Month: June 2024
You’re leaving your student house for the summer – or maybe even planning a year of travel. There’s just one problem. You’ve got bikes, clothes, textbooks, hiking boots, TVs, pots and pans and all your other possessions, and nowhere to put them.
Of course, you could pack it all up and take it back to your parents’ garage. But if you’re a long way from home, without transport or don’t have the time to pack and carry it all before you head off for summer fun, that’s not always the easiest option.
This is when short-term self-storage units are a great solution. You’ve got the space you need – the equivalent of an extra cupboard up to a shed, or even a garage if you think you need it – with flexible contracts and plenty of security. If that sounds ideal, here are some great tips for making more of your self-storage.
Top tips for student storage
- Share with a friend. If you’re in between study years and staying with the same housemates next term, consider getting a storage unit together. You’ll both save on costs.
- Ask the storage company for advice on how much space you’ll really need. They have the expertise, after all. Remember that you need to think in terms of height as well as floor space, as you can stack your boxes up to the roof of your unit.
- If you’re looking for ways to save on costs, then picking the cheapest unit isn’t always the best solution, especially if it’s farther away from your rental and you need to hire a van to move your belongings. It’s an expense that you need to factor in.
- Ask your storage company if they offer help to collect belongings or have deals on van rental or the cost of boxes. Our box shop contains all the packaging supplies you will need to safely store your items.
- If you choose a self-storage provider with outdoor units, you’ll need to factor in damp and, potentially, rodents as part of your packing plan. Indoor facilities should be dry and rodent-free.
- Pack carefully, so nothing is damaged in transit. Clothes and shoes should be clean and dry, kitchen items may need to be bubble-wrapped and most storage companies won’t allow food items. In outdoor units, pack fabrics in plastic containers to keep rodents out.
- As you stack your items in storage, place the heavier items at the bottom. Although cardboard boxes may seem an expense, buying them from your storage company means they will be sturdy and a similar size, making it easier to stack them. Good packing and stacking make the most of the space you have available.
- Remember to ask about the notice period to end your storage. When you come to collect your items, ready for your new term at university, you don’t want to pay for an extra week of empty storage.
Our student self-storage options have been designed with you in mind. If you’re looking for summer storage, or something a little longer while you explore the globe, then we’ve got flexible terms at great rates. Give us a call on 0121 250 5055 or email us to find out more.
We all talk about being stressed. It’s common terminology that describes feeling overwhelmed, anxious, irritable or angry. If you ask why someone is stressed, they will likely associate it with work, or a major event such as family illness or organising a house move.
However, other things can trigger feelings of stress, and our environment is one of them. Living or working in a cluttered and messy environment raises the hormone cortisol – and that triggers anxiety and tension.
How does clutter impact on your workday?
If you’ve ever worked in a busy and noisy environment, you’ll know how hard it can be to concentrate. The constant noise and distractions are obvious interruptions to your work.
Clutter is less obvious, but the impact it can have on your ability to work is just as big. A cluttered desk or workplace is full of stimuli, all impacting on your brain and preventing you from getting things done or being creative. A clear, empty desk or a calmer environment will allow you to concentrate more.
Being distracted isn’t the only irritant. Clutter impacts on practical aspects of your job. It will take longer to find things you need or impede your movements around the workplace.
Whether it’s slowing you down physically or impacting on your concentration, clutter is reducing your productivity and preventing you from doing the job to the best of your ability. And, with that leading to backlogs, getting behind on targets or just feeling like you’re not working at your best, it all adds to your stress levels.
Living in a cluttered environment
Living in a cluttered home may cause similar issues. How often do you have to hunt about for your keys, or search cluttered worktops for items you need? Just small moments like this can lead to frustration.
But, when piles of stuff around your home grow too much, they don’t just irritate. Piles of boxes or stacks of magazines, bags of clothes and other clutter start to take up a lot of space. That makes your home feel smaller and restricts your exercise and moving about. If walking about your home becomes a hurdle, you are less likely to do it, reducing your physical movement but also impacting on your enjoyment of your home and your quality of life.
The overstimulation from clutter in your home will be pinging your brain at all times. That prevents you from relaxing and getting a good night’s sleep. Poor sleep quality leads to low mood and depression.
The emotional impact of clutter
Whether it’s your workplace or your home, stress caused by clutter piles up on your emotional wellbeing. Trying to think coherently when your brain is constantly overstimulated is exhausting and leads to mental fatigue.
Sharing a home that is filled with stuff can have negative impacts on your house mates as well. Clutter and lack of space leads to arguments and may cause a breakdown in friendships and relationships.
People who live in cluttered homes report feelings of guilt and embarrassment, and in extreme cases it can prevent you from inviting people to your home, leaving you isolated. Loneliness can have a serious impact on your mental health.
Taking control of your clutter
While it’s true that some of these scenarios may relate to extreme cases, even small amounts of general clutter negatively impacts on our emotional wellbeing. Stress from work, a lack of enjoyment in your home and a lower quality of life are all going to lead to poor mental health.
And while the solution may seem clear, the act of decluttering can feel like a huge step. We hold on to things for many reasons – sentimentality, the feeling of comfort they bring, the emotional connection to memories or as a promise for the future, such as your piles of travel brochures.
The thought of decluttering is overwhelming, and there is safety in keeping everything the same. But, if you’re already feeling down or depressed as a result of your environment, even a small change may have a big impact.
When getting rid of everything is too much, then a self-storage unit can be a great first step. Start by creating piles, one for items that can go in the bin, one for charity, and one for items that you want to keep. You’ll also have a fourth pile, which is for items that you cannot decide about. Move these items to your self-storage unit. At Cookes we are on hand to help with whatever your storage needs – get in touch with our team today to see how we can help declutter your space.
Once you have more space in your home, you’ll feel better and have the time to choose what you need, and what you really do not miss. Then you can take your time choosing what you need once your home is clearer and your mental well-being has improved.
Further support on mental health and decreasing stress can be found on the Mind Charity website here.