It’s almost the start of the academic year in universities, but you still have time to prepare for an exciting chapter of your life.
For university students studying in Central London, part of the preparation is looking for accommodation options like hostels, flats and dorms. Once you’ve decided on where to live, the next step is packing and moving into your home for the next year or longer.
Packing and moving in can be a stressful experience, especially if you’ll be moving out of your home for the first time. Here’s a basic guide that will help make your moving in less stressful.
Travel Light
Some accommodations like university halls and hostels have limited space. To avoid overpacking and causing clutter, call the landlord or whoever’s in charge of the halls and ask what’s already available at your accommodation, such as bins, desk lamps and cleaning supplies. Some accommodations are also strict about having items like candles and sharp objects. Knowing what not to bring will reduce items that will take up unnecessary space in your luggage.
Packing the Essentials
It’s tempting to pack your whole life into boxes and suitcases. However, it won’t be the end of the world if you leave some items behind. Be realistic about what you need. You will need many things, but it might be more practical to buy them when you’ve settled into your new space.
When packing, sort your belongings according to category. These include:
- Bedroom: Blankets, pillowcases, doorstops, clothes hangers
- Bathroom: First-aid kit, medicine, bath towel, laundry bag, toothbrush
- Kitchen: Cutlery, mugs, reusable food containers
- Study: Stationery, journal or planner, pens and pencils, sticky notes
- Clothing: Everyday clothing, formal clothing, smart casual clothing, nightwear, seasonal clothing, swimwear, raincoat
- Electronic items and entertainment: Laptop and charger, phone and charger, hairdryer, extension cords
- Important documents: Passport, driving licence, official university documents, bank details and bank card, National Insurance card
Leave some space in your suitcase for items with sentimental value, such as photos of your family and friends. This will give your new space a touch of home.
Bringing the Items to Your Accommodation
Pack your clothes in suitcases and the rest of your belongings in labelled boxes. Fold and stow some of these boxes, since you’ll need them when you leave at the end of the year or when you move to another accommodation.
Then you have to figure out how you’ll bring your belongings to your lodging. If you have your own vehicle, that’s great. You can also ask your roommates if you can share lifts. There’s also the option of hiring a moving service to deliver your boxes.
Unpacking Your Belongings
When you arrive, the first thing you’ll want to do is unpack and figure out where your belongings will go. Start with the bedroom so that the space feels personal to you right away. Then you can put away the essentials for the bathroom and kitchen.
Once you’ve put everything in its place, determine other items that you need that you can buy nearby. This also enables you to familiarise yourself with the neighbourhood.
As the start of the academic year approaches, it’s understandable to feel eager about moving to university, but to also be overwhelmed and intimidated at the thought of packing and moving in. Knowing what items to pack and the next steps after arriving in your accommodation will make your move more seamless and enjoyable.
