Easy Travels: Packing Made Simple

      I am completely guilty of over-packing when it comes to traveling.  For winter break, I basically packed up my room at school and shoved it into a gigantic suitcase.  It was as if I was traveling to some remote location where I wouldn’t have any belongings. I needed to lug two, nearly 50 lb., suitcases through the airport and into a taxi. Not to mention when I got home, half of what I needed was already there and I wore, maybe, about a quarter of the clothes I brought home.  By the time I got to my room, my shaking muscles had had enough.
          
       
  My new resolution?  To learn to become a better traveler and to pack only what I need.  So this weekend, when I went to visit my friend at her school, I was determined to fit everything into a small weekend bag—clothes, make-up, a towel, shoes, and all.  How can we become better packers so that it’s easier to visit our friends at school, travel to and from school on breaks, or go on any other trip? Here are my suggestions (learned from experience).

1)      Make a list of essentials.  Start with underwear, an outfit for everyday that you’ll be away, proper shoes for your outfits, and toiletries.  If possible, try deciding ahead what you will wear. (I know this is hard because as girls, our moods always change and our outfits change to fit our moods).  But, we need to compromise with ourselves with this.  Also, a helpful tip is to roll your clothes tightly together into thin strips and pack them closely next to one another.  This makes everything smaller and fit tightly together so you can save room!

2)      Gather your makeup and toiletries.  We need deodorant, a toothbrush, and maybe a few more personal things.  These are actually essential. Pick out what makeup you use for your day and night looks. You don’t need 20 different mascaras or the neon eye shadow that you’ve never used but you think you may (for some reason) need.  And if your friends are willing, ask if you can use things like shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, or shaving cream so you don’t have to pack them.  They shouldn’t mind, considering you won’t be there long.  And if you’re going home, you could always buy some to keep at home once you get there.

3)      Shoes.  Girls underestimate the space these things take up.  You think you’ve squished everything into one suitcase and then you realize…where in the world am I going to fit my shoes?!  If you’re visiting a friend at college, you’ll need a daytime shoe (something comfortable) and probably a pair of heels, boots, or sandals for the nighttime if you plan on going out.  Of course this depends on the season, but you can adjust accordingly.  If you’re going home, basically the same suggestions apply because you’ll probably be running around in socks the majority of the time until you go out to dinner or to hang out with friends.

4)      Be careful with all the other random things you think you’ll need.  You probably will need to bring chargers for all your phones and electronics, but you probably won’t need a blow dryer, straightener, curling iron, and crimper if you’re visiting a friend.  Do your hair the day of, and then any other time you need to fix it up, your friend will (hopefully) let you borrow what you need.  You don’t need to pack 14 different perfumes of six different lotions.  Pick one scent girls, and you’ll make it through.
 
Overall, be realistic.  You really aren’t going to need four different logo sweatshirts because honestly, no one’s really paying too much attention to which logo you’re representing.  I’ve learned the hard way by being completely unrealistic and regretting it later.  Did I really need to pack a pair of sneakers for a weekend trip just in case my friend and I decided to go running?  Consider the time that you will be spending away and what activities you know you will partake in.  And remember, we’re with girls just like us who will have back up products and clothes in case we forget something! I see boys going for a week with a tiny bag and the very, very basics.  Obviously we can’t always do this, but maybe we can get a little closer to it. Your travels will be much easier and your muscles will be thanking you!