Do you experience packing anxiety?

It’s more common than you’d think!

Typical worries—Do I have everything I need? Am I packing the right things? What if the weather changes? Anxiety manifests in all those worried thoughts about the future. What works for me?

Getting organized

In middle school, I don’t think I knew what anxiety was, but I did know that traveling made me nervous. I remember my trip to Club Med Mexico, I was 12. I set my suitcase down at the edge of my yellow floral twin sized bed, careful not to disrupt the swan shaped towel resting there. When I opened my suitcase, I was appalled. All of my clothes that I carefully folded were now in a jumbled ball in my half-empty suitcase. Reminded me of that carnival ride “the scrambler” where one person gets smushed by the gravitational pull.

I remember thinking that my clothing looked like a rainbow ball – so many patterns and colors from Limited Too. As I retrieved each piece from the ball, I soon realized that nothing matched, many of my items were too small, and now everything was creased – great. My thoughts started racing, “did I even have a matching T-shirt and shorts for dinner?” And worse, “Did the bathing suites even fit me?” I put on the best T-shirt and shorts I could find and joined my mom for a tour of the grounds. Inside I felt embarrassed, small, foolish, and was gently tugging my too small t-shirt down to cover my midline.

After a couple trips this way, I started to wonder how I could make this packing experience better for myself. Prior to a trip my mind would race with random thoughts of things I needed to bring. I also always felt like I was forgetting something. The scene from Home Alone comes to mind, “KEVIN!”. For those of you who don’t know the Movie, Kevin is forgotten at home by his large family and his mother remembers as the plane is taking off.

Make A Super OCD List

Now these were the years before Google, so it was up to me to find a solution. I remember prior to my next trip sitting down with a notebook and making a list of everything I thought I needed. Even at this young age I found making a detailed packing list really calmed my nerves. It got my thoughts out of my mind and onto a piece of paper. 

Over the years my list got more and more specific. Beyond clothes and outfits I started to add phone chargers, bathroom stuff, items for my purse and food. I found the more detailed my list became, the less anxious I would be. I would make my packing list a few days prior to a trip and whenever I would think of something, I would add it to my list! In those days I kept my list on paper, now I mostly utilize the notes section of my phone.

Have A Packing Party

I usually do my actual packing the day before a trip. Since I have my packing list already, the actual packing part is pretty easy and actually fun! I put on some music, pull out my list, and I start grabbing my items and I lay them out on my bed. I am a visual person and when I see all of my items in piles, I am able to easily see what I am missing, and if I am bringing too much or too little. Most of my trips I bring a carry on to save money and just make my life easier. This also removes any anxiety about checking a bag and the airline losing my luggage. If you do check a bag, grab yourself a travel scale so you can avoid any anxious thoughts about overweight bags. Also, place all of your precious items in your carry on for added piece of mind ;).

Selecting With Self-Love

I start with clothing and pick my outfits in advance. I try everything on to make sure it fits and there are no stains, rips, etc. Ever been on vacation only to realize that your favorite top has a stain or worse, no longer fits? I have, and for me, it used to lead to tremendous disappointment and some body shaming. Who needs that (especially while on vacation)? Trying my clothes on in advance and picking outfits I know look good and fit my body now (not 5lbs smaller) has been a huge stress buster and a way to love myself as I am.

Next, I pack my bathroom essentials – face & shower products, tongue scraper, dry brush, diva cup (yes, I use one), etc. I add stuff like my eye mask, glasses, and jewelry. Then I move onto food. I pack tea, bars (I love thunderbird and Larabars), snacks (roasted chickpeas), good nut butter, stasher bags (for storing snacks), and chocolate (if a craving strikes). While I am usually traveling in the U.S. and can buy these things upon arrival, another anxiety busting tip for me is being prepared. We all get a bit hangry when we don’t have nourishment, so having some quick, easy, and healthy snacks on hand can really help balance our minds and bodies.

Then, I put everything in my suitcase. I usually pack heaviest to lightest. I put my shoes at the bottom first, and I fill any extra space with socks, underwear, sports bras, etc. Next comes pants, sweaters, and tops. If I have anything super delicate (mug, candle, etc.) I will wrap it in a sweater or other clothing. If I am arriving in the evening, I always leave my PJs on top for easy access. Once all of my clothes are in, I add all of my accessories on top! I usually place my tea and snacks in the inside mesh pocket so they can be retrieved easily. I leave out my travel outfit and any items I will need for that night or the following morning. I also make sure there is a little room left for souvenirs. Packing anxiety exists on the other end of the trip as well, “what if this doesn’t all fit in my suitcase?” “What if my bag is too heavy and they make me check it?” Pre-planning sets me up for success for every trip.

Final Preparations

Finally, I make one more packing list, a short list for the things to remember the morning of. For me it usually looks like bathroom products, phone charger, computer & charger, glasses, essential oils, etc. Next, I clean my apartment. It might sound strange to clean my apartment prior to a trip, but there is a reason. Coming back from vacation and back into the work world is sometimes challenging. And for me, it is so nice to walk into a clean home! So I tidy up, take out my garbage, and do my dishes. I find that this also allows me to relax while I am on vacation because I have nothing to worry about at home! This takes time and you are totally worth it. I like to devote my entire evening to packing, so that I can enjoy my trip and feel GREAT about arriving with my family.

This method might seem time intensive, but if you suffer from packing anxiety, trust me, the time you spend being prepared is way better than the hours spent with racing thoughts. Positive thinking is everything here. My packing list is not a chore, but rather a fun activity that I do to help keep me balanced. You might even call it self-care. When I arrive home for the holidays, I have a super cozy outfit (with fuzzy socks) to chill around the fire, and a suite of armor for navigating those tough holiday conversations.

Ultimately, I am prepared, calm, and confident.