PACKING: Too Much…Too Little…JUST RIGHT!
MAKE PACKING STRESS FREE!
Have you ever experienced not knowing exactly how much to pack when leaving for a vacation? Ending up with TOO MUCH of some things and not enough of others? Keep reading to find out how much is JUST ENOUGH for the next time you travel.
In my earlier travel days, I was known to OVERPACK, taking much more than I needed on a trip. Over the years I have learned to STREAMLINE what I take which makes packing less stressful. Now it’s so much easier to take exactly what I’ll use on vacation!
Use the following steps to ensure that you have no more “packing headaches”.
First – CHECK THE WEATHER FORECAST for your trip destination. This is a MUST! Once you find out how the elements will come into play with your vacation plans, it will be much easier to choose the JUST-RIGHT items to pack.
Next, consider HOW MANY DAYS you will be gone and the kind of ACTIVITIES planned for your getaway. Do you need 2-3 changes of clothes per day? Probably not. Plan on 1 MAIN OUTFIT FOR EACH DAY.
Take ONLY 2 PAIRS of SHOES. With the pair that you will wear during travel, that will make 3 pairs of shoes/sandals in all. (I used to pack a pair of shoes for almost every outfit when first cruising. Needless to say, I ended up wearing the 3 most comfortable pairs that coordinated with all my outfits, and the rest stayed in the closet! Talk about suitcase space overage!!)
Now, choose a COLOR PALETTE for your wardrobe sticking to 2 main colors. COORDINATE pieces that can MIX AND MATCH. Choosing 2-3 neutral bottoms and 5-6 tops will extend the options you have; doubling or tripling the amount of different looks.
LAY OUT outfits that are travel-friendly, that won’t wrinkle or are low-maintenance. Remember to consider only those clothes that ARE COMFORTABLE and FIT WELL. Who wants to be on vacation feeling uncomfortable or self-conscious with clothes that were thought to look cool, but never worn? Taking up suitcase space with items that have been hanging in the closet for months, just waiting for an opportunity to be worn, are probably not the best choice here. They will inevitably be left in the suitcase during your vacation.
Now, CUT down the amount of clothes you’ve laid out to TWO-THIRDS. (The number of undergarments per day should not be decreased unless you have access to laundry facilities.)
Lay out ONE JACKET OR SWEATER that can be worn with all of your outfits. No need to have more than that; especially if you are also going to travel with an overcoat or jacket. That makes 2 versatile outerwear options.
TRAVEL-SIZED TOILETRIES are the way to go; or pack your favorite products into 3 oz. plastic bottles rather than taking the large tubes.
Got an idea of what to pack on your next getaway? Now that you know WHAT to pack … HOW YOU PACK is vital! To find out more, read our next blog: “PACKING: HOW TO MAKE EVERYTHING FIT!”.
-Written by Mimi Rasmussen
