Packing Frenzy

I’m in PANIC MODE!  My Spain trip is quickly approaching and I can feel the pressure.  With 3 weeks left until take off, I started my packing process last Sunday.  I try to give myself no less than 3 weeks to gather all the things I’ll need so my head won’t start spinning as we come down to the wire.  So after having the initial overwhelming feeling for the task at hand, I take a deep breath and follow this guide to ease the stress…and to make sure I don’t forget anything.

Know Your Destination

I have never been to Europe before.  Tell me we are off to the Caribbean and I can be packed in an hour.  Research never-been-before places – their climate, weather, your activities – in order to get an idea of the types of clothes & other necessary items to bring because you wouldn’t realistically bring a jacket to the beach would you??

Make A List

I’m sure you have lots of crap you are thinking about bringing.  Creating a list will help weed out the crap from the actual things you need.  I like to separate my lists using categories like: CLOTHES, ACESSORIES, ELECTRONICS/EQUIPMENT, BATH/BEAUTY, MEDICINES, etc.  Think about if you have a special activity or event you have to attend.  What amenities your hotel will provide.  What is available at your destination.

Take Inventory

Take a look at your closet & stash to see what you can check off on your list.  Try clothes on and see if they fit, if they need to be altered, or if it needs to be replaced.  Plug in electronics to see if they still work.  I tend to buy things end of season.  So I put them away until the following year.  Sometimes I forget about them.  So it’s always good to shop your closet and your stash first.

Shopping Optional

Just because you go on a trip doesn’t mean you NEED a whole new wardrobe…but who are we kidding??  It’s nice to get some new things to refresh your outfits!  Once you figure out what you HAVE then you can get what you “need.”  What I usually do is buy everything I THINK I need.  Most large stores have great return policies so once I have everything I will then make a decision whether or not to keep or return some items.  So keep all tags and packaging on.

Shred

Get your pile together and start removing the “extras.”  On a week vacation you don’t really need 10 dresses.  If you want to travel light, you will have to wear your clothes more than once & like many lean travelers you can wash your clothes.

Check It Off

Lay out your items and check if you outfits cover all your days, events, and activities.  Check if you have all the travel items on your list.

Packing can become really overwhelming.  This all may seem like common sense (because it is) but in a frenzy your mind can't really think straight.  You can make a lot of tasks less stressful if you create a guide for yourself.  It helps lay out all the steps you need to do in order to finish you task.

Good Luck!