Packing up and moving to a new place can be a long process, and knowing where to start that process is often the hardest part. When you’ve got an apartment full of stuff, which room do you attack first?

Determine a logical place to begin your packing preparation with this helpful overview.

Create a plan of attack
One of the first steps you should take as you begin your move is to create a packing attack plan. Take a look at the time frame you have to move. Consult the calendar and write down everything you must accomplish prior to moving day on a to-do list. Don’t forget to include move-out items like cleaning, switching utilities, securing a moving truck, and changing your address.

Then, set deadlines for each activity. All of this planning will keep you organized through the busy and sometimes chaotic process of moving.  Having written reminders of everything you need to accomplish will ensure that nothing slips through the cracks, no matter how carried away you get with packing.

Declutter
Before you start to pack a single box, professional organizers recommend you do some extra packing preparation by decluttering your apartment. Get rid of what you don’t need, don’t want, or can’t use before you move, and you’ll save valuable energy when you’re packing. Why spend time and money packing and moving things you’re only going to throw away at your new place?

Starting to pack
Once you’ve determined how to start packing, it can be helpful to make yet another to-do list. Take inventory of the things you have to pack and set priorities for all of the items.  (The very last and most important items you pack should go in your special priority box.) You can use this list as a road map as you work through packing step by step.

While packing room by room might make the most sense, in practice, you may find it more efficient to pack categories of items, regardless of the room in which they currently live. Another approach is to label and pack boxes according to where things will go in in your new apartment. Keep in mind that the simpler and more straightforward your labeling system, the easier it will be to remember what you meant when you are unpacking.

When you’re starting to pack, it’s best to begin with the items that are lowest priority for your everyday life. Plan to pack these low priority items first and leave the items you use most frequently until the very end of the process. For many folks, that means starting with items like out-of-season clothing, collectibles, or books — all things you can live without for a while. 

An entirely different option is to hire a professional moving company to handle the packing for you.

Staying organized during packing preparation
Staying organized throughout all of your packing is really important. Create a logical system that keeps you on deadline and keeps your stuff in order, and the actual move, as well as the process of unpacking, will go more smoothly than it would otherwise. 

Here are a few helpful tips to keep you organized during each of your moving steps:

• Label your boxes clearly so you and your movers can make sure things end up in the right room in your new apartment.
• Pack similar items together, like with like.
• Pack boxes the right way:  reinforce them with tape, place heavier things on the bottom, and fill in crevices with fabric items.
• Make sure you’ve got all the essential packing supplies for a successful move.