If you are like me when it comes to packing, you are Team Carry-On! I refuse to spend money on checking a bag, especially when traveling on a budget. I like to save money in as many places as possible and cutting out unnecessary baggage fees is high on the list. Finding ways to make packing as painless and efficient as possible was a must. Luckily, this is one place where you can save money fairly easily by carrying on your bag. With a little pre-trip planning, you can pack a carry-on intended for overnight trips with as much as three weeks of travel essentials. Sounds impossible, I know, but I have done it and learned a few things to achieve this goal.
Check out these five tips on packing and try them out on your next trip!
1.Invest in quality luggage.
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As the saying goes, "You get what you pay for." Investing in quality luggage is the foundation of being able to pack your carry-on and feel comfortable that it will last throughout your trip. Traveling can be stressful enough, but trying to move around any location with shabby luggage can be nerve-racking. Think of it like this, your luggage spends a good amount of time out of your sight. Starting from going into overhead luggage on the plane, to staying behind in the hotel while you are out for the day, almost all the way until you get back home. That bag is transporting some of the most valuable pieces of your trip so it should be safe, dependable, and durable. So, start with looking for a luggage brand that is trusted amongst other travel experts and look for the features that matter most to you based on how you travel.
For me, travel can involve anything from long layovers or delays, to interesting car rentals (one time my entire group's luggage was strapped to the top of the car during a rainstorm), to getaways that last two to three weeks. In this case, you would need luggage that could fit compactly in spaces without giving up space on the inside to pack, as well as luggage that has some special features like a battery charger for long delays. Also, your luggage should be durable enough to be handled roughly without sacrificing being able to be flexible enough to pack as many essentials as possible. Take stock of your travel habits and packing habits and research a few brands to see what fits your needs. Some brands will even let you try their luggage for a trial run to see how you like it before buying.
2.Roll your clothes to create more space.
Purchasing quality luggage with all the features you need is one of the many aspects of packing a carry-on efficiently. You still need to develop a packing strategy style. Get creative when packing your clothes into your luggage. The more creative you get, the more space you can create. There are lots of packing methods out there but a personal favorite of mine is the military roll. Rolling your clothes creates so much room and allows for you to pack more if you are an over-packer like me.
Each article of clothing can be rolled into a compact cylinder and stacked neatly on top or next to each other inside the luggage space. Geometrically, this can take up less surface area per article of clothing, leaving plenty of space to pack all those clothing options you were undecided about. I also like to take hair ties and wrap them around clothes that won't stay neat in their rolls for extra security. An added and unexpected bonus to rolling your clothes is it can help with reducing the number of wrinkles in your clothes while stored in luggage.
3.Layer your clothes.
Rolling your clothes is a great way to pack more clothing items. But, layering them is a level up in the organization game. There are two ways you can do this and save space in your carry-on. The first way is to layer similar clothing articles inside of each other. What this means is put shirts inside of shirts, dresses inside of dresses, pants inside of pants and so on. You can layer two to three items depending on the thickness of the clothing items. This will increase the volume of your clothes' roll but decrease the number of rolls, saving you space and keeping your clothes organized by type.
The second method is to roll complete outfits together. For instance, roll a shirt, pants, socks, and undergarments in one roll as compact as possible. If need be, put socks and undergarments in the pockets of larger clothing items to keep rolls tidy. If you are someone who overpacks, try this method; it can help you edit your clothing options by creating your looks before you even pack them.
4.Use purses and backpacks as packing cubes.
I am not big on buying too many accessories that make packing seem easy. Some accessories just feel cumbersome and more trouble than they are worth. I do think packing cubes are a great investment into your travel luggage game. Not only do they keep your wardrobe organized, but they also keep everything in neat small packs so nothing is sliding around in your suitcase. However, I am also a budget traveler and until I budget the money for extra packing accessories, here is a hack around packing cubes.
Use purses, backpacks, fanny packs, or any bag that you plan on using during your trip as a packing cube. Some of us like to switch bags depending on our outfits for the day but it may be hard to pack all that into limited space. As space becomes less and less, the accessories are usually where I begin to cut first. Using bags as packing cubes allows you to bring all of your fabulous bag options while giving you a way to keep everything in organized units. First world problems, I know, but you have to think outside of the box to pack optimally for a carry-on.
5.Practice packing methods.
My last piece of advice and probably the most critical is testing out your packing strategy before going on longer trips or international trips. In 2017, I challenged myself to pack a carry-on all year. I did a lot of research on luggage brands and landed on the perfect brand to fit my travel needs. Then I packed different ways for each trip as a trial run to see what I liked, didn't like, and where I could improve until I developed my own style.
By the time I was ready for my first international trip of 2018, I had my routine down. This made it easier to get packing done initially before the trip, cutting down on the amount of time it took me to pack, and editing my wardrobe to necessary items. Also, it made me more organized and cut out the anxiety of possibly losing luggage overseas.
These tips have worked for all types of trips and hopefully, they will help you on your next adventure, too.
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Detoxes concentrate on drawing out bad toxins and energies and realigning us with our purpose. Usually, when my energy is low, or I experience constant uneasiness, I know I need to take steps to detox spiritually. Luckily, I remembered a Reiki healer who worked with a close friend years ago; therefore, I started there.
I checked in with Reiki Practitioner Tamara Angela (@loveandfaerymagic) for her top ten recommendations on how to spiritually detox. I appreciate Tamara’s advice because she uses Reiki as “maintenance, not crisis [management],” thus, helping me realize I can prevent “spiritual clutter” from progressing.
Reiki practitioner Tamara Angela
Photo courtesy of Tamara Angela
According to Tamara, "Reiki is a Japanese healing art. It [Reiki] comes with the understanding that we are all energy. And the way I describe it is Reiki covers you like your grandma’s prayer.” And we all know how vital our grandmother’s (or elders’) prayers are, especially growing up.
Ways To Spiritually Detox
Tamara explained that her nine steps all work together and detoxify your spirit and help you maintain the work you put into cleansing your spirit. We apply many of these steps to our daily routine, not realizing how crucial they are for our spiritual health. Each step ties into the other, and all are necessary.
When you do a spiritual detox it's important to remember, it’s a lifestyle. Start slowly to create the level of peace you want and build the stability you need. Tamara shares, “You can do all nine steps and still experience chaos. That is why it is important to have a baseline, a level of peace,” Tamara says. “You have to create a baseline of stability that you can revert back to. ‘I am used to this level of peace.’ Someone came along to disturb it, and now I have to fix it. Now, I can come back to these [steps] and remove that energy and know how to properly.”
1. Turn off your phone notifications and alerts.
Those notifications keep you tethered to constantly looking out for things (i.e. a text from that one person you should have kept blocked), thus, making it harder to calm your spirits. “Instead, choose a time in the day when you’re checking notifications,” Tamara recommended.
2. Get proper rest.
We experience different levels of sleep, and getting proper rest allows your body to reset. Raise your hand if your off day consists of running multiple errands. Often, we do not rest on our off days; “something” comes up. That “something” can be as simple as your favorite reality show.
Feel seen yet? I surely did. Sitting down and binge-watching a TV show does not allow your mind to rest effectively. For proper rest, Tamara suggested that classical and jazz music or white noise is okay, but nothing with lyrics.
3. Clear and calm your nervous system
When you are constantly experiencing things, sometimes you need to calm your mind down. For example, when something goes wrong with the Wi-Fi, we reset the modem. We should do the same when it comes to our bodies. Unfortunately, we tend to not think like that regarding our body and nervous system. “We are in a constant sensory experience," Tamara explained.
"You have six senses. That is how you experience the world. So, when you are constantly experiencing things, sometimes you need to calm down. Sometimes you need to remove something. Sometimes you need to be aware of how much you have taken in or have the capacity to take in.”
According to Apollo Neuro, an overactive sympathetic nervous system can cause issues like muscle tension, jitters, insomnia, etc. It can also lead to hyper-vigilance, the tendency to detect danger, even in its absence. By contrast, excessive tiredness, depression, and an overactive gag reflex can signal parasympathetic dominance. Fortunately, steps eight and nine emphasize easing an overactive nervous system.
4. Enjoy the company of good friends with laughter
“Laughter is a way to express emotion; it’s a great release. You are not in an inadequate space when you’re there [with friends].” As we know, laughter is good for the soul; it releases endorphins and helps you release things.
5. Purge your living space/get rid of clutter
Also known as “spring cleaning.” Constant mess or clutter is draining, and cleaning removes that negative energy. A great example Tamara uses is opening a window as it “can let out negative, stagnant energy. Many people do not realize that this practice is hoodoo-based.”
6. Unplug
Completely unplug or pick a day or time, and unplug. One way to do this is by turning off your phone. You cannot scroll through social media, talk on the phone, etc. Tamara recommended starting with 15 minutes and progressing from there.
7. Set boundaries
My personal favorite as I’ve gotten older. From a former people-pleaser, this is not an easy task. A lot of the pleasing we wrap ourselves up in is one of the main reasons we are spiritually drained. Setting boundaries is healthy; do things are your terms.
8. Do some Reiki
“Reiki energy balancing allows you to center yourself and clear that [negative] energy,” Tamara said. She further explained that it's like a church mother “laying hands on you.” Reiki is an energy healing technique that promotes relaxation and reduces stress and anxiety through gentle touch. Reiki practitioners use their hands to deliver energy to your body, improving the flow and balance of your energy to support healing.
Reiki practitioners are a conduit between you and the universal life force energy source. The energy flows through the practitioner’s hands to you. However, your Reiki healer does not always have to touch you for Reiki to work physically. “You can receive Reiki healing from long distances, like on the phone,” Tamara said. Instead, clients experience the energy through heat, cold, tingling, or pulsing sensations.
There are many benefits to Reiki. Reiki can:
- Promote relaxation, stress reduction, and symptom relief to improve overall health and well-being.
- Bring on a meditative state.
- Foster tissue and bone healing after injury or surgery.
- Stimulate your body’s immune system.
- Promote natural self-healing.
- Relieve pain and tension.
9. Breath/breathwork
“Breathwork is extremely helpful in moving any stagnant energy,” and that is why Tamara gives the people she works with a two-minute meditation that consists of breathwork. One breathwork exercise is placing your hand on your heart and feeling the movement of your heartbeat. Doing this technique for two minutes will recenter you and can be performed anywhere – office cubicle, home, etc. Even a deep belly breath, hold, then release is a great way to release stuck emotions.
“The process of inhaling brings in what we need, and that full exhale is letting go of what we do not [need],” Tamara said.
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Feature image by Johnce/ Getty Images
Originally published on April 13, 2023