Do you love a vacation but hate the getting there part? Does all of the packing and planning give you a smidge of overwhelm to your already long to do list? Whether it’s Spring Break, Summer Vacation, or just a weekend away, you need to pack smart so you can enjoy your time off.

Staying organized away from home takes a little planning so here are some proven tips to organize your packing to make it so much easier.

Set up a staging area ahead of time. This may mean designating a corner of your bedroom or pulling out the suitcase and leaving it open to accept all of the items you think of to take prior to actually sitting down to pack. If your brain is like a browser with 8,345 windows open, having a place to put those items to be packed when you think of them will relieve some of your packing anxiety.
Of course, making a packing list is the ultimate in organization goals. Use my template so you don’t forget anything. It also helps on the return to make sure you’re bringing everything back.
Pack expensive items to replace like contact lenses or prescriptions early so you don’t have to think about it again.
If you have more than 2 of a particular piece of clothing you’re packing, consider packing cubes or even a plastic zippy bag to group them together. You can move things around easily in your suitcase and it helps if you have multiple stops on your trip.
Pack your largest items first which usually means your shoes. Fill them with socks or other small items to take advantage of every square inch. Place them in the bottom crevices of your suitcase and build around them putting in the next largest items until you’re done.
Now is the time to use your sample sized cosmetics and toiletries. Same with brushes and combs.
Pack the vitamins you need in a pill case or zippy bag and leave the bottles at home.
Pack in each suitcase a kitchen sized trash bag for dirty clothes. The return trip’s packing is a little sloppier so contain all of the dirty laundry in trash bags you can dump out when you get home.
Always pack a pair of flip flops. They can double as slippers if you don’t have room for both or something to slide on quickly to go to the lobby or outside.
Nobody ever regretted having an extra set of underwear in their suitcase. Make it a neutral color so it disappears no matter what you wear.
Always bring analog reading materials for the inevitable flight delay or traffic jam. Give your eyes and brain a break from the electronic devices.
I always sneak in a bathing suit. You never know when there will be a pool or beach nearby. This has to be the result of some childhood trauma I suffered from NOT having my swimsuit with me. 😅

Click here to see some of my other Travel Essentials. The coffee maker is definitely for road trips and not air travel! 😁

More of my travel picks linked here or click photo above

Your advance planning will go a long way in making sure you’ve got what you need to have a smooth, relaxing trip.

Bon voyage and Happy organizing!

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Organized Packing Tips