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Embrace minimalist packing for a stress-free travel experience
Minimalism isn’t something that’s limited to just keeping your home and workspace clutter-free. It’s also an empowering way to travel and see the world. Travelling light can help you be more comfortable on the road and blend in better with local cultures.
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Here are a few tips for packing and travelling like a minimalist when you plan your next trip.
Limit shoes
Limit your shoe selections to 2-3 pairs including a pair of comfy walking shoes. Chances are that you’ll be walking more than usual when you travel, so a comfortable pair of shoes is essential. Invest in a pair of comfy shoes that aren’t overly sporty or brightly coloured so that you can wear them with anything and not feel out of place
Be willing to do laundry
If you plan to travel for a week or more, there’s no way you can wear a new outfit every day and still claim a minimalist approach. The best solution is to do laundry midway through. You can pay the hotel to clean your clothes, use your hotel’s self-serve laundry facilities, or find a local Laundromat that still exists in most of the cities and reasonably sized towns. Alternatively, you can even wash clothes out in a sink or tub where you’re staying.
Re-evaluate toiletries bag
Toiletries take up a lot of room in a suitcase, so focus on the basic things like a toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, deodorant, and lotion. You can pick up other toiletries such as sunscreen and bug spray when the need comes during the trip. If possible, use products that double up for other uses. This can save you by bringing many other products or buying any at your destination. Moisturiser can be used as an eye makeup remover as well as shaving cream.
Minimalist travel starts with a mindset
Minimalist travel is all about living simply and comfortably and is something that takes time to get used to. The first thing a person requires is a mindset shift towards a new lifestyle. It may be hard not to overpack and include things you might need, but in the end, travelling light will make navigating your new destination much easier. Leaving behind the unnecessary and embracing minimalist travel will add to the freedom you’ll need to travel at your leisure.
Invest in a smaller bag
Buy a well-organised travel bag that converts into a backpack from a rolled suitcase and that features a detachable daypack. Get bags that have a lot of pockets that will help you to separate and stay organised with toiletries, electronics, clothes and other accessories.
Carry only essential clothes
Your fashion mindset needs to change a bit to embrace minimalist travel. Instead of focusing your packing list on the outfits you might ‘want’, focus on the items you’ll definitely ‘need’. Try rolling the clothes to save space in your bag and prevent avoidable wrinkles. Pack minimally and ensure that your outfit packing choices can mix and match and give you a range of outfits to choose from. By sticking to 2-3 main colours, you can ensure most clothes can be worn with others and increase the options. Pack a few items that can be washed and dried easily to help your clothes dry faster. The quicker your clothes dry, the quicker you can be wearing them again.
Consolidate your electronics
In today’s digital world, one of the biggest parts of a minimalist lifestyle is limiting the quantity and use of electronics. It’s a good idea to have a smartphone with you while travelling for directions, safety, and to stay in touch, but other electronics could probably stay back at home. The latest smartphones have excellent cameras, so make use of your smartphone camera unless you’re serious about photography.
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