Packing Efficiently

Historically, I have been a chronic overpacker. The “I should pack a ball gown just in case” memes are taken directly from conversations I have had with myself while packing for weekend trips. I do have OCD, so it’s very easy for my brain to jump to the worst case scenario and fixate on it, and when packing, that has looked like packing 6 pairs of underwear to spend one night away from home because what if I peed myself, then an hour later pooped myself, and then after that my period started and then I needed to shower and obviously I would need to change my underwear after that! This tendency to really overpack was greatly hampered when L added me to his flight benefits and explained how they worked to me. “It’s standby flying, so there’s NO guarantee you’ll get a seat on the flight, so you CANNOT check a bag, you need to fit everything into your carry on and personal item.” Even with these limitations, in the early years, I still struggled with cramming way too many clothes into a suitcase, several of which would go unworn during the trip (but would need to be washed when I got home because anything that is in my suitcase is automatically dirty). With time, medication, and quick turn around times between trips, I do still pack more than I might need, but it is much better than it has been. Listed below are my tips for packing quickly and efficiently. (Please note, all advice and recommendations come from personal experience, I am not a professional packer. Please don’t sue me!!!)

Tip 1: Write out the duration of the trip and the different activities you will need outfits for. I am a very visual, kinetic person, L can do all of this in his head but I need to have the days of the trip and the activities we are doing in physically in front of me to reference. Usually I just make a table in the notes app on my phone breaking down days, activities, and then what elements I need for each outfit (Fig 1). I know that this is a crazy amount of effort and if you are someone with a small wardrobe and a clear idea of what needs to be packed- you are truly blessed, I envy you and I one day hope to acheive that. For now, I have tables on my phone. Knowing what you’re doing on the trip and listing what you’ll realistically wear will help minimize throwing extra clothes in your bag, it can also help you see which pieces can pull double duty and work for different days or activities.

Tip 2: Pack pieces that can pull double duty. In the table above, for Monday p.m. activities and Tuesday a.m. activities, I’d probably wear jeans, and instead of packing two different pairs of jeans, I can pack one and wear them twice. For travel days, I’ll usually wear the same pants and top layer (like a sweater or sweatshirt) to travel to and from our destination, and swap out the shirt underneath to minimize the chance of smelling like BO. Instead of two entirely different outfits, I now only need to worry about two different shirts. Packing shoes that can do double duty is a huge way to save luggage space, I’ve worn my hiking shoes in the airport because I didn’t want to deal another pair of tennis shoes. There are a few things I won’t pull double dutywith, the first one being the sweater or sweatshirt I wear to travel in, airports and airplanes are disgusting, so I always have a travel top layer and then pack another sweater or sweatshirt to wear on the trip, especially if I am staying in someone’s home. I also won’t pull double duty with socks, underwear, or any shirts that are directly touching my armpits (basically the shirts I wear under my sweaters or sweatshirts.)

Tip 3: You do not need to purchase 500 travel-sized toiletries. I have definitely fallen prey to the idea that a trip means I need to purchase a travel sized version of all my favorite toiletries, not just to save space but to avoid the TSA confiscating my things. The limit for liquid items going through security is 3.4 oz or 100 mL, and while that might not sound like a lot, for skincare and other personal care items, that’s actually a fairly large product. The full sized deodorant that I use is only 2.6 oz. You can pack most of the skincare items you already have, I’ve found I really only need travel sizes of toothpaste (which you can get for free at the dentist), contact solution, moisturizer (I use the giant Cerave bottles you get at Costco), and body lotion. When my skincare item is about 3/4s empty, that is when I buy a replacement and I throw the almost empty one into my travel toiletries bag. I have travel bottles for the toiletries that are too large to pack and I continously refill them. There is a lot consumerism around travel, and you do not need to fall into that trap!

Tip 4: You can buy things. I know I just talked about not falling into travel consumerism, but when it comes to packing and being worried about forgetting something or running into a unique situation that only 5 additional pairs of socks will solve, remember that stores exist. If you forget a charger, you can buy another one. If your period starts two weeks early, you can buy pads. We live in an age where you can pretty much buy anything, anywhere, so there doesn’t need to be anxiety about forgetting something or needing a special thing.

Tip 5: Figure out how to pack “one less thing.” When we’re going on a weekend trip, I will wash my hair and style it before we leave because it will last through the weekend, and I won’t have to pack any heat tools. Every one thing you don’t pack is room for another thing that might be more useful or important. Ideally, everything in your suitcase should serve a clear and realistic purpose and your trip would be hampered if you didn’t have it.

Tip 6: Be so realistic. I am the most basic person on the planet. If we have a day where we are walking around town, going to a museum, or going to a casual dinner, I am most likely wearing jeans and a black top. I do not need to pack my blue top in case I feel inspired that day and suddenly decide blue is better. If I don’t think blue is better in my every day life, I’m probably not going to decide it on this trip. If I’m going on a trip and one day is walking around a town and another day is walking around a museum and the outfit I would pick for both of those occasions if I was home and had full access to my closet is jeans and black top, it would be wiser for me to pack jeans and two black tops rather than jeans and a black top and then a maxi dress I have in the back of my closet that I’ve never worn but “Vacation Me wears maxi dresses to the museum.” Vacation you is just you, pack what regular you will wear.

Tip 7: Maximize your personal item. I am very guilty of overloading my personal item with things that I don’t need and losing out on valuable space. When traveling, I try to keep either my toiletries or my cosmetics bag in my personal item for easy access (always make sure any prescription medication is in your personal item!) which frees up space in my carry on. I like to take a backpack or large tote bag for my personal item and make sure that it will fit a smaller purse and either my toiletry bag or my cosmetics bag. Necessities for your personal item include- passport, wallet, chargers, hair ties, tissues, hand sanitizer and chapstick. Everything else is extra. Be honest with yourself about whether you’re actually gonna read the books you’re packing or if you’re just gonna play on your phone and listen to podcasts. Unless you are taking a trip specifically to read 5 books, you do not need to bring 5 physical books with you, or you can explore getting an ereader or using the Libby app on your phone.

This list was not developed overnight, and even after five years of traveling via standby with just a carryon and a personal item, I still overpack sometimes. The more you travel and become familiar with your travel habits, the easier packing efficiently will become!