Oh geeze, I may be in for it this time. After attempting to pack for a 3 day trip to Nashville, I decided to enlist my sister’s advice (Twitter) for my week long trip to Colorado. It’s a difficult task for someone who’s never taken a flight for more than a two day trip. And it’s even more difficult if I have to pack for work and town. So despite the desire to edit her post, I’m leaving it as-is and cringing from the pointed fingers. Tosh was kind enough to lend her advice, and I sure got a few chuckles out of it. Enjoy!
As I sit across the house in Ryan’s room watching him pack for Colorado, I am a little speechless. I’m a girl, and I don’t even have this much trouble packing. “Where should I put these shirts? I packed six pair of jeans. How do I fit all 5674 pairs of shoes in my bag?” I have laughed a lot in the past twenty minutes. While Ryan is very concerned about if he is going to be able to fit everything where he needs it to be, I’m sitting on the bed watching in amusement. I don’t understand how the packing process can get this complicated. I may be a teenage girl, but I have never been a “travels-with-four-bags” type. I actually consider myself to be something of a packing guru: I always have everything I need in a bag that I can shut without having to get my entire family to sit on it. In case you are a horrible packer, need to get your two bags down to one, or are just a recluse and have therefore never taken a trip in your life and are about to, I’ve included some lovely packing tips from Tosh:
1. Pack lightly.
You may think this is a no-brainer, but you would be surprised how many people think they need eight outfits to choose from on every day of their trip. Take only what is necessary people!
2. If you’re flying, take only carry-ons.
If you can manage it, only pack a carry-on bag. It is so much easier. You don’t have to worry about locating your luggage, or it getting stolen or lost. Also, it’s usually cheaper!
3. Use a rolling bag.
If it’s heavy and you are going to have to walk a lot, you definitely want wheels. Otherwise you will be cursing everyone and everything, and you’ll have to get a massage and some Icy Hot for your shoulders when you get home.
4. Pack smaller items in bigger items.
Small things like underwear, toothpaste, etc… Stuff them in your shoes! If your size 13 boots are taking up half of your suitcase, at least use the gigantic space inside for something!
5. Pack by size.
Put the biggest things in first and work your way to the smallest. It is a lot easier to stuff in a few pairs of socks at the end than a pair of pants with a 40 inch inseam. (Ryan)
6. Fold everything.
Once again, it sounds like a no-brainer, but some people actually do just throw everything in a bag and hit the road. Fold it, it saves space! Plus, things will be less wrinkled.
7. Organize.
Group everything together. Pants, shirts, toiletries, etc. It is a lot easier to find what you need when you need it, and it uses space more efficiently than just stuffing things any and everywhere.
8. Remember pajamas.
You don’t want to sleep naked, especially if you’re bunking with someone else! Also, remember a toothbrush, because no one wants to smell a week’s worth of your dragon breath.
9. Pack one random item.
This doesn’t do anything to help save space, or create organization or efficiency, but I always do this for fun. I like to have something odd with me everywhere I go. It’s nice to have a random piece of yourself with you in a strange place. Plus, you never know when you’ll need a cowbell/picture of you and your friends dressed as the Mystery Gang/bag of origami paper! (Yes, these are things I have actually packed before.)
In the past twenty minutes that I have been writing this post, Ryan still has not finished packing. In his defense, he got a little distracted by our other sister and some hotel shampoos, but still, it’s been a while. I’m crossing my fingers, hoping that he will be done by the time he needs to leave for the airport tomorrow, but with what I have witnessed so far, who knows!
By the way, I’m on a computer/internet fast this week; leaving my computer at the house and turning off all text notifications from my phone. So leave a comment, and if it doesn’t approve it’ll be Sunday before I’m back online! I think it’ll be good to take a break. But don’t worry I’ve prepared some good material for the week ahead, so stay tuned!
Have you ever had a packing nightmare before? What advice to you have to add to Tosh’s list?
