1. Lay out all possible outfits for a trip and select from there
Instead of choosing the shirts that are the cutest or throwing something in the bag that you want to wear but don't know if you need, laying out all your options can help you see the best pairings. For example, maybe you'd end up choosing a green shirt that goes with most of the pants/bottoms that you're bringing, over the purple shirt that you love but doesn't go with anything. The idea is to have the highest number of outfits by scrambling the tops and bottoms. For this reason, I like solid-color shirts with no words, simple and easy to match.
2. Have a bag that has different compartments but ample room
This seems maybe a bit obvious, but having the right bag is key. It doesn't have to be a new bag; just one that you can find that is going to wear comfortably and that is built in a way that everything you need can fit nicely inside. If you're going on a plane, you don't want a huge bag that you plan on bringing as a personal item. But if you prefer to do a carry-on, you have some more room with that. I like to see if I can only bring a personal item (a little backpack) and fit everything inside there. Compartments make this easier so that I can put things such as toiletries and my glasses in one compartment, separate from another compartment with my clothes.
3. You probably need fewer pants than you think
For me, if I'm going away for 7-10 days, I really only need about 3 or 4 pairs of pants/bottoms. For some, that might be too high still. Pants can take up a lot of room and, depending on the weather of the place you're going to and the activities you'll be doing there, you can probably get by wearing the same pair of pants twice or maybe even three times during your trip. If where you're staying has a laundry room, by all means, you can definitely get by then with a wash or two. I have personally found that pants are the easiest thing for me to downsize on. I have a pair of convertible pants that zip off from pants into shorts and, while a bit dorky sometimes, they are so nice to bring on trips! I personally love hiking, and convertible pants are great for hikes that start to heat up as you do them. Outside of hiking, they're cute as both pants AND shorts, so I highly recommend this 2 for 1 idea.
4. Get the mini version of everything
If you don't already have the travel-sized version of shampoo, body wash, etc., I suggest getting those. I took the mini versions they offer in hotels and, once I was done using them, filled those small bottles with my own shampoo and soaps so that I had travel sized versions of them. Bit of a DIY, but it saves you money if you don't want to buy travel-sized bottles. I also have a microfiber travel towel that wraps up really small and tight, so that it can easily fit in my bag. These are just some ideas for making things smaller and more compact.
5. Less is More
Packing minimally is seriously so fun to me! Maybe others would disagree, but to me, it is so nice to travel with only so many things. You realize how much you don't need and how far you can get with just 5 items or less. It makes choosing your outfits way easier in the mornings, and you have less to worry about and lug around. Packing quality over quantity definitely saves you time, money that you might have spent on a checked bag, and energy that you can instead devote to whatever lies ahead in your travels!
Next time you're planning a trip somewhere, consider packing minimally and see what you think. It may just convert you to living a more minimalist, simple, and happy life.
