Awhile back I referenced my travel light grid system in a packing post, and a few of your had questions so I thought I’d take today to explain it a little further. Let’s get into it, shall we?
The travel light grid system I am talking about just refers to the organizational method I’ve developed for packing for a trip. It involves dividing your bed (easiest) or any other flat surface into a grid where the days span horizontally and the people vertically. I know it sounds really complicated and scary when I call it a grid system, but I promise it’s one of the easiest and most efficient ways to look at packing (while still remaining stylish). It looks something like this:
Each row of the grid represents a person, while each column represents a day. Here are some easy steps to further break it down:
- Choose your surface
I prefer somewhere large and flat, so often I use our (king size) bed. You could also use the floor or a couch depending on how many people you are packing for and how much space you actually need. - Imagine the Grid
In your head, imagine the amount of columns and rows you will need. In the example above I am packing for 4 people, for a 5-day trip. You can even coordinate family outfits for each day or activity. - Plan Ahead
Check the weather and take note of any activities you will do on each day. Sometimes if our trip is really busy, I’ll put a post it at the foot of each column to remind me of what I should pack for. - Start with the Basics
I don’t pack a new outfit for everyday. I start with basics like jeans and other items that can be reworn, then fill in with the other stuff like tops or specialty items (swimwear, etc.), and lastly intimates. - Take One Last Look (or a Photo)
Eyeball everything as you have it laid out and visualize each day. I like to snap a photo on my phone so I can remember what each person should wear on each day. It makes it easier to get dressed while traveling too.
Any questions? I’d be happy to answer in the comments below. Do you have a special type of system you use for packing light?
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