Okay, so I had this crazy idea to take a month-long trip. Exciting, right? But then came the monster task: packing. Ugh. I literally stared at my empty suitcase for a solid hour before I even started. Procrastination is my middle name, seriously.
Getting Started (Finally!)
First things first, I picked a suitcase. I went with a medium-sized, hard-shell one because I’m clumsy and I knew it would get tossed around. I also grabbed a backpack to use as my carry-on for all the important stuff.
The Clothes Pile of Doom
This was the hardest part. I dumped pretty much my entire wardrobe onto my bed. It was a mountain of clothes, I’m not even kidding. Then, I started the painful process of elimination. I kept asking myself, “Do I really need this?” Most of the time, the answer was no.
Here’s the basic clothing list I ended up with:
- Tops: 7 basic t-shirts (mix of short and long sleeves), 2 nicer blouses/shirts for going out.
- Bottoms: 2 pairs of jeans, 1 pair of comfy travel pants, 1 pair of shorts (depending on the climate, of course!), 1 skirt (optional).
- Dress:1 or may be skip.
- Underwear: Enough for a week, plus a few extra. (You can always do laundry, duh.)
- Socks: Same deal as underwear.
- Pajamas: 1 comfy set.
- Sweater/Jacket: 1 light sweater and 1 waterproof jacket. Layers are key!
- Shoes: 1 pair of sneakers, 1 pair of sandals, and maybe 1 pair of dressier shoes if you plan on fancy dinners.
Toiletries and Other Essentials
I’m a big fan of travel-sized everything. I bought a bunch of those little bottles and filled them with my shampoo, conditioner, body wash, etc. Don’t forget sunscreen, insect repellent (if needed), and a basic first-aid kit. I also packed a small microfiber towel – it dries super fast.
- Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss.
- Deodrant.
- Hairbrush.
- Small make up.
The Tech Stuff
I’m a blogger, so I can’t exactly leave my laptop behind. I also packed my phone, camera, chargers for everything, and a universal adapter (super important!). I downloaded some audiobooks and podcasts for the plane/train rides.
Documents and Money
I make digital copy on my phone and hard copy in a small bag. passport, ID,tickets, and the credit cards.
The Final Squeeze
After all that, it was time to cram everything into my suitcase. I used the rolling method for my clothes – it really does save space! I stuffed socks and underwear into my shoes to maximize every inch. It was a tight fit, but I managed to zip it up. Victory!
My carry-on held my laptop, camera, chargers, a book, and some snacks. I also wore my bulkiest shoes and jacket on the plane to save space in my suitcase.
Honestly, the whole process was a bit of a headache, but I felt so much better once it was done. Now, I’m ready to go! Wish me luck!
