Moving out at the end of the school year always hits me with a mix of excitement and dread. Back in the beginning of the year, I packed in a rush, tossing all my belongings into a suitcase. Somehow, I brought back things I hadn’t touched in months (7 pairs of trousers?!). This time while moving out, I wanted to make more intentional choices while I packed. So, here’s what I did to make it more organized and less chaotic!
Sort Into Realistic Categories
I started this process in the beginning of April, set aside a garbage bag to start throwing in items around my apartment I never reach for: utensils, decorations, clothes, skin care, craft supplies, snacks, and empty pens (why did I even have those?). Once I was done, I felt motivated to keep sorting Once I had the pile of things I no longer use, all I had to do was sort them in different bags to donate (anything in good condition), toss out (broken or damaged), keep (might use again), and recycle (printouts of readings or batteries).
Let Things Go
One of my biggest challenges has always been holding onto things I think I might need someday. Like the mini whiteboard I never used after second year or the pair of skirts that never quite fit anymore. I reminded myself that if I didn’t use it this year, I probably won’t miss it next year. So, I decided to donate those. I have always kept small memory boxes for birthday cards, photos, gifts, and tiny things that make me smile. It was another challenge for me to let go of these, so I got an organizer and put them all together in one box. I couldn’t let them go! (You can also take pictures of items you need to let go of).
Donation Bins / Marketplace:
For donation bins, I checked out UBC’s end of the term resources for moving out. There are usually on campus bins inside residences for donating household items, clothes, and study materials, and I even saw people posting gently used household items on Facebook marketplace.
Planning this way made things way less overwhelming for me. I felt like I was ending the year with more clarity by being intentional with my choices. If you’re reading this during finals season: good luck, and maybe decluttering your study desk first will help more than you think!
