Packing Marie Kondo Style - Nexus Travel & Cruise
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
BLOG POST
Packing Marie Kondo Style
PACK LIGHTER, TRAVEL HAPPIER
Autumn 2019
Marie Kondo is famous for her KonMari
method, bestselling book, “The Life
Changing Art of Tidying Up“ and now the
Netflix series taking the world by storm -
"Tidying Up with Marie Kondo" - all of
which promise to help you gain control of
the stuff in your home and only keep
your most joyful belongings around you.
But what about when you have to take
some of that stuff on the road?
We have taken some excellent packing tips from our friends at Qantas and combined it
with our new love of KonMari. What we have created is what we believe is the best way
to pack, from start to finish. Enjoy!
FIRST STEPS
Before you even pull your suitcase out of the cupboard and start throwing
clothes on your bed, do these things:
TIP#1: DIGITISE YOUR DOCS
Digitise copies of your ID and travel documents. We recommend scanning them all
and saving them to a cloud-based or USB drive, smartphone or tablet. This enables
you to ditch some of your paper documents and back up important information should
anything happen to your luggage. Remember to keep your USB drive separately in
your hand luggage and out of your checked-in baggage for safekeeping
TIP#2: DITCH SOME DEVICES
Remove any devices that can be replaced by another device on your trip. For
example, if you’re planning to take only happy snaps, you can use a smartphone
rather than a heavyweight camera. If you only want to access social media, a tablet
or smartphone will do instead of a laptop. And you won’t need a portable speaker if
your hotel has a Bluetooth-enabled speaker or stereo dock.
TIP#3: CHARGER CHECK
Next, check your chargers – if all of your devices use
USB, one compatible charger might be all you need
(provided you pack all of the necessary cables). If you
are taking your smartphone as your primary device, a
small portable battery pack or charging case will ensure
it lasts all day. Don’t forget to grab your international
power adapters – we stock them here in the office. We
recommend taking one adapter and a small power board
– preferably with USB ports for all your charging needs.
TIP#4: MAKE A PERMANENT PACK LIST
Save yourself time and effort on your next trip and make a list that you can refer to
and modify according to the destination and purpose of your trip. Yes, there’s an app
for that – try the free PACKPOINT app which lets you customise pre-prepared packing
lists based on weather and activities.
NEXT STEPS – Now it’s time to start choosing which belongings get the
privilege of being packed in your suitcase.
TIP#5: GET TOUGH ON YOUR TOILETRIES
If you’re happy to use the toiletries provided at your
accommodation, you can easily cull some basic
amenities. If you prefer taking your own products, use
small screw-top containers to decant liquids, gels and
creams rather than bringing a full-sized bottle.
Pharmacies and supermarkets sell travel-sized
versions of everything from dry shampoo and
hairspray to toothpaste and deodorant, as well as
travel bottles and tubes. We recommend packing all
liquids in zip lock bags inside your toiletry bag to
prevent leakage. Lastly, invest in a travel toiletry bag,
preferably one you can hang in any type of bathroom
you use – you won’t regret it!
TIP#6: GATHER YOUR GEAR Clear off a large space to work in. Gather up everything that needs to fit in your bag and lay it all out. You want to be able to see exactly what you are hoping to fit in your bag. Next, organise your gear into categories: 1. Clothing: separated into tops, bottoms, outerwear, underwear and accessories 2. Shoes 3. Toiletries 4. Electronic devices 5. Miscellaneous equipment TIP#7: CULL & CURATE YOUR CLOTHING COLLECTION This is the tricky bit that can also be a fun challenge. The aim here is to HALVE all of your piles listed above (except for underwear!). Plan your outfits based on a colour palette and make sure you’re covered for all weather contingencies at your destination as well as the social situations and activities you’ll be participating in. Think about how frequently you might be able to do your laundry. What to take: choose versatile items, light layers and choose a colour scheme. Choose clothing that can be dressed up or down and layers well. It’s best to stick to neutrals (black/white/grey/navy) with one or two complementary accent colours and minimal matching accessories like scarves and necklaces.. Be particularly mindful when choosing heavier outerwear and footwear - taking only one jacket, or leaving behind a pair of shoes, will make a big weight difference. Google "capsule wardrobes for travel" for a huge range of inspiration. Remember, only pack what you love to wear. TIP#7: BE MINDFUL ABOUT YOUR MISCELLANY When it comes to your miscellaneous pile, you may have gathered items such as umbrellas, raincoats, books and perhaps a travel pillow. If you’re desperate to trim down your baggage, consider alternatives or purchasing these items during your trip. For instance, you could buy an umbrella at your destination, pack a disposable poncho, read on your tablet instead of taking a book, or grab a magazine at the airport. Don’t be afraid to bring items that have proven themselves on past trips, though – a neck pillow might be exactly what you need to sleep well on a long-haul flight or lengthy train journey.
FINAL STEP – Pack like a pro with these last tips...
TIP#8 : DO THE KONMARI “SPARK JOY” TEST
A guiding principle of the Konmari Method is to ask yourself if your belongings “spark
joy". How does this apply to a suitcase? As you’re packing, consider whether you
really love each piece you’re putting inside. If you don’t think you’ll wear it or use it,
leave it at home.
TIP#9: GROUP LIKE WITH LIKE
Marie Kondo is a big fan of packing similar
items together like makeup, underwear and
charging cords into packing pouches or
cubes. She also says that shoes are "just a
little happier when they’re stored in bags".
Cute right?
We recommend dividing your packing cells into the following categories:
Tops, bottoms, underwear, beachwear (bathers, soft sunhats, sarongs), accessories
(hats, scarves, belts), miscellaneous (books, pens, travel diary), electronics (chargers,
adapters, power board, cords), toiletries, dirty laundry, wet weather gear, and
footwear. Small packing cells work really well in your hand luggage too.
TIP#10: . FOLD WITH JOY
Anyone familiar with Marie Kondo knows she’s devoted to folding (there’s an entire
chapter in her book about how to do it just right). Folding vertically and as small as
possible will save space in your suitcase. For thinner items, roll to prevent wrinkles.
Check out the video below for Marie Kondo's demonstration.
Happy Packing!!
BONUS: Marie Kondo showed the team at Apartment Therapy how she packs a
suitcase. You can watch this very satisfying before and after video here.
Words & inspiration for this article from Apartment Therapy and our friends at
Qantas.
You can also read
