The first thing to do when preparing for a move is to begin gathering boxes. There are two ways to do this. First, you could simply purchase the boxes. This is the more expensive option, but if you can afford it you have just made the packing process much easier. Boxes or moving cartons can be purchased at UPS stores, shipping stores and even some hardware stores.

Most people choose a less expensive route; they use free boxes. If this is your plan, begin gathering boxes in advance. Let friends know that you are looking for moving boxes and ask them to help gather them. The wider your net, the better your catch will be. Computer shipping cartons are great boxes for packing, so specifically ask about those. They are a good size, they are very sturdy, and when they are available they are usually available in multiples, because companies like to order computers in batches.

The second thing to do is purchase some good strong packing tape and several sharpie markers. Don’t buy the cheapest tape you can find, because it will tear and cause a lot of frustration. Buy a thick USPS-recommended packing tape. The reason for buying several markers isn’t because you will use them up. It’s because you will inevitably misplace one, and by having several on-hand you can completely avoid the stress of having to find the one you misplaced.

Third, try to group the things you pack. For example, place all of the kitchen items in the same boxes. Place bathroom items together, and unimportant things that you wish to keep but don’t want to go through when looking for some necessity. It is often helpful to completely pack up one room at a time.

And finally, label the boxes carefully on the top and on at least two sides as you seal them up. You want to be able to locate boxed items quickly, and nothing is more stressful than repeatedly searching through boxes for a must-have item that you are sure you packed and wondering all the while if you somehow left it behind. By labeling more than one side you build in flexibility on the stacking arrangement of your packed boxes. Not having to make certain they are turned a certain direction also removes stress from the process, and ever little bit of stress you dispose of makes the whole process easier.