1. As you unpack items, don’t make the mistake of putting things away one at a time. Instead, unwrap EVERYTHING in a room first, group it by category, and then put each category away. This way, like gets stored with like, and you can make sure you have allocated enough space on each shelf for everything.
2. After we put things away, we always label each cabinet and drawer with Post-It notes so other family members know where to find things — and know how to put things away!
3. It’s helpful to have two paper bags near you — one for Donate and one for Trash — so you can immediately discard unwanted items as you unpack.
4. It’s also helpful to have a notebook or legal pad near you so can you make lists as you go — usually a To Do list and a To Buy list will be necessary. Sometimes a Handyman To Do list is also helpful for noting bigger, more technical projects that need to be done.
5. Break down boxes and stack them up folded as you go so you can open up floor space as quickly as possible. This will reduce your stress from standing in a room surrounded by boxes. But most importantly, it’s really demoralizing to face a mountain of boxes to break down after you’ve spent all day unpacking, and the temptation to procrastinate on this project will be strong. So it’s easier to break down boxes as you go instead of saving that project for the last.
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