10 Packing Tips To Avoid Taking Too Much On Your Holiday

When you pack for uni, there's a lot of things you're putting in there you probably won't need. That being said, here's a list of some.

If you are like me then travelling mean heavily over packing and still not have anything to wear when you get there. Well believe it or not I am a changed woman now, and when people lift my suitcase they don’t turn around and say, “What do you have in this? Bricks?” anymore. So here are packing tips and tricks I found to over come my ‘over packing’ syndrome.

1. Don’t take a suitcase that is too big

When you have a suitcase that is quite spacious all you want to do is fill it up, because after all, you have space right? Well, try and not to give yourself that opportunity. Take a suitcase that is relatively small according to how long you are travelling for. This way you won’t have space for the ‘what if’ stuff and will have to take things you actually need.

2. Make a list

I cannot emphasise the importance of making lists. Making lists has made my life so much easier in so many different ways, including using lists as one of my packing tips. So take a piece of paper and get your pen ready. Firstly you need to write down how long you are going to be away for, the weather forecast and the activities you think you will be doing when you are there. Once you write these down, start writing what type of clothing’s you will need: trainers, jumpers, swimming suit etc. Also, make you sure you continue looking at the list whilst packing and do not throw it away as you will need the list when you are done packing as well.

3. Invest in some packing cubes

Some of your reactions for this point might be, “what on earth are packing cubes?” Well, I am here to change your life forever. One of our packing tips: use packing cubes! They are these amazing creations where you put your things in lots of different small bags and finding things becomes so much easier and everything magically fits in a very organised way. You can find great ones in Amazon for very reasonable prices.

4. Style your outfits

As obvious as this sounds, it is crazy how many of us overlook this point, including me. This is one of the main reasons why we over pack and still end up having nothing to wear. Firstly, try and stick to neutral colours (unless you have an Instagram aesthetic you need to keep up). This will help you mix and match your clothes way easier. Try and pack more tops than bottoms. Layout your clothes on your bed with what you want to match them up with and then start packing.

5. You don’t need all those jewellery

Realistically thinking, how many times in a week do you change up your necklaces or your rings? Speaking for myself, not so often, yet I still tend to pack those earrings I haven’t worn once, just in case it will match my holiday aesthetics… So on of my packing tips for jewellery would be, try your best not to pack anything except a few items that you know will match a certain outfit. Wear your regular everyday jewellery on your way to the airport and you don’t have to carry them with you. Plus if you don’t want to wear them on your journey, then you probably won’t want to wear them during your holiday.

6. Make-up

Packing your makeup could be a tricky one because you keep thinking what if I get a spot, what if I want a full coverage for an evening, what if I tan, what if we go somewhere fancy… and this never ending cycle of what if’s that will make you pack all the foundations and eye shadow pallets you own. To avoid this situation, think about where you are going and what you will be doing. If you are going on a beach holiday, you probably won’t be using that much make up. With all the saltwater and sunshine you probably won’t need many skin products when it comes to make up. Maybe pack a concealer and a few travel size eye or lip products and you will be set to go.

7. The essentials that we all forget

The toothpaste, the shampoos, the sun creams… Things we need the most and always end up buying from the airport. When it comes to packing these essentials, what I found really useful is to pack them in travel sizes. Instead of spending a fortune at airport buying all of these in mini sizes, you can buy empty travel size bottles, which you can fill it up, with your own shampoo and skin care products. In this way, not only will you be avoiding over packing, you will also be saving some money.

8. Don’t over do it with the shoes

Shoes are one of the things that take up the most space in a suitcase and can make it real heavy real quickly. Therefore I will give you the rule of three. Take only three pairs of shoes with you. One of them will be trainers you will wear throughout your journey, so make sure you choose a pair that goes with a lot of your outfits, that are comfortable and suitable for whatever weather you will be travelling to. The other pair should be for any special occasions that might happen, so maybe a pair of heels or ballerinas. And last but not least something that is suitable for wherever you are going, whether that be sandals or boots. Just double-check that they go well with your outfits and you are good to go.

9. Electronics that you actually need

Electronics are one of those things we don’t think about until the last minute of packing and all of a sudden your suitcase is full and heavy. To avoid this situation, one of the packing tips is to try and think about the electronics you need before hand. For example do you really need your computer? If that is a definite yes, can you carry it on your bag pack or prefer to put it in your suitcase? Do you really need that hair straightener? If that is a yes, than do you think you can buy a smaller one? (Primark has really good ones for a great value). Try and compromise, because we end up taking stuff that we never use.

10. When you are done packing, unpack that one thing

After you have finished packing and think the torture is all finished, go back to your suitcase and make sure you still have a bit of space. And when I say a bit, I don’t mean a little corner on the side, I mean enough space for all the things you will end up buying from travel. So, just like Coco Chanel once said, “Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off” which in this case is, before you leave the house, look in your suitcase and take one thing off.