Taking a trip is a great way to unplug from your everyday routine and experience something new. While travel can be fun, preparing for a trip and living out of a suitcase is often stressful. Here are some tips to help you stay organized when you’re away from home.
1. Make a list – Packing is the worst, and you probably want to get it done as quickly as possible. Typing up a packing list may seem like an unnecessary extra step, but the peace of mind it provides is invaluable. There are lots of great templates available online (like this customizable one), or you can easily make your own. Do this once and it’s easy to print a copy every time you take a trip.
2. Think through your clothes – Most of us overpack, especially when it comes to clothes. Take a look at your travel schedule and decide on the outfits you will wear each day, taking into account any special events or activities that require specific attire. Resist the urge to throw in a lot of “just in case” items. I wear the same things for the two travel days of any trip – light jacket or sweater, tshirt, comfy pants and shoes – and only worry about swapping out the shirt. Stick with neutral colors so you can exchange a different top or bottom depending on your mood or the weather. A couple fun accessories are all you need add interest to your outfits.
3. Assign everything a place in your luggage – Just as everything in your home should have a home, decide on a place for all of the stuff you travel with in your luggage. This is especially important for the bag you will be accessing while on the road. Make sure your passport/ID, tickets/boarding passes, phone, and other essentials always get put back in the same pocket or section of your bag, and you will save yourself many panicked moments looking for these items. As an anxious traveler myself, this is the one tip that has made the most difference in my stress level when I’m away from home!
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