Travel can be stressful -
packing for travel doesn't have to be.
Here's the trick: bring only what you KNOW you will use.
I repeat - bring only what you KNOW you will use.
Do not pack that one book you've been meaning to start reading.
Do not pack any clothes you THINK you might want to wear.
Do not pack those headphones you occasionally use.
Do not bring it unless you are 100% certain you are going to use it.
Because let's be honest, what's the worst thing that's gonna happen if you don't bring it?
Maybe it'll cause a little bit of discomfort. Maybe you'll be sad for a minute.
But those are chances - possibilities.
Those are not DEFINITELY going to happen - they might.
What IS definite is the added weight and size you'll be physically lugging around.
What IS definite is the added responsibility of keeping track of the object
and making sure you don't forget it somewhere.
So it's up to you to decide whether the DEFINITE stress of the size,
weight, and responsibility of towing around this object during your trip
is worth the chance of stress that MIGHT occur if you don't bring this object.
In my experience, more than likely, you'll be fine without the object for your trip's duration.
If you do this first part successfully and narrow down the objects needed for your trip,
you should be able to downsize the bag you use to carry everything you DO need.
Though I do sometimes use a piece of luggage for longer trips or business trips,
I often will just keep it simple and carry a backpack.
I highly recommend using a toiletry kit, packing cubes, and a laundry bag.
Each morning of your trip, you'll take clean clothes out of the packing cubes.
Each night, you'll deposit the used garments into the laundry bag.
If you've packed just enough clean clothes for every day of the trip, then when you get home,
you'll simply be able to remove the laundry bag and dump it directly into the washing machine.
If you're planning to do laundry during your trip, there's no question when to do it -
you know it's laundry day when you grab the last shirt from your packing cube.
If you don't want to splurge on fabric organizers,
you can make do with whatever you have around your house.
All these things could be used to separate clean and dirty clothes,
just like a packing cube or a laundry bag.
Some people color coordinate or label the cubes.
Some pack the cubes with complete outfits, so you use up one cube per day.
I just use this one for t-shirts and this one for socks and underwear, and that's it.
And I don't ever do that "rolling" method for packing my clothes, because I'm super lazy.
Instead, I picked up the habit of always folding
my shirts and socks to the size of my packing cubes,
even if I'm not intending to travel,
just so I'm ready to pack up and go on an adventure or a work trip at the drop of a hat.
It makes packing for travel insanely easy.
I wear my jacket, boots, pants, and belt while traveling, so there's no need to pack those.
Besides clothing and toiletries, I usually have these things with me to put in
my jacket pockets for easy access and to keep track of them.
If I bring a laptop, it goes inside the bag,
and the rest of my electronic gadgets go in this top front pocket.
Any respective chargers go in the bottom pocket.
Sometimes I bring my video-making kit, sometimes I bring coffee-making stuff.
I often like to have along a versatile drink container like this,
that can hold both hot and cold liquids.
It works for coffee or for filling up at the water fountain after getting through airport security.
Ultimately, I'd suggest you try to keep packing as simple as possible
and stay organized while you're out on the road.
Make sure you only bring with you what you KNOW you will need.
It might be a little bit scary, but unless you're traveling to the middle of nowhere,
you could probably borrow the thing you forgot from
someone else once you arrive at a destination.
But really, will your trip be completely ruined
and unenjoyable if you forget your sunglasses or your facial cleanser?
Pretty sure you'd still have a perfectly good trip without those items.
Safe travels!
'til next time!
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