Hello!
I find that travel light can be a struggle sometimes; you look at an empty suitcase and just don’t know what to “throw in it” (hint: don’t do this!). This can cause some anxiety for some people. That is why I am here to share 5 tips on how to pack light and efficiently.
Packing light and efficiently will make your trip a lot more comfortable, I experienced that when I went to San Francisco for a week with just a carry-on, you may even save some money while booking your flights, and it will be an overall easier travel setup than carrying a massive suitcase around.
I learned to pack light when I was a young chill; one of the perks of being a child of divorced parents is that you soon learn what to bring (or not) when going to spend your weekends (or vacations) with one of your parents.
Another thing I found useful when the packing time comes, is all the endless hours I spent playing Tetris! 😂
I know it may sound stupid, but believe me, Tetris skills can be very handy when you want to fit half of your belongings (hint: also avoid this) in a small suitcase.
So, without further due, let’s get started:
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5 tips on how to pack light and efficiently
Tip 1 – Packing Cubes
The first time I heard about packing cubes was when I had to prepare for my 8-day trip to San Francisco with just hand luggage.
Packing cubes, or sets, come in many sizes, colors, and even with compression capability. These are, particularly handy for those who plan on backpacking.
The set I own has 3 cubes, of different sizes without compression, and also 3 pouches and it only costs 14Eur on Bol.com website*.
If you never tried organizing your stuff in packing tubes, I totally recommend you give it a go! Trust me, you will not regret it! 😉
Tip 2 – Make a packing list
Sounds trivial but making a realistic packing list will help you on avoiding overpacking, which consequentially means it will make the whole process much more efficient.
A good packing list, in my opinion, should take into account the duration of your trip, its purpose, if laundry is available and the weather conditions.
With these points in mind, it will be easier to make a list that prevents you from packing stuff you will end up not using/need and also, forgetting stuff that might be necessary.
Raise your hand if you have ever been in any of these situations… I’ll raise both my hands! 🙋✋ haha
Tip 3 – Travel Capsule Wardrobe
With tip 2 in mind, I think the next step is to make your travel capsule wardrobe.
In case you are not familiar with what a capsule wardrobe is let me quickly explain:
A capsule wardrobe consists of a limited number of clothing items (shoes/accessories also included) that coordinate well with each other and can be worn multiple times in different ways.
Now you apply this concept with the packing list you’ve made on tip 2, and voilà!
No overpacking, and no stress with “I got nothing to ear” while on a trip, which could very well result in you going on an unnecessary shopping spree.
Cool, right? 👌
If you need examples of how to set a capsule wardrobe, I recommend you visit Pinterest for inspiration.
Tip 4 – Roll your clothes
I could not believe in this tip myself, but ever since I started rolling my clothes, Marie Kondo style, I noticed that not only my clothes remain in better shape during my trip, but they also take less space, and in conjunction with the packing cubes, my suitcase remains organized the whole trip!
Yes, the whole trip; no matter if it is a weekend trip or a two-week holiday.
If you want to see how it is done then check this video: Marie Kondo Packing Technique
Tip 5 – Zipper Bags
Zipper bags can be your best buddy when it comes to keeping your belongings organized in your suitcase; not only they are ideal for toiletries, but I also like to use them to keep my chargers together or any other small items (like cables for example) that can easily get lost in your suitcase.
I personally prefer the 1L zipper bags; they are TSA approved and you won’t have trouble with liquids while security checks.
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And that is all for today’s post. I hope you find these tips helpful for your next trip.
Do you have your own tips?
Then share them in the comments below; I’ll be glad to read them. 😊
See you next week!
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0 Responses
Travel packing cubes are the absolute best! I still use the rolling method in those, and it saves so much space.
Indeed, I do the same thing, regardless if it is a long or short trip, and it makes packing sooo much easier. 🙂
Thank you for the helpful post.I am guilt of over-packing for sure. I just heard about packing cubes this week so I think I will give them a try. The part that appealed to me was that if you had to open your luggage at the airport, everyone doesn't see your personal items. I HATE packing so I tend to procrastinate it and then I end up throwing in all sorts of things in a panic. I am going o try your time capsule suggestion for my next trip. Usually I try to coordinate a color theme so I don't have to bring so many shoes, but the time capsule makes more sense. Thanks!
You are welcome! I hope these tips help you one your next travel. Let me know how the packing/unpacking went, ok? haha
Thanks for your visit & hope to see you again.
xo, B