Although no big travelling adventures may be on the horizon right now, travel within the Atlantic Bubble is still allowed. With a little bit of organization, packing for that Christmas visit can be made a lot easier.
“When you're travelling, you want to spend time doing all the fun things, and you also want to feel prepared and ready for anything that happens,” says Kayla Short, travel enthusiast and award-winning blogger with Short Presents in Halifax, N.S.
“If you're anything like me, you try to maximize your time anywhere, so knowing where your things are and feeling organized just makes everything easier. The last thing you want is to miss out on something that is time-sensitive because you can't find something. It would be so disappointing.”
As amazing as travelling is, when you're forced into new situations over and over again, it can get stressful, so being prepared helps give you one thing you can control.
When your luggage is a mess it's hard to keep track of everything, meaning it's easier to lose things, says Short. Everyone has heard horror stories about lost passports.
Short offers the following tips to make packing easier and more organized.
Always have a bag of toiletries and a "prescription bag" - including items like travel contact solution and spare contacts - pre-packed and ready to go. Also keep another back-up bag on hand that's full of extra toiletries, such as sample or travel-sized items and empty containers, in case you need to restock something.
When packing, Short says to always use the same organizing bags each time for everything. This way, socks, underwear, cords, and camera chargers are easy to pack because everything always goes into the same compartments and in the same bags.
“It's easy to pack because everything has its place, but I also always know where everything is when I'm travelling,” she says.
If you're packing for other people, it's even more important that you're organized so you can remember where you put the things in addition to all the stuff you packed for yourself, she says.
“It's so nice to be able to confidently answer, ‘I put it here ...’ or ‘it's in this bag or pocket’,” she says. “Because I usually bring a small crossbody bag that fits inside my personal item, I also always pack a large fabric tote that can be used to haul things around. They fold up easily and can lie flat, and I've yet to be on a trip where I didn't use it.”
Short says these tote bags are handy and are available everywhere from a dollar store to a local stationary store or gift shop. Etsy also has a plethora of customizable options which could be fun for the family.
“Once you start looking for them, you'll see them everywhere,” she says.
Short prefers fabric because they fold up flat and you can toss them into the washer when you get home.
“I also know the clothes I wear the most, and the clothes I will want to wear after flying. I pack for comfort because I know I'm going to be on the go,” says Short.
This ensures that everything she brings will be used.
“I don't romanticise how I will feel, I'm realistic with my expectations and pack accordingly,” she says.
And, of course, Short says, always leave a little space in case you want to make any purchases or bring home gifts from the family and friends you’ll see during Christmas.
Life Hacks is a series of stories that offer up tips and advice on ways East Coast residents have found to make life a little easier.
