Residence Hall Packing Tips
The 2024-2025 academic year is almost upon us, and with that comes the return of students to campus. Of course, one of the biggest elements of returning to campus for many students is moving into a residence hall. The move-in process can be stressful, both when packing at home and when hauling and unpacking your belongings once on campus. Here are a few ways to make the move-in process a little bit easier.
1. Pack efficiently
When you are packing up your belongings, one thing to be mindful of is using your moving container space efficiently. The more efficiently you are able to pack your things, the fewer trips you will need to make from your vehicle to your residence hall room once on campus, which will speed up your move-in process. Fewer boxes and tubs to unpack will also decrease the amount of time needed to get settled in.
2. Be mindful of weight
Another highly important thing to consider when packing your belongings is how heavy you are making the container. By being mindful with how heavy you are making a container, you will save yourself a potential headache during move-in. The last thing you want is getting halfway up a flight of stairs and dropping a box or tub and your belongings cascade down the stairs. Another aspect of this is putting heavier items at the bottom of the container, as that will not only make containers less prone to tipping over, but will also better protect the items in the container, as lighter and fragile items will not be crushed by heavy items on top of them.
3. Sort by season
If you are not from the area and are planning on bringing either a semester’s worth or year’s worth of items during move-in, it is wise to pack by season. Although weather can change quickly in Indiana, odds are slim you will need your winter coat and boots in the first few weeks of the academic year. So, if you pack by season, you can keep items more geared toward winter packed up and stored away, which will decrease the amount of time you spend unpacking during move-in.
4. Pack your vehicle the night before if possible
This is something that can greatly decrease your stress level on move-in day. By loading your vehicle the night before, you are avoiding the possibility of getting slowed down with unexpected delays and difficulties that could quickly lead to a frantic and stressful day. Having your vehicle packed and ready to go ahead of time will allow you to get your move-in day off to a good start and set the tone for the rest of the day.
Moving into your residence hall is one of the most exciting days of the year, so hopefully these tips will help things go just a little bit smoother and get your academic year off to a good start!
