Spring Cleaning/Moving Tips
It’s that time of the year. The birds are chirping, the sun is out, and a strange sense of crippling anxiety about the next year is starting to set in, specifically about housing.
As a freshman here at Elon, moving out of my small, compact dorm in Brannock Hall in May will be beyond stressful for me. Thankfully I’ve managed to secure an apartment in Oaks next year, bringing with it more space for my belongings and, most importantly, a private bathroom.
Even though the moving out process can be stressful, there are many ways to get ahead of the process now, taking anxiety out of the process later down the road.
1. You know all those winter coats and sweaters in your closet? Yeah, pack those up now and take them home for spring break! The amount of boxes needed to pack up your closet will diminish and you will have far more space in your closet for your new spring wardrobe that you’re about to order online.
2. Oh, add those books from Fall and Winter term that you were cornered into buying. Yup, pack those up and bring them home. Books are bulky and take up a lot of space in those small storage pins that are way too overpriced to begin with. Save money and space by getting them out of the way now. Also, you can start reselling them for some extra cash!
3. Start making a list of belongings and furniture that can and cannot be used next year. While housing placements haven't been finalized, especially for rising sophomores, it’s important to sort out what you have now so you can get ahead on how many boxes you'll have to bring or how bad moving into your next year housing will be in the summer. Trust me, while I’m excited, I am not mentally or physically prepared to haul chairs up three flights of stairs.
4. Coordinate with your roommates or suitemates. There is nothing worse than having to move in extra stuff and waste precious room, especially for those living in dorms! In fact, coordinating with roommates or suitemates can lead to creating unique themes for rooms or apartments. Want to do a nautical theme? Drop anchor on some great rope and blue hued posters. Want to do a starry night theme? Light up the ceiling with string lights and dark drapes to counterbalance sunlight.
5. Have fun with moving out! We all know how exhausting it can be, not to mention sad! For me, I can’t help but feel like I’m going to miss my freshman dorm and all the memories. Blast music and have fun with your roommate or suitemates in packing boxes up. Chances are you are only in that room once for the rest of your life; get sentimental about it!
While everyone’s situation is different, there is no denying the turmoil that the moving out process brings. Whether you’re an incoming freshman moving into a small cube or a sophomore about to enter the heavenly gates of Mill Point, take my advice now to make the process a lot less stressful.