Embarking on a journey is the perfect opportunity to get away from a draining day-to-day routine and try something new. Because of this, many people eagerly anticipate the day they head to travel and unwind for a while. Be it a week of camping on a beach or a couple of days of active hiking and exploring mountains and woods, outdoor traveling is as exciting as it is peaceful and rejuvenating.
That being said, preparing for a trip can easily turn into a stressful chore you’d rather skip. Nevertheless, properly packing for a trip is an essential step, and when you’ve got some packing tricks up your sleeve, it doesn’t have to be all that frustrating. These six practical stress-relieving packing tips will show you how you can pack faster, lighter, and smarter, helping you avoid the stress that usually follows travel preparations.
Research your travel destination thoroughly
What you put on your travel packing list will largely depend on the climate of the region you’re visiting. That’s why it’s essential that you check the weather in advance and pack accordingly. Look at a 7-day weather forecast and think about the season and what you can expect when it comes to weather (e.g. will it be rainy or dry?). Also, you want to ensure that you’ve got access to different amenities and that there’s someone you can contact in case of emergency (e.g. park rangers). Consider how much food you’ll need to bring and whether you’ll have access to electricity. All these things need to be taken into consideration as they’ll dictate what and how much of it you need to pack.
Always make a packing list
When planning a trip, a packing list can take a lot of stress out of the equation as you won’t have to worry whether you’ve brought everything you need. There are a lot of practical travel packing lists you can simply download, but you can also customize them or make your own if you prefer that. Whether you tend to overpack or underpack, creating a backpack checklist is always advisable as it requires you to sit down and actually think what you’ll need for the trip as opposed to simply packing what you might need.
Keep it simple
Heading for an outdoor stress-free travel is all about getting back to basics, and this also applies to packing. You want to keep things simple, not just for the sake of avoiding stress, but also as a way of saving money. If you’re traveling by air, you want to think light. Why? Many airline policies have strict rules when it comes to the size of travelers’ luggage, so keeping things simple and light is advisable if you don’t want to face any unpleasant surprises when you arrive at the airport. Unless it’s an absolute necessity, you’re probably better off without it.
Think about the gadgets
Because dead smartphones and cameras are of no use when on an outdoor vacation, you want to make sure a power bank ends up on your packing checklist as well. The same goes for tablets and laptops. Aside from those devices, you should also make sure you bring gadgets that don’t require power to run. Gadgets such as waterproof watches can come in handy when you’re exploring the great outdoors and need something to rely on. Look for those that are made of quality materials so you can rest assured they’ll withstand the elements. Portable flashlights are another thing that is good to have on hand when traveling. Just remember to go for the solar-powered ones to avoid the hassle of looking for batteries when you need them the most.
Maximize the amount of packing space
Saving space in your bag while bringing all your travel essentials can be challenging, but it’s still doable if you follow a couple of space-saving hacks. Instead of packing each of the items individually, pack by outfits. Roll your clothes rather than folding them, keep your toiletries sample-sized, and rely on packing cubes to keep everything organized. Also, fill empty spaces with smaller items. For example, shoes can be stuffed with socks, and other than saving some space, they’ll also help them retain their shape. Talk about double-duty!
Bring a ready-to-go health kit
Whether you’re heading for an international adventure or plan on traveling in your home country, you want to make sure that you’re prepared for everything. Food poisoning, cuts, fevers, sunburns, bug bites, and allergies are just some of the mishaps that could happen while you’re exploring your travel destination. Chances are, there won’t always be a pharmacy or a store where you can easily get what you need. This is why you want to make sure that you always have a ready-to-go health kit with you. From band-aids and antibiotics to ointments and pain relievers, medical kits are of immense help in case of emergency. Pack your own or get one online, and if you end up not using it, you’ll still be glad you brought it.
Conclusion
Being able to pack at a moment’s notice is a skill many of us wish we had. But once you master the art of packing, you realize that preparing for an outdoor trip doesn’t have to be all that daunting and stressful. In fact, it may even become a routine you won’t mind repeating.
