Packing and Un-packing…

When you are getting ready to move, what should you pack first, unpack first, not pack at all?

When you are getting ready to move the thought of getting everything you own into boxes and from your previous home to your new one can seem daunting. Who would think that the things we’ve decided we need to run our lives could be so cumbersome.

The things that you should pack first are those that are most precious to you, that way you can ensure that they are packed carefully and are more likely to get to your new home unscathed.
What is precious?

Things that are precious are those that you think say the most about you as a person—so the exact list will depend on how you see yourself. If you see yourself as a sports person, pack your trophies and medals carefully and early. Proud of your role as guardian of your family’s heritage? Get that silver into a box early.

The stuff that’s packed the very lastest of last should be the things that make you feel good in the moment. These might be the perfume that lifts your spirits, or the omelette pan that always seems to produce tasty meals. Have a blanket that’s so soft you feel like you’re sleeping on a puffy cloud, like you used to at your Grandma’s house? Make sure it doesn’t get into a box too early.
Think about what your dominant sense is (we talked about dominant senses and how you can identify yours here LINK). Be particularly attuned to mood boosters that work via it.

Moving is hard work and somewhat depressing, as while you’re doing it it’s clear that you’re leaving the site of at least some good memories, so you need to do what you can to keep yourself as happy as possible.

Don’t pack things that make you feel bad unless you really have to. If you have possession of something that’s been in your family for a while that doesn’t float your boat, try to find a cousin to love it. If you can’t find that cousin, you may need to move it along to your new home regardless of your sentiments, keeping hold of it until you can find some distant relative somewhere who’d be thrilled to adopt whatever it is. Be considerate of your long gone ancestors. Also consider the wellbeing of those in your care. For example, you may have divorced your children’s other parent and want to throw away all the photos you own that include them with your kids, but someday your kids will grow older and they may want a picture with both of their parents in it.

Do feel free to get rid of the stuff that is no longer you. Things linked to a previous hobby or interest now long gone can definitely be donated, somehow distributed to others. You need to maintain the things that say who you are now, not who you were then.

Do throw away things that no longer fit and will never fit again, or otherwise are no longer useful—they can add visual clutter to your new life, which will up your stress levels, as discussed here and also search “clutter” in the search bar top right, and also create your own report here.

Similarly, if something is no longer going to fit in your home, now is the time to deal with it, before it gets to your new place and blocks the kitchen doorway or something similar, devolving your home into, even worse than clutter (imagine!) but actual disfunction.
If you carefully consider your things, brutally honestly, what to pack when and what not to pack at all but immediately recycle, becomes supremely clear.