I love to travel. That’s a fact. But packing for travel is something I dread wholeheartedly. Oftentimes, it takes me forever to get started and I wait until the last minute. It can happen that I start packing late at night for a flight early the next morning. Yes, that’s a real thing for me I’m not proud of.
Why I Dread Packing
For me there are two determining factors that make me balk at the whole process. One, I might still need one of the items I have to pack. I don’t want to be constrained in my options just because I packed too early. And of course, I don’t want to take anything out of my bag or suitcase once it’s packed if I can avoid it. Second, I’m never really 100% sure what to pack and how much. Regarding the latter, I’ve learned over the years that less is usually better and that we often overestimate the stuff we use and need on a trip. (Check out this post where I show you how I pack all my body care items in a carry-on for a 3-week trip.)
The Packing Checklist
In terms of figuring out what to pack and – most importantly – making sure not to forget something crucial, I created a packing checklist a while back. This list includes all the items I need when I’m traveling. Usually I pack everything and then I go through the list and check it off and pack the rest I forgot. I’ve become pretty good over the years but there’s always at least one thing I forget. That’s why I’m so glad I have this list!
I thought I’d share it here in hoping that it comes in handy for some of you when packing for travel. A few notes about the list and how to use it:
- It’s geared towards women.
- There are no quantities. Depending on where and how long you go, you need to determine the quantities that are right for you.
- There’s no detailed clothing list.
- Cross out the items you never use. Obviously, I created the list for myself and everyone has different needs.
- Add items you never go traveling without. Because see the point above.
What kind of packer are you? Do you enjoy or dread it?
