- By Times’ Junior Journalist Pia Grover
Many people including me underestimate the pressure, hard work and stress associated with packing before the big move.
It’s easy to get caught up in emotions, even after the final decision is taken to pack and move.
I am very excited as I love to explore new places and have new adventures.
But, at the same time I know I’ll miss my childhood home and the memories I’ve created in the area.
Packing and moving houses can be super stressful, nerve racking and overwhelming, but with the right techniques and tips you can create your own little shield against most of the stress.
Before the packing process, your top priority is to collect carton or cardboard boxes to put all your stuff inside of.
One of the ways to do that is to go around the community, ask family and friends, go to grocery stores or have a browse on online platforms to see if anyone has spare boxes they wouldn’t mind giving away.
My mum collected boxes through Facebook and a few family friends.
We ended up getting loads of boxes in all different sizes; some big enough for even an elephant to fit in and some small enough for the little teddy bear, aka soft toys, to sleep in.
Next focus is on decluttering! This phase includes sorting and minimising all your stuff and categorising them into different sections like “donation”, “to keep”, “toss away”, and “potentially re-sell”.
This is a great way for organising that gives a clear indication of what gets packed and what doesn’t.
One can also identify delicate items at this stage to set aside little extra time to pack them properly.
Having a garage sale or selling things through online platforms is great for the environment, helps declutter, make extra money and connect with your community/neighbourhood.
So why not try it out? When I started packing it was difficult to decide what to keep and what to donate, but eventually it came down to what I have or haven’t used or worn in the past six months.
It was tough to decide but in the end we got there. After all, “our needs” are much less than “our wants”.
I had to ask the same question again and again: If I actually needed the given item.
Once you have your “to keep” pile, you can then start packing, but remember to label the boxes clearly with Post-its or by sticking a slip that lists its contents.
Try not to write on the actual box as you might give it to somebody in the future who’s moving or has a need for them like you.
This was very, very helpful as I don’t have a strong memory and it saved me and my family from opening all the boxes to look for something small like a toy crown or my favourite shirt.
Through packing stuff in suitcases or boxes, decluttering and colourful labels, hopefully the next phase of moving doesn’t seem as impossible as it did to you a few minutes ago.
Remember to keep first-day stuff handy and accessible along with foods, drinks and heaps of yummy snacks.
- Pia Grover is in year 8
