The best system to pack for a two-week trip in a carry on
“Is that ALL of your stuff?”
My male colleague looked at my carry-on suitcase in shock when we met in the hotel lobby to share a ride to the airport on our way back home. We had been in Mexico City for almost a month working on a project, and I had traveled down there with just enough to fit in a carry-on suitcase, and a backpack. He, on the other hand, had two large suitcases and a backpack.
I had been dressing from a mini-capsule wardrobe for well over three weeks and nobody had noticed. In fact, people kept saying to me: “You brought so many clothes!” when in reality I had brought significantly less than everyone else.
Packing for an extended trip in a carry-on is not difficult, but it does require some advance planning. In this video, I’m sharing the 6-step system I use to get ready for long trips in 30 minutes or less.
The secrets to packing effectively in a carry-on
Most of us were taught to pack in outfits. We think that if we are going to be gone for two weeks, we should pack 14 outfits, plus a few extras for specific occasions.
The trouble with packing this way is that, first, it requires you to bring way too many things, and second, should anything change (the length of your trip, the plans, the weather) you can be caught unprepared. Jasmine Ty said it best recently on one of her videos: If you pack a capsule wardrobe instead, you are covered for all occasions even if the plan changes.
Having a premade checklist of everything you usually bring on a trip also makes the process go significantly smoother. To help you out the next time you pack for any trip, I created this free Packing Guide + Bonus Checklist, so that you can be all packed and ready to go in 30 minutes or less.
Let me know in the comments: what is the most unique item you travel with? I’ve heard some people like to travel with candles, their pillows, and even sound machines. I always bring my travel yoga mat, for example. What do you bring? Leave me a comment below and let me know!
Disclaimer: Links provided in this blog post, as well as on the description box for my videos, may be affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases, which comes at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting my channel, and letting me create better videos for you guys!