We’re sorry you’re going through this. Moving during a breakup, especially if you’re moving because of a breakup, is the ultimate microcosm of adult pain. Not only are you forced to handle logistics with a mind and heart shattered by another failed relationship, but your life is literally laid bare before you for the sorting: the odds and ends of years of material accumulation, the whispers of past selves echoing through photos, papers and paint-while-you-drink-bad-wine landscapes, heaps of bills left unpaid, old dead cell phones full of forgotten nudes. All this jams your head with the screamed question, “what the hell am I doing with my life?!”
We don’t know what the hell you’re doing with your life, but we do know you need to drown out this existential spiral fast or you’ll never finish packing.
With a little cinematic spice, you can turn your packing pity party into a productive packing pity party – all it takes is the right soundtrack. Be the protagonist of your breakup and your move with this musical guide.
1. Lead With Rage
According to psychologists, anger is motivating and it feels good. What more do you need during a breakup move than motivation and to feel good? Start your breakup moving soundtrack with anger-forward anthems to fuel your rage and your productivity. Feeling betrayed? Let Carrie Underwood take you on a fantasy of extensive property damage peppered with petty digs or scream-sing the F-word along with Canada’s own Alanis Morissete in “You Outta Know.” If the F-word feels good right now, you’ll get to sing it a lot in Eamon’s smooth R&B rage vehicle, “F*ck It (I Don’t Want You Back).” Or, take your rage with a side of bubble gum pop with Demi Lovato’s “Really Don’t Care.”
Whatever your taste in music, the rage section of your breakup moving playlist should accomplish three things: It should make you sing, make you move, and trick you into believing that you’re actually happy that you don’t have anyone to kiss or love and it may always be like this forever oh dear god. The chaotic energy of rage fighting your current propensity toward grief will give you the momentum you need to organize your moving agenda, and get big things packed, wrapped and put away.
2. Sort With Sadness
Rage has made quick work of easy work: wrapping up dishes, distributing books among boxes, throwing kitschy garbage from your trash ex into the garbage. But then there’s the oft-overlooked part of moving: sorting through old papers, old clothing, and forgotten occupiers of space that you haven’t thought about in a while. This part of your move should be underscored by those introspective tunes that make you cry, think, and look deep inside yourself with a longing for change. Discover focused despair with Adrianne Lenker’s “Anything,” Dionne Warwick’s “Anyone Who Had a Heart,” or “Silver Springs” by Fleetwood Mac. Listen to anything by Lorde or Adele. Build the “sort with sadness” section of your playlist with a healthy mix of the songs that made you sad in high school, songs you only know about from your ex, and songs that reinforce your deepest fears of inadequacy or leading a life of unrelenting loneliness.
3. Reclaim Your Power in the Home Stretch
The big things out of the way and the sorting of your life complete. Now it’s time to transition into the inspired final leg of your packing journey. As you finish packing odds and ends and cleaning your old place, transition from grief to power with something like Mary J. Blige’s “Not Gon’ Cry.” Because you don’t need to cry, anymore. You’re done. You’re stepping into your power! Blast JT’s “Only When I Walk Away.” Put your “Freakum Dress” on. Frankly, this section could be 98% Lizzo. End your moving checklist unscored with pump-up songs, leaving your most inspirational moment for when you pull away from your old life into your new one.
Move On with Banana Box
Breakups are terrible, and Banana Box is here to help. The perfect rebound, we don’t do long-term. We drop off our durable moving boxes directly to you when it’s time for you to pack up. They’re with you throughout the packing and unpacking process. When you’re done, we’ll come get them. There’s no use drawing this out longer than it needs – that just hurts both of us, right? Banana Boxes help distribute weight better than cardboard and have handles for easy lifting, unlike your ex. They’re waterproof and sturdy. They’ll keep our precious things safe – wow that’s a nice change from what you’ve been dealing with, huh. We won’t judge your taste in music; in fact we think all your songs are great. Blast your tunes while you pack our boxes and move on with your life. Pick up the pieces of your broken heart, and get moving with Banana Box today.