Packing Anxiety: The struggle is real.

My passion in life is to travel. I do it a lot. I took my first flight at six months old, and my first of hundreds of cruises at seven years old. I've worked in the travel industry for 25 years, and have held jobs that required up to 70% travel. I quite literally plan my life around the next trip to take and always need something on the books to keep me motivated - it is my "something to look forward to," as my boyfriend has come to learn. So, isn't it ironic that the one thing that we all must do before we travel (that enables us to go away prepared and comfortable) brings me so much anxiety? For me, packing is the worst part of the entire travel process. I used to procrastinate and stress about it leading up to my trips so much that it would end up taking me hours to find clothes to wear, decide what suitcase to use, make sure I hadn't forgotten anything, and lay things out. This took up so much time that I wouldn't sleep the night before.

However, at some point (not too long ago) before four back-to-back work trips, I decided in advance to take steps to make my packing process easier and less stressful. I also made a conscious effort to make it fun. You see, I love the travel planning process, which includes shopping for my trips, so I decided to look for ideas and pick up a few things to make packing less of a chore. Here are a few of the ways that I was able to streamline my packing, as well as some of my favorite must-have-for-travel items:

Plan Ahead = Weather, Lists, and Laundry

The first step is to plan ahead. And by planning ahead, you need to know where you are going to be and what type of clothing you'll need based on the weather, activities and company you'll encounter. Check the weather in advance, and pack in layers when appropriate. Set aside a lightweight sweater or wind breaker just in case (these are also good for cold meeting rooms on business trips). I now mentally plan ahead by counting the number of outfits I'll need and laying out my clothes a day or two beforehand. Sometimes I also make a physical list of the items that I need to add to my suitcase, which makes the actual process of packing much faster. Also, this may sound like a silly reminder, but do laundry in advance. It gives you more options. I also include a travel laundry bag in my suitcase so that I know what clothes are dirty and what are unused when I get home and unpack. It also makes sorting laundry much quicker!

Pick A Color

Some say variety is the spice of life, but I say a monochromatic color scheme is the key to reducing packing anxiety. I quite often choose black, as it is the easiest to match, is appropriate to dress up or down, and is a flattering (and forgiving) color. The reason I choose one main color for my trips is so that I can minimize the shoes and accessories that I bring along. In the long run, it makes it easier to put different outfits together and plan ahead, while also reducing space in my suitcase. Of course, I don't dress in all black - I switch it up and throw in different colors, but my base typically remains the same.

Organize Your Carry-On

Often times, packing my carry-on is more stressful than my actual suitcase. I am a huge fan of checking my luggage (I know, I know...most of you try to avoid this, but I absolutely hate trying to find an overhead bin and all the stresses that go along with it). I'd much rather check my luggage and have one small carry-on that I can put under the seat in front of me on the flight where I have access to it at all times.

In any case, when traveling for work, the heaviest part of my packing is usually my laptop and any folders, papers, or notebooks that I need to bring along with me. So, I carry a purse that is large enough to fit my laptop sleeve (nearly 16" wide), small make-up bag, tiny jewelry roll, phone and charger, and wristlet/wallet, and I am good to go! It's usually a bit on the heavy side, but it works for my quick work trips. For longer travel, I use an awesome travel backpack from eBags and include an extra set of clothes, my iPad, some fuzzy socks, and a few toiletries as well. For longer flights, I also bring along my favorite neck pillow that my fellow travel warrior friend, Jamie, told me about a few years ago. It's called the Trtl Travel Pillow, and I love it. It kind of looks like you're wearing a neck brace on the plane, but it keeps your head from bobbing up and down when you sleep, and it is really comfy.

Pre-Pack Toiletries

The single best packing hack for me that still saves me a ton of time is having an already-packed hanging toiletry bag ready to grab and go. This takes a bit of an investment and a little time up front, but if you travel a lot, it is so worth it, and the upkeep is easy. I use the Pro Packing Cubes pack-flat hanging toiletry bag. It's waterproof, and can hold a ton of stuff (I know because I regularly test the limits). When I first purchased it, I went to the store and bought one extra of everything I normally pack in my toiletries bag - deodorant, toothbrush and toothpaste, mouthwash, Q-Tips, Band-Aids, Tylenol, lotion, hairspray, make-up remover, perfume - you name it. I also have a pre-packed make-up bag with a full set of my normal make-up that I can just grab and throw in my suitcase without worrying about forgetting something or moving things from one location to another. It really has saved me a ton of stress. Oh, and don't forget to include a couple of empty Ziploc bags in your toiletries bag and/or suitcase - these are great for separating open liquid items from the rest of your clothes. Plus, you never know when you'll need an extra plastic baggy!

Rest Well the Night Before

If you've planned your outfits ahead of time, organized your carry-on, and completed your online check-in, then packing should not take you long at all, and you should have plenty of time to get a good night's sleep the night before your trip. You owe it to yourself to be rested before you travel so that you can not only enjoy your experience, but also arrive less tense and ready to explore! Traveling in itself can take a lot out of you and can be physically hard on your body, so do yourself a favor and rest up to give yourself an advantage.

Since I've changed my packing routine, I've not only saved myself a lot of time and anxiety, but I've noticed I'm even somewhat excited about packing as part of the travel process now. I wish you happy packing for your upcoming travels, and I'd love to hear your packing tips, too!