Booking a trip is like an instant dopamine boost, but once it’s time to pack, it can feel temporarily overwhelming. To help offset that stress, it’s important to simplify the process so it feels less daunting. Consider these 7 tips ahead of your spring travel plans to prevent any fuss from putting a damper on your excitement.
1. Start with a packing list
The simplest way to ensure you don’t fill your luggage with unnecessary extras is by sticking to a list. Write down what you need — and only what you need — so you can check everything off as you go. It’ll save you time and space, so you have room to do some shopping while you’re away. A win-win in our book.
READ MORE: The Essential Travel Packing List for the Organized Minimalist
2. Plan to wear your bulkiest items in transit
Whether it’s a winter jacket, a pair of chunky sneakers, or an oversized sweatshirt, wear it or carry it with you on the flight, train ride, or road trip. This will keep it from taking up precious space in your luggage. Plus, if it’s a sweater or jacket, it’s something you can throw over you if you get a little chilly.
3. Check the weather at your destination
Knowing the weather you are working with during your time away is essential so you can prioritize exactly what you need. Best case scenario, it will be consistently warm wherever you’re headed so you can bring along lighter, more compact pieces. But if you are headed somewhere with varying temperatures or overall colder weather, make layerable staples your best friends. That way you can mix and match without having to bring multiples of anything.
4. Plan outfits based on your itinerary
Allow yourself ample time to assess your travel itinerary and lay out specific outfits for each activity. Casual breakfast? Check. Fancy dinner? Check. Scenic hike? Check. Pool day? Check. Then, try on each specific outfit before you pack it so you know whether you actually like it. After all, nothing’s worse than an outfit not looking how you pictured it would, so save yourself (and your valuable luggage space) by planning your outfits in advance.
5. Use packing cubes
Not only are packing cubes helpful for compressing items together to optimize space, but they’re also lifesavers when it comes to organizing. Decide whether you want to sort your cubes by outfit or you’d prefer to categorize your cubes so undergarments go in one, tops in another, et cetera. Good news is you can’t go wrong with either method!
6. Limit outerwear and/or footwear
We love a chic coat or cute pair of shoes as much as the next person, but narrowing down these items will save your sanity. Think one pair of everyday sneakers, one pair of versatile sandals, and one pair of pool flip flops. Circle back to your itinerary and be sure you’ve got every scenario covered. If so, you’re good to go.
CHALLENGE: Try to stick to 1 coat and 2-3 pairs of shoes.
7. Embrace minimalist skincare and makeup
We’re Team Minimalist Beauty year-round, but when it comes to vacation, we can’t emphasize it enough. As far as skincare goes, nobody needs a 15-step routine when they can be spending that precious time exploring or sleeping off jet lag. A simple yet effective regimen (like our four-step system) is all you need to maintain healthy, hydrated, and radiant skin no matter which continent you’re on. Oh, and sunscreen, of course. Now, for makeup, vacation is the perfect time to embrace the “no makeup” makeup look with minimal products. We tend to stick to cover-up, blush, mascara, and lip balm for an effortless glow.
