Unpacking My Packing Anxiety : Strategies to Reduce Packing Stress

I have packing anxiety.

I make 60 million lists before I can even start packing. I spend hours thinking about what I will take on the trip, and I always overpack. It’s ridiculous how I can stay in my pajamas for two days at home, but I think I need three sets of pajamas for a two-day vacation.

Packing anxiety means I worry that I will not be taking the right things and will be missing items. I’m also anxious that I will be taking too many things, adding to that the anxiety of finding the things in the house that I want to take with me, followed by the dread of unpacking.

All those videos on my social media feed that show people succeeding in packing a month-long trip in one carry-on give me severe nightmares. I stress when I see someone with just a backpack for a weekend trip to New York. I can’t even cope with all those cute packing videos on popular YouTube channels, but somehow, I torture myself and watch them all. It’s like purposely sticking needles in my eyes.

Okay, maybe I’m exaggerating a bit, but they are definitely not helping me.

I know many people do not enjoy packing, and it’s a privilege to be able to go on trips. However, I believe that this packing anxiety has a negative effect on my life, so I am actively changing the way I think about travel and packing.

I will be attending a conference next week and I’m very excited to be presenting about a topic I’m an expert in. Most people would be anxious about the presentation, which of course I am, but I am also anxious about what I will wear and how I will pack.

As this is a conference I have never attended, I’m concerned about bringing the “appropriate” clothes. I understand that “business casual” means anything I pack in that category is appropriate, but there are so many levels of business casual. What if the hotel is too cold or too hot? What if the shoes I choose are not comfortable for three days of walking in a big conference? What if they were comfortable at home but become itchy during the trip?

Here are several strategies I have been using to address some of my packing anxiety:

Give myself permission to overpack

I allow myself to take more clothes or shoes than needed. If I need to pay for an extra bag, I add that to my mental expenses for the trip from the beginning. Allowing myself to release the shame — declaring I am overpacking and that it’s okay! Overpacking reduces my anxiety and is a terrific strategy.

Remind myself that there are shops where I’m going

This may seem silly, but reminding myself that I can find a pharmacy or target and purchase what’s missing reduces my anxiety about forgetting something.

Make a list of things I wish I had

After each trip, I make a list of things I wished I had packed. Before packing for the next trip, I review the list and add appropriate items to my packing. I see every trip as an opportunity to learn for the next one.

Use compression bags

These allow me to pack more in a smaller space and keep my clothes organized. It’s also easier if we’re sharing luggage to just grab my compression bags out of the suitcase when we arrive.

Schedule packing time

I put dedicated time in my calendar the day before my trip to pack. If I see something I need to take with me before that, I add it to the packing pile to reduce last-minute stress.

Have a dedicated spot for travel stuff

I keep my travel items organized in a dedicated spot to reduce the time spent searching for things. I clearly remember spending hours looking for my travel pillow before an international flight and ending up just buying a new one at the airport. Of course, I found the original pillow the day after I got home.

That is just one example of a million. So having a dedicated spot for my travel essentials, like keeping the pillows in the big suitcase since it’s the one I usually use for long travel, has significantly reduced my packing anxiety. Organizing my travel stuff this way helps me feel more prepared and less stressed when it comes time to pack.

As I am leaving for my conference soon, I would love to hear in the comments any strategies you may have for coping with packing anxiety.