We all can get a little crazy when it comes to packing for a big trip. It can be a pain trying to remember everything you need to have with you, and forgetting things is always bound to be a little annoying. How can we avoid leaving important things behind, and how can we be sure that we’re taking the right things along for the ride?
This is where a great packing list will come into play. Taking the time out to create a packing list is essential. If you tend to be forgetful, it could save you a whole lot of strife: and even if you’re just trying to get packed up early, everyone has something to gain from writing out and sticking to their packing list!
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Start packing early
The best packing list will be the one that’s been created with care and checked time and time again. This is why it’s so important to start your packing preparations as early as you can. You don’t have to start loading up your bags as soon as you’ve started preparing your list, but you should strive to start your list at least a week in advance so you’ve got all the time you need to pack properly. The earlier you get started, the more time you’ll have to refine your list (or enough time to log onto Esprit and order some more holiday outfits!)
As it comes closer to the time when you should start packing your actual bag, you should see that your list already has everything you need. When creating your packing list, it’s not important to be specific about the contents. You don’t have to detail each and every outfit or toiletry that you plan to take, but it’s more of a priority for you to have a running list that gets your brain working in an organised way. For example, instead of adding a sweater of a particular colour to your list, just noting that you should have a sweater is more than enough. Once you get to that point in your packing process, you can choose the sweater that tickles your fancy best in that moment.
Be strict
If you think about your packing checklist as a kind of unspoken deal that you keep with yourself, you’ll eliminate a lot of your worries and stress. Challenge yourself to include every single thing that you’ll need for the trip on your packing list, and if it doesn’t make it onto the list, it’s not something that gets to come along on the trip. This will force you to think thoroughly about all the necessities for your journey: and this is why you have to give yourself ample time to create the list.
Having this deal with yourself will also help you avoid bringing along the kinds of things that you only think you might need. We all know what it’s like to bring along outfits or accessories that we think we just might end up wearing somewhere, only to find out that it never even left your luggage. Using your space wisely is one of the number one reasons for having a packing list, and you won’t be doing yourself any favours if you don’t stick to it.
Create a master list
The ultimate goal of the packing list should be for you to have one single list that’s your go-to for every trip you take. Of course the contents of your bag may vary a little bit from time to time, but you want to work from the same list each time to bring some consistency into your life. You can always decide against taking something that’s on your list, but once you’re packed and ready to go, it will be too late for you to go back and add things.
If you think about the way that you travel, you’ll realise that you tend to take the same things with you in most instances. Having three or four different packing lists will only confuse you and make it more difficult to pack most effectively. Just stick to one list that you can make improvements on as your packing needs change. You’ll also save yourself precious time by keeping one list and not creating new ones for every journey you go on.
Besides all that, a great packing list will give you something that you can refer to so you can be sure you’re staying on task. It’s happened to the best of us before: you’ve started getting yourself all packed up and you ran back over the mental list you’ve got multiple times, only to realise that you did in fact forget something that was crucial for your trip. It’s nice to have an idea of what you’re packing in your head, but the physical list that you can look at and review will be a godsend: especially if you end up in a time crunch for some reason.
Team up
If you’re traveling with a spouse or significant other, you can share your packing list with them and they can help you remember those things you might have overlooked. Even if you’re traveling with friends or all by yourself, sharing your list with other people can help you make sure you’ve got all of your boxes checked off. There’s nothing wrong with a physical reminder, because the truth is that none of us are infallible!
Checking other packing lists that you find online can be a great place to start, but there’s a certain level of customisation that will be necessary. No list that you find will be 100% relatable to your lifestyle. Take a moment out to think about your personal packing methods, and keep those things in mind as you bring your list together.
It might seem like rocket science, but it’s really not difficult to come up with the best packing list possible. Give yourself enough time to plan, and it won’t be difficult to become a more seasoned packer and traveler! Sometimes it’s hard to leave certain things behind when you’re traveling, but you’ll make the journey that much more enjoyable when you pack with a purpose![/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]
