Boxes, boxes, everywhere...
August 8, 2011 11:29 PM Subscribe
Did you feel overwhelmed after your move?
The movers were with us six hours yesterday and we were another five finishing up at the old place today. We can barely walk, and I have the complication of fluid in the membrane of my lung. We're in a place that's a huge upgrade for us, and yet we hardly know where to begin with these boxes everywhere we look. How did you manage?
The movers were with us six hours yesterday and we were another five finishing up at the old place today. We can barely walk, and I have the complication of fluid in the membrane of my lung. We're in a place that's a huge upgrade for us, and yet we hardly know where to begin with these boxes everywhere we look. How did you manage?
Best answer: Always. Similar advice to dchrssyr - get your essentials sorted, lots of water, allow yourself some takeout and rest if you can afford it.
Big dumb iterations always help - move boxes and big stuff to the right room, give or take, don't be strict. Do the kitchen and bathrooms first because it probably has the most practical stuff. Unpack, don't be strict, if stuff is a little misplaced it's ok - and you'll rearrange a lot of it anyhow.
As with all things that have a bit of panic to them - be mindful, stay in the moment. Enjoy the unpacking and finding all your stuff again. Don't get sidetracked with nostalgia, excess planning of overly-fucking-about with the placement of stuff. Really it's a five month process, not a one weekend one, so don't rush.
Last time I moved I hit the six month mark and gave away most of what wasn't unpacked.
posted by bbtomo at 11:52 PM on August 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
Big dumb iterations always help - move boxes and big stuff to the right room, give or take, don't be strict. Do the kitchen and bathrooms first because it probably has the most practical stuff. Unpack, don't be strict, if stuff is a little misplaced it's ok - and you'll rearrange a lot of it anyhow.
As with all things that have a bit of panic to them - be mindful, stay in the moment. Enjoy the unpacking and finding all your stuff again. Don't get sidetracked with nostalgia, excess planning of overly-fucking-about with the placement of stuff. Really it's a five month process, not a one weekend one, so don't rush.
Last time I moved I hit the six month mark and gave away most of what wasn't unpacked.
posted by bbtomo at 11:52 PM on August 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I have learnt the hard way that you *never* end up rearranging stuff, so critical are things like cupboards in kitchen - take the time to plan where will your stuff - groceries versus dishes etc, hall closets/shelves for linen vs books etc
Once planning is over, start with functioning needs:
Sense of space/overwhelm
Out of the way stuff like winter gear, sports gear, storage, basement, garage stuff can just go there - that need not be unpacked immediately and clearing it away first will get it out of sight and create a sense of one step forward.
Art to be hung up, curios to be displayed - this is upto you - will having photos around make you feel better in the den then do that up, one 'haven' done this way will help as a 'recovering' space.
Key rooms:
Kitchen - have stuff that you need for daily needs - mugs, plates, cutlery, pans out. Spices, breakfast items, coffee fixings etc and whatever you need for quick nutritious meals that don't need prep.
The fridge and freezer stuff.
Bathroom stuff
Followed by the "obvious"
Books, music, linen closet - whatever that comes out of many boxes and goes into one particular place. It clears the place up fast, gives you a sense of accomplishment in big chunks early on
Each person's bedroom:
Get boxes sorted into the rooms they're meant for, that too clears the space and can wait. Basic clothes for the next week can be taken out and unpacked.
The rest can then be slowly done over time but you have a functioning home and a space to relax in.
posted by infini at 12:24 AM on August 9, 2011 [1 favorite]
Once planning is over, start with functioning needs:
Sense of space/overwhelm
Out of the way stuff like winter gear, sports gear, storage, basement, garage stuff can just go there - that need not be unpacked immediately and clearing it away first will get it out of sight and create a sense of one step forward.
Art to be hung up, curios to be displayed - this is upto you - will having photos around make you feel better in the den then do that up, one 'haven' done this way will help as a 'recovering' space.
Key rooms:
Kitchen - have stuff that you need for daily needs - mugs, plates, cutlery, pans out. Spices, breakfast items, coffee fixings etc and whatever you need for quick nutritious meals that don't need prep.
The fridge and freezer stuff.
Bathroom stuff
Followed by the "obvious"
Books, music, linen closet - whatever that comes out of many boxes and goes into one particular place. It clears the place up fast, gives you a sense of accomplishment in big chunks early on
Each person's bedroom:
Get boxes sorted into the rooms they're meant for, that too clears the space and can wait. Basic clothes for the next week can be taken out and unpacked.
The rest can then be slowly done over time but you have a functioning home and a space to relax in.
posted by infini at 12:24 AM on August 9, 2011 [1 favorite]
Best answer: If you have enough space to do so, pile all the boxes in one room and shut the door. Whew! Now you don't have to look at them. Then remove one box at a time, deal with it, and shut the door behind it.
If you don't have enough space for that, start with one room. Unlike others above, I recommend the bedroom, because you want to be able to retire to it and shut the door and pretend the rest of the house is not a mess. Get that unpacked and tidy as quickly as possible, and then spend all your time in there unless you are psychologically ready to do more unpacking.
I was overwhelmed every one of the 20+ times I have moved house, but especially so the last time, when it was a house we had bought instead of a rental. I like to unpack fast (like within two or three days), but it still takes a month or more for the overwhelm to dissipate.
posted by lollusc at 2:39 AM on August 9, 2011
If you don't have enough space for that, start with one room. Unlike others above, I recommend the bedroom, because you want to be able to retire to it and shut the door and pretend the rest of the house is not a mess. Get that unpacked and tidy as quickly as possible, and then spend all your time in there unless you are psychologically ready to do more unpacking.
I was overwhelmed every one of the 20+ times I have moved house, but especially so the last time, when it was a house we had bought instead of a rental. I like to unpack fast (like within two or three days), but it still takes a month or more for the overwhelm to dissipate.
posted by lollusc at 2:39 AM on August 9, 2011
Best answer: A lot of what I move is books and kitchen stuff. The books (and CDs and DVDs) I just unpack and get on the shelves in whatever order. I then organize them later (it can wait a week or two, if necessary). The kitchen I like to try and get right the first time, just because I am more likely to cook and eat than need a particular book or DVD or something on any given day.
posted by GenjiandProust at 2:55 AM on August 9, 2011
posted by GenjiandProust at 2:55 AM on August 9, 2011
Best answer: How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. Of course you feel overwhelmed. A move is physically exhausting and emotionally stressful. Get some rest, have a decent meal and then take a few moments to look around at your beautiful new home. Think about the things you hope to do there and imagine how it will look once you've got everything all fixed up the way you want it.
Then, find one box that has things in it that will have an immediate impact on making you more comfortable. Unpack that box. Now, look around again and feel good about where you live. Hey what a great house! Let's fix some iced tea in your new kitchen. Where are those CDs, how about a little music? OK, ready to tackle another box!
You'll get there, bit by bit, bite by bite. Just remember to take the time to enjoy being there. Congratulations on your new place. Wishing you much happiness there.
posted by Kangaroo at 3:13 AM on August 9, 2011
Then, find one box that has things in it that will have an immediate impact on making you more comfortable. Unpack that box. Now, look around again and feel good about where you live. Hey what a great house! Let's fix some iced tea in your new kitchen. Where are those CDs, how about a little music? OK, ready to tackle another box!
You'll get there, bit by bit, bite by bite. Just remember to take the time to enjoy being there. Congratulations on your new place. Wishing you much happiness there.
posted by Kangaroo at 3:13 AM on August 9, 2011
I got bronchitis and an ear infection after my last move -- and it was only down the road! I spent the next week cooped up in bed. Terrible way to spend the last week of June :(
posted by parmanparman at 3:38 AM on August 9, 2011
posted by parmanparman at 3:38 AM on August 9, 2011
I've got a gum infection, terrible jetlag and still haven't unpacked even the strolly bag. I just took to my bed (and MeFi etc) for the past week. But it was from the arctic circle to the equator...though an already running household.
posted by infini at 3:42 AM on August 9, 2011
posted by infini at 3:42 AM on August 9, 2011
Best answer: I like what infini writes. However, the first thing I always hook up is my stereo, so I have some quality music around while I unpack my stuff.
(I almost always have a new-location-blues a few days into the experience. Don't confuse this with a) the I-will-never-get-through-all-these-boxes-blues and b) the hangover from the sheer physical exhaustion involved with the experience.)
posted by Namlit at 3:51 AM on August 9, 2011
(I almost always have a new-location-blues a few days into the experience. Don't confuse this with a) the I-will-never-get-through-all-these-boxes-blues and b) the hangover from the sheer physical exhaustion involved with the experience.)
posted by Namlit at 3:51 AM on August 9, 2011
Best answer: Make a deal with yourself that it's OK to not unpack everything and be all "Dwell magazine" by this time tomorrow. It's OK to take it slow, but do set yourself a goal of unpacking a box or two per day, at a minimum.
Get the furniture roughly where you want it. As mentioned, get the bathroom and kitchen working.
NOTE: Do not take up any offers from people who won't be living in the house to organize anything. My wife let her mother unpack the kitchen and we're still, a year later, trying to figure out the stuff we haven't moved to actual logical places in the interim.
Also, do not be afraid to throw out stuck as you unpack it. Leave a couple of boxes assembled for this stuff. You generally purge before moving, but I've always found in the panic before a move absolute crap gets thrown into boxes. If you open a box and wonder "why in the hell did we move this?" throw it out.
posted by maxwelton at 3:54 AM on August 9, 2011 [1 favorite]
Get the furniture roughly where you want it. As mentioned, get the bathroom and kitchen working.
NOTE: Do not take up any offers from people who won't be living in the house to organize anything. My wife let her mother unpack the kitchen and we're still, a year later, trying to figure out the stuff we haven't moved to actual logical places in the interim.
Also, do not be afraid to throw out stuck as you unpack it. Leave a couple of boxes assembled for this stuff. You generally purge before moving, but I've always found in the panic before a move absolute crap gets thrown into boxes. If you open a box and wonder "why in the hell did we move this?" throw it out.
posted by maxwelton at 3:54 AM on August 9, 2011 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Only just yesterday...! I would hang the idea of unpacking today, unless you desperately need pants or some such; get the pants -- and spend today checking out your new neighbourhood (don't go far; find a good bench or lookout and sit), glad-handing the local merchants ("Hullo! Just moved into the old Klazenbloot house!" can be good for a free coffee), and ordering in food. Go and revel in how wonderful the local whatever is so you feel better about all the work left to do.
Putting all the boxes in one room is a good idea if do-able.
posted by kmennie at 4:15 AM on August 9, 2011
Putting all the boxes in one room is a good idea if do-able.
posted by kmennie at 4:15 AM on August 9, 2011
Best answer: Also, make it a point to get rid of boxes as you unpack them -- flatten them and stack them in one out-of-the-way spot until recycling day. It seems like a minor thing, but it actually makes a HUGE difference to actually see the progress you're making.
posted by somanyamys at 4:31 AM on August 9, 2011
posted by somanyamys at 4:31 AM on August 9, 2011
Response by poster: We feel better already! And dchrssyr, doc told me to take ibuprofen and I've neglected to, until you reminded me. Thanks very much everyone.
posted by R2WeTwo at 4:57 AM on August 9, 2011
posted by R2WeTwo at 4:57 AM on August 9, 2011
I moved a couple years ago for the fifth time as an adult. I finally admitted to myself it takes a good year to get settled, to figure out all your systems, decorate the way you want, figure out the right place for everything, not be fumbling for light switches and looking for outlets, etc. It takes a year. Allow yourself that time - it won't be perfect tomorrow, next week, or even next month. Little by little.
posted by Miko at 5:56 AM on August 9, 2011
posted by Miko at 5:56 AM on August 9, 2011
Best answer: YES. My movers from two months ago told me that moving is the third most stressful event of our lives, after death of a close relative and divorce. And it doesn't seem to necessarily increase with distance - our move a couple years ago (three blocks) was just as stressful as the most recent cross-country one.
So definitely take it easy. You don't need to throw a housewarming party the first week, so no one has to see how long it's taking you to unpack. Put on some music that you love (or This American Life, if you're nerdy like us) to make the time go by faster. Just do what you can and don't feel bad about taking breaks, and definitely get takeout for a couple days! If you can, take some time before you're exhausted to go explore your new area, too - go sit in the local pub or bar for a beer, walk through the park, find some neat event that interests you and go to that. It'll remind you why you did this.
posted by peanut_mcgillicuty at 6:19 AM on August 9, 2011
So definitely take it easy. You don't need to throw a housewarming party the first week, so no one has to see how long it's taking you to unpack. Put on some music that you love (or This American Life, if you're nerdy like us) to make the time go by faster. Just do what you can and don't feel bad about taking breaks, and definitely get takeout for a couple days! If you can, take some time before you're exhausted to go explore your new area, too - go sit in the local pub or bar for a beer, walk through the park, find some neat event that interests you and go to that. It'll remind you why you did this.
posted by peanut_mcgillicuty at 6:19 AM on August 9, 2011
So I'm apparently the sole voice of dissent, but I kind of like moving. I like the challenge of packing all of my things as compactly as possible. I like the challenge of unpacking them into a new space, figuring out where everything fits (or doesn't.). I like throwing away tons of cruft every year when my lease is up and it's time to move again.
However, I don't have any of your health problems, so I think the people suggesting one box at a time have the right idea.
(I'm flabbergasted to learn people think it takes a year to get settled - I'm apparently the oddball in that I'm usually settled the next day. Of course, I've also moved 15 times in 13 years, so...)
posted by namewithoutwords at 7:20 AM on August 9, 2011
However, I don't have any of your health problems, so I think the people suggesting one box at a time have the right idea.
(I'm flabbergasted to learn people think it takes a year to get settled - I'm apparently the oddball in that I'm usually settled the next day. Of course, I've also moved 15 times in 13 years, so...)
posted by namewithoutwords at 7:20 AM on August 9, 2011
Response by poster: Now our landlord wants to come and take a look at something in the basement. There should be a universally accepted period during which no one but family comes just after moving.
posted by R2WeTwo at 7:37 AM on August 9, 2011
posted by R2WeTwo at 7:37 AM on August 9, 2011
Best answer: I moved every 2 years, and while I don't think it's stressful, it is tiring.
Lots of great advice above! Also remember to go out and buy a few snacks and/or easy-to-eat meals (depends on whether you have your fridge/microwave ready or not). I don't usually buy snacks, but I need them during the moving period. I'm always too busy with cleaning/unpacking to remember to cook something until I'm starving!
posted by xmts at 7:51 AM on August 9, 2011
Lots of great advice above! Also remember to go out and buy a few snacks and/or easy-to-eat meals (depends on whether you have your fridge/microwave ready or not). I don't usually buy snacks, but I need them during the moving period. I'm always too busy with cleaning/unpacking to remember to cook something until I'm starving!
posted by xmts at 7:51 AM on August 9, 2011
While I've moved a lot in my life, the past two years had me in 6 different apartments in the first 15 months due to my employer shuffling me around various university owned apartments plus I'd moved to Finland.
I found that those 'minor' moves don't take as long/aren't as stressful when helping my parents move the previous year from an apt in bldg 633 to bldg 634, the first time in 10 years for them. That upended and disoriented all of us, in the sense that Miko mentions, less to do with boxes and more to do with "home" just not being familiar and comfortable anymore (for a while), it changes the dynamics and routines within a family in a way.
posted by infini at 8:48 AM on August 9, 2011
I found that those 'minor' moves don't take as long/aren't as stressful when helping my parents move the previous year from an apt in bldg 633 to bldg 634, the first time in 10 years for them. That upended and disoriented all of us, in the sense that Miko mentions, less to do with boxes and more to do with "home" just not being familiar and comfortable anymore (for a while), it changes the dynamics and routines within a family in a way.
posted by infini at 8:48 AM on August 9, 2011
Best answer: Moving sucks. Seriously sucks. However it is a great opportunity to purge stuff - hopefully you got rid of a lot when you packed, and you can get rid of even more when you unpack!
Just remember this: the people who unpack in one day are actually robots, not humans.
posted by radioamy at 9:21 AM on August 9, 2011
Just remember this: the people who unpack in one day are actually robots, not humans.
posted by radioamy at 9:21 AM on August 9, 2011
Best answer: I moved so hard this weekend that I got heatstroke. Yes. Moving sucks. Gets easier with practice, but it still sucks.
posted by gusandrews at 9:48 AM on August 9, 2011
posted by gusandrews at 9:48 AM on August 9, 2011
Best answer: The other people who unpack in one day also have companies that do it for them. Makes it looks too easy.
posted by Miko at 12:33 PM on August 9, 2011
posted by Miko at 12:33 PM on August 9, 2011
Best answer: Yes. I have moved a lot. You end up bruised, tired, sore and displaced.
Always buy some booze and have the number of a good pizza/Chinese/Indian/etc delivery service for your first night. A bit of a drink and a full stomach always helps me relax in a strange new place (which is what your new home is at first).
posted by NoiselessPenguin at 12:48 PM on August 9, 2011 [1 favorite]
Always buy some booze and have the number of a good pizza/Chinese/Indian/etc delivery service for your first night. A bit of a drink and a full stomach always helps me relax in a strange new place (which is what your new home is at first).
posted by NoiselessPenguin at 12:48 PM on August 9, 2011 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Yes.
Moving is the worst.
Open a box. Take things out of it. Put them where they go. Collapse the box. Put it away. Do this again and again until there are no more boxes.
It takes awhile. You can go slow. In 3 months, you will not remember how awful it was, and you will be happy to live there.
posted by millipede at 2:36 PM on August 9, 2011
Moving is the worst.
Open a box. Take things out of it. Put them where they go. Collapse the box. Put it away. Do this again and again until there are no more boxes.
It takes awhile. You can go slow. In 3 months, you will not remember how awful it was, and you will be happy to live there.
posted by millipede at 2:36 PM on August 9, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
Good luck!
posted by dchrssyr at 11:42 PM on August 8, 2011 [2 favorites]