Stop Overcrowding When Traveling With “Baggage Check”
Most of us tend to take extra things with us when we travel . You might as well ditch those extra shirts, chargers, and camera gadgets because you never know what you might need, right? Of course, you end up not using half of what you bring. If this sounds familiar, consider “checking your baggage” the next time you travel.
It’s all too easy to just dump everything after the trip, forget about everything, and pack the same unused shit on your next vacation. To deal with this, try this: When you unbox, think about each item you unbox. Ask yourself a few questions: How often have you used this? Was it worth bringing? Can you skip it on your next trip if you need to save space?
From there, create a “skip” list. Write down each item that you intend to pack. Write them down and place a note in your luggage. That way, the next time you’re going on a trip and want to save space, you’ll know exactly what you can and should miss.
I did this recently after a trip to Europe. Even though I packed lightweight items, I realized that I was still packing some things that I had never used even once in that week: a pair of heels (this fancy dinner never worked out), a few extra socks (I thought that will be colder) and a notebook (I overestimated my desire to keep a travel diary). To save space on my next trip, I quickly checked my luggage when I got home. When I unpacked my belongings, I made a note not to use these unused items on my next trip.
Of course, that won’t always be possible – my next trip may be cold and I’ll need these extra socks – but it serves as a good reminder to cut back on your suitcase and stop packing things you never use. …