The Ultimate Packing Hack

Packing is literally THE WORST. The organizing, the outfit contemplation, the regular vs. travel size products. All of it makes me crazy. If it weren't for the amazing destinations, sites, and cultures in the world, I would not do it. Unfortunately this is a battle I will never win (because travel ALWAYS wins), and I will always be faced with this dilemma.
 
With my upcoming trip to Russia and Turkey rapidly approaching, this is something I have forced myself to start to think of. I have a very weird way of packing, and I thought I'd share because it has made my packing more efficient. I've forgotten less things, and I've always been prepared for the unexpected.
 
This trick works for a wide variety of trips, and for shorter trips that I don’t actually need to write a list, I use this: 

I Pack According To My Anatomy.

Now what does this exactly mean? Well, first I break down all elements of my body, and then I think about what I'll be doing on my trip. 

For example, I'll start with my Feet: Am I going to work out? Yes, I'll bring running shoes. Do I have an event where I want to dress up? Yes, I'll bring heels. Will I be walking alot? Of course! So I need to find a comfortable pair of shoes that I can walk for miles in. 

​Here is more of a visual for you: 

Whenever I think of my Legs/Lower Body: I decide what kind of travel I'll be doing. Will I be on a beach? If so then I need to bring self tanner (for my white legs), moisturizer, and some sunscreen. Is this climate going to be colder? When I packed for Iceland, I packed leggings for under my jeans,. I needed to stay very warm. I also think about what kind of underwear I'll need. 

When I think of my Hair: I have to think about everything that goes into doing my hair for the environment I'll be in. When I went to India I knew I wasn't going to use a blow dryer (I needed to pack light and I shower at night), but that I needed a small curling wand and flat iron. Other things on my list were hair ties, some fun hair accessories (i.e. a turban), and some leave in conditioner. I also thought about having smaller travel size shampoo's, so that way when one is empty I could throw it away and save space in my luggage. 

Other elements that I look at are:
My Face: I think about every part of my face and what I need. For example, I pack a face mask to refresh my skin every 3-5 days. I need to pack eye cream, eyeliner, and mascara for my eyes. I pack a lipstick color and some gloss for my lips, and I even think about my ears - do I need to pack one fun pair of earrings? 

Bust: Am I going to be bringing anything that needs a strapless or nude bra? For my armpits I need deodorant. 

Upper Body: I do think about what I'll be doing on my trip, and I think about the culture. If it's a more conservative culture, I make sure to pack nothing that shows cleavage. If it's a beach destination, do I need some tanks to cover up my bathing suit. 

For big trips I do make a packing list, constantly thinking about what I'll be doing while I'm at my destination. I do use this anatomy tip though after I've made my list, to ensure that nothing was missed. For shorter trips where I don't make a list, this tip 100% saves my life every time. 

I hope that you find some value in this post. Do you have any travel tips that are super valueable? Share below. :)