What’s left are those items that hold sentimental value for you but don’t add any substantial benefit to your life. If they aren’t making you happy or helping you reach your goals, then it’s time to say goodbye and move on.
Keepsakes, mementos and knickknacks that remind us of our pasts—and sometimes weigh us down in our present day lives as well!
You’ll feel less overwhelmed about packing if you downsize ahead of time.
When you downsize before your move, it’ll be that much easier to pack. Packaging and labeling boxes can take a lot of time and effort.
Our experts have found that there are three main benefits of downsizing:
- You’ll feel less overwhelmed about packing if you downsize ahead of time
- You’ll be able to pack more efficiently if you downsize ahead of time
- You’ll save money by downsizing ahead of time
Conclusion
If you want to make packing for your next trip easier, it’s best to start de-cluttering now. You’ll feel less overwhelmed about packing if you downsize ahead of time. Plus, your new minimalist lifestyle will help you focus on the things that really matter—like spending time with friends and family.
Experts like Freedom Moving and Storage are a full-service packing and moving service company designed to make your move stress free, no matter how far you are going. Contact them today for your free estimate.
