How to Stop Overpacking: 6 Things I Quit Packing

For years, most of my trips involved getting in the car and driving. When you have an SUV, overpacking doesn’t feel like much of a problem. If something fits in the back, it comes along.

Then I came home from a three-week trip and started unpacking.

That was when I realized how much stuff had traveled with me for absolutely no reason.

There were clothes I never wore, electronics I never turned on, hair tools that never left the suitcase, and enough makeup to suggest I had planned a completely different vacation.

Now that I’m flying more often, I need to learn how to stop overpacking.

For my next trip, I’m using a carry-on-size suitcase. If I’m going to drag something through an airport, it is going to be Judi size.

That means I have to be much more selective about what earns space in my bag.

Here are the six things I packed too much of — or didn’t need at all — and what I’ll do differently next time.

1. Too Many Hair Care Items

I like having options when it comes to my hair.

Sometimes I curl it. Sometimes I straighten it. On special occasions, I might crimp the whole thing.

Apparently that convinced me I needed to travel with a curling iron, flat iron and crimper.

I used none of them.

All three added weight and took up space while making a lovely round trip in my suitcase.

The same thing happened with hair products. I packed full-size shampoo and conditioner for a nearly three-week trip, but most of the time I used what the hotel provided.

The one product I did use regularly was my leave-in conditioner.

That was a pretty good reminder that I don’t need to pack for every possible version of myself.

For most trips, one styling tool is enough. If I really think I’ll curl my hair, I can bring the curling iron and leave the rest at home.

Travel-size products make more sense too. If I somehow run out, I’m probably not vacationing somewhere without a CVS, Target or grocery store nearby.

What I’m doing differently: If I rarely use something at home and can’t name a specific reason I’ll use it on the trip, it stays home.

2. Extra Clothes

This one is harder for me.

I can somehow convince myself that a short vacation requires enough underwear to survive a small emergency.

Do I need 20 pairs? No.

Will my brain still suggest packing 20 pairs? Absolutely.

The reality is that laundry is usually available somewhere during my trips.

Many hotels and resorts have washers and dryers, and Disney resorts have convenient laundry rooms that I’ve used several times.

I especially like doing laundry after a runDisney race because I do not want sweaty race clothes fermenting in my suitcase until I get home.

Laundry sheets have also made this much easier because they take up almost no room and don’t create another liquid to worry about.

What I’m doing differently: Pack enough clothes for the trip, add one backup outfit, and stop there.

If laundry is available, use it.

3. Too Much Makeup

I don’t even wear a lot of makeup at home.

Some days I don’t wear any.

So naturally I packed enough makeup for vacation Judi to become a completely different person.

Most days, I used moisturizer, foundation with sunscreen, blush and mascara.

That was it.

The bronzer, multiple shades of blush, eye shadow and the rest of the makeup bag mostly enjoyed the trip from inside my suitcase.

And yes, the glitter I use for runDisney somehow came along too.

Apparently it had travel plans.

What I’m doing differently: Pack the makeup I actually use most days and leave the fantasy makeup routine at home.

Vacation is not the time I suddenly become a person who spends 45 minutes doing makeup every morning.

4. Books and Magazines

I love to read.

For years, that meant traveling with books. On a longer trip, sometimes more than one.

Books are wonderful.

Books are also heavy.

My husband eventually bought me a Kindle, which solved this problem almost completely. Now I can travel with an entire library without sacrificing half my suitcase.

If I don’t want to carry the Kindle, I can also use the Kindle app on my phone or iPad.

What I’m doing differently: One device replaces multiple books and magazines.

My suitcase does not need its own library section.

5. My Laptop

I love my MacBook.

I’m using it to write this post.

It is also large, heavy and old enough that traveling with it feels like carrying around a small piece of furniture.

On my three-week trip, I didn’t open it once.

At one point, the Find My app still showed it as basically untouched because I had never powered it on.

When I wanted to write, edit video or handle something online, I reached for my iPad instead.

It was lighter, easier to carry and did almost everything I needed.

What I’m doing differently: Unless I know I have work that absolutely requires my laptop, it stays home.

For most trips, my iPad and phone are enough.

6. Too Many Electronics

Electronics are sneaky because one device never travels alone.

The device needs a charger.

Then another device needs another charger.

Then come the headphones, tripod, watch charger, power bank, cords, adapters and all the other little things that somehow multiply in the bottom of a travel bag.

As a content creator, I can justify almost any electronic device if I try hard enough.

That doesn’t mean I need to bring all of them.

On my next trip, I want to keep it simple: phone, iPad, Apple Watch and one multi-device charger.

That covers almost everything I realistically need.

What I’m doing differently: Every electronic device has to earn its place in my bag.

If two devices do basically the same job, one of them stays home.

My New Rule for Packing Lighter

Learning how to stop overpacking isn’t really about creating the perfect packing list.

For me, it’s about being more realistic.

I don’t need to pack for every possible mood, outfit, hairstyle, weather emergency and imaginary productivity session.

I need to pack for the trip I’m actually taking.

Before something goes into my suitcase now, I want to ask:

Am I genuinely going to use this, or am I packing it because I might use it?

That one question would have saved me a lot of suitcase space on my last trip.

I’m still not promising that I’ll become a perfect carry-on-only traveler overnight.

But I am getting better at leaving the “just in case” stuff at home.

And if I can do that while still having enough underwear, I’m calling it progress.

What is the one thing you always overpack? And what have you finally learned to leave at home?