It is often said that the stuff we own, ends up owning us. When we travel, we plan too much. We typically pack lots of clothes and stuff because we think you never know what might occur. So we leave for a two week holiday with a backpack filled with half our wardrobe. However, the trick to travel is to pack light. We often go on vacation and only end up using half of what we brought, angry we packed so much in the first place.
When I travel, all of my belongings fit into a tiny daypack and a larger backpack or duffel bag. I have traveled for over a year without ever needing anything more. In fact, I often found I brought too much!! When friends come and visit me, I am amazed that they packed so much stuff. They ask me my secret to packing light. I'll tell you what I tell them.
Here's how I pack light and how you can too:
First, create of list of everything you think you might need. Everything and anything. From clothes, to toiletries, to electronics, to jackets, and everything in between. This packing list usually ends up pretty long. But that's ok, we'll get it down quickly.
Next, look at your list and think about it in relation to your destination. If you are going to the ocean, do you really want pants or jeans? If you are going to Paris in the summer, do you really want to pack long sleeve shirts?
Next, you should have trimmed your packing list down a lot by eliminating those items that didn't really have anything to do with your destination. Now, let's take a peak at your toiletry list. Why are you taking so much? In this age of over caution, people tend to pack every medicine known to man just in case. Let's be real- do you ever use most of them? Can't you buy them there? So go minimal. If you do get ill, you can always by Tylenol or diarrhea medicine there. Take only the bare essentials. A few pills that take up only a little space- you don't need the whole box.
What about the non-medical supplies your packing? Soap, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, razor, and shaving cream is all you need. If you are staying at a hotel, you don't even need soap or shampoo since it is provided for you. You're going on holiday, not to a corporate function so ditch the cosmetics and facial products.
Now, think about your packing list. What can you buy there if you really need it? Probably lots. Toss the bug spray, the suntan lotion, and whatever else you are packing. You can't take it on the plane anyways.
Ok, let's step on the road to packing light. We've probably cut out half of your list now. The final step is to just cut out another half. You are holiday, relaxing. Stuff doesn't get that dirty and you can wear the same shorts a few days in a row. Ditch the towel- just use the one from the hotel. Take half as many clothes. Wear some longer, don't wear any! You never wear everything you take and unless you slip something or sweat through your shirt, you can wear it for more than one day.
That's it. That is the secret to packing light. Cutting, cutting, and cutting until you get to the essential items you need to pack. If you follow my tips, I guarantee you will pack light and make the whole packing process much easier.