P.s. Packing cubes, a must for minimalist travelers like me, effortlessly streamline suitcase chaos, keeping belongings compact and organized. Consider different colors for family members or each day of the week for ultimate simplicity! Here is a link to the ones we love- they are great quality and nice looking too!
HOW TO PACK LIKE A MINIMALIST:
Packing lightly allows you to focus on the trip and not be concerned about all the stuff that you are schlepping along. If you think my list is a little bit too extreme, just try it once. I promise you’ll see how eye-opening it is!
Pack what you will probably use, not what you may possibly use. For each item you pack, ask yourself: probable or possible? And then consider…
• How many days will we be away?
• What kind of weather will there be at our destination?
• Will we be able to do laundry where we’re staying? (If not, bring along a small zip-top bag of powdered detergent so that you can wash clothing in the sink.)
• Will there be any events that require special outfits (such as Shabbos, a wedding, or a business meeting)?
• Will we need special clothing or gear for specific activities (skiing, hiking, camping, swimming)?
Packing clothing:
• If your children are old enough to close their sneakers on their own, have them wear quality sneakers on travel day.
• Dress everyone in easy layers: T-shirts under cardigans.
• Pack clothing in neutral colors or items in the same color palette, so that everyone looks coordinated in your photos. This also makes it easy to mix and match, and if something gets dirty, you can swap just that one item instead of changing an entire outfit.
• No single-use accessories or other single-use items.
• Plan what you will wear each day; don’t just choose a few random tops and bottoms.
• Only take outfits that you currently love and wear often. Do you have something sitting in a closet for months that still has its tags? Chances are that you’re not going to wear it on vacation, either.
• Not a minimalist at home? For about a week before you go away, keep track of which clothing gets worn the most. Those are the outfits you should take with you. (If you are a minimalist, the only items you own are the ones you love and wear all the time—so that’s what you pack.)
• Try on and wear any new clothing so you know that you’ll feel comfortable wearing it.
• Choose items that are lightweight, easy to spot clean and wash, and won’t wrinkle.
• If you are traveling more than four or five days, plan to do laundry while you’re away.
Packing other items:
• Purchase an all-in-one soap and basic toiletries upon arrival. Staying with family or friends? Don’t pack toiletries; just use theirs.
• Always pack a foldable extra tote bag.
• Bring a bag to use for garbage on the plane.
• Pack refillable water bottles for each family member. When the flight attendant offers cups of water, you can pour them right into the bottles and avoid spilling.
Fixed packing list:
This is a list of the items you’ll need for trips of three to five days away. Whether you create this list on your phone, computer, or with pen and paper, make copies to store with your suitcases or other travel gear. That way, it’s always there for your next trip.
For each person in the family, go from head to toe, listing the items they must have with them. For example:
• Head: hairbrush, hair accessories
• Eyes: sunglasses, contact lenses, lens solution, eyeglasses
• Mouth: dental products, vitamins, medication
• Face: sunscreen, makeup
• Electronics: Do you really need all those extra gadgets? Maybe your phone is enough.
Thursday-to-Sunday trip (or a full month!)
This is quite literally all you need even for a month away! Three or four weekday outfits gives you enough flexibility that even if you will be without a washer and dryer, you have enough time to wash by hand and hang dry (especially for Shabbos clothing). If you are traveling for an extended period of time, you may decide to add another 1–2 weekday outfits per person.
• Thursday: Weekday outfit no. 1 (what you’ll wear to travel), including a cardigan and quality sneakers. Always wear your heaviest shoes on the flight.
• Friday: Weekday outfit no. 2
• Shabbos: 2 full Shabbos outfits and 1 pair shoe that can be used for Shabbos or a dressy weekday occasion
• Sunday: Weekday outfit no. 3
• Pajamas: Instead of traditional pajamas, I suggest using a comfortable fourth weekday outfit. After the kids are showered, put them in clean leggings/tights/pants and a T-shirt/dress. Now they are ready for the following day, and you have a spare outfit too.
• Coats: If you must take coats, wear them on travel day so you can keep to just backpacks for your luggage. Bring a lightweight large zippered tote bag, and store the coats inside (in the overhead bin) during the flight. You may need to wear coats during check-in.
• Slippers or flip-flops. (I love Native shoes because they are great for walking, they’re water proof, and the feet are fully covered.)
• If your husband needs extra space (tefillin and a few seforim can take up half a backpack), consider making room in your backpack or carry-on for some of his things.
• Baby: Pack only enough diapers and wipes for 2–3 days, just enough in case you get very delayed while traveling. When you reach your destination, buy what you’ll need for the rest of your trip.
Lighten Your Load, Lighten Your Mind:
When you adopt a minimalist packing approach, you liberate yourself from the burden of unnecessary belongings. By carefully curating your travel essentials, you'll experience a sense of mental clarity and freedom. Minimalist packing encourages you to prioritize what truly matters, leaving behind the excess baggage both physically and metaphorically.
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