This post inspires you to take a carry-on only for your next vacation! Before sharing my ten ultimate tips on packing light, what are the perks of only taking carry-on luggage? I’ll list a few and also share passages from my favourite minimalism book, “Goodbye, Things: The New Japanese Minimalism” by Fumio Sasaki, which perfectly distinguishes a minimalist vs. maximalist state using travel in the example. You do not want to skip this part of the post, as it’ll get you into the mindset to apply the recommendations!
Perks of Light Travel
- You can pack in an hour or less
- Check-in is faster without having to wait in the checked baggage lineups
- No extra fees for additional or overweight luggage
- No lost luggage nightmares
- No getting lost trying to find your luggage carousel in a foreign airport
- Easy packing/unpacking experience in your vacation space
- Less clutter in your space
- Less physical strain of hauling overflowing bags wherever you go during your trip
Excerpts from "Goodbye, Things: The New Japanese Minimalism" by Fumio Sasaki
Minimalist State
“Before you head out, you’re probably busy packing at the last minute. You go through your checklist of items to take with you, and although everything looks fine, you can’t help feeling that there’s something that you’ve forgotten. But the clock is ticking, and it’s time to go. You give up, get up, lock the door behind you, and start rolling your suitcase along the pavement—with a strange sense of freedom. You think then that yes, you can manage to live for a while with this one suitcase. Maybe you’ve forgotten to bring something along, but hey, you can always get whatever you need wherever you’re going. You arrive at your destination and lie down on the freshly made bed. It feels good. The room is clean and uncluttered. You aren’t surrounded by all the things that usually distract you, the stuff that takes up so much of your attention.” That’s why travel accommodations often feel so comfortable.” -Fumio Sasaki
Maximalist State
“Imagine your return flight. Though your belongings were packed neatly in your suitcase before you started your trip, everything has now been squeezed inside in a mess. The souvenirs you bought don’t fit in your suitcase, so you’re also carrying a couple of big paper bags. The admission tickets and receipts from the tourist sites you visited—you’re going to sort through those later, right? That’s why they’re still stuffed in your pockets. You’re standing in the security line and the time has come to pull out your boarding pass. Uh-oh, where have you put it? You start looking everywhere but you can’t seem to find it. You’re getting closer to the head of the line and your frustration mounts. You can sense the icy glares of the other people who are standing in the long line behind you, like your back is being pierced by pins and needles.” -Fumio Sasaki
Which situation sounds better?
It is impossible to feel anything but a desire for the peaceful “minimalist state” described above! Do not continue to feel weighed down and stressed by your belongings, especially during travel! I 100% recommend Goodbye, Things by Fumio Sasaki to anyone who has ever felt overwhelmed by their home or their stuff! Now that you are in the minimalist mindset, here’s some pointers on packing light!
1. Make a detailed list
Then, ask yourself if the list is realistic. A detailed list allows you to sit down and reflect on everything you’re taking. Put the number of each item beside it. Seeing “15 dresses” vs just “dresses” on your list will put into perspective just how much you’re bringing and likely not going to be able to wear. It also helps to consult your itinerary while you choose an outfit. Your fantasy self probably wears a stunning sundress each day. However, your itinerary may not align with that, primarily if your adventures involve water and physical activity. I had quite a humbling experience learning to surf while wearing Shein string bikini bottoms. My instructor should’ve been paying for ME what he saw that day. (jokes!) He said it best- “what looks cute is not always the best.” Subsequent lessons were completed in shorts.
2. Minimize your beauty routine
With lots of water activities and heat exposure, I usually wear much less makeup on vacation. Some people still want to look “glam” on vacation, and you can often still achieve a glam look with the right variety of products. Another idea is to treat yourself to beauty regimens before your trip, such as spray tanning, lash extensions or a mani/pedi. That way, you don’t have to worry about reapplying cosmetics and nail polish throughout your trip and save space in your bag from not packing DIY beauty regimens.
3. Use solid toiletries
You can only bring liquids in bottles at most 100mls on most airlines. Several items in your liquids bag are available as solids, including sunscreen sticks, colognes, and concealer. Even shampoo, conditioner, and body wash bars can be fantastic alternatives to liquids. While this doesn’t decrease the amount of stuff you’re bringing, it frees up space in your liquids bag for things you cannot buy in solid- such as toothpaste, setting spray, etc.
“He who would travel happily must travel light.”
4. Wear your bulkiest items
When flying, I always wear my sneakers over flip-flops as they slide nicely into my carry-on. I layer up with sweaters and a jacket so it’s not taking up space in my bag. You can also wear accessories such as hats and jewellery to save room in your bag.
5. Roll your clothing
it just fits better; you will see!
6. Bring A kindle
I LOVE to read. Everyone said they were against Kindles until they got one, then their whole perspective changed. I can attest to this. While I’m still a sucker for a good physical book sometimes, I adore my Kindle. There are so many options at your fingertips. It is compact, lightweight and waterproof for the beach or poolside (a feature of Kindle Paperwhite). Another perk is reading at night when you don’t want an overhead light or lamp on. Kindle allows you to read limitlessly on your getaway without packing books, which as great as they are- they’re bulky.
7. Plan to Do laundry
Doing laundry is sometimes part of the trip when travelling light. You may think, “I’m on vacation; I don’t want to worry about laundry.” I argue that with the simplicity of packing light, you will already feel so relaxed that washing a few items won’t feel like a chore. Tide packets within my liquids bag are what I’ve chosen to do in the past. Another product perfect for travel is Brilliant Earth laundry detergent strips. They are eco-friendly and do not have to go in your liquid bag. You might choose to handwash or go to a laundromat on your trip!
8. Pack versatile, multi-use pieces
Ensure that you have pieces to mix and match. Many pieces of clothing can be multi-purpose, too! A one-piece bathing suit can be worn as a bodysuit, a beach coverup can also be worn on a night out when things cool off, and biker shorts can be worn for casual-cute lunches, sports or workout attire or to bed! The photo below is me dressed for an evening out. The printed piece I am wearing is a one-piece bathing suit that I wore to hot springs another day!
9. Buy some items you need there
It’s a myth that you must bring everything you think you’ll need! Scraped your knee and need band-aids? Perfect, these can be purchased anywhere! Are you doing an activity that involves water shoes? Chances are you can find them where you are. Bring what you 100% need, not what you think you may need. Stores and pharmacies exist for a reason!
10. when in doubt, pack your extra sh*t in your husband's bag
I’m saying this because we all know he’s only packing a few pairs of underwear and a toothbrush. You should also throw in a few things he’ll want later to avoid him asking, “Why didn’t you pack my (*insert list of basic necessities here).”
Have a wonderful Vacation!
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