How to Move Like a Minimalist

Image Source: Flickr/ Cyril Caton

One of the awesome benefits of Minimalism is moving is stress free.  When your stuff is organized, and you only own things that you need, moving is a piece of cake.

Before I moved into my first apartment, I had a chucking party, where I threw out or gave away everything I didn't need.  Seriously, I moved into my apartment, with only a Honda Civic and a friend's pick-up truck for my bed.  It only took three hours to be moved and settled.  Piece of cake. 

With another possible move on the horizon, I thought I'd share some ways you can make your move stress free.   

1. Get Rid of Clutter 

As soon as you know that you are going to move, start going through your makeup drawer, your nightstand, bookcase, underwear drawer, under your bed, your kitchen utensils, and the storage closet.  If you can help it, don't buy anymore cleaning supplies, spices, food stock, or other items you use on a daily basis.  Instead, try to use up as much as you can before the move.  

Tips for Becoming a Minimalist 

Sell Your Stuff 

2. Organize Everything Into Boxes and Bins

Storage bins with handles
make moving a cinch.

What made my move super easy was having everything in bins.  If you have no loose objects, and everything is in a container, then you just pick up your bin and carry it to the next house, no packing required.  

I keep my loose items, year-round, in bins and containers.  My cosmetics are in a bin with a handle, my rock climbing gear is in another, and even my scarves are in a small box in the closet.   

Check Out My Cosmetic Bins

3.  Have Everything Packed Before the Movers Arrive 

Having all of your small stuff packed ahead of time will make moving day quick and easy.  Even if it is only a friend helping you move your furniture in his truck, having everything organized and out of the way, will make for a stress free move for everyone involved.  There is nothing worse than tripping on clutter while trying to get the couch out of the door.  My suggestion is to take all of your bins and pile them up away from the furniture, so that there is plenty of space to move the larger items.

More Posts on Minimalism 

Minimalism is a State of Mind

Minimalism and Freedom

How to Emotionally Detach From Items

Organize Your Garage

Source: Flickr: Matt Howry

Drive down any street in America and keep an eye out for homes with the garage doors open. You might find one or two per block, on a warm summer evening, in a good part of town.

Now, without being creepy, peak into the garage, and tell me what you see.  Furniture, holiday decorations, boxes of old clothes, aging sports equipment, enough canned food to feed a small country.

Count how many cars are sitting on the street because the garage was taken up with stuff. Garages were built to house our cars but somehow they became America's favorite storage facility. As if packing out a 2400 square foot house wan't enough space, the garage is seen as n extra 200 feet of prime real estate.

Why Do People Pack Out Their Garages? 

It's starts with a small compromise and a pile in the corner of something you think you will need later on in life.  Then a few extra boxes later, dumping stuff in the garage doesn't feel so bad. There is nothing more dangerous than the "I'll do it later" pile.

Apathy may be one cause, but fear seems to be the primal issue.  We love to keep things we don't need out of fear that we will need them again.  We are fearful of regret or that we won't be able to afford a replacement if we end up needing it.

Help! My Stuff is Taking Over My Garage 

Maybe you're reading this and you're thinking that your garage is starting to look like this.  Well, I'm here to help!

First, read How to Emotionally Detach From Items.  Once you've identified that your clutter is an emotional attachment, you can begin to fix the ways you think about your stuff.

Here are some questions to ask yourself: 

Can my stuff be used by someone else?

Would having money in the bank be more beneficial than owning this stuff?

If I haven't used an item in 5 years, realistically will I ever use it again?

Would I feel less mentally cluttered if cleaning the garage wasn't on my perpetual to do list?

Is the mental stress of these items worth their replacement value?

Start Small 

Going through a whole garage is a lot of work, probably too much work for one weekend.  Pace yourself.  Go one box at a time.

Make it a goal to get everything off of the floor and up onto a shelf. Shelving kits are cheap and can help you organize things like tools, paint cans, cleaning supplies, and sporting goods.

Sell your unneeded items on ebay, have a garage sale, or donate them to charity.


It's a lot of work, but wouldn't it all be worth it to come home to this everyday?

A clean garage
Source: Flickr: Dave Nakayama 

Minimalism Offers Something For Everyone

Do you want to live like this?
Flickr: Davidd.  CC-BY-2.0

Or like this?
Flickr: Rooey202. CC-BY-2.0

Whether you want to live out of a suitcase and travel the globe, or just keep up a clean basement, minimalism offers something for everyone.  Living an uncluttered, healthy, and rewarding lifestyle, offers immense benefits to people from all walks of life. 

There is a tendency within the minimalist community to dwindle ones life down into oblivion, which may not be realistic for all individuals.  The important thing is to keep only what adds substance to your life, and remove any baggage that is weighing you down.  How much you decide to carry through this life is a personal decision but don't forget that you can't take it with you.