Five Things You Can Do To Make The Unpacking Process Less Stressful
Posted on: 20 May 2016
Moving can be a stressful time for people, and for some, unpacking their possessions is the least desirable part of the process. That is why it is important to establish a few unpacking "ground rules" to help make the process less difficult and angst-provoking. Below are several principles to follow during the unpacking phase to make your transition to a new home more pleasant and to help you get off to a good start in your new surroundings:
Get boxes to the right location immediately
Once the unloading begins, the first step in making unpacking easy is to direct all cartons to their relevant rooms as labeled. Resist the temptation to make a giant pile of boxes in your garage, and you will be glad you took a few extra steps to get the appropriate boxes to their correct locations. Otherwise, you may find yourself returning to the same room multiple times to unpack, costing you in time and efficiency.
Establish room priorities for unpacking
Another way to make unpacking an easier process is to begin unpacking in critical areas of the home first. Begin in your bathroom, kitchen and bedrooms, since these areas will be utilized for necessary daily living functions. While a neatly unpacked living room may the thing you most look forward to, keep in mind that you need to eat, sleep and take care of personal needs first and foremost. Once those areas are under control, you can move to the non-essential areas of your home to unpack.
Unpack first and organize later
For some people, the anxiety associated with unpacking begins with the indecisiveness associated with where and how to organize their possessions. That is why the organizational processes should come later once all the boxes are unpacked. The most important thing is to get your items out of cartons and into temporary storage locations of some type. Don't worry if you aren't completely certain about a specific item's final place; instead, just remove it from the box and place the item in a drawer, cabinet or other quick location. This will help you keep the unpacking processing moving along at a quick pace and prevent you from getting bogged down in the details.
Dispose of items not needed, used or loved
Another way to keep the process of unpacking simpler and less-taxing on your nerves is to purge your possessions during unloading. Ideally, you will have tossed out items during the packing phase, but in case you weren't able to do so, take advantage of this new opportunity to remove unneeded, unused or unloved possessions. A rule of thumb that can help you decide if something needs to be thrown away is this: If you haven't used an item in the past 12 months, then get rid of it. Don't linger in thought about each item, however, as that will slow your overall effort to get everything situated without stress.
Break down cartons as you unpack
Empty boxes can quickly pile up when you unload them one after another, and they are likely to get in your way as you go. That is why you should break each box apart by cutting the tape sealing the bottom seam and holding the flaps together. If you keep a small box cutter attached to your belt by a chain or loop, then it will be handy and easy to use when you need it. Once you cut the tape, collapse the box and store it in a flat, folded state in an out-of-the-way location. You can stack numerous moving cartons this way, and they are also more easily moved when it comes to time to recycling or throwing them away.
For more information and tips of what to do with your moving boxes, contact companies like Associated Paper & Supply.
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