Out of Chaos an organizing newsletter

Pretend You Are Moving

Lately, I’ve been working on emptying and moving two different apartments. When I started my business, a big part of my work was helping people move, I learned a lot from packing up apartments that can help you create order whether you are moving or not.

As with everything, packing is easier when the place you are packing is organized. When papers are in the file-cabinet and toiletries are in one spot, packing is pretty straightforward.

Often, when I’m helping a new client move, I find myself organizing as I pack. When you get to the back of closets and file cabinets, you find the stuff that probably should have been thrown away years ago. When you live some place a long time, it’s easy to stop seeing what is in front of you: the pile of take-out menus, the big suitcase at the back of the closet, the children’s books in your college student’s room.

Even if you aren’t moving, take a look around your place and think about how easy it would be to pack it all up. Do you have office supplies in five different rooms? Do you have seventeen handbags full of random stuff? Are there out-of-date insurance policies in the file cabinet? Do you have too many towels and sheets? Think about what you wouldn’t take if you did move, and what illogical caches of stuff would slow you down if you did need to pack up. If things aren’t worth moving, are they worth keeping?

Who knows, you might let go of so much that your current home feels brand new, and if you do decide to move, you’ll be in great shape when it’s time to pack.