Packing is pretty high up there on my list of least favorite things to do, along with fighting in battle, open heart surgery and alien abductions. I am serious, I have serious packing anxiety.
Whenever I have a trip coming up, I'll have nightmares for days where I am late to catch a flight and frantically running around trying to pack all my stuff. The dreams always inevitably end with me forgetting something vitally important.
Now, I may be an extreme case but I know I am not the only one who hates packing and the only way to get over your fears is to face them. So I thought it would be therapeutic for all of us to lay out the many traumatic stages of packing.
1. The initial excitement
You're going on a trip! You never go anywhere, this is amazing. Nothing could bring you down from this high. Every aspect of this is completely positive. Nothing could go wrong.
2. Planning out your outfits
You just know that your new jacket is going to go perfectly with your blue dress and you have just the bag to tie it all together. You can see it all in your head and you are looking fly as hell. Packing will be a breeze with this kind of brainstorming.
3. Trying everything on
You've made a terrible mistake, what were you thinking? That jacket with that dress? Not even the purse could save this disaster. Now you've got to start from scratch and you are already mentally exhausted from all this work.
4. Denial
In order to escape all the stress it was causing you, you've officially put packing on the back burner, like way back on the burner. It's completely out of your mind and you're doing great now. You just can't wait for that trip.
5. Acceptance, kind of
It's the calm before the storm. You know you need to pack because the trip is tomorrow. It's time to man up and pull it together. You've finally pulled your suitcase out and thought very deeply about possibly putting something inside it. You do the easy things first: underwear, socks, toiletries. Wow, now you are really making progress. This isn't so bad after all.
6. Break time
You've worked hard and you have totally earned a break. Just a few episodes of Gilmore Girls, no big deal. Ok well, you can't just stop watching before Rory and Lorelai make up from this huge fight they are having. So just a few more. Man, how long does this fight go on, just go back to school already Rory! Okay, it's 8:15 pm, I'll for sure start at 8:30 pm. Oh, shoot, it's 8:32 already, guess I'll have to wait and start at 9 pm.
7. Panic and chaos
It's almost 1am, you leave in less than 7 hours and you have yet to pack a damn thing. You are in full panic mode, frantically rummaging through your closet and depositing handfuls of clothes into your bag. You haven't worn that shirt since you got it 3 years ago but by god, you are going to wear it this weekend. Those shoes are the most painful things ever but you'll probably need them too so just throw them in. The weather report is 75 and sunny but just to be safe you'll pack 3 winter coats, some scarves, and your rainboots. Better safe than sorry, you say from under a pile of clothes.
8. What's done is done
Time is up and the situation is what it is. You have managed to fit your entire wardrobe, including your old prom dress into your suitcase and there is no doubt in your mind that you have most likely forgotten something vitally important but you won't know until it's too late. You emerge from your room with flames behind you like a war hero, ready or not here you go.
Packing is always a pain and no matter what you've probably forgotten something and packed 10 things you definitely don't need. It's traumatic but we all go through it. Hopefully laying it all out for you has helped you deal with the post packing stress.
