Packing is a hassle. The endless ways to fold your clothes, the arranging and rearranging of your suitcase to fit everything, the inconvenience of leaving something out and having to shove it in at the last minute and the inevitable procrastination that accompanies packing all contribute to an often stressful situation for students who are traveling over spring break. While packing for a trip may be on the backburner of many students’ minds in the midst of quickly approaching midterm exams, following these few tried and true tricks can take some of the stress out of your vacation travels.
Prioritize need over nice
One of the common roadblocks that arise when planning for a trip, even if it is just going home for the weekend, is what to pack. Take a step back and think. If you are going somewhere tropical with a beach, you probably won’t need any warm clothes or boots, so prioritize “summery” outfits and a swimsuit. If you are traveling home where there is a chance of snow, remember to pack long pants and a jacket. While there might be a lot of items that would be nice to bring, start by evaluating the items that you need to have first. After you pack everything you need, then you can fill empty space with additional items or outfits.
Roll, don’t fold
Once you have decided what items you are going to bring, it’s time to put them into your suitcase or bag. There are innumerable ways to stack, fold and fit clothes into a given space, but some are more space efficient than others. Instead of folding your clothes or just tossing them into your bag, try rolling them tightly and packing them together. You can even roll a complementary pair of pants and a shirt together, so you don’t have to rummage through your suitcase later to find an outfit. This will save space for any other items you may want to pack later.
Utilize your carry-on
If you are flying, most airlines allow each passenger to have a personal item such as a laptop case, purse or small bag in addition to any luggage that is carried on or checked. Before you start packing everything you need for your trip, be sure to set aside some essentials to keep on your person. Some items may include your phone, wallet, boarding pass, charger, headphones, laptop, neck pillow and jacket. Keeping these items close will ensure that you have everything you need for the actual plane ride, even after you have checked your larger bags. Even if you plan to carry on your luggage, this eliminates the hassle of having to sort through your suitcase while waiting at the gate to find a charger or other necessary item. Furthermore, if you have a long flight, a flight with a long layover or if your flight lands early in the morning or late at night, it may be a good idea to keep a toothbrush, hairbrush, deodorant and other personal hygiene items near so you can freshen up at the airport between or after flights.
