How would it improve your holiday experience if I could show you ways to make packing easier?
Over the summer season, many of us plan to jet off on a beach holiday, go touring on a road trip, have fun camping or caravanning or head off on a staycation somewhere in the UK. Holidays are great, but they sure do come with a bit of added stress.
Packing for a holiday should feel exciting – the first step towards switching off, relaxing, and making lovely memories. But for many of us, it’s another overwhelming task on a never-ending to-do list. What to pack? What if you forget something? How do you fit it all in without taking half the house with you?
If packing always feels more stressful than it should, this blog is for you. I used to get stressed, too. But now, after years of research, trial and error, I’ve nailed packing light (without forgoing any essentials).
Read on to discover all the ways to make packing easier – so you can start your holiday feeling light, calm and in control.
The Goal: Pack Less, Stress Less
It’s easy to fall into the trap of overpacking, and it isn’t helped by the fact that it has become the norm to take a large suitcase wherever we go. Have you seen them? They’re huge!
We tell ourselves we might need that extra outfit just in case the weather changes, or we need a choice of different shoes, or we pack for scenarios that never happen (and were never likely to!).
How many times have you packed a bunch of random tops and bottoms, hoping for the best, without giving it any proper thought? Then you wonder why you never wore half of it and forgot essential things that you actually needed? I know this because I’ve done it.
This tendency towards ‘overpacking’ could be a reflection of the fact that most of us have grown used to living with too much stuff nowadays (way more than we actually need to live), so it seems ‘normal’. But we don’t have to follow the crowd, and it doesn’t have to be this way.
Here’s the truth…
Over-packing doesn’t mean you’ll feel more prepared. In fact, it often has the opposite effect. A heavy, disorganised suitcase makes travelling harder and adds unnecessary stress.
Just as streamlining your home can simplify your life, streamlining your suitcase can simplify your holiday.
The real goal?
To pack only what you actually need – planned out thoughtfully, intentionally, and without overthinking.
3 Ways to make packing easier
Declutter your suitcase and simplify the packing process with these simple strategies.
1. Start with a Master List
Save yourself time and headspace by creating a basic packing list you can reuse. This becomes your starting point for every trip. You can tweak it depending on where you’re going, but you won’t be starting from scratch each time.
It can be written on a piece of paper, or you can create a digital list in the Notes App on your phone (this is what I prefer to do), or on a list-making app like Trello. You can even create different lists for different types of holidays, for example, I have a list for our warm-weather beach holidays and a different list for our self-catering UK cottage holidays. They are very different holidays and therefore need separate lists.
My favourite way to keep my list up-to-date and comprehensive is to tweak it while I’m actually on holiday. This way, when I notice I’ve forgotten something, or wish I’d brought something, or wasted precious space packing something unnecessary, I can make a note of it when it’s fresh in my mind. It’s easy to overlook the importance of doing this. We think we’ll remember for the next time we’re going on holiday, but we won’t (speaking from experience here!).
I recommend breaking your list down into categories like:
- Clothing
- Shoes
- Toiletries
- Essentials (passport, chargers, medication)
- Extras (books, sunglasses, travel pillow)
A good list takes the pressure off your brain to remember everything.
2. Plan Outfits, Not Scenarios
Rather than packing for every possible situation, focus on what you’ll actually do on your trip.
Consider your itinerary and the local weather or climate.
Will you be sightseeing, having evenings out, lounging by the pool? Once you know roughly what you want to do, you can plan your outfits accordingly.
Stick to a simple colour palette of no more than four colours, so pieces can mix and match easily. This helps you pack less while still giving multiple outfit options.
Top Tips to Remember:
– Only take things you’ll wear more than once.
– If you wouldn’t wear it at home, you probably won’t wear it on holiday.
– Dresses and jumpsuits are holiday heroes. One piece and you’re effortlessly dressed.
3. Pack in Zones
An organised suitcase makes life so much easier. Group your items by category:
- Clothes
- Toiletries
- Tech and chargers
- Documents and travel essentials
Using pouches, packing cubes or even simple transparent zip-lock bags can keep everything neat and easy to find.
Think of your suitcase like a well-organised drawer – give everything a home.
Your packing commandments
You shall….
Limit shoes: Pack 2-4 pairs max, including the ones you wear to travel. One comfortable pair for travel and walking; one practical pair for the pool or beach (flip-flops or slides); one pair of sandals (heeled or flat, depending on your preference and the dressiness of your location). Choose them in neutrals and metallics, and they’ll go with everything.
Pack three tops for every bottom: This will give you at least three different outfits, more if you change up your accessories.
Decant toiletries: Only take what you’ll use. Small bottles save space and weight. As a side note, consider simplifying your beauty routine for your holiday and the number of products you use. It can give your skin a nice rest to change things up for a week or two.
Roll clothes, don’t fold: This saves space, reduces creasing, and helps you see what you’ve packed. I always recommend packing cubes for keeping your case super neat and organised.
Leave room for your clothes to breathe: Your case should be comfortably full – 90% – but not jam-packed. Stuff smaller items inside shoes, bra cups and hats.
Consider laundry options: If you’ll have access to laundry facilities, you can pack even lighter. Travel-size hand-wash laundry detergent is widely available.
Plan according to the weather: Be sure to properly research the climate and check the expected weather before you pack.
You shall not…
Pack for ‘just in case’ situations that are unlikely: What’s the worst that could happen?
Take items you never use: Be honest with yourself! If you don’t use them at home, you’re probably not likely to use them on holiday, either
Take too many outfits: You don’t need a different outfit for every day and every evening, it’s ok to repeat.
Leave packing to the last minute: This leads to adrenaline-fuelled panic-packing.
Pack heavy, bulky items that take up valuable space: Wear your bulkiest garments and footwear to travel instead.
A calmer approach to packing
Packing doesn’t need to be a dreaded task. With a bit of planning and a simpler approach, it can be quick, easy, and even enjoyable.
Think of it as the start of your holiday mindset – decluttering your suitcase, decluttering your mind, and giving yourself the gift of a lighter, more relaxed trip.
I never would have believed it if you’d told me a few years ago that I’d now travel everywhere with just a cabin case – but it’s true.
Creating seasonal capsule wardrobes through Project 333 completely changed the way I pack. It made me realise how little I actually need for my lifestyle, and how freeing it is to have less to manage.
In her book, Courtney Carver explains how she travels effortlessly with just a cabin case, and that really struck a chord with me. At the time, I’d been thinking about buying a new medium-sized suitcase – but her words made me pause. I realised I didn’t actually need a new case at all – I already had a small one that would do just fine. I decided to give it a go – and I’ve never looked back. Maybe it’s possible for you too, what do you think?
Free Download: Ultimate Holiday Packing Checklist
To make life even easier, I’ve created a printable summer holiday packing checklist for you to use for every trip.
No more reinventing the wheel – just a calm, straightforward way to get organised.
In it, you’ll find packing checklists for everyone in your family, a capsule wardrobe planner, and a pre-holiday checklist to ensure you don’t forget those important last-minute jobs before you go.