You arrive at your new home, excited for the moving process to be over, but now you suddenly find yourself surrounded by an overwhelming pile of moving boxes. Unpacking can be a stressful and daunting project, especially when you don’t know where to start. Before opening up those boxes, here are seven tips to help strategically unpack your belongings and ease into life in your new home.

1. Pack an Essentials Bag

During the first few days of moving, the last thing you want to do is search through boxes looking for everyday essentials like clothes, toiletries, snacks, medicines and chargers. While packing up your belongings, set aside items that you and your family will need during the first few days and put them in a separate bag for easy access while traveling to and moving into your home.

2. Set a Deadline

Unpacking isn’t a fun task, but it has to get done. To avoid procrastination, set a deadline for when you wish to have all of the unpacking completed and stick to it. Plan a housewarming party, a neighborhood barbecue or any event that will encourage family, friends and neighbors to come over to your new home. This will act as both a deadline and an incentive for you to get everything unpacked, organized and looking presentable.

3. Organize Boxes by Room

The easiest way to unpack is to organize boxes by room. If boxes are not already labeled, label them and place them in the area where they belong. Most full-service moving companies will make sure your boxes and furniture are in the places they need to be. If not, make sure they are placed where they need to go before you start unpacking them.

4. One Room at a Time

The most efficient way to unpack is to do so one room at a time. Unpack the essentials in each room first and then focus on the smaller details. Start with one room and slowly work through the rest of the home. Focus on unpacking the daily necessities first and then other miscellaneous items afterward.

5. Unpack the Bedroom and Bathroom

After a long day of moving and unpacking, you probably want to relax with a hot shower and a good night’s sleep. This means that unpacking the bedroom and bathroom first is essential, especially if you are moving in later in the day. Luckily, not everything has to be set up immediately. As long as the bed is set up with linens, the shower curtain is hung and towels and toiletries are on hand, you are good to go.

6. Unpack the Kitchen

If you are moving into your home earlier in the day, it may be a good idea to start your unpacking in the kitchen. Hook up the fridge, as well as other major appliances, to make sure they are in working order. Focus on unpacking smaller kitchen appliances such as the toaster, blender and coffee maker, as well as daily essentials such as kitchenware and utensils. Save breakable items like glasses and dinnerware to unpack later once the moving chaos has subsided and there is more free time to carefully unpack them.

7. Don’t Aim for Perfection

Moving and unpacking is a process that takes time. Don’t put stress on yourself to have your new home looking picture-perfect immediately. Doing so will shift your focus and slow down your unpacking progress. Focus on the ultimate goal of unpacking the boxes and sorting out your belongings. Once that’s complete, continue rearranging and beautifying your brand-new space to your liking.

It may not seem like it, but unpacking can often be the best part of the moving process. While it may be a complicated effort, in the end you can sit back, relax and start experiencing life in your new, fully unpacked home.