It is often said that the stuff we own, ends up owning us. When we travel, we plan for everything. We typically take lots of clothes and stuff because we feel that you never know what might occur. So we go on a two week holiday with a suitcase filled with half our wardrobe. However, the trick to travel is to pack light. We often go on an adventure and only end up using half of what we packed, regretting 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 needing anything more. In fact, I often find I still take too much!! When friends come and visit me, I am amazed that they took 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 a 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 will usually ends up very long. But that’s ok, we’ll get it down rapidly.
Next, look at your list and think about it in relation to your trip. If you are going to the islands, do you really need pants or jeans? If you are going to Paris in July, do you really need to pack long sleeve shirts?
Next, you should have trimmed your packing list down a bit by eliminating those items that don’t really have anything to do with your trip.
Now, let’s take a look at your toiletry list. Why are you taking so much? In this age of worry, people tend to pack every medicine known to man just in case. Let’s be real- do you ever use any them? Can’t you buy them there? So go minimal. If you do get sick, 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 b &b, you don’t even need soap or shampoo since it is given to you. You’re going on vacation not to a corporate function so ditch the cosmetics and facial products.
Now, look at 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 taking. You can’t take it on the plane anyways.
Ok, last step on the road to packing light. We’ve probably cut out a lot of your list now. The final step is to just excise out another half. You are holiday, relaxing. Clothes don’t get that dirty and you can wear the same shorts a few days in a row. Ditch the towel- just borrow the one from the hotel. Take half as many clothes. Wear a few longer or don’t wear any! You never wear everything you take and unless spill something or sweat through your shirt, you can use it for more than one day.
That’s it. That is the trick to packing light. Cutting, cutting, and cutting until you get to the important items you need to pack. If you follow this opinion, I guarantee you will pack light and make this whole packing process much easier.
Matt is an avid traveler who has mastered the art of traveling the world. You can find more about how to travel the world and packing light at his website.
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