Okay, deep breath. This is exciting! And also, let’s be honest, it’s completely terrifying. I remember my first move. I was so proud of myself for being an “adult” that I completely failed at the actual adulting part. I ended up using a trash bag full of socks as a pillow on my first night because I had no clue where anything was.
We’ve all been there. The goal isn’t a perfect move—that’s a myth. The goal is to survive with your sanity (and your dishes) mostly intact. So, from one former moving disaster to you, here’s the real talk on what to avoid.
Mistake 1: The “It’ll Only Take An Afternoon” Delusion
You’ve probably looked around your room and thought, “How long could this possibly take?” The answer is always, always longer than that.
Here’s the thing: packing isn’t just putting things in boxes. It’s a brutal archaeological dig through your life. You’ll find every old photo, every random charger for a phone you haven’t owned since 2015, and that one weird sock. You will get distracted. You will need to take breaks.
The Fix: Give yourself the gift of time
- Start a full week before you think you need to. Seriously. Just start.
- Hit the non-essentials first. Books. Decorations. That drawer is full of random cables and takeout menus. Get that stuff out of the way.
- Set a timer. Tell yourself, “I’m just going to pack for 45 minutes today.” It’s less daunting than staring down a whole day of it.
Mistake 2: Using Garbage Bags as a Moving Strategy
Look, I get it. Boxes are a pain. But let me tell you a story. I once moved my entire wardrobe in black trash bags. One of them, I swear, developed a consciousness and hid from me for three months. I found it later with a bunch of my favorite clothes crumpled up at the bottom of a closet, looking like they’d been through a war.
Garbage bags are for garbage. They rip. They get mistaken for actual trash. They are a one-way ticket to Wrinkle City.
The Fix: Do it halfway right
If you can’t get boxes, use your suitcases and duffel bags first. They’re literally made for this.
For clothes you care about, spend the ten bucks on a pack of wardrobe boxes. They have a bar so you can hang your stuff up. It is a game-changer. You can just move your entire closet, hangers and all, and then just hang it right back up in the new place. Magic.
Mistake 3: The “I’ll Remember What’s In This Box” Lie
You won’t. You will absolutely not remember. You will stare at a wall of identical brown cubes and have no idea which one has your coffee maker and which one has your winter sweaters. This is a universal truth of moving.
The Fix: Become a labeling maniac.
- Get a thick marker. Don’t be shy.
- Write the room AND the contents on at least two sides of the box. “KITCHEN – Coffee Stuff & Mugs.” “BATHROOM – Shower Curtain & Towels.”
- PACK A “DAY ONE” BOX. This is the most important thing you will do. This box does not go on the truck. It goes with you, in your car. It contains: your phone charger, a roll of toilet paper (I cannot stress this enough), your toothbrush and toothpaste, a change of clothes, any medications you need, your pet’s food bowl if you have a pet, a screwdriver, and snacks. This box is your lifeline.
Mistake 4: Not Having a Plan For the “Oops” Stuff
You know what nobody thinks about? The awkward timing. You have to be out of your old place by noon on the 31st, but you can’t get the keys to the new place until the 1st. Where does all your stuff go for that one night?
Or what about when you get to the new place and realize your beautiful new bedroom is approximately two inches too small for your giant dresser? Panic mode.
This is the part that can really throw you for a loop. I’ve been there, staring at a piece of furniture that won’t fit, wondering if I should just start living out of my car.
The Fix: Know your backup plan
This is where a flexible storage unit can be a total lifesaver. It’s not just for long-term stuff. It’s for that weird in-between time. Instead of trying to rent a moving truck for two days or begging a friend to let you clog up their garage, you can just swing by a secure storage facility, roll your stuff into a clean unit for a week or even a month, and breathe. It takes the pressure right off. You can move out on your timeline and move in on your timeline. No stress. No frantic calls. Just a simple, safe place to put your things while you figure it out.
The Bottom Line
Moving is chaos. But it’s manageable chaos. Just start early, pack smart, label everything, and for the love of all that is holy, pack that Day One box. You’ve got this. And when you’re done, order the pizza. You’ve earned it.
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