Preparing for a Year Abroad

Preparing a family of 6 for a year abroad is no easy task. Even with a minimal(ish) lifestyle, we have years of accumulated clothes and memorabilia that need to be sorted through, prioritized, and packed. At the same time, we are preparing our home to be photographed and eventually rented out. Frankly, it’s a mess. Luckily, as I’ve learned as a professional organizer, “you have to crack a lot of eggs to make an omelet”, or simply put, it gets worse before it gets better. You have to believe in the process and keep moving forward knowing that it will all come together at the end.

Thankfully having helped many families downsize, pack, and unpack as a home organizer, I’ve had hands-on experience with most of it. The motivation to downsize is higher than ever, so we are taking full advantage. But HOW are we doing it? There is no one way but here are some things we are doing in this final month before we leave on our family adventure abroad:

• Declutter a small space every day. Even if it has been done recently, take another look. While you are looking decide if there is anything that can be packed right now. Because why not get a head start while you can? Things we have packed so far include ski/snow gear, many kitchen items, and books. We really don’t need any physical books right now as we are on our kindles, so the hard copies are packed away and ready for storage.
• Stop subscriptions. If you know me you know I love granola butter. Sadly, that subscription is going to have to be paused while we are away. Recurring supply deliveries like toilet paper have also been suspended. The main idea here is that we are trying to drastically limit or even stop anything new from coming into the home. We have enough to pack already, so let’s be smart and not be chasing our own tails.
• Prepacking. With less than a month to go, I have started staging piles in preparation for packing what we are taking with us. As you might expect, we are sticking to carry-ons only, so being strategic is key. Tip: Decide on a simple color palette to guide you as you pack your clothing. I’m using blue, black and white as my base colors with a pop or two of color here and there. Almost everything mixes and matches and can therefore be worn several different ways. I’ll likely post more on this later as there is a lot to say on the topic, so get excited!
• Keep a list of to-dos. If you don’t already, now is the time to have a to-do list. Our current list includes scheduling a dumpster, enrolling Edward in Geometry class (I’m homeschooling all of them myself but I think Geometry is a good subject to outsource!!), and buying a box for our TV to be stored in. Don’t overthink it – brain dump and just cross things off as you go.
• Organize important information. In the flurry of packing and preparing for your family’s trip abroad, it is easier than usual to misplace important information. Keep a file with any physical papers you will need for your trip and then a folder in your email for anything digital. Scan all important documents onto GoogleDrive or something similar so it’s all in one place and easy to access even if you are unfortunate enough to misplace your phone or computer.
• Eat through your pantry and freezer. Now is not the time for a Costco run. Use up what you have and try to refrain from buying anything but the basics. Meal planning can really help with this. Start with what you have and build around it. For example – cook up a bunch of those chicken thighs from the freezer and use them for a week’s worth of mediterranean bowls, salads, and bbq sandwiches. Be creative! As you get closer to your launch day, consider donating anything leftover (and not expired) to a local food shelf.
• See as many loved ones as you can. Make those plans & playdates and enjoy being around people you know and love. Soon enough you will be surrounded by strangers, most of whom are probably very nice, but are just not going to love you like those that know you best. Friends are to be made along the way but soak up the time with the ones you have now!

If you are preparing for a year abroad with your family, there are many balls to juggle as you get closer to your launch date. We hope this list gets you both started and excited about what is in store for you. For more information on our plans, check out our first post.

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