5 Tips for Easier Packing
From someone who never learned to enjoy it
Hey friends,
I’m writing this email as I’m getting ready to board my flight to Edinburgh, Scotland. A trip that just two weeks ago I didn’t think would happen. And yet, here I am, thanks to a last-moment decision to jump on an opportunity that presented itself.
I like how this ties back into the topic of my previous email but I wanted to talk about something different today. And that is — packing for the trip. It is, after all, a fitting occasion.
I don’t know about you, but I hate packing. It is stressful and boring and somehow tends to drag forever, even though I’ve done it enough times by now to learn the drill. Some of you are probably in the same boat, so I thought I’d share a few tips that I learned over the years.
Start Early
If you’re like me, you might be tempted to delay packing until the very last moment, sometimes right before departing for the airport. However, like any strategy that includes rushing, this one comes with a major disadvantage — you’ll probably forget something.
Be that a charging cable, an important item of clothing, or toothpaste, things are easy to miss when in a hurry. So what I discovered is that it helps to start packing a few days before the departure.
Pull out your suitcase, put in the obvious things and leave it somewhere in a visible spot. Then just keep adding to it over the coming days. Chances are, by your departure date you will have remembered all the important pieces.
The best part is that you don’t need to think about it — your subconsciousness will do the work for you by randomly reminding you of anything you forgot. Plus, it’s a much more relaxed way to pack. Instead of a stressful last-minute exercise, you split the process across a few days.
Create a Packing Checklist
The two most important things to take with you on a trip are your passport and your bank cards. Everything else can probably be bought on location (although this depends on where you travel).
That said, spending money on stuff you already own but forgot is both economically and environmentally inefficient. A better approach would be to create a common packing checklist and use it whenever a trip comes up. After all, we bring a lot of the same items time and again.
Whether you do it on paper or via a dedicated app, doesn’t matter much. The important thing is to have it written down because our brain is surprisingly bad at memorizing these things.
Pack Everything, then Take Half of it Out
I don’t remember where I first read this advice but I love it. Most people, myself included, tend to overplan and overestimate. More often than not we’ll pack at least a few items that never even get used during the trip.
The problem with that? For one, your luggage will be heavier. There’s also less room in it for something you might want to bring home from your holiday. Finding what you need is more difficult. Overall, it’s just a wasted effort.
So be critical and once you’ve packed everything, go through it again to make sure you absolutely need everything in your suitcase. Spoiler: you don’t.
If you’re a photographer like me, this also applies to your gear. Do you need two tripods? Would that lens be really necessary? That heavy full-size laptop — you certain you’ll be doing any editing while traveling? And what about the gimbal — perhaps, you can do your travel video without one?
In fact, for photographers, this is especially important. Most of that gear will likely end up in the backpack that you’ll have to lug around not only through the airport but during your trip as well. Make it lighter and your own back will be grateful.
Invest in the Packing Cubes
For the longest time, I didn’t know these existed. But once I bought my first set, there was no going back. It’s so much more convenient when the things in your suitcase are sorted by their intended purpose (or however else you prefer it).
Finding stuff is simpler, your stuff looks neater, and you don’t have to carry around plastic bags to compartmentalize your belongings.
There are a ton of various packing cubes on Amazon. They aren’t expensive either. Find the set you like and give it a try. Might turn out to be one of the best investments in your comfort.
Food Is Allowed Onboard
The last one is a simple tip but one that some people either don’t know about or disregard for some reason. While liquids have been banned from carry-on luggage, the same doesn’t apply to food.
This means you don’t have to buy overpriced airport food unless you want to. If you’re on a budget, buying your own snacks beforehand would probably be cheaper — and often healthier.
Naturally, be smart about it. Bringing a three-course meal in your backpack might not be the best idea. As isn’t something that smells strong enough to alert the whole cabin of what’s on your dinner menu. And, no yogurts or anything similar — these would be considered liquids.
So yes, quite a few restrictions, but for long flights with cheaper airlines that don’t provide any snacks, it’s still an option to consider.
***
So there you have it, folks. Hopefully, some of these were useful and might help you prepare for your next flight with less stress. I’ll be more than interested to learn about your life hacks and tricks that you apply when packing.
Cheers,
– Alex
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