subject: Take A Break Without Losing It All [print this page] Taking a break to go travelling when you already have a career and a home full of belongings can be difficult to organise, but not impossible. Dont let a lifetimes worth of possessions stop you from fulfilling your dreams, read these top tips for managing the items you leave behind when you go away.
De-clutter before you go
Taking a career break to go travelling is the perfect excuse to de-clutter. If youve lived in the same property for a few years, the chances are youve accumulated lots of belongings over time. Before you move everything you own into storage, its a good idea to work out if theres anything you could live without when you return. If youve planned a trip in advance, plan time to methodically work your way through different rooms and cupboards in your home a few months in advance. Take unwanted items to a charity shop, or raise spending money for your time away by having a boot sale.
Storing clothes and textiles
If stored incorrectly, clothing can succumb to moth damage. Always wash or dry clean clothes thoroughly before storing to remove stains, this will also reduce the chances of moth larvae surviving within the fibres, hatching and damaging your clothes once stored. Fold clothing and textiles neatly to prevent unnecessary creases and always store in clean containers. If youre using cardboard boxes, its a good idea to buy new ones for clothing, as reused cardboard boxes are more likely to have absorbed stains which could soil fabrics. Carefully store boxes containing clothing in an area which is not exposed to extremes of temperature and which will remain dry to avoid damage.
Organising your belongings
When storing away your belongings, its worth planning ahead and putting helpful systems in place for when you unpack. Label all boxes clearly, detailing important items and the room they belong in. When you return from travelling are you likely to feel like unpacking everything all at once? Consider the practicality of stepping back into your life after some time out. Its worth reserving a few boxes for the bare essentials, for example kitchen essentials and bedroom essentials. If you know when you are going to return, organise a box of clothing appropriate for the season.
Finding storage space
Its likely that some of your friends and family will be able to keep hold of some of your belongings while youre away. If youve accumulated furniture, trinkets, clothing, technology and home accessories, you will probably need a little more space. Look for self storage companies which can provide storage tailored to your needs and can offer advice regarding the amount of space you are likely to need. If you dont have an exact date for your return, choose a self storage option with a flexible contract that you can easily extend or shorten as required. If you are storing delicate items, such as textiles, art or even wine, enquire about climate control to ensure your belongings wont be damaged by damp or heat. Security is exceptionally important when choosing self storage, especially if you will be leaving your belongings in a storage unit for an extended period of time. Choose a self storage facility with 24 hour security systems in place, including monitored intruder alarms, heat and smoke sensitive alarms and CCTV.
When arranging boxes in a storage space, its a good idea to leave a walkway down the centre of the room, so that everything remains accessible. Keep boxes containing essential items towards the front of the storage unit, this way when you return, everything you need will be conveniently to hand.
