We go on holiday and take with us... Less! Going on holiday with less stuff. Who wouldn't want that? Less dragging of suitcases and bags, less worrying about losing things. And how about the time you save because you have less to unpack and wash at the end. Packing your suitcase with less stuff and still not having to miss anything on holiday. Yes it can be done!
Tips to pack your suitcase smartly
‘This year, as a family, we will take a maximum of one suitcase on holiday.’ Every year, I resolve to go on holiday lighter. I love that idea. So I always start packing with this resolution. But before I know it, there are lots of things on the bed and that one suitcase is too small again. That was not the agreement! How can I pack that suitcase smarter? Less stuff? Gladly! But I also don't want to miss anything on holiday. That's so irritating. I asked the Instagram community and his turned out to have surprisingly fun and useful tips for packing your suitcase and a lighter holiday, literally and figuratively. How? I'm going to tell you now!
Digital packing list for the holidays
If you are such an organised type, then you will like the digital packing list. I have a friend who even keeps multiple packing lists in Excel. One for winter sports, one for summer holidays, one for camping and so on. I started trying that too. Not in Excel and not multiple lists either, because I am not that much of a structure junkie (unfortunately). I stuck to one packing list that I made in the free list app Microsoft To Do have put. When I pack the suitcase, I grab that list and tick off everything that goes in the suitcase. That way I don't forget anything.
When the suitcase is packed I ‘un do’ everything so that the packing list is ready again for the next trip. Once a year, the list gets a refresh and I add new things and remove things we no longer need. I removed those swim nappies and the night light, but the Nintendo absolutely had to be on there.
Packing your suitcase using the reverse packing list
For me, the ‘reverse packing list’ was a eye-opener. A follower of thegreenlist.nl uses this method both for holidays and birthday shopping. It works like this: you write down in a (digital) list exactly what you are taking with you. It is important to list each item separately, so: pants 1, pants 2, pants 3, etc. On holiday, tick off each time you use or put on something. So at the end of the holiday, you can see in a handy overview what you didn't use and may have taken unnecessarily. You can leave those pants 15 and 16 at home next time. Assuming you have roughly the same holiday (duration).
That's how I discovered that I don't need socks for every day on holiday. I don't wear socks every day and on holiday I can quite easily wear a pair for two days. Two pairs of jeans are also unnecessary. One is more than enough, even if I go for three weeks. These are good insights, it saves a lot of space in my suitcase.
For birthday shopping, it works the same way. You write down all the groceries by item and tick off what went on or opened. The reverse shopping list teaches you how much wine, beer, soda and snacks to buy next time (should the party be about the same again).
Create clothing sets
Don't pack your suitcase with garments, but with outfits. Sets of clothes, in other words. Style coach Mirjam Hamming has a good tip: ‘Stop counting clothes (three T-shirts, two jumpers...), but put outfits ready on your bed and put them in your suitcase. It's especially handy if you also think in layers and look at colours, because that way you can combine garments from those two outfits together again and hatsekidee: then suddenly you have three outfits with you for the weight of two!’
How do you pack your suitcase? Folding tip!
Who thegreenlist.nl have been following and reading for some time, know that we are big fans of tidying guru Marie Kondo. Especially learning about her folding method was a eureka moment. She does not fold clothes in piles on top of each other, but she makes handy compact packages that you then place next to each other. This is also how you can pack your suitcase. The advantage is that you have lots of space to spare and can see all your clothes at a glance. Doesn't it become a cluttered suitcase either....
A handy folding technique to pack your suitcase smartly.
More minimalist packing tips from followers of thegreenlist.nl
- Rolling up clothes is also a fine technique for getting more stuff into one suitcase.
- Invest in packing cubes: this also allows you to fit more in a suitcase and keep an overview.
- Another follower adds: you can also ecological net bags use for packing small items such as underwear, socks and children's clothes. Tip: do you have lots of cloth bags at home? Then just use those!
- On holiday, you tend to wear less make-up, so only take your basic make-up with you.
- Don't take big bottles of shampoo and shower gel with you, but pour it over in those little travel packs you can buy at the drugstore. Tip: sometimes I see them at the thrift store too!
- XXL hydrophilic cloths as towels take up much less space than ‘regular’ towels.
- If possible, hire bed linen and towels from the accommodation. Saves tremendously!
- Bring a maximum of two pairs of shoes, e.g. hiking boots and a sandal/slipper.
- Coats also take up a lot of space, so make sure you get a multifunctional coat.
- A fleece jumper is also very handy, especially for Dutch holidays. Always make sure you use a cotton or woollen fleece jumper, though. Because with fleece made of polyester or recycled PET, you spread microplastics.
- Think multifunctional: you can use a cloth as a towel, but also as a scarf.
- Invest in merino wool shirt: this natural fabric is temperature regulating.
- Bookworm? Bring an e-reader, you'll save a lot of space that way.
- Check the weather forecast beforehand so you bring just the right thing.
- Always remember: you can always do a (hand) wash.
- Invest in a small (second-hand) bag or suitcase, that way you can't carry much either.
Packing your suitcase is not a burden, it's fun beforehand
How do people always say it? ‘It's the journey, not the destination.’ So is packing your suitcase. Every holiday is slightly different. The weather forecast also matters a lot. For a warm summer destination it is easier to travel ‘lighter’ than for a changeable Wadden Island. I hope these tips have given you some inspiration to pack your future suitcase lighter. And remember: you don't have to pack that suitcase, you can do it again. You're going on holiday! Put on a nice podcast and enjoy the anticipation!
If you have another great tip for more wrapping fun? Via the contact and follow buttons at the bottom of this page, you can pass on your packing tips! Please do!
More sustainable tips from thegreenlist.nl
- Sustainable holiday plans? If so, have you considered rail travel in Europe? Then check out these train tips and list of hotspots!
- Curious about the Wadden? Then take a look at the Texel tips, Terschelling tips and also Vlieland tips we have for you.
- Want to start tidying up at home? Then check out 5 tidying-up tips for a more sustainable life.
Photo credits: Ivan Samkov (Pexels) (main image), Vlada Karpovich (Pexels), Timur Weber (Pexels).
