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Don't Let Packing for Travel Get You Stressed Out

Traveling can be very stressful, especially when it comes to packing. Prior to departing, we all have a tendency to run around our apartments, not knowing what to do first, we get crabby, and we then pack everything in sight. Nothing is worse than packing so much that you have to spend extra money at the airport, or, needing to be jam packed into a car. In addition, once finally arriving at the destination, the trip can be miserable if you have packed inappropriately, all of your clothes are so wrinkled that you can’t even wear them, and you packed so much that your belongings have taken over your hotel room, or the place you are staying. The following are some tips to make packing for travel easier:

Before you even start packing, take 15 minutes to plan, and write your “to do” lists. Make 4 different “to do” lists: What you need to do before you pack; what you need to pack; what you need to do before leaving; what you need to do when you get back home.  

List 1: What you need to do before you pack

  • Start with all of your clothes clean and put away in their proper places-this makes your clothes easier to find, and you will not forget to pack something that is sitting in the hamper.
  • Make sure your apartment is in a neat and orderly fashion-this will also make it easier to find what you need to pack, and, it will remove a potential distraction.
  • Contact the post office to put your mail on hold-you can do this online at www.usps.com
  • If you are driving, have your car serviced if needed. Also, make sure you have all of your driving directions printed.
  • If you are flying, print your airline confirmation, and write down the time you need to be at the airport. Then, calculate when you will need to leave your apartment on the day of departure.

List 2: What you need to pack

  •  When determining which outfits to take, review your itinerary to determine how many dressy outfits and casual outfits you will need. Check the local weather forecast to determine if you will need clothing for rain, snow, or extreme temperatures. Will you need a bathing suit?
  •  Take basic style clothing-bring outfits that are interchangeable. If you stick to basic colors, you can bring fewer shoes-if your outfits all go with black, there is no need for brown shoes.
  •  Try to keep makeup and hair care items to a minimum-these can all cause a mess if they break in a bag. When determining what to eliminate, ask yourself, “If I don’t take this, and I decide I really need it, can I get it at a local grocery store?”
  • Don’t forget medications, and your essentials. If you are traveling by air, carry these items on the plane with you, just in case your luggage gets lost. Check with your airline’s policies regarding carry on items first.

List 3: What you need to do before you leave

  • Change your sheets so that you can come home to a fresh and welcoming bed…Remember that the best part about going away is coming home.
  • Make sure your apartment is clean and orderly-you will not be excited to come home to a mess.
  •  To avoid odors from stagnant water, pour some Pinesol in your toilets and drains.
  •  Turn the air conditioner off, or up to 85 degrees if it is summer time. In the winter, do not turn your heat off-just turn it down to about 58 degrees to keep pipes from freezing.
  • Make sure your refrigerator and freezer doors are closed tight. Tape them shut if you have to. You do not want to come home to spoiled food.

List 4: What you need to do when you get home

  • Leave this list on your kitchen counter so you can find it easily when you get home. 
  • Turn on your air conditioner, or turn your heat up. 
  • Unpack the car as soon as possible.
  • When you bring your suitcases into your apartment, take out the items that need to be washed. If you have more than one load of laundry to do, wash your priority clothes first (the ones you need to wear the next day). Try to unpack as soon as possible-the longer you wait to unpack, the longer you will live out of your suitcase.
  • Jump back in to your normal routine.