Packing can be overwhelming. It’s also the most important part of your move. The better you pack, the faster we will be able to move, and the happier we’ll all be at the end. Here are some ways to be kind to yourself and your movers, so that your move goes as smoothly as possible.

Don’t Procrastinate
This one’s for those of you who spend a lot of time in the Dark Playground. We’ve been there, we’ve gotten out, and we know you can too. You’re like, “Yeah, right. Procrastination is a way of life.” We hear you, and here’s what you’re gonna do. You’re gonna take a deep breath, and you’re just gonna start packing a little bit at a time. Just a few boxes a day, pack all that stuff you don’t ever use—all the clothes in the back of your dresser, the books you aren’t reading, and all the stuff you’ve got hiding away. Go from least used to most used. It’ll be way less overwhelming this way, and you’ll have way less surprises. And the BEST part? You’ll have an accurate list for your movers, who will be able to properly prepare for your move, your quote will be accurate, you will feel much better at the end and we’ll all be giving each other high fives.

Invite a Friend to Hang Out
They can help if they want, but even just a little moral support goes a long way, especially when you’re in the home stretch.

Keep Us Updated
We get it. You filled out the list and now that you’re actually packing, you’ve realized you have a little more than what you expected. That’s fine, just let us know as soon as you do, so that we can be prepared for the job. The last thing you want is for your movers to arrive unprepared. We can only guarantee to move what is on your list. We put this tip on two different pages, because it is super freaking important.

Pack One Space at a Time
This will help you stay organized and keep the overwhelm down. Label everything in that space as you finish it, and you’ll feel super satisfied each time you get a space done.

Drink Water
Just a reminder.

Empty your dressers.
We get it. You’re already stressed enough with everything you have to do. And it’s already basically packed. And wouldn’t this just make packing and unpacking so much easier? No No No. Packed dressers can be extremely heavy and unsafe, especially for some dressers, which can crack and break under the stress of all the added weight. Besides, when was the last time you saw any of that stuff anyway? Maybe this is an opportunity for a little self discovery…

Keep Book Boxes Small
Got a lot of books? Hell yeah! So do we. But here’s the thing—books are heavy, and big boxes of books are super heavy. We’re strong, but we’re still mostly human. So keep those book boxes small. At this point, you may be like, “But why don’t you just use your anti-gravity guns,” Nice try, buddy, you think we don’t know that anti-grav devices are outlawed on this timeline until 2034? No sir, no Time Police for us, thankyouverymuch.

Wrap Your Dishes
This may seem self explanatory, but we can’t tell you how many times we have shown up to a job, and the glassware is packed loosely in a box or, even scarier, a canvas bag. This is usually a result of not following the first tip, ‘Don’t Procrastinate.’ Please don’t be this person. It’s not good for your dishes, and it can be really dangerous for your movers. Trust us, we have the scars to prove it. You can wrap your dishes in newspaper, cloth, or packing paper. Just anything to keep them stable during transport. Note: We will not transport unwrapped glass items. No exceptions.

Mark Fragile Items
If you’ve got fragile items, let us know by labeling the box. And you can even add what is fragile about them. This will give our crew valuable information regarding how to manage your boxes to make sure they make it to your final location safely.

Protect Your Valuables.
Take care of your super valuable or irreplaceable items. These are your family heirlooms, that ceramic sea turtle you made when you were 7, your Fabérge Eggs, etc.
These items cannot be replaced by anyone! Take care of them, BBs!

Know Where Your Tools Are
If you’ve got tools, pack them last. You might need them unexpectedly at the end of your move, and you might want to know where they are when you get to your new apartment. This is especially true if some of your items require special tools to assemble or disassemble.

Have a survival Pack
You’re packing all your stuff up, so put aside a few things that you know you’ll need the day of your move. A change of clothes, your computer, phone charger, portal gun, etc.

Always Bring A Towel
You just never know when you’re going to need your towel.

Relax
One foot in front of the other, it’s gonna be fine. 🙂