A few months ago, I
wrote a piece about how despite my valiant efforts at keeping and maintaining a minimal wardrobe, when it came to travel, I still found myself over-packing.
I'm sure many of you can relate. There are memes and funny videos behind this concept, reminding us that though the trip is a few days, we all tend to pack twice as much as we need (we don't want to forget anything!)
Well, after having just come back a few weeks ago from a cross-country trip, I can tell you that I'm there. Finally. For once, I did not overpack. And here's the kicker:
- I had everything I needed
- I didn't have to buy anything I forgot
- I still felt like I could've packed less
Let me dive a little deeper. These three ideas behind my travel packing have consistently been the proverbial wrench thrown into my idealistic minimalist wardrobe. Forever. And now, I've done it. I know how to bring everything I need without bringing things I don't.
I had everything I needed - My recent trip to Florida was four nights and five days. Hence, I would need five outfits. I chose - chose - to re-wear the same outfit flying out as I would flying back home. So, I only needed four outfits. Out of transparency, I did pop in an extra top just in case of a mishap. And indeed, that mishap did happen! The couple my husband and I were visiting had two precious dogs. Said dogs were rather boisterous in the morning as I sat down to drink my coffee and that coffee ended up more on me than in my stomach. Bless their hearts. Regardless of this fluffy canine conundrum, I really did have enough clothing. One extra top (or maybe an extra pair of pants if you tend to spill on your lap) is all the excess I needed. I literally wore and used every piece of clothing I brought.
I didn't have to buy anything I forgot - Because... I didn't forget anything. My mother and I were having a warm discussion the other day about how she always uses a packing list to pack (I can vouch for this - I can still see the several-page packing list sitting on her bed as she packed her bags for a trip when I was a little girl) and I don't. She insisted this packing list made her a better packer. Perhaps this is true. I told her I never used one and rarely forgot anything. But, as I didn't point out (because this was my mom and I love her), those packing lists are over and beyond filled with things you won't need. Like a travel iron, travel hair dryer, and travel noise machine, etc. My friend's house had everything I needed and so do hotel rooms (or hotel lobbies). Once you learn to pack and keep packing only the things you need, you learn how to pack efficiently. Less is more. As my motto now goes, "If I didn't bring it, I don't need it."
I still felt like I could've packed less - That extra shirt came in handy, but I easily could have used a shirt that I'd already worn just as well. I packed enough but I could've packed less. So, if I wanted to pack less, I would've kept a shirt and pair of pants out and instead mixed and matched previously worn items together. That would've meant three outfit choices for five days. Frankly, this is doable and fun. A top and bottom times three of each is about nine unique outfits. This means I would've had enough outfits for nine days, not five. That's amazing.
Packing light is a learned skill. I know this because it's taken me about nine years to figure out my minimalist travel wardrobe. This trip to Florida showed me I could pack light and not be in fear that I forgot something. I have graduated from my wayward years of packing more than I needed!
Give it a try. Trying packing four outfits for an eight-day trip, or two outfits for a four-day trip. See how creative you can get. Once you realize you can do so much more with less (you won't even need to check your small bags or bag, as may be the case), time is saved, and peace of mind is restored. The best part is knowing you can have fabulous vacations (or work trips) with a small (but perfect) wardrobe.
Being reliant on your confidence - rather than an overstuffed suitcase - is life-changing.
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