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Packing Hacks

packing hacks

Do you find yourself, moments before you have to leave for the airport, cramming things into your suitcase, jumping and sitting on it, just praying that it’ll zip up? 

Well, I do. In fact, more often than I’d like to admit. I travel pretty frequently and almost every time I find myself in this situation. Not only do I tend to overpack but I also tend to put the chore off as late as possible. The outcome of my packing procrastination is almost never good with forgotten necessities, wrinkled clothes, and popped zippers. 

Soon I’ll be leaving for a three-week-long trip. For this trip, I have decided to push myself to break these packing habits. In order to do so, I am planning out my packing with lists of everything I need to bring, giving myself plenty of time, and testing and utilizing several packing life hacks I found online. 

Packing Checklist

The Hack:  Create your own checklist or Google a checklist online.

My Opinion: This was super easy. All I did was Google a packing list. Being able to visualize everything that I pack is super helpful. I got to feel satisfied as I completed the checklist and make sure that I packed everything that I needed. (Here’s a really great one!)

Packing Cubes

The Hack: Essentially, these are containers that help organize your suitcase by compartmentalizing all of your belongings. 

My Opinion: I really enjoy these because they allow me to stay super organized while traveling. The best packing cubes make locating everything in my suitcase super fast and simple. Also, unpacking the cubes is super convenient. Additionally, the cubes help to use up every bit of space in my suitcase, so I can maximize the amount of stuff I pack. In short, I will use these for my trip.

Here is a tutorial on how to use them:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjcbCBwZ420

 

Rolling Your Clothes

The Hack: Roll your clothes like burritos instead of folding them. 

My Opinion: I quite like this hack because it seems to save a bit of space as well as prevent wrinkles that folding can cause. I plan to use this hack in combination with the packing cubes. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=2QyYgZ6Lrqg

 

 Plastic Wrap On Toiletry Bottles

The Hack: Place plastic wrap over the opening of your bottles/containers then recap the bottle. 

My Opinion: I have been using this hack for a while now and it definitely is effective in preventing the contents of the bottles from leaking out everywhere. Although, I would prefer a hack that is more environmentally friendly and can be reused.
If you like this idea, here are some other ways you can use plastic wrap while traveling.

Travel Size Toiletry Bottles

The Hack: Reusable bottles that can hold your toiletries.

My Opinion: I like these a lot because they are reusable and come in a size that is TSA-approved. Transferring more viscous substances, such as lotion or moisturizer, into these bottles is tricky but possible. I recommend the bottles without sharp corners because the product tends to get trapped in those corners. Also, I recommend labeling the bottles. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5coJHO3eUI

Dryer Sheets

The Hack: Place dryer sheets in your luggage to prevent odors.

My Opinion: I found that the dryer sheets helped to keep my clothes smelling nice and fresh. Also, by placing a couple of sheets with my shoes, any odors from my shoes were kept in check and not transferred to my other belongings.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, packing under a reasonable time frame and with optimal organization makes the whole experience way more enjoyable. Traveling is definitely a stressful experience, but the stress can be reduced with proper time management and preparedness. 

Amy Yang

Amy Yang is a junior in high school and a member of GirlSpring's Springboarders teen leadership program, and a passionate figure skater.

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