{"id":19571,"date":"2022-06-22T19:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-06-22T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thegreenlist.nl\/?p=19571"},"modified":"2025-11-26T20:00:48","modified_gmt":"2025-11-26T19:00:48","slug":"packing-your-suitcase-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thegreenlist.nl\/en\/je-koffer-inpakken-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"Packing a suitcase? We have tips! less = more"},"content":{"rendered":"
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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!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Tips to pack your suitcase smartly<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u2018This year, as a family, we will take a maximum of one suitcase on holiday.\u2019 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<\/a> 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!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Digital packing list for the holidays<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the suitcase is packed I \u2018un do\u2019 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Packing your suitcase using the reverse packing list<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For me, the \u2018reverse packing list\u2019 was a eye-opener<\/em>. A follower of thegreenlist.nl<\/em> 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).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Create clothing sets <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Don't pack your suitcase with garments, but with outfits. Sets of clothes, in other words. Style coach Mirjam Hamming has a good tip: \u2018Stop 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!\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do you pack your suitcase? Folding tip!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Who thegreenlist.nl<\/em> 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....<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Suitcase<\/figure><\/div>
\"Smartly<\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

A handy folding technique to pack your suitcase smartly.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

More minimalist packing tips from followers of thegreenlist.nl<\/h3>\n\n\n\n