How to make moving-in day less stressful
How to make moving-in day less stressful
If you are moving into accommodation, when you start university, the move can be filled with excitement, at your newfound independence and freedom, but it can be exhausting and anxiety inducing. That’s why we want to share some tips with you to help you navigate this monumental day.
Create a checklist
OK, you need to get organised well before your move in date. And that starts with creating a list of everything you need to do and buy. And you don’t need to create it from scratch, just use AI to help you generate a comprehensive list.
Once you have the list pin-it up on a noticeboard or fridge and break it down into a weekly “to do list”. And if you are an international student moving to the UK, put down all the critical dates so that you don’t miss out on getting important things sorted, like your visa, on time.
Spend time with family and friends
A big part of preparing to leave the family home, and your friends is to arrange time for you to be able to say goodbye properly and celebrate this new chapter of your life. Leaving your parents, siblings and friends can be hard and sad. So, make sure you give yourself enough time to spend quality time with everyone that matters.
And make plans to speak to them regularly and put a date in the diary for a visit back home. It will be good for everyone and help you tackle homesickness.
Copy your documents
Whether you’re moving to a new city or you an overseas student, gather all the paperwork you will need from your university offer letter, details about your course, your visa, your tenancy agreement and so many other important documents and organise them into plastic wallets, so they don’t get soiled, and you can easily find what you need when you need it.
You should also scan important documents and either have them on a USB or upload them onto cloud storage service like Dropbox, so you can access them whenever you want.
Connect with roommate before you move in
If you are moving into purpose-built student accommodation or student halls, it’s likely that there will be a way for you to connect with people that will be in your dorm or on your floor. Many accommodation providers, set up WhatsApp groups or set up a meet-up session via a video call. Find out when these will be and participate if you can because it will make a big difference when you move in. Not only from a social perspective but also from a practical point of view. For example if you will be sharing a kitchen with others, instead of buying everything you could all decide to chip in and all buy one or two items that you are happy to share.
Starting packing early
Start the hard work of packing early because we promise you you’ll pack and unpack a million times. Try and zone things, such as all your winter clothes, toiletries, medicines, so that they can be easily found. And label everything. One trick is to create an itemized list and number each box or bag, so that you can find things that you need urgently without having to remember where you packed it.
Pack things cleverly
We get it you want to take most of your personal belongings to make your new place feel cozy and like home but be brutal because you cannot take everything. And be clever about how you pack. One hack you can use is to roll your clothes up as tightly as you can. Rolling your clothes will save you a lot of space and helps them from becoming wrinkled, when you unpack them.
Download useful apps
There are hundreds of apps available to help you settle into your new city and into student life. Start researching what is available before your move in date and download things that will help you navigate the city you’re moving to, keep you healthy, help you learn how to cook and help you manage your mental health.
Wear comfortable clothes
This may sound obvious, but it’s likely your day will start early and end very late, so check the weather forecast on the day you will be moving into your accommodation so you can dress accordingly and be comfortable. A top tip here is to layer your clothes, so you don’t feel hot or cold. If you are an international student coming to the UK for the first time, be aware that the weather can change quickly in the UK. In fact, we have a saying that “you can experience all the seasons in one day”.
So, do pack a raincoat or an umbrella and ideally don’t pack your things in carboard boxes, as they will disintegrate in the rain.
Contact your accommodation before your move-in date
It goes without saying read everything that you get from your landlord and whether they asked you or not confirm the date and time you will be arriving. Also, ensure you have a telephone and an email address for both office and out of office hours, in case you need to contact them in an emergency.
