Whether it’s before college or once you’re married, most of us in modern civilization move out of our parent’s houses and spread our own wings at some point or another. Moving out for the first time is an experience that many people come by in the early stages of their lives. For most young adults, this experience comes between the ages of 18-22. Typically, we move out to attend college, whether that be in another state/country or just a few hours from your hometown. But maybe it’s not for college; lots of people also just want to move out of their parents’ home to experience things for yourself. While this experience is all normal and natural, it’s rare to hear personal stories and experiences about moving out for the first time coming from anyone other than your own parents.
Creating a space that is nothing but your own is something of pure magic. Not having to follow the “house” rules and being able to test all your personal boundaries comes with this experience. Staying up until 5 AM and sleeping until 12 PM without judgment sounds like heaven until reality kicks in. Moving out for the first time is wonderful in many ways but it does have challenges as well. Groceries, cleaning, laundry, and utilities are just some of the added stressors most new movers don’t think about until they have to deal with it.
Time management is a huge part of living on your own and it is often highly overlooked. While each of these newfound responsibilities are overlooked and often conquered over time, why not use the advice so rarely shared by other first-time movers. Here are some helpful tricks to kickstart your new and independent life.
PLAN YOUR WEEK:
As invasive as this may sound, planning out when you will have time to go to the store, get your homework done, and or hang out with friends is going to make your life so much more carefree and will reduce stress immensely.
MEAL PREP:
On a Sunday night when you don’t have a ton to do, use this spare time to cook for the week, thus allowing you for even more spare time when the week comes! Use Tupperware containers and recipes that last so you don’t have to worry about cooking during your jam-packed week. And it’s helpful to switch it up throughout the weeks so you don’t get bored of the same chicken and rice. You can make it fun by turning on some music or your favorite show and then you will begin to look forward to meal prepping and eating those future meals!
LAY CLOTHES OUT THE NIGHT BEFORE:
As silly as this habit sounds, laying your clothes out for the next morning, especially when that morning involves school or work, will be a crucial time-saver. Giving yourself that extra 10-20 minutes in the morning will change the way you view and perceive the rest of your day. A calm morning leads to a calm day and as a new move myself, that’s often sought after.
As you begin life on your own, incorporating these practices into your daily rituals will give you just the right amount of free time and relieve anxiety, allowing you to feel like you are at least a little bit more put together. Don’t just take my words for it, but take your parents’ too. Enjoy a moment of peace while taking a look at your put-together, independent space.