Packing can be super stressful. I’ve been asked on more than one occasion to assist friends with the woe of packing light for a few days excursion, so I’m going to give you a few tips for the ultimate in the five day packing plan. You might not be using it during the holidays, but I promise that one of these days a couple of these tips are going to come in handy.
Wear your bulkiest stuff on the plane. This might seem like a given, but if you live in a warmer climate and are traveling to a more blustery destination, it might not always be the first thing on your mind. You can carry your jacket, just make sure you think about the impending plans and plan for outerwear that will work well in any situation.
Just so you know, you actually won’t die if you have to wear boots through airport security — I’ve done it a lot. Besides, I just saw this piece on the news that foot fungus is rampant at airports since everyone thinks it’s a great idea to wear flip flops through security. Gross. If that doesn’t sway you, I’m not sure what will. Anyway, this detail alone will save you so much room in your suitcase and make a carry on not just a dream, but a reality.
Most hotel rooms (unless you’re at some kind of crazy jenk set up) will provide you with an iron now a days which is a super huge plus. Unless you intend on getting insanely crunk in it, you can totally reuse a good button up while traveling, you just might need to smooth out the wrinkles a bit. Pick a basic color like white or black in order to be super versatile. It will save you some stress and some space. It’s easier to change up your tie or cardigan instead of packing too many shirts.
You only need one pair of jeans — seriously. And if you’re going to ignore my advice about the shoes and jacket, this option will leave you plenty of room. Unless you’re going to something fancy that I don’t know about that requires additional and more formal attire, if you wear a pair of jeans (or awesome classic black or gray skirt) to the airport and pack a spare, you can pack as many tops as your stylish heart desires. I feel better when I can change my top and can totally live with the same stuff on my lower half (panties excluded from that equation — pack plenty of those).
Socks and underwear aren’t something most of us would compromise in the packing process, but if you’re in a time crunch when you’re trying to get your life together for travel, your brain might be too scrambled to pack appropriately. Allow an hour at least 24 hours ahead of time to organize your suitcase and you’ll be the tidiest traveler ever. Count how many pairs of undergarments you’ll need and coordinate shirts, hoodies, etc. so that you only pack what you need. If you actually think about each day’s ensembles in advance it makes it so much easier to plan ahead and not stuff your suitcase unnecessarily.
Are you fit to fly?
