I hate packing. And unpacking. But mostly packing. The organization. The fear of leaving something important. The preplanning of what to wear. Ewww.
Last weekend, as I was relaxing and enjoying my Sunday evening before I started a little trip to Dallas, I started panicking around 11 p.m.
Oh no! I still hadn’t packed! I was going to be up all night putting stuff together. Why had I waited so long?!?!
I still dread packing, but I’d forgotten that my years of traveling for work and pleasure have made me quite the efficient packer. Here are some of my tips for getting in, getting out and getting on with the trip as quickly as possible.
Two: Have a ready-to-go toiletry case. Yes, this means you’ll have to buy 2 of your favorite products, but it’s absolutely worth it to have a case of (dry) get-ready items to just throw in the suitcase. No forgetting stuff because you needed it to get ready on the day-of. And be realistic about the products you really need. Am I really going to deep condition my hair or use a clay mask while I’m traveling for work? Probably not. Leave it at home.
Three: Make your clothes do double-duty. I plan to wear pants at least twice on a trip. This saves time, space and the post-trip laundry pile. Seriously, bring different tops to mix things up. And try to bring as few shoes as possible. For work, I stick with one pair of heels and my gym shoes. Done. (Probably TMI, but I do always bring more underwear than I need. I just feel better having plenty. But they don’t take up much room, so I don’t worry about it too much!)
Four: Don’t forget your chargers! If you charge your device during the night, then charge it next to your suitcase, so you’ll be sure the throw it in your bag before you leave. If you don’t have to charge it immediately before you leave home, go ahead and throw device and charger in. And once you’re at the hotel, charge all your electronics in the same area… it makes rounding things up when you’re repacking a lot easier.
Five: Bring your most versatile accessories – and NEVER bring your prized jewels and heirloom pieces. It’s just way too risky. The goal is to balance your fashion needs with your practical needs… and if you’ve ever left a beloved pair of earrings or ring in the hotel, never to be “found” again by housekeeping, then you know what I’m talking about.
Packing is always a chore, but hopefully we can all become a little better – and lighter – when traveling. Besides, I never regret unused space in my suitcase; I just think of it as room for new things I may pick up out on the road!
xoxo
JAM
