5 Tips for Stress-Free Packing

Pluto never stresses as long as he has his bone

This year I have flown more than I have for several years combined. Since I love to fly it has been a lot of fun. But before I can fly anywhere I have to pack.  I always like to carry on my bags so I have to be careful not to bring too much. This is when stress tries to slip into my suitcase.

Packing can be stressful because you are trying to remember everything you need and you are afraid you are going to forget something important. Kick the stress out of your suitcase by using these five goofy tips the next time you pack.

5 goofy tips to make packing less stressful:

1) Keep your traveling toiletries with your suitcase. I have a clear bag that holds the basics I need for any trip. Instead of storing this in the bathroom, where I never use it, I leave it in the suitcase so it is always ready to go. Since I am famous for forgetting my hairbrush I keep a travel brush with my suitcase, also.

2) Use your suitcase to store travel items. I have a puzzle book that I only work on when I am flying. I often buy one at the airport,use it on the plane, take it home, and leave it on my bookshelf, Then I buy another one the next time I am at the airport. Now I leave it in my suitcase and it is ready for my next trip. Plane headphones, travel pillows, and other things that you only use when flying are all great items to store in your suitcase.

3) Create a permanent packing list. Mine is MS Excel file. It has a separate tab for different types of trips. I just print out the list I need and I know I won’t forget anything. It’s better than reinventing the list every time you go on a trip.

4) Have a staging area. To avoid running around crazy at the last minute set out your suitcase in an out-of-the-way area, like the bed in a guest bedroom. Then, as you think of items, or run across them, you can just place them with the suitcase and you’ll be stress-free when you pack.

5) Place your boarding pass in a bright envelope. I always seem to bring a lot of items printed on white paper, such as itineraries, articles I want to read, and lists, so I place my boarding passes in a colored envelope. This makes it easy to find when I need it. Throughout your trip place any paper that you need to find quickly in the envelope so you can grab it without any delay.

I wish you a stress-free trip with a well-packed suitcase. Happiness squared.

A Goofy Joke: Because we all know that laughter relieves stress

Q: Why are there no planes where peter pan lives?

A: Because they can “Never land”