Pack Your Carry-On Like a Minimalist
Or I promise, you don’t need to bring it
Recently, I’ve found a new love for packing a carry-on.
I’ve been craving spontaneity and innovation in my life, so I quit my job and bought a carry-on.
That sounded way less riveting than I thought it would…
Nonetheless, a new adventure soon awaits as I seek endlessly for a ticket to my next chapter.
When I travelled throughout the summer last year, I had countless bags (and checked bag fees) filled to the brim, overflowing of redundance.
This time around, though, not only have I been packing with experience, but I’ve also been doing so to visit the not yet known, which prompted me to pack in a sense of vagueness.
Packing Your Carry-On Like a Minimalist
In all honesty, my first mistake in packing my carry-on last time was having the wrong bag; I used a Trader Joe’s reusable grocery bag.
A moment of silence, please.
The issue with that was that I had a single opened space demanding that I crammed it with anything I could think of that I would “need.”
This is where the “just in case” mindset kicked in.
I also had a separate protective case for my laptop that took up a great deal of space in my…again I say… grocery bag.
I was beyond disorderly with embarrassing things falling out left and right as handbag marks took over my arms.
Whether I knew that there were bags out there that were specifically made to be a carry-on or not is beyond me.
Take it from me…your first step in packing light and well is finding the perfect carry-on that fits your needs.
Emphasis on the needs.
Emphasis on the carry-on.
Depending on your lifestyle, the bag that fits you may vary.
I’m what the kids call nowadays “high maintenance.” So, I need a decently sized bag that has various pockets, zippers, and something built in for my laptop’s safety.
Chances are that if you’re reading this, you’re like me…I highly recommend searching Lovevook Carry-On Duffle Bag on Amazon for an amazing find that doesn’t cost a limb!
Step two in packing like a minimalist pro is to have two separate cases — one for liquids, gels, etc., the other for toiletry necessities.
Digging a little deeper, for your carry-on case for liquids, limit it to sanitizer, dry shampoo, mouthwash, extra contacts (if needed), SPF, body wash, and anything that you need in specifics; for me, that would be my face wash and moisturizer.
Mind you, these are all travel-sized or in a 3 oz bottle/container.
Having sanitizer, extra contacts, and SPF are fairly self-explanatory.
Though, whilst amidst my travels last year, I noticed that each place that I stayed had shampoo and conditioner readily available.
Beforehand, I over anticipated the lack of and brought 3 oz bottles of each, along with larger sizes in my checked bag…
Dry shampoo merely gets where you need to be, whether that be cleaned up after a layover sleepover at the airport, or through a few days without shampoo/conditioner if the place your staying doesn’t have any.
I feel the same of mouthwash.
It’s rare that there is toothpaste available at a hotel/AirBnB, and in all honesty, it’d make me immensely uncomfortable using it if there was, so, I opt for mouthwash to help keep up my dental hygiene’s stamina for enough time.
I get that there’s travel-sized toothpaste, but then you have to bring the travel-sized toothbrush or find a way to fit your regular sized one in your carry-on, then there’s the cap you need to keep it protected…proper dental hygiene is just a demanding task.
Don’t tell my dentist I said that!
For body wash, being in the same rarity as toothpaste, is simply to either A) get you through your trip, or B) get you through a few days before buying a full size if you plan to stay in the same place for some time.
Specific needs as face wash and moisturizer are also a necessity because of the dreaded fear of your luggage being lost.
Having a travel size on hand can get you through the time it takes to have your bag found or to purchase something new.
Your second case can be used to satisfy your brain’s “just in case” mindset.
Fill it with emergency needs such as pads/tampons, Band-Aids, melatonin, ChapStick, medications, a hair tie, q-tips, face masks, and earbuds with wires.
Melatonin, I believe, is a necessity because when I had a 10-hour flight back home from EU, I didn’t sleep a wink because my mind would not allow it…along with the uncomfortable seats.
It could also be handy if you’re not comfortable in an unfamiliar bed.
Skipping ahead to face masks, I’m not sure of various places mask requirements, so I find that in this case, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
For the earbuds, the TVs on a plane require a jack in place of Bluetooth headphones, and you may not be offered earbuds from the stewardess on board, and you may be too shy to ask for some…just as an example!
After sliding your laptop in its protective case, I recommend the remaining internal pockets for chargers and other entertainment.
For me, that includes a book (The Penguin Anthology, always), a journal and pen, and my watercolors.
Do I need the watercolors? Technically, no, but it’s too portable to not and fills me with the right amount of distracted joy!
For the remainder of space throughout, I recommend filling it with two outfits: undergarments and all.
I’m appalled using the word undergarments, but it’s better than underwear even though I just wrote that too.
For your two outfit choices, I recommend something neutral, versatile, and comfortable!
To finish up your light packing, keep your passport, money, phone and driver's license in any external front pockets, and a filtered water bottle in its holder.
And viola! you have before you, a minimalists’ carry-on!
A side note for the water bottle, I recommend filtered because there may be times when you I don’t know…maybe had a long day of travelling and are on the brink of dehydration and the only water available at your AirBnB is from the sink…
Just as another example…
What’s helped me pack lighter more recently, aside from my mistakes from packing heavy, is that keeping in mind that my carry-on is the “just in case” bag.
It’s all I’ll have if the worst should happen.
As terrible as it sounds, when I pack my carry-on, I pretend that my checked luggage will be lost, therefore inspiring me to pack more mindfully!
Hopefully I’ve helped do the same!
