Just Keep Packing, Just Keep Packing

I am quick to click, click, click. Just like that, a trip to Italy is booked.

I am not quick to pack, pack, pack.

I dread packing. I put it off until the very last minute.

After traveling 13 weeks in 2019, I have become a “pro” and have a few tips to share. Disclaimer: I still overpack 80% of the time.

2 weeks in Grand Cayman in January.

1 week in Australia in March.

A weekend in Bodega Bay in April.

1 week in Las Vegas in May.

3 weeks in Toronto in June.

1 week in Brighton, England in June.

1 week in London in July.

1 week in Poland in July.

2 weeks in Brighton in July.

1 week in North Vancouver in November.

I spent 25% of the year living out of a suitcase.

Packing 101

1. Check the weather. Don’t be fooled, I will still be 100% unprepared when the clouds roll in and the thunder roars.
2. Ask myself what kind of attire I need.
   • Will I be at the beach?
   • Do I need business attire?
   • Will I have time to lounge?
3. Get out a pen and paper.
4. Write the date of each day of the trip along with any plans I already have for that day. Do I need one outfit? Do I need two? Am I spending the day at the beach before having a fancy Italian dinner? Do I have business meetings in the morning and a dinner cruise planned for the evening? Often I have an itinerary for a business trip but not for a vacation.
5. Fill in the days I have an itinerary for first.
6. Next, fill in the remaining days to the best of my ability. If it’s a vacation I am packing for, I simply plan one cute outfit for each day.
7. Eliminate the lounge wear. I don’t need a new pair of sweats for each day. Settle with one, save space. Plus by packing 95% cute clothing I will be forced to look my best and feel my best while away. Personally, I will always opt for comfy clothes so this strategy has been a game changer for me.
8. DO NOT pack any outfit that is not listed on my piece of paper. This is the only way I can limit my horrid overpacking tendencies.
9. Roll my clothes to save space as I pack them in my suitcase.
10. Finally, take a photo of the piece of paper I planned outfits on for convenience while away. This way I don’t have to remember what shirt looked cute with what skirt, what shoes to wear with this or that, so on and so forth.

Comment your best packing tip! X