Right now, most high school graduates are only thinking about all the fun things they are going to be doing this summer, but it may be a good idea to start planning a little for your first big move into a college dorm. The first year of college presents a lot of new challenges, it is easy to get overwhelmed and forget about the little details. There are many big changes happening and a lot of new things to adjust too, like a new city, new daily schedule, new classroom environment, new teachers and even new roommates.
Students can make this transition easier and less intimidating by preparing for the things that can be controlled. Planning for the move from family home to college dorm in advance can help relieve stress for everyone and make the transition a little smoother for any new college student. Here are some tips to help make the move into your first college dorm room easier.
Decide what you really need to bring
There are a lot of things that you will have to leave at home when moving into a college dorm. Most dorm rooms are very small and shared with another student, so space is very limited. No matter how much you love it, you will not be able to bring your ping pong table, or any other space-consuming items.
Decide what items you really need on a daily basis. Make a list of essential college items. Many colleges have student recreation rooms available that have items like ping pong tables in them, so you will not need to bring your own. Keep these and other distractions at home and outside of your dorm room.
Find some good space-saving options
There are a lot of great items available that are made to save space without compromising functionality in your dorm room. Go through your list from before and decide whether or not you need that specific item. Maybe some essentials, like a desktop computer, can be replaced with a smaller similar item, like a laptop computer.
Be creative with storage options.
Lofting your bed is one of the most common ways to save space in a dorm room, but you can also use tall storage units and other space off the floor as storage. Hang items with removable hooks to free up floor space and stay organized.
Use eco-friendly moving practices
Because fall is a very popular time for moving, many people are creating huge amounts of waste using poor moving practices during this time. Millions of boxes and other packing materials are wasted, not to mention the vast amounts of gas emissions.
Do your part to protect our planet by using more eco-friendly moving using more eco-friendly moving practices. Rent reusable packing materials and use a moving company that uses eco-friendly transportation methods. This way, you can feel good knowing that your move is making less of a negative impact on the environment, and you can have an easier clean up after you are done unpacking.
Start a good relationship with your roommate
A bad relationship with your roommate can cause huge problems for you throughout the year. It is important to make efforts to start a healthy relationship right away. If you can, contact your new roommate before you arrive to get to know him or her a little better.
When designing your dorm room, make sure that you both get a say in how the space is constructed. Make a separate space for each of you to study and a common space for you to spend leisure time. This will help avoid stress and confusion all year long and make for a comfortable living space for both of you.
