College Move-In Day Tips!

Moving into college as a freshman seems like a daunting task - I went through it last year.  I didn't know how I was going to set everything up, what my room looked like, or if I brought too much stuff with me.  After I had moved in and was all settled, I composed a list of ten tips I would give to an incoming freshman (or anyone) for making their move-in day go smoothly.

1. Be organized.  The biggest thing I learned was to label all of my boxes because it'll save you the time and energy of having to go through five boxes looking for that one decoration that you can't find.  Make sure you put like things together - I made a box for bathroom stuff/cosmetics, for decorations, kitchen supplies, bedding, and one for school supplies - and let me tell you, it made everything so simple.   
2. Wear something comfortable.  There's nothing worse than being uncomfortable while moving furniture and boxes, so wear something that's comfortable, but that makes you feel good.  The better you feel, the more confident you'll come across to your new peers. 
3. Unpack as soon as possible.  No matter how excited you are to get your college life started, unpack first; you're not going to want to do it days from then.  Getting everything unpacked will help you feel more settled and less stressed so you can focus on preparing for classes.  Make sure your room looks homey and don't leave any empty boxes lying around. 
4. Let your parents help you.  If your parents are anything like mine, they're going to want to help you as much as possible.  As annoying as it may seem, they just want to help because they're just as stressed as you are, they're child is leaving home and going to be on their own.  Let them fuss over you for the day and then when everything is settled, they'll leave.  You'll be happy that you didn't kick them out right away and will appreciate the help that they were able to provide you with that day. 
5. Take a walk around campus.  Once you're settled, take a walk around your new home to get acclimated to your new surroundings.   You'll get an idea where the buildings are, what's around your dorm room, and you may meet other freshmen doing the same thing.
6. Bring Lysol (or any disinfectant) with you.  I know this might sound weird because the rooms are all cleaned, but you never know how many germs are still around. Wipe everything down and spray the Lysol to kill any remaining germs because you’d be surprised how many college students get sick their first week of school.
7. Be on-time.  This one is pretty self-explanatory; there is nothing worse than being late because then for the rest of the day - whether you are or not - you're going to feel rushed.  
8. Make sure you eat throughout the day.  I didn't eat during move-in day because I was just so excited to move in and meet everyone - bad idea; by five thirty, I was about ready to pass out because I hadn't eaten anything since breakfast.  Learn from my mistake and eat, even if it's just a granola bar. 
9. Your room won't look like the one you pinned on Pinterest.  I had my room all planned out on Pinterest, so when I finished decorating everything and it looked nothing like I had imagined, I was disappointed.  Looking back, my room may not have looked like the one on Pinterest, but it was perfect for me.   
10. Enjoy the day!  This may seem obvious, but many students are more stressed out by move-in day and forget that it's a happy day - it's the beginning of a new college year and if you're a freshman, it's the beginning of your college career - enjoy it!