Rules to help you pack for a trip

Recommendations for those who have planned a trip and do not know how to fit everything you need into one bag or backpack.

Traveling is always about gaining new experiences. You explore unknown places, no matter if it is the streets of New York or the ancient architecture of Machu Picchu. But you must admit, exploring is much more enjoyable if you do not have to carry heavy luggage on your shoulders.

Two bottoms for every five days

Jeans take up a lot of space, but you definitely don’t need a fresh pair for every day of the week. So follow this rule: two pairs of bottoms for every five days.

You can take one short bottom (shorts or skirt) and one long bottom (jeans or trousers). This means that for a 10-day trip you only need to take four things (depending on the climate): two pairs of jeans, shorts or skirts.

If you are sure that there will be a washing machine at your destination, you can reduce this number.

Rule 5-4-3-2-1

If you want to reduce the amount of things you need to pack, start with this simple but very popular rule. According to the 5-4-3-2-1 rule, here are all the clothes you need for your trip:

5 tops (T-shirts, blouses, sweaters).

4 bottoms (jeans, pants, shorts).

3 accessories (jewelry, watch, costume jewelry, tie).

2 pairs of shoes (one practical and one for going out).

1 swimsuit.

Of course, you need to be flexible with this rule. If you’re going to Ireland in December, you definitely won’t need a swimsuit, so replace it with a warm jacket. Going to the Cuban island of Aruba? One of the accessories you should bring is a beach cover-up.

The 80/20 Rule for Travel

According to the famous Pareto principle, 20% of the effort produces 80% of the results. For example, in business, 80% of success comes from 20% of the effort expended, or 80% of the profit you make comes from 20% of your customers. Knowing this, you can focus on the important 20% and work more efficiently.

The Pareto principle can help travelers when packing: 20% of the things you take with you can cover 80% of your needs.

Think about it: do you really need a separate pair of shoes for a dress you’ll wear to dinner once? Or how often are you going to use a spare battery?

Take neutral things

Versatility is the key to a small amount of things in a suitcase. To make sure that all your T-shirts, blouses, and sweaters go well with jeans, shorts, and trousers, take things in a neutral color palette.

For example, you can choose colors of a strict range: gray, black, blue. They are easy to combine with each other, and your whole appearance will not scream “I’m a tourist!” For a warm climate, you can choose light neutral colors: cream or blue. They go well with each other.

Of course, you don’t have to give up bright colors completely. Add brightness with accessories – a scarf, jewelry, a hat.

Additionally, avoid using disposable toiletries provided by hotels. Instead, bring your own refillable containers for shampoo, conditioner, and soap, which reduces plastic waste.

Never take more than two weeks’ worth of things with you.

Even if you’re going to be away from home for a month, remember the main rule: you’ll only need enough stuff for two weeks.

You don’t need to pack enough stuff to last you a lifetime. After all, what you take with you when you go on a trip is not the most important thing (unless, of course, these things will help you survive a disaster).

You’re probably not going camping in a remote place where there’s not a single store or pharmacy for the next ten kilometers, so you won’t be able to refill your toothpaste or buy a new pair of sunglasses. And you can always wash your clothes.