Lessons Found in a Cardboard Box

You know that infamous cardboard box that’s with you every time you move houses – the “junk box”? Anyone who’s ever moved has dealt with this dreaded box. It contains miscellaneous items that were lying around after everything else was packed.

In a lot of cases (and some of you can relate to this, I’m sure) the Junk Box was simply tossed out after months of sitting around unopened in the new house. Why? Because those items inside are the last thing you want to deal with after a move, just like they were before you moved.

Do the math. In my experience, I was unable to find items that had been in these discarded boxes, and found myself replacing them. When all it would have taken to spare myself some time and money, was a little helpful organizing before the move.

The Junk Box has taught me a valuable lesson about having an organized lifestyle: had I kept those random objects sorted and organized prior to my move, they wouldn’t have ended up in the Junk Box and eventually in the trash!

How to avoid this problem in your next move:

   •Detect Junk-Box Offenders: Learn to recognize what possessions of yours could end up constituting a Junk Box.

   •Pack for Success: Instead of merely jumping into packing, spend a day before you start that’s dedicated just to organizing. We think it’s silly to organize things before packing them, but it’s actually essential.

   •If the Junk Box is unavoidable, turn it into something you won’t mind dealing with in the new home. Organize the miscellaneous items in a small plastic chest or decorative box and then pack the whole thing. Then there’s just one thing to unpack, instead of an overwhelming box of junk!

Posted August 8, 2007, filed in Clutter Control Products, Living Simply, Clutter Hacks