Moving day is over and you and your belongings have finally arrived in your new home. Just when you thought the moving process was over, you realize that you are now surrounded by piles of boxes that need to be unpacked. The thought alone of having to unpack, sort, and organize everything in those boxes can be enough to overwhelm anyone. After an exhausting few days of packing and moving, unpacking can certainly seem like a daunting task. The good news is that there are simple tips and tricks that can help you unpack and organize your new home in no time. Consider these helpful hacks for speeding up the unpacking process.

1. Label Your Boxes

Before you move, you want to be sure you have labeled all of your boxes. You can do this by simply writing “kitchen” or “master bedroom” on the box with a sharpie. This makes it easier for both you and your moving crew to know exactly where each box goes when it arrives in your new home. You can also use a color coding system if that method is easier for you. Assign a color to each room and place a corresponding sticker on the box to denote where it belongs. For instance, all boxes with red stickers might belong in the kitchen. Labeling your boxes ensures that everything will get placed in the correct room, saving you the time of having to sort the boxes yourself.

2. Make an Itemized Inventory List

As you pack, keep a list of which items are being packed in each box. There are several ways to do this. You can simply keep an Excel spreadsheet that lists the contents of each box or you can use an app such as Sortly to help you keep track of your belongings. This can be very helpful for unpacking because you can unpack in the order in which you want to put things away. For example, if you are ready to unpack your fine china, you know exactly which box to unpack rather than having to open up dozens of boxes looking for the china.

3. Start with Bedrooms and Bathrooms

Moving day will be exhausting so you will definitely want a nice shower a good night’s sleep after a long day’s work. Once your beds have been assembled, find the boxes with your bedding and pillows and make all the beds. Next, you want to move on to the bathrooms. You will want to have shower curtains, rugs, and fresh towels in place so you can shower at the end of the day. You will also want to have your toiletries and medications right there on hand. A fresh shower and a good night’s sleep will give you the energy you need to tackle the rest of the house.

4. Unpack One Room at a Time

Unpacking an entire home is a big job and it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Instead of hopping from one room to the next, make a list of the rooms you want to unpack in order of importance and then take it one room at a time. Unpack an entire room before moving on to the next. This will not only keep things more organized, but it will also give you that much needed sense of accomplishment.

5. Break Down Your Boxes as You Go

It can be tempting to simply toss those empty boxes into a corner and keep moving, but you will quickly find yourself swimming in a sea of empty boxes. Even though they might be empty, piles of boxes only add extra clutter to your space and it’s difficult to see how much you have accomplished when you have stacks of boxes lying around. Instead, break down each box as you can and neatly stack them out of the way in your garage.

6. Set Goals for Each Day

You shouldn’t try to take on too much too quickly, but you also want to avoid procrastination. It can be helpful to create a schedule for each day, jotting down which rooms you hope to get unpacked. Be realistic about your schedule and then stick to it. Check off each task as you go, ensuring you see the results of your labor. Once your work for that day is complete, spend any extra time relaxing, going for a walk, taking a bath, or doing something fun.

7. Don’t Unpack Everything

There are some boxes that won’t need unpacking. Things like holiday decorations, out of season sports equipment, or out of season clothing can wait. These items can even be stored as is until you are ready for them. There’s no sense in unpacking things that will likely need to be repacked and stored.

8. Pack a Separate Essentials Box

There are things you are definitely going to need right away like toothbrushes, medication, phone chargers, etc. Pack these items in a separate box marked “Essentials” and keep this box close by. This will save you so much time because you won’t have to be going through dozens of boxes to find all of these much needed items. Instead, it will all be right there in one convenient space.