Welcome March! We start the spring season this month and for many people that means spring cleaning and organizing. For me this year it means moving. I have moved a lot in the past 10 years and I’ve become pretty good at it, but every time I tell myself that I’ll do it differently next time. I always say I’ll get rid of extra stuff this time. I convince myself I’ll have a garage sale or donate it. This has yet to happen. The truth is a lot of the stuff I can get rid of is still packed from last time, so it’s much easier to leave it packed and load it up with everything else.

What makes moving this time extra hard is that our new house is not ready yet, so we’ll be staying for a month or so in a rental. The trouble is, now I have to pack two sets of boxes, one set for the essentials I’ll need to get me through my month of a temporary living arrangement, and everything else. Doesn’t seem too hard does it? Like packing for a vacation, right? Not quite!

Here is the strategy I use:

Room by room – Pack least used rooms first – save your bedroom and bathroom for last. Pack everything in the guest bath and guest rooms.

Item by Item – All decorative stuff (dustables) should be packed first. Followed by pillows, fabric items, roll up rugs, pack lamps etc. Pack all books, electronics stereo equipment, CDs. Label the cords and wires for all with tape and/or put in individual Ziploc bags. Save large framed wall pictures for last.

Kitchen – Plan on not cooking or baking and using paper plates. Eat all leftovers during the packing period or throw them out. Pack all but a few med size storage dishes, one pot, one sauce pan, one measuring cup, one cutting board, two knives, a wooden spoon – leave out the crock pot and the coffeemaker. Don’t procrastinate in here, the kitchen can be puzzling and a bit overwhelming. You really can do without most of your stuff. Pack the spices, baking ingredients, dry goods, cans, etc. Throw out the almost empty stuff or anything you can’t remember when you bought. Leave out all cleaning supplies.

Home Office – Pack all books, dustables, etc. Put files in file boxes – label them! Box up all general office supplies, pens extra notebooks, paper. Clear off you desk completely and set out only what you’ll need to pay bills and complete work. Now is not the time to try and start a project like organizing your receipts and old bills. Again, labeling is important here, you’ll thank yourself when you go to unpack.

Personal Bathroom – Set out one set of towels, pack all the rest. Set out your daily use toiletries. Forget about what if you want to get dressed up to go out. Pack anything you don’t use on a daily basis. (If you end up missing it, you can always make a quick run to the drugstore) Pack all medicines, throw out (responsibly) anything expired or missing its instructions or labeling. Throw out all near empty bottles. Go through your make-up and put together one cosmetic bag to use. Pack the rest (or throw out according to same guidelines as food and medicine).

Bedroom – Pack all clothes not in season first. Then switch to dustables and decorative items. Go back to closet and drawers, pack more clothes that you won’t wear (if you haven’t worn it in a while – you won’t now, pack it). Switch to packing any bedroom electronics, lamps, stereos, CD’s etc. Leave out the alarm clock. Pack all your exercise gear, maybe set out one work-out outfit if you regularly use it. Pack extra pillows, sheets, bedding. Then go back to your clothes – pack a suitcase like you’re going on a trip. Anything left over in the closet or drawers- pack it!

Voila! You’re done! Now the last things to do will be pack the wall art, move the furniture, and clean your way out. I’ll let you know next week how well I follow my own advice! Do you have any moving tips to share? Please leave a comment below on what works for you.