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Survey: What Do You Procrastinate Unpacking?

072909-movingboxes.jpg Moving boxes. We HATE moving boxes! After we've emptied them, we just don't have the energy left to break them down as we go. Or maybe it's the giant pile of them that makes us feel like we're making progress, either way, we're still not a fan. What do you procrastinate as long as possible when moving? Let us know after the jump!

 
 

Assuming the boxes don't count, our least favorite item to unpack is our artwork. We have a good amount and we're always nervous with all the frames sitting out waiting to be put on the wall. But it seems you can never get a good feel for where they should go until you do!

What do you hate unpacking? Do you save it for last or take care of it first? Leave us your thoughts in the comments below!

(Image: Sarah Rae Trover)

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Surveys, travel, moving, boxes, procrastination, unpacking

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Comments (28)

Oh damn. So here I am, procrastinating about PACKING and I haven't even thought about the unpacking part. Ugh.

I hate unpacking (and packing) odds and ends. Like my husband's old bowling ball and shoes, sentimental stuff that I can't get rid of, etc. Those are the worst.

posted by Erin Lang Norris/Yellow Canoe on July 29th 2009 at 12:37pm
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I am an organization freak, so I love to unpack and put everything into it's new place. But, I hate unpacking the odd things that never seem to have a specific place to go. Like "junk drawer" stuff. These things annoy me so I leave them until last!

http://www.makemineeclectic.wordpress.com

posted by jessimarie33 on July 29th 2009 at 12:39pm
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We just moved, and what I have left to unpack is my Etsy shop. Vintage knick knacks and housewares, decor, etc... There's so much of them that I'm dreading unpacking them. I need to get them out and put away, but I know that when I get my shop running again, and things start selling, I'l probably end up going through the boxes to find the item that sold. Terrible!

posted by cassielynn on July 29th 2009 at 12:47pm
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Old photos, decorations, etc. I can never find a place for them all and most have been handed down in my family so much I wouldn't even think about getting rid of them. They tend not to get unpacked at all sadly - I just go through them when I want something.

posted by ChrisGal on July 29th 2009 at 12:48pm
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EXACTLY. junk drawer stuff and odd stuff. i just moved on the weekend and i have about 3 boxes of just miscellaneous stuff. where does it go? and it just seems so sad to create a new junk drawer since no one ever wants one of those to begin with. ugh!!

posted by serrakat on July 29th 2009 at 12:50pm
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Put the boxes on Craigslist or Freecycle - you likely don't even have to break them down.

posted by Pixie on July 29th 2009 at 12:51pm
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Christmas decorations are always the last things to unpack - for obvious reasons.

If anything else doesn't get unpacked within a few weeks, it's time for them to find a new home.

posted by bepsf on July 29th 2009 at 12:56pm
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I agree about the "junk drawer" kind of stuff. When packing, I never know what to do with it, so I usually end up packing at least one box labeled "misc. stuff." It's an easy place to throw those random things when packing up, but it's a PITA when unpacking because they're usually small items and lots of them.

posted by andc78 on July 29th 2009 at 12:57pm
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while i'm unpacking, i list my boxes for free on craigslist. i don't even break them down. they are usually gone in 15 minutes. it's awesome.

posted by camella on July 29th 2009 at 1:05pm
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everything.

posted by jasminerose on July 29th 2009 at 1:09pm
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Nothing, really. Having boxes sitting out drives me nuts. I usually unpack in marathon sessions that take a day or two. I usually save clothes for last since, unlike arranging furniture, shelving books, or hanging artwork, folding and hanging my wardrobe is pretty boring.

posted by slowdown on July 29th 2009 at 1:13pm
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Um... I like unpacking.
I also like putting away the groceries after shopping and folding laundry.

I just like putting things away in their place. I hate packing. I am a terrible mover. I don't plan on moving soon because I have too much stuff to go through!

posted by revolution9 on July 29th 2009 at 1:17pm
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We've been living in a temporary apartment for the past month and should (hopefully, finally) be moving into our own space this weekend. I can't WAIT to unpack. I'm sick of having to pick through ten boxes just to find something ordinary, like a rubber spatula. The kitchen will definitely be unpacked first. Our countless boxes of books will be trickier, considering we sold all our bookcases before the move.

posted by karenenen on July 29th 2009 at 1:36pm
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I don't like unpacking the "junk drawer" stuff either. I try not to pack it in the first place though. Second place is clothes. Such a pain!

My favorite things to unpack are for the kitchen.

posted by jamiealyse on July 29th 2009 at 1:54pm
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CDs. Absolutely. Because I know I need to get rid of them, but I'm just not ready to go there yet. Ack.

posted by gridpaper on July 29th 2009 at 2:04pm
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Unpacking when you've moved into a place with less closets, fewer cupboards, etc. Nightmare! That's when stuff stays in boxes... where there's nowhere for it to go!

posted by tam-tbag on July 29th 2009 at 2:06pm
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I like unpacking, but I hate packing. All the odds and ends are such a pain. You think you have everything, then there's still more to pack!

posted by michpc on July 29th 2009 at 2:11pm
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I am also procrastinating on packing right now. I LOVE unpacking. I like to settle in new places. It's the packing that's a real bitch. And I'm just trying to do my best to get rid of all the things I don't want/need anymore.

Emily

posted by Emily Sneds on July 29th 2009 at 2:17pm
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i'm moving soon and packing is going ok. i'm dreading unpacking as i have a hard enough time unpacking after a trip let alone moving ALL of my possessions... i'm try to get rid of as much stuff as possible, which means less stuff to unpack!

posted by jennaelliott on July 29th 2009 at 2:17pm
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I'm a great fan of unpacking, and have literally moved, unpacked, and had people over for drinks a few hours later. What makes it work for me is that I've eliminated much (though not ALL) of the clutter and extraneous stuff, that I'm fairly decisive about where things "should" go, and that I'm highly methodical. That being said---why does it take me twice as long as it might to paint a wall? It's because I like to unpack but don't like to paint.

posted by krister on July 29th 2009 at 2:22pm
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I enjoyed most of the unpacking experience this May, but probably because a lot of my stuff had been in storage for almost 2 years, and because I love our new house so much (and had less than amiable feelings about the old one).

But, I really don't like unpacking the boxes that say "desk." You know, that 3-inch stack of papers you meant to go through before moving, but didn't have time to, so you just shoved them in a box, along with the contents of some drawers and pencils and stuff? Those boxes (we have 3 somehow) are awful. Especially because if you procrastinate long enough, you'll inevitably find a long-overdue bill and feel really bad about it.

posted by kls987 on July 29th 2009 at 2:33pm
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One of the few things that i DON'T procrastinate about. That stuff FLIES out of the boxes. I HATE being packed up (which probably explains why the "natural" state is somewhat cluttered . . .

posted by MRL on July 29th 2009 at 2:39pm
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I'm terrible at unpacking. I moved in May and half my stuff is still in boxes. I've given myself a deadline of Labor Day to have everything organized.

posted by Mlle. Cara on July 29th 2009 at 4:09pm
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I don't mind packing and unpacking but I agree that it's the random, don't-have-a-place-for type of things that seem to take the longest to unpack. I always seem to have those last two boxes that linger for weeks before being put away lol.

posted by amers230 on July 29th 2009 at 4:31pm
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I moved last Thursday and I've been staring at a box of socks and scarves in the corner of my bedroom since then. I've run out of room, and while I'd love to throw out all my winter stuff right now I'd regret that in a few months.

posted by AMLitt on July 29th 2009 at 5:33pm
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I'm currently in the middle of moving, and I have to say that my least favorite things to unpack are the weird random things that you have to just throw in an "odds & ends" box because they just don't fit in anywhere else. They're things that you "need" but they never seem to have a home. It's just as frustrating in a new place as it was in the old one. And cleaning supplies. I hate unpacking those.

posted by LitNerd on July 29th 2009 at 8:31pm
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My FAVORITE is the artwork!

I agree with LitNerd, too... My least favorite is all of those things that don't have a place.

posted by Zo Paige on July 30th 2009 at 7:00am
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bepsf -- Last move, most of our things didn't get completely unpacked for a month or more. One being my fiance's computer - think he should throw out something that he's spent a ton of time putting together himself? Or my sweaters that I kind of left til cooler weather? Or probably literally a hundred books waiting on a nice bookshelf? Think before you post, PLEASE - you are so bad at this.

posted by ChrisGal on July 30th 2009 at 1:01pm
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