So you’re going on a trip, woohoo! New adventures, people, tastes, and experiences await. But before you go, wherever you go, there always seems to be one anxiety that no one can evade, and that’s the horrible experience that is packing. In my almost nineteen years of living, I’ve been lucky enough to be able to experience the joys of traveling across the world, with and without a companion. During these trips, in and out of the country, I’ve learned a few very important things about packing. The most important of them all: don’t over-pack.
Now, in a materialistic society such as our own, this may seem like a tremendous task. You just HAVE to bring an outfit for every day. In addition to that, you feel compelled to bring accessories to match each outfit. And let's not forget about those five pairs of shoes you want to stuff in your suitcase because there could be a situation when you just won’t be able to SURVIVE without them.
Well, as a past over-packer, and as the sister and daughter to many other over-packers, I’m here to tell you that, in most cases, you really don’t need that extra pair of shoes, or a pair of earrings for each outfit. So, next time you’re going on a trip, here are a few ways to keep it light, and free yourself from the excess, based on my experiences and what I'm packing on a three week trip abroad.
1. Accept that bringing less is good.
The first and most difficult step of this whole process is acceptance. As stated above, we live in a pretty materialistic world, and a lot of us focus on what other think of when they see us. All you have to realize is that no one really cares what you’re wearing. If you’ve worn it before, or if you’re going to wear it again.
And they especially won’t care whether or not you brought that extra pair of shoes…just in case. (The picture above is of a carry on sized suitcase and a small backpack, this is what I'll be bringing on a three week trip to Europe, however, I've got loads of extra space in the suitcase!)
2. Lay out all the things you were going to pack
A good way to determine whether or not what you're bringing is too much by laying it all out on your bedroom floor and realizing just how much space it’s taking up. Then, determine which things you're slightly on the edge about and put them back right away. Don’t psych yourself out though, this isn’t the only way to minimize!
3. Create a color scheme.
Everyone has their favorite t shirt and favorite pair of jeans that they wear as often as possible. BRING THOSE. If you know you’re comfortable enough to definitely wear something more than once, pack it. This way, you’ll feel more comfortable and what you bring will matter to you more. These three shirts are perfect because not only are they all a shade of black but they're super comfortable, so I'd wear them all the time anyway.
5. Realize that laundry won't be a problem.
This has been one of the biggest issues for many when traveling for shorter amounts of time and not having a normal place to do laundry. Most people would use this as an excuse to pack just a few more t shirts or socks just in case everything I have gets “dirty”. But really, as long as you’ve got a bar of soap and sink accessible, you’re good to go. Call it laundry 2.0, but really it’s just the exact opposite.
6. Look ahead.
The temperature, precipitation, and geography of the area you’re visiting will all determine what kinds and how much clothes you may need. For example, traveling in the winter may require an extra jacket and underclothes (undershirts/leggings) to keep you warmer, however, if you’re traveling in the spring, a lighter, waterproof jacket would be fine.
Also, make sure you're prepared for the trip over, whether it be a plane, train, or car, it's best to know in advance how to stay warm/cool in these places. Pictured above is everything that will be on my person during the flight, except for the warm socks in my carry on (planes usually get cold)
7. Fact: toiletries are simply to keep you clean.
This may be a hard one for the ladies, but you’ve got to realize that you don’t need to bring every piece of makeup you own or every hair product you own. You’re going somewhere to experience the place and the adventures there, not for people to stare at you. I personally stick to the basics in this area: soap bar, shampoo bar (easy way to minimize hair products: invest in shampoo/conditioner bars--although here mine looks quite unappealing, it's actually wonderful), deodorant, coconut oil (you can fit a descent amount in a small jar and use it as lotion, makeup remover, hair product--not pictured here), mascara, toothbrush/toothpaste, medication.
8. Shoes, they've got to be comfortable!
Another pitfall of many; bringing too many extra little things. When traveling, especially with technology, it’s best to center around one electronic. For example, if you pack your laptop, you’d don’t also have to bring your iPad, Kindle, and iPod. Download all your entertainment onto one device, and you just cut down three devices and their chargers. Next are books, and this is where I always seem to fail. If you’re going away for a week, the truth is that you’re probably not going to finish four books in that time span, so think logically in this situation (since I'll be away for a total of three weeks, I figured that two books would be doable).
Also, if you’re visiting a new place you’ve never been to, make sure you have a guide book and map handy, this way, if you have to ask questions, you can simply point to where you want to go or have a reference in your phone dies. Also, always carry a small notebook and pen, memories are one of the few things that can’t ever be taken away from you.
10. Pictures, pictures, pictures.
If this process is new and completely wild to you, take pictures of your process. It’ll help you realize how much unnecessary “stuff” you cut out of your trip, and rather than feeling like it was a chore that didn’t really change anything, you’ll see a major difference that actually occurred and have fun making your clothes look nice.
