Do you ever feel like it’s all too much? Every Thursday, I share one action, habit, or project you may want to undertake in order to improve your health, happiness, and sense of well-being.

PROJECT OF THE WEEK

Why You Need a Packing Checklist

I know. Checklists are SO boring, lame, and routine and travel is supposed to be about getting away from it all, being spontaneous, and leaving behind your endless to-do list.

I think the real question is: how can we have the travel experience we yearn for and not feel stressed by the preparation needed to get out of town?

The answer is a Packing List. This one tool can make a big difference.

For years, I didn't use a Packing List. I consider myself a "good" packer; I rarely forget anything essential and it just never seemed worth the effort.

Wow, was I wrong!

It's true, Packing Lists are a great tool in order to not forget anything important. But that's just one of the many benefits of "using" a Packing List.

The Benefits of Using a Packing List

Remember all essential items
No wasted brain power on figuring out what you need to bring
Packing goes quicker
Simplifies having other family members pack for themselves
Allows you to easily "check" if your kids packed what they need. This way you can give them the opportunity to learn to pack for themself, while not having to suffer the consequences of them forgetting essential items, like socks or underwear.
Provide a guide to what items you are repeatedly packing. This will apply more to "regular travel." Are there certain items that it makes sense to have a second set of and just keep packed? (Hint: we’ll be talking about duplicate items in an upcoming blog)

Getting Started

How to Create a Packing List

The most important factor is to remember your Packing List is a living document and should continue to change, as your life and your needs change.

I recommend categorizing your Packing List.

While there is no right or wrong way to do this, I would think about:

Where the items are physically located in your house?

If they live in different rooms, I would list them separately.

When are you packing the items?

There may be items you pack the weekend before, the night before, and the morning of your trip.

Who is packing the items?

If you have kids, depending on their age, what items are you comfortable with them packing?
Learning to pack is a life skill and the more practice they get before leaving the nest the better!

I strongly recommend including everything on your Packing List that you need for every type of trip you take. This includes work trips, weekends traveling for kids’ sports, and even hospital bags. True story: my friend had her 11-year-old daughter pack her hospital bag as she told her what to include between contractions.

It only takes a second to cross-off items that you don't need, where as it will take valuable minutes or longer to think of everything you need to add or to maintain multiple packing lists.

Sample Packing List Ideas

Comfort Items

Laptop
Laptop Charger
Apple Watch
Apple Watch Charger
Headphones
Headphone Charger
Glasses
Eye Mask
Book
Retainer / Sleep Guard
Jewelry

Vitamins
Water Bottle

Neck Pillow

Packing Basics

Underwear
Bras
Everyday Socks
Tights
Masks

Toiletries
Make-Up
Tampons

Shirts
Pants
Dresses
Sweaters
Shoes

Pajamas

Workout Gear

Workout Shirts
Workout Shorts
Workout Pants
Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Sweatshirt
Workout Bra
Workout Socks
Sneakers

Swim

Bathing Suit
Bathing Suit Cover
Flip Flops
Sun Glasses
Beach Bag

How to Use a Packing List

The first step is to PRINT it out. I don't recommend printing them ahead of time. I would print your Packing List when you are ready to start packing. This way you are certain to have the most up-to-date list.

Grab a highlighter and a pen.

Take a moment to cross off anything you don't need for this particular trip.

Highlight everything that you can't pack until the morning of. This may include prescription medication, glasses that you only wear at night before bed, or your child's noise machine.

You can decide what sections you want to do in whatever order works best for you, but it's faster to work through the section from top to bottom. Keep in mind, this is your Packing List. You can create whatever order you want for the items within each section. The time savings is from not taking the time to decide what to pack next, but rather just packing it.

As you work through your Packing List, there may be items that you realize are not on there. Take a moment to write it down on your Packing List and check it off.

Anything that you write down on your Packing List, needs to be added to your Packing List Template. If there is time, I would recommend doing this before you leave for your trip. It is a task that will probably take less than 60 seconds. However, if there is no time, or if it just feels like too much, add the Packing List to your Physical Inbox, so you can make the update when you return.

Happy Packing!

Happy Spaces Tips & Tricks

Over time, you may decide to have duplicates of the items that you are packing the morning of so that you have one less thing to think about when you are racing out the door.

In my experience, it's more time efficient to go through your Packing List in order, verse skipping around.

Think about packing full outfits together, complete with accessories. This is particularly efficient for kids so they can get themselves dressed easier. I recommend investing in ebags Packing Cubes. Everything fits into one cube and can be tossed into a diaper or beach bag as needed.

Feeling Overwhelmed?

We understand how challenging and scary it can be to start something new. If you feel excited about implementing this strategy, but worry that it’s just too much to start on your own, the It’s All in the Planning Started Pak was designed for you!

get started

A Note from Happy Spaces

The goal is to add value to your life. If you think this project will add value:

Estimate how long you think it will take. I would recommend doubling the time you estimate.
Look at your calendar over the next week and pick a date and time to get started.
Make an appointment on your calendar for the estimated time.
If you estimate that completing this project will take longer than one hour, I recommend doing it over multiple days. This will support you in getting started!
Prior to starting this project, take a few minutes to make a step-by-step list of EVERY action you need to take to complete this project.
It's not all or nothing. You can choose to implement only the parts of this project that add value to your life.
An Accountability Partner can be a great support in following through on your goals and commitments.

We understand how challenging it can be to implement new habits and systems. For additional support please go to HappySpacesBySarah.com.

Creating a life you don't need a vacation from! ®

Sincerely,

Sarah Weingarten

Meet Sarah

Growing up as the oldest of nine siblings in Upstate New York, I learned to use organization to create sanity among the chaos. Today, I work together with individuals, families, and small businesses to create habits, systems, and spaces that support their needs, goals, and dreams. Clients often refer to our work together as "life-changing" and "better than decades of therapy". What I love most about my work is the lasting impact it has on real people's lives. Nothing makes me happier than hearing the many success stories of clients I have worked with.

Why You Need a Packing Checklist