It seems like there are two kinds of people in this world, the sort that could travel with nothing but a small bag, and the kind of people who attempt to take along every creature comfort from home. Do you vacation with nothing but a toothbrush and some clothes, or do you try to cram your luggage with everything from your favorite pillow to your prized coffee pot? If you’re the latter, this message is for you. Buckle up and let go, it’s time to travel in comfort, without dragging along twelve bags.
Control
Is your trunk brimming with things you began packing a week ago? Do you plan a road trip down to the minute and then freak out if you’re running behind? Trips are supposed to be about fun, relaxation, and having new adventures. You can’t do any of that if you’re too busy marking off minutes on an itinerary or worrying about being as comfortable as you are when you’re at home. Home is comfort and you’re probably never going to match that out on the road, no matter how many king size comforters you pack into a hotel.
Why?
We overpack for all kinds of reasons. Maybe you needed your noise cancelling headphones 3 years ago on a trip, so you always take them along now, or maybe you just don’t want to try hotel soap. Everyone has their rationales. Terry Nguyen interviewed Lara Fielding, a clinical psychologist, for Vox and she explained, “When we’re traveling, our emotions can feel more polarized since we’re experiencing a stressful situation. Our stress levels increase because we’re not in our comfort zone, and [because we] are surrounded by uncomfortable, different people.”
The Right Amount
So how are we supposed to figure out what to leave in and what to leave out? Surely packing a special neck pillow isn’t overpacking if I have a bad neck, right? If I can’t sleep without a fan, shouldn’t I take one? The answer to both of these is probably, “yes,” but once you’re packing three or four bags worth of these things, you may want to step back and ask yourself what can be left at home. Greg Rodgers at TripSayvy lists several tips to help you figure out what to leave in the luggage and what to take out, including, “Unless you really are heading to the jungle in Papua or plan to wander the Himalayas independently, stay out of the “what if” mentality.” Basically, don’t pack a 300-count bottle of aspirin and a crate of snake bite venom for your trip to Disney World. If you need any of that stuff, you’ll have access to it there, and all along the way.
There are some things you should always keep in your trunk in case of an emergency, like extra water or a flashlight, but there’s no need to pack everything but the kitchen sink for a road trip. Relax and have fun.