Packed to Perfection: A Packing Guide from Our NYC Professional Organizer
Last week we discussed how to ensure that business runs smoothly when you leave for vacation and discussed a few items to take care of at home, but how do you ensure that you’ll be organized during your travels? Make sure that you have everything you need to enjoy your trip – and don’t waste precious beach time rifling through your luggage trying to find your favorite swim suit – by following these packing tips from our NYC Professional Organizer.
Make a List (And Check It Twice!)
Making a list prior to any trip will help you see, at a glance, all of the items that you’ll need to bring with you. It will also help you ensure that nothing is left behind when you pack up to return home! On your list, include all of the clothing, toiletries, medications, electronics, books and other items that you’ll be bringing with you. If you’re traveling with children, be sure to do this for them as well, making special note of items like a favorite teddy bear or night light that absolutely can’t be left behind. You can make this list the old fashioned way with pen and paper or use tech to help you out. Here are a few resources our NYC Professional Organizer recommends for packing lists.
TravelSense Personalized Packing List
TravelSmith Packing Checklist
Rick Steves’ Packing Lists
Packing List for Babies & Toddlers
Packing List for School-Age Children
Avoid Overloading
You’d be surprised by how much freer you will feel when you pack less than you think you need. Not only will this help you cut down on baggage fees, traveling lighter also helps you spend less time trying to figure out what to wear and more time enjoying your time on vacation. Pack a few staple pieces that you can mix and match to really make the most of the items you do bring. Stick with an e-reader to avoid weighing your bags down with books. Check with your hotel to see what’s provided – often beach towels, irons, hair dryers, some toiletries, bathrobes and more are complimentary, and other items can be purchased or rented on site.
Pack In Plastic
Use plastic zip top bags to store items of various sizes, such as toiletries, medications, accessories, and shoes, making sure to pack a few extras to store wet clothing on your trip home. Our NYC Professional Organizer also recommends using dry cleaning bags to separate your outfits and keep your clothes from wrinkling.
Get On a Roll
Maximize space and minimize wrinkles by rolling items like t-shirts and jeans.
Above the Fold
Other shirts and sweaters should be neatly folded – taking care to smooth all wrinkles and button the buttons, then folding the arms in towards the center and the bottom and top thirds inward to form a neat square.
Packing Makes Perfect
Packing your belongings in the right order can mean the difference between and overflowing suitcase and a bag packed to perfection. Lay out everything on the floor or bed so you can take stock of it all before you start packing. Then stack folded items in your suitcase and fit rolled clothes around them. Shoes and socks can them be used to fill in open spaces.