Moving house. The phrase alone can send shivers down your spine. It conjures images of endless boxes, mountains of bubble wrap, and the dreaded question: Where do I even start? Everyone has advice. Your aunt, your neighbor, that random blog you found online. They all preach the same gospel: "Pack the least used items first!"
Oh, really? The least used? What even is that? Is it the fancy dinner plates gathering dust in the back of the cupboard? Or that collection of vintage thimbles you inherited but never look at? It's a trick question, folks. It's designed to make you freeze. To make you overthink. To ensure you stare at your belongings for hours, paralyzed by indecision.
Well, I'm here to offer a revolutionary, perhaps even scandalous, counter-argument. An unpopular opinion that might just save your sanity. Forget the "least used" myth. Embrace the glorious, liberating chaos. My philosophy is simple: Pack what annoys you most, or what fits in the box right now.
The Kitchen Conundrum: Attacking the Beast
The kitchen is often the most intimidating room. So many small things! So many crucial things! But don't start with the actual dishes you'll eat from tonight. That's for later. Instead, target those rogue items. That drawer full of mystery gadgets? The one with three different potato peelers and a garlic press you haven't touched since that ambitious lasagna attempt in 2017? That's your first victim.
Grab a box. Open that drawer. And just… dump it in. Don't sort. Don't categorize. Just clear the space. Feel the rush of accomplishment as that drawer, once a monument to culinary confusion, becomes gloriously empty. Label the box "Kitchen Randoms" or, even better, "KITCHEN JUNK." You'll figure it out on the other side.
Next, move to the pantry. Not the pasta you use every week. No, no. Go for that half-eaten bag of artisanal quinoa from last year. Or the three different types of flour you're pretty sure have expired. They fit nicely into a box. And boom! Progress. The goal isn't perfect organization in the box, it's getting stuff *out* of your current cabinets.
Bathroom Bedlam: Taming the Toiletries
The bathroom seems small, but it hides a surprising number of items. Your toothbrush, toothpaste, and daily moisturizer? Those stay out until the very last minute. We're not animals. But what about that basket of travel-sized lotions you collected from hotels? The extra towels you never use? That collection of almost-empty shampoo bottles?
Again, a box. And a simple mantra: If it's not essential for today, it's fair game. Clear off a counter. Empty a cupboard. Don't worry about grouping all the "hair products" together. Just get them into a box. Call it "Bathroom Bits." Or "Future Spa Day." The act of removing items is the victory here.
Bedroom Blues: Conquering the Closet
Ah, clothes. The ultimate packing challenge. Most people suggest packing seasonal clothes first. But who has the brain space for that? Instead, try this: Look at your closet. Which side do you *never* look at? Or which section holds clothes you haven't worn in months?
Grab a stack. Fold them, or don't. Just get them into a box. Don't try to sort by color or fabric. This is about emptying, not curating. Your everyday clothes can be packed in a separate, easily accessible box. Think of it as your "Moving Day Survival Kit." Everything else? Into the void of cardboard.
Living Room Liberation: Book Bonanza
Bookshelves. Beautiful, yes. But a beast to pack. Forget alphabetical order. Forget genre. Pick a shelf. Any shelf. And just start stacking. Books are excellent box fillers. They are sturdy. They are predictable. Emptying a shelf offers an instant visual reward. That big, empty space is a testament to your efforts.
What about decorative items? Those little trinkets, the picture frames, the vase your grandmother gave you? Wrap them lightly in newspaper (or, let's be honest, just toss them carefully into a box with towels). Label it "Fragileish Decor." The joy of seeing surfaces clear is immense.
The Power of Progress, Not Perfection
The conventional wisdom about packing often leads to analysis paralysis. My method, the "Pack What You See, Or What Annoys You" strategy, is about building momentum. It's about seeing visible progress, one box at a time. It's about feeling the triumph of an empty shelf or a clear counter. You don't need a PhD in logistics to move. You need boxes, tape, and a healthy disregard for perfection.
Moving is stressful enough. Don't let the packing order add to your anxiety. Embrace the chaos. Laugh at the random assortment in your "MISC" box. Your future self, unpacking in your new home, will thank you for simply getting it done. Because, let's be real, you're going to open that "KITCHEN JUNK" box and immediately know exactly where everything needs to go. Or, at least, you'll pretend to.
