As we enter the last month of classes, you are likely bogged down with exams, papers, and projects — not to mention the looming threat of final exams. Something that may not be on your radar, however, is moving out of your dorm. If your first-year dorm is anything like mine was, the thought of moving everything out of your shoe-box sized room makes you feel physically ill. Here are a few tips to make it less treacherous.
- Start as soon as possible!
While this might seem both obvious and irritating — who wants to pack up their dorm when there are a million other things to do? — I promise that it is so helpful. Start by packing up some things you never use. I found it helpful to take down my posters, wall art, and other decorations early to avoid ripping them down in a rush on the morning I was moving out. Doing this has allowed me to keep using some of my favorite posters year after year.
- If you have the ability, send some things home early.
If you live close enough to U.Va. that you can drive home for the weekend — or have your parents visit you for the day — consider sending some things home early. My parents visited me during April of my first-year, and I was able to send some items home with them that I had already packed up to lighten the load on my actual move out day. While I know this option is not available to everyone, it is still something to consider.
- Consider a storage unit in Charlottesville.
I don’t have a storage unit, but I think this would be a huge help not only for moving out of your dorm, but it would also be a huge help for moving into your new apartment or dorm in the fall. This is especially a great idea if you are out-of-state and fly back and forth from home to U.Va.
- Ikea bags are the way to go.
I live and die by Ikea bags. Boxes are far too clunky and awkward to carry, and Ikea bags can expand to fit a wider variety of items — and you can even turn the handles into a backpack-style bag, increasing the number of bags you can carry at once. Minimizing the number of trips you need to take from your dorm room down to your car is always a win.
Here’s to surviving your first-year! I have my fingers crossed for a smooth finals season and a seamless move out process.