Planning a vacation can be very stressful. But compared to actually packing for the trip, planning it seems like a piece of cake. There is a constant struggle between wanting to pack every single article of clothing you own just in case, and not wanting to pack too much. After going on a couple getaways, I have picked up a couple of tips and tricks that make packing a bit more bearable.
1. Try on everything:
I know everyone hates trying on clothes, but this way you know what fits you right and what looks good together. If you try on all your clothes, there will be no surprises and you won't have to realize too late that the shirt you've been saving since 8th grade really doesn't fit anymore.
2. Plan each outfit:
I am not just talking about giving a quick estimate, I mean really planning each and every single outfit. You should think about what you will wear during the day, at night, if you work out when you are there, to go out, or anything else that might come up. I am not saying you can't pack a couple extra outfits just in case, but you should plan what you wear so that way you don't have an over-abundance of clothes that are just taking up space.
3. Be realistic:
When packing for a trip, there are a couple of questions you really need to consider: Can you wash your clothes? If so, do you really need pajamas for each night. Are you really going to wear this shirt? It may be cute, but you know deep down that you have nothing that goes with it. Do you actually plan on wearing a dress every day even though you haven't worn one in three years? Again, you can always pack back up outfits, but you should still limit the amount of clothes you pack as much as possible.
4. Roll up your clothes:
I'm sure a lot of people have heard of this or maybe not, but rolling up your clothes as tight as possible makes packing a helluva lot easier. You can even roll up one whole outfit together, making your bag nice and organized. This way everything is compact and together and you can maybe fit a few more of those back up outfits.
5. Use plastic bags:
This is another organizing and space-saving tip. If rolling up your clothes didn't save enough room, you can take your clothes and seal them really tightly in Zip lock bags, making sure all the air is out. The space you will save is significant, and you can still keep entire outfits together. You can even label the plastic bags (going out outfit, beach cover-up, pajamas, etc.) which is super helpful.
6. Double check:
When you are finally done, make sure you have everything you need and take out anything you don't. Get rid of the "just because" stuff, I guarantee you can manage without it! And remember, have so much fun…you deserve it!
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