Stressed about move-in day? Not sure how to go about packing or what to pack? Well, don’t worry, we’ve all been there – some of us more than others. Just take a deep breath and read some tips from a senior on how to pack for move-in day.

1. Make a list

Some people assume they’ll remember everything they need to pack and have it all together before it’s time to move. From experience, I can tell you that you’re wrong. You will always forget something and it will drive you nuts. So, make a list. Make two lists!

If you’re moving into a house or apartment, sort the items on your list by the room they belong in. Food, plates, cups, and other cooking utensils go in the kitchen. Bed linens, clothes, and shoes go in the bedroom. Toiletries go in the bathroom. Once you’re done with the list, check it a few times to make sure you haven’t forgotten anything.

For a dorm, sort the items by category. Electronics, toiletries, clothes, school supplies, bed linens, cleaning supplies, etc. Make sure you double and even triple check your list. DON’T FORGET TO PACK ANY AND ALL MEDICATIONS!

2. Make sure everything is clean

It’s always best to wash the clothes, bed linens, and towels you’re taking with you before you leave. From experience, the dorm washing machines are quite tiny and once classes start you really won’t have much time to do any laundry. And it’s always a plus to have clean sheets to sleep on your first night in a new dorm.

Don’t forget to wash your dishes, too! That way they’ll be ready to go when you need them. Since there are no dish washers in the dorms – which is very unfortunate – you’ll be expected to hand wash everything. So, use that dishwasher at home before you leave. (No! I don’t mean your mother!)

3. Start packing

Begin at the top of the list, either with the first room or the first category written. DON’T SKIP AROUND! Skipping around on the list is the perfect way to forget something! (Mark items off as you pack them!)

Once you’re done with a category, go through everything you’ve packed to make sure it’s all there. If it is, move the packed items out of the way so they won’t get mixed up with other categories. Then, move to the next list of items and start the process over.

4. TAKE A BREAK!

You’ll start to get stressed and tired every once in a while, and that’s OK. It’s to be expected. Moving into a dorm or an apartment is a big life change, and it can be stressful. So, if you start to feel stressed out and overwhelmed, take a break. Sit down and relax for a few minutes. Take a nap, read a book, browse the web, play a game, or pet a cat. Anything to relieve some of the stress. When you feel like you can continue, jump back in and start where you left off.

5. Pack your car the night before

Packing your car the night before move-in day makes the day itself a lot less stressful. You can get a bit more sleep and you won’t have to spend an hour playing Tetris in the back of your car to make everything fit. (Tetris is fun, but not when you’re playing it for real!) The easier you make move-in day, the better it will be!

Well, look at that! Move-in day crept up on you, huh? With these few tips, move-in day can be as stress free and easy as you allow it to be! So, get to work on those lists, get the laundry done, and wash the dishes, and you’ll be ready for move-in day.