Travel Beauty Blog: How to pack light for your trip...hassle free

Packing for a trip can be a pain in the butt let alone packing light! Its frustrating when you think about having to try to fit all your planned outfits, shoes etc into 1 or 2 luggages. Admittedly I am not a very light packer. I love being organized and hate last minute but I always tend to pack "just in case" outfits and shoes that most times end up not being used. I get a little paranoid that I may not carry sufficient clothing then end up regretting but I strongly advise against this.

Now that I am at a stage in my life of travelling more, I am getting better with each trip. Sometimes I still find myself packing an extra pair of shoes or outfit but I hope to overcome this challenge with time. Although there should be some bit of excitement when planning a vacation or get away trip, packing can be a tiresome task for most people like myself who work a 9-5 job.

How to overcome the frustration associated with packing? Here are my suggestions:

Check the luggage allowances for your flight before you pack. Generally airlines allow one checked luggage and one carry on with a personal item while some allow two checked ones. This will save you from paying exorbitant overweight charges.
Look at some YouTube videos that show you how to efficiently pack a suitcase. There are hundreds of them available that will guide you on how to utilize the space.
After you have an idea of how much space you are working with start packing at least five days in advance. This works good for me in that once I have mentally decided what I am taking with me on my trip, I start putting things into my luggage, not necessarily packing them neatly at this stage but doing this helps me to see exactly how much luggage I may need to take and also this is where I can take out things that may be unnecessary.
If you are staying at a hotel or family member, check with them to see what amenities would be provided. This would prevent you from carrying things that you would have access to during your stay. For instance hair dryers are usually provided in each room at most hotels as an inclusive amenity or for a small fee.
Plan an outfit or two per day. Depending on the occasion of the trip, put aside one or two going-out outfits for each day that you would be on the trip. Example: a day dress and a casual outfit perhaps for dinner.
Take a couple pairs of shoes and sandals that can be interchanged with outfits. Limit it to 3 pairs if possible.
If you are travelling with a heavy winter coat or pair of boots, let that be your travelling outfit to go and return so that you won't have to add them to your luggage.
Use a bathroom scale to check the weight of your luggage before heading to the airport. Better to be safe than sorry. Every time I have to travel I feel a little paranoid about whether or not my bags are over-weight.

What about you how do you overcome the challenges with packing? Comment and share your opinion below.