I’d better pack a dozen more socks and 5 more T-shirts. Oh, and let’s not forget about the 10 books that I’ll totally have time to read on the plane. Odds are, we’ve all overpacked for a trip at one point or another. It’s hilarious how many things we bring ‘just in case’ we need them, even though we’d be perfectly fine without them.
Bored Panda has collected the wittiest tweets that capture the essence of what our minds are like when they’re full of the desire to overpack (a bit like when a hamster wants to stuff its cheeks with every bit of food it finds). So scroll down, enjoy, and upvote the tweets that you relate to the most. Be sure to share the weirdest things you packed on your trip, too.
Bored Panda wanted to learn more about overpacking, so we reached out to professional organizer Janine Adams who is the creator of Peace of Mind Organizing. Scroll down for our interview with her.
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But what if you pack dressy things and everyone there is in sweats? What if you pack sweats and everyone else looks fab? Who cares if your going to Alaska? Bring a bathing suit.... I brought three suitcases on my last trip. Help me.
"I think a lot of people overpack out of fear. They’re afraid they’re going to need an article of clothing and regret not having brought it. Fear of regret is a big motivator that affects a lot of people. I think some people overpack just because they’re indecisive. It’s easier to throw items into a suitcase than it is to make choices about what to bring," Janine told us about why some people might overpack.
She added that she isn't sure that everyone is naturally inclined to overpack. "I don’t overpack, for example, because I learned early on that having a heavy suitcase makes traveling much less enjoyable. So I think it depends on people’s priorities. I’m motivated by ease. But someone who is motivated by fear of regret might naturally overpack," she pointed out.
Or you put it on and realize the reason you never wore it was something annoying like the neckline tended to shift around too low (meaning you were constantly adjusting it all day), or the armpit area was just a little too tight, or the shorts were just a little too short for your liking
We also wanted to find out the best way to control our urge to overpack. Janine, who is a great advocate of packing light, encourages people to control this urge by doing a bit of planning beforehand.
"I think one way to do that is take a little time to plan what you’re going to wear. Think about creating outfits that reuse articles of clothing (and shoes). I even make a list of what I plan to wear every day so I don’t have to make a decision every morning of my trip. If you know that you’ll have enough to wear, then it’s easier to resist the urge to overpack," Janine explained.
"It takes more planning to pack light. But the extra time spent figuring out what you’ll wear results in saved time and energy when you don’t have to lug a heavy suitcase around."
I understand the 3 books for the plane. Everyone knows, the faster you go the faster you read.
It's the one time you don't bring it, that the hotel won't have one. Lol
Professional organizer Janine points out that there are plenty of benefits to packing light. The first obvious pro is that, well, your suitcase is lighter. So it’ll be easier to lug about. (Unless you want your case to be heavy so that carrying it doubles as exercise. In that case—don’t let us stop you.)
Secondly, the fewer clothes you pack, the easier it’ll be to dress. Choosing from just two outfits is far easier than if you drag your entire wardrobe to the seaside. Third of all, the less you pack, the less you’ll have to unpack. And we all know how much unpacking is bogus. So much so that some of us (not pointing any fingers) might avoid doing it for a week after we get back from a trip. You can check out some more of Janine's tips for packing light right here.
This is me depending on the guy I'm with or my goals of the vacation at random. Lol
Meanwhile, HuffPost stresses that the reason some of us might be packing too many things in our luggage is that we’re preparing for a whole bunch of worst-case scenarios. We want to be prepared for every single eventuality so much, we end up over-stressing.
But here’s the magical tip that will make you relax: if you find out that you absolutely need something on your trip and you haven’t packed it, you can always buy it at your destination. Whether it’s a jacket or a toothbrush.
He also might need an additional suitcase to bring that stuff back home.
Something that I’m personally guilty of is bringing way too many books whenever I go out of town. So this little hint from Elite Daily is all for me but might work for you, too, if you’re as much a Ravenclaw as I am—use technology to your advantage.
Instead of bringing a stack of books, get the e-book versions and maybe bring just one light book for the pleasant feeling of flipping real pages. So the next time I’m on holiday, I’ll do my best not to overpack. No promises, though! Airport bookshops are always hard to resist.
This gives me severe paranoia. I am not thankful for that but thanks.
The SHOES are my problem. Men don't understand why you can't take just two pairs of shoes on vacation.
once i overpacked my suitcase for a 2 week trip on a freight ship. I wasn't even able to lift it from the floor. Oh boy.
When I was around 7 years old my family went on a week long camping trip. Mom packed my suitcase, but I needed more room for all my books so I took all my clothes out and replaced them with books. My mom and dad couldn't do anything but laugh.
Ok but the swimsuits just in case is actually important though. You never know the sadness of not bringing a swimsuit because it's going to be an average of 5°F and then the hotel has an indoor pool. Especially when your family can swim because they're boys and can just wear their quick-dry shorts...
I am the complete opposite of all these folks! I pack a 20" luggage and a backpack for up to a two weeks trip and have traveled the world. I even bring souvenirs home. I bring the absolute minimum so I can shop!
I've reported HND like 20 times... What wrong with @boredpanda ? Why don't you get rid of them????
Load More Replies...Oh I've done me some ridiculous packing too sometimes.. well I MIGHT need this, and I MIGHT need this.. and what if that happens, I'll have to have this!.. and this, and this, and this.. so dumb
I am the complete opposite of all these folks! I pack a 20" luggage and a backpack for up to a two weeks trip and have traveled the world. I even bring souvenirs home. I bring the absolute minimum so I can shop!
I've reported HND like 20 times... What wrong with @boredpanda ? Why don't you get rid of them????
Load More Replies...Oh I've done me some ridiculous packing too sometimes.. well I MIGHT need this, and I MIGHT need this.. and what if that happens, I'll have to have this!.. and this, and this, and this.. so dumb