Don't wait till the night before to start packing.

Step one: Figure out how many boxes you'll need. Step two: Get triple that amount. Step three: Put everything that's not furniture into them. Leave no loose stuff.

The little, insignificant things will take far longer than the big, important things.

Dress comfortably—but don't look like a dirtbag in front of your new neighbors. Be presentable.

Professional movers actually wear running shoes, not work boots. Do as the pros do—just leave the flip-flops out of this, bro.

If your friends help you move, take 'em out and get the bar tab.

As usual, George Carlin said it best. You have too much stuff. Start divesting of your accoutrements.

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Whatever you sell on Craigslist will go for far less than you think it's worth, and will involve numerous emails and missed appointments. Consider giving it away.

A couple episodes of Hoarders will get you in the mood to lighten your load and let go of things.

So long as it has a sign attached that says "Free," any item left on the sidewalk will be gone within the hour.

Self-storage units are like Chinese finger traps. Resist the urge to put your extra stuff in there at all costs.

Thou shalt not ask your friends to help you move if you're over 35.

You may ask to borrow their truck though.

Repay the favor by returning it with a car wash and a full tank of gas.

Some of mankind's most enduring advice: Lift with your legs.

There will come a day in your 30s when you finally understand the absolute bargain in hiring professional movers.

You will chance upon one or two objects that went missing a long time ago.

If you're moving away to college: Bring your own bedding. Also consider procuring your own mattress.

If you're getting a new roommate, or becoming someone's new roommate: Start things off on the right foot with a small welcome party. Invite a few mellow friends over—yours or theirs—on the first night.

If you're moving to a foreign country: Bring one small thing that reminds you of home. Other than that, pack only the bare essentials—buy everything else there. You'll look more like the natives, and you probably won't want to wear much of what you brought anyway.

Whilst abroad, take the opportunity to enjoy the liberating feeling of being away from your old stuff and create a simpler, locally sourced mise en scène to go with your new foreign self

If you're moving back in with your parents: You are no longer a child; you are now a roommate. Try not to be the annoying roommate who eats all the food and never ponies up.

Now's also a good time to get the teenage posters off the wall. Add a touch of dignity to your personal space and your situation.

The most important furniture to have at the ready in an empty home, in order: Light, chair, table.

Keep all your valuables together in one place. Digging around in giant boxes for something the moment you really need it is not fun.

Put books in several smaller boxes instead of one large one. Break down the big load into smaller, more manageable ones. (Also see: Lift with your legs.)

Several times during the day, you will vow to never move again.

Take pictures of your old dwelling before you move, with everything still in place. Someday they'll trigger overlooked memories and take you back to a previous—and probably more carefree—time, place, and state of mind.

Pizza is the platonic ideal of moving-day sustenance: effortless arrival, easy cleanup, no utensils necessary.

Offer a couple of slices to the movers.

The best type of beer at the end of a moving day: anything that's cold.

Say hi to your new neighbors when you see them. You'll learn a lot from first impressions.

A packed-up house, with your treasured effects unceremoniously sticking out of boxes, walls half bare, an obstacle course of items on the floor and sentimentality in the air, is depressing.

A totally empty home, with only an echo inside, feels like closure.

Book the movers' morning shift. They work by the hour.

That sign of approval from your movers when they arrive to your new place is always an unexpected bit of affirmation.

If some things stay packed in boxes after you've moved in, consider getting rid of the box—and anything inside it.

Make a few good packing/unpacking playlists. Keep it upbeat. Stick with familiar stuff you can sing/rap to during this day of transition.

Sound travels farther than you think in most dorms, apartment buildings, and condos—and everybody has a nosy neighbor or two. Be careful what you say.

No matter how many times you move, that first night in a new, unfamiliar home always feels weird.

You've got a million things to do the first day or two, but get out of the house and explore the offerings of your new neighborhood. Scout your potential go-to bar. See your new world. Immerse yourself and get lost in your new habitat.

Take part in your new community. Be a good neighbor. But no matter where or how you live, have a bit of space just for yourself. Remember what Robert Frost said about fences and neighbors.

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