Planning trips is hard enough. You have to decide exactly where you want to go on your trip, a way to get there, where you’re going to stay, how much it will cost, and you have to get a cheap insurance policy. You even have to arrange time off to take the trip in the first place so it means planning how many days your trip will be. One of the biggest challenges people face when they decide to take a trip is figuring out how to pack light for a long trip.
Firstly, lay out everything that you think you need to take on a long trip. Clothes, shoes, cosmetics, CDs, and whatever – just lay it all out so you know how much stuff you’re going to be taking. Next, put two thirds of it away. Try to spin it like this: If you had to physically carry everything you packed on your person, would you really feel like you needed it all? Probably not, so put away everything that would be nice to have but isn’t necessary.
It’s most important to pack the right clothes. They take up the most room and people tend to bring clothes that they don’t really need more than anything else. For instance, unless you’re going to a party where you’re actually going to need them, packing a pair of high heels for a long trip just isn’t practical. Learn to pack clothes that are comfortable, durable, and most importantly, all-purpose. Choose substance over style.
Although it may not seem to be a priority, especially if you have space issues, you should always carry copies of important documents like travel insurance policy or passport if you’re going out of the country. If something happens, you will need those documents badly and it’s better to have them on hand just to make sure things go smoothly.
It may seem like a lot of extra work or next to impossible, but you really can live without the majority of the stuff you own. In essence, you’ll really only need a relatively short list of things to be comfortable on a trip so it’s important not to over pack. Learning how to pack light for a long trip may seem complicated, but it’s really not that difficult.
