• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Placing Stars

Organizing, Minimalism & Traveling.

  • Home
  • Start Here
  • Free Resources
  • Blog
    • Organizing
    • Minimalism
    • Travel
    • Lifestyle
  • About

How To Pack Like A Pro – Efficiently & Quickly.

June 2, 2018 By Narkis 11 Comments

This is not another typical how to pack guide. This is a method for systematically packing quickly and efficiently for every single trip. whether it’s a business trip, a road trip, or a weekend getaway – This how to pack guide will ensure you will have an easy time going through this boring task.

how to pack a suitcase efficiently and quickly - the best method of packing.

Some of the links that I use are affiliate links – meaning I get a small commission with no extra cost to you.

Whether you’re starting with a carry-on or a full suitcase, packing is not an easy task. You probably forget at least one essential thing while over-packing stuff you don’t need. And that’s just the start – your luggage won’t close, you can’t find your things when you arrive at your destination and when you pack your stuff back – things won’t fit!

Well, I say no more – it’s time to fix the system and create an easy to follow guide.

Personally, I think most guides on how to pack are too simplistic. Not every single vacation and person are the same, so I don’t like the approach of telling you exactly what to pack. I’m more into teaching a good method to pack specifically for your destination every single time. This method has worked great for me consistently for many trips.

how to pack efficiently easily and quickly.

Plan Your Trip In Advance

Once you know where you’re headed to, it’s much easier to know what you should pack.

Being spontaneous can be great (said the most organized person ever), but it makes packing more complicated.

Make general plans of what you’re going to do on your trip: 

  • What are you planning to do? 
  • Is this a work trip? In that case, will you go out to explore off work hours? 
  • Which sites are you planning to see? 
  • Are you going out at night? 
  • Will you be participating in physical activities such as hiking? 

Ask yourself these questions every time you plan a trip.

When you have your general plans, try and make a daily schedule. Having a schedule will make things simpler – you will be able to continue to the next step and plan your outfits.

Plan Your Outfits

I used to pack by intuition, by what I loved the day of packing, but too many times I haven’t packed enough, or even worse – I packed way too much. Once I started planning specific outfits for each occasion, it was a lot easier to omit the unnecessary.

After creating your trip schedule, you should write down exactly what you’re planing to wear each day. With the answers from the last step and the schedule you’ll be able to do so easily.

For example – I had recently visited Napa Valley for 4 days. I created a schedule and then wrote down what I’m planing to wear during the day and another outfit for night since the weather was different during day and night. I literally wrote each outfit down– a T-shirt, ripped white jeans, brown sandals. I didn’t generally plan it in my head. That way I ensured I won’t forget anything and that I’m packing the right clothes. 

Create Outfits Around Basics

Especially if you’re traveling for more than a few days, you should plan your outfits around basics that you can incorporate in more than one outfit. 

Don’t create unique outfits that its pieces don’t match other pieces in other outfits.

If you’re not able to plan outfits in advance, pack basics, neutral and versatile clothes.

Read more: Summer capsule wardrobe.

Follow A Packing List

After planning your schedule and your outfits, create a packing list, so when you gather your items, you won’t forget any.

A week before leaving, I always get stressed and make plans in my head, but if I don’t write it down, I forget! That’s why I went back to the beloved old system of actually going through a list! It actually works.

You should have an essential list and a trip-specific list.

Each trip calls for a different amount of the basics –  you can use the same packing list and just change the amount of things you pack. 

For example, I had my outfits written down for my recent trip, and then I filled my packing list with 6 tops and 4 pants. 

Use Travel Sized Toiletries 

It saves space, it’s more convenient and if your forget something – no worries.

You can try and purchase your favorite products in travel size, but not all products come in travel size and it’s the more expensive option.

I suggest to get empty, reusable bottles and label them. There are many options for your needs, just choose your favorite kind and you’ll never have to worry about toiletries again. These are my favorite reusable toiletries containers and I even found this cool perfume container on amazon! You can easily transfer your own perfume to the travel size container and not worry about TSA.

If you’re packing only a carry-on, you might want to consider getting a TSA approved clear bag for your toiletries. 

how to pack travel size toiletries

Use A System

Having a good system is essential to packing. If you throw all your stuff inside and expect it to just be organized – things are not going to work out for you. There are many systems you can choose – using packing cubes, rolling your clothes, folding, bundling, air-compression, packing by category, packing by outfit, and more, much more. After reading an article about comparing between the systems, I had to agree that combining them is the only answer. 

Being aware to all the systems is great since you can choose which one to use in each occasion. Some systems will work better for a suitcase and some will work better for a carry-on. 

For example, I think air compression is good for a carry-on since the weight is not an issue, and packing cubes are great for a suitcase when it’s hard to stay organized with a big space.

More tips for fitting things in your suitcase: 

  • Fill unused spaces with small items. 
  • Roll up socks, underwear, and other small items and stuff them inside your shoes and bags. 
  • Use the space between the metal bars of the suitcase first and create an even layer above it.
  • Use shower caps for shoes or get these shoe bags.

Be Prepared To Repack

Arrange your items in a way that are easy to unpack but also easy to repack. For example, a cube system with hangers is really easy to unpack in your room’s closet and also to repack when done. A hanging toiletry bag is also nice to have and easy to use. 

Another item that I like to bring with me are these netted laundry bags. I place my laundry neatly in them, so when I get home, I unpack them straight to the machine without the effort of separating it from the clean cloths.

Take Extra Of The Necessities

When I was backpacking with a friend, we landed in Panama City in the middle of the night and our luggage has just disappeared. They arrived eventually, after about two hours. But it really made me scared ever since! 

In case you check your suitcase and don’t take a carry-on, I recommend taking extra of the important stuff with you. In case your luggage goes missing, you will have extra medication, underwear, etc. 

I also carry a charger with me, even for short flights, just in case. 

Check Your List One Last Time

I don’t think I ever packed without forgetting something. And I travel A LOT! The important things that you can’t easily (or at all) replace are now engraved in my brain forever and every time I leave I make sure a few more times that I took them.
So yeah, make sure you packed everything in your list. It will take you only a few minutes and it’s totally worth it. 
how to pack ambiance image ready to travel

That’s it, you’re ready! You are now an officially pro packer. 

I hope my how to pack guide and system will help you in your future trips. I would love to hear what are some of your favorite packing tips and hacks so please share 🙂 

signature

Read more about organizing and travel: 

Summer capsule wardrobe

Las Vegas in 24 hours

Cabo San Lucas – a perfect weekend

How to maintain a minimalist wardrobe

How to make organizing fun

Filed Under: Lifestyle, Organizing, Travel Tagged With: Life Hacks, orgnizing, Tips, Travel

« Summer Capsule Wardrobe
How To Achieve Your Health Goals + A Free Printable Worksheet »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kristyn Medriano

    June 8, 2018 at 9:43 pm

    Love your tips. Now that i’ll be travelling about twice a year to the office, will definitely keep these tips in mind.

    Reply
  2. Stephanie

    June 9, 2018 at 11:29 am

    I would have never though to use a cube system with hangers. That is a very interesting tip, thank you!

    Reply
    • Narkis

      July 15, 2018 at 9:48 am

      I love that one, it makes things faster.

      Reply
  3. Daisy

    June 10, 2018 at 7:30 pm

    I’m absolutely excited about these tips to help me pack more efficiently! I travel so much and would love to streamline my packing.

    Reply
    • Narkis

      July 15, 2018 at 9:49 am

      Hey Daisy, I’m glad you liked my tips 🙂

      Reply
  4. Kayla

    June 11, 2018 at 5:10 am

    I am definitely a last minute packer, and when you are packing for 2 adults and 4 kids it gets overwhelming. I will definitely have to try these tricks.

    Reply
    • Narkis

      July 15, 2018 at 9:49 am

      Hey Kayle, packing for 6 sounds crazy! I hope my tips will come to use.

      Reply
  5. jessa

    June 11, 2018 at 6:40 am

    These are great tips! Those shoe bags are adorable, I’m going to get some. Now if unpacking were just as easy!

    Reply
    • Narkis

      July 15, 2018 at 9:50 am

      Hey Jessa, if you use the laundry bags in advance, unpacking becomes so much easier! Good luck 😉

      Reply
  6. Vy Nguyen

    June 12, 2018 at 7:25 pm

    Thank you for the tips. It’s summer now and I am going to visit a lot of places. These tips would be super helpful.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

About Me

Hey there! I’m Narkis. I love organizing, creating a warm home, and traveling! I would love to share with you my favorite tips & hacks for a beautiful, organized life!
Read more…

Let’s be friends

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Serach

Recent Posts

Free 2019 Printable Calendar + A Daily Planner

best organization youtube channels to follow. Organization, journaling, productivity, minimalism, and decluttering videos.

10 Best Organization Youtube Channels

fall capsule wardrobe 2018. placing stars. minimalist wardrobe.

Fall Capsule Wardrobe

bathroom organization right cabinet general

My Bathroom Cabinets Organization

reasons to be organized

10 Reasons To Get Organized

Disclaimer

Placing-Stars is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com

Copyright © 2023 · Placing Stars · Foodie Pro Theme On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in