Over the years, I’ve become a master at packing a suitcase. Ever since my personal nightmare of overpacking on my trip to Hawaii, I’ve made the life choice to never overpack again. Being a lover of lists and packing cubes, I’ve honed in my skills on how to pack and will share them with all. No more stuffed luggage debacles for me. I’m a changed woman!
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Make a list
The key to packing effectively and efficiently is to start with a list. Lists are my favorite. My packing list includes: clothes/accessories, toiletries bag, medications, passport and ID. And a small “entertainment” bag for the plane that includes my electronics and books. For example, my best friend has a handbag that she uses solely for her entertainment items while traveling. In her handbag, she keeps her phone, an MP3 player, and a couple of chargers. She has a few replica handbags in her collection and a lot of them are pretty convincing. Just because you are off on vacation does not mean you cannot make a fashion statement after all. And of course, as far as your list goes, each category is broken down from there.
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Take inventory of your list
If your list filling up an entire page, it’s going to over-flow. Guaranteed. My hack: use Pinterest to get ideas on how to make multiple outfits by mixing and matching. And I always travel in my gym / hiking outfit.
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Pack it in
If you want to learn the best way to pack a suitcase, you should buy packing cubes. Seriously. Packing cubes changed my already-organized packing method. I used to dig through my suitcase to find an outfit! Now I’m blessed with an organized cube for my shirts, pants, pjs, etc. And when your trip is over and you’re dreading fitting it all back into your luggage, don’t worry. Re-packing is a breeze.
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Use all your space
Are you packing your socks into your shoes? If not, you’re wasting valuable space! Leave no crevice empty. Scarves can lay flat at the bottom or wrap around the edges. Socks can fit anywhere and everywhere. All my clothes are rolled instead of folded (and in packing cubes).
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Think Outside the box
And by box, I mean bag. Wear those boots, don’t pack them. Any large items should be worn, such as a winter coat, instead of taking up precious space in your suitcase. If you carry a purse or backpack, apply all the rules above. My backpack always carries my scarf, which doubles as a blanket, and a small packing cube, which I use as a low back pillow on the plane.
