16 June,2011 08:55 AM IST | | The trip
If you suffer from a chronic case of overpacking, and seem to carry your house around while on a trip, here are a few simple tips to de-clutter and travel light. After all, more space and light bags also translate into more space to carry the awesome souveniers to cherish for long.
List your itinerary: It helps list activities that you will indulge in during the trip. Will you be spending your time meeting friends or officially hanging out with colleagues on a business trip? Stick to the type of clothes that suit the occasion.
Get travel friendly gear: Instead of packing your closet, choose fabrics that will be the easiest to handle. You may not always get access to an iron, so pack fabrics that don't require ironing and can be mixed and matched to use for a variety of occasions.
Cut down on shoes: You may have splurged on dozens of amazing shoes over the years and may want to pack them all for the trip. But don't; exercise self-control. Pack only the minimum 1-2 pairs of shoes that can take care of all occasions.
Stick to one bag: Instead of packing several bags, stick to one single bag and take only as much as you can fit in that one bag. It's not feasible to carry around the deadweight of excessive baggage throughout the trip.
Carry smaller packs of toiletries: Instead of taking entire bottles and tubs, stick to the sachets of trial sizes toiletries. You can always refill during the trip.
Choose the right bag: A lot about how you travel depends on what you travel with. It's advisable to take a lightweight bag with several compartments.
