Packing Light: Keeping Your Trip Focused on the Fun!

Whats up Steemians?! Tomorrow I leave to travel for 6 weeks with @acromott and @karensuestudios!!! We are going to be traveling to many different countries including Japan and Korea where we will be meeting up with some of you!!! I'm super excited to meet you guys and before I leave I wanted to share one of my favorite travel tips with you!

PACK LIGHT!

This one thing can make the biggest impact on your traveling experience! Do you want to spend your time and energy hauling around a ton of stuff or do you want to focus on the things and the people you came to see? More often than not we bring much more than we need and it ends up being a burden.

Do you really need 15 shirts, 6 pairs of pants, 4 pairs of shorts, a laptop, a tablet, and an etch a sketch from when you were 12?

No, you don't and it is keeping you from really enjoying what you traveled all those miles to see. Of course there are specific circumstances where you need a lot of stuff but those are few and far between. Not only does it save you a lot of hassle, packing less can be an almost spiritual experience. You go with less than you think you need only to discover you have everything you need and more!  

Some of my favorite ways of packing light are: 

1. Get clothing like Exofficio t-shirts and underwear. They wash in the sink really easily and dry in around 2 hours, not to mention the fabric is really comfortable! This lets you pack far less clothing (if you want) and can be one of the biggest space savers. BONUS: Going to a tropical climate? Well then you already know you will end up spending 75% of your time in a bathing suit so no need to bring a lot of clothing.
2. Cut back on the electronics. These days a phone will do pretty much everything you need from booking flights, looking up places to stay, getting directions or reading. If you really dont need a computer or a tablet then don't bring it! It is just one more distraction for you to worry about on your travels, leave it safe and sound back home. BONUS: Phones are at risk of being infected with viruses due to their lack of security. Take the time to set up a 3rd party browser like Firefox and install ad blockers and other security features. Also, considering getting a VPN to hide your IP and location. This can come in handy depending on the countries you are traveling to and what you need to access.
3. Pick your bags carefully. If you bring a big bag you are going to pack more, its just the nature of the best. Choose a backpack that will go under the seat in front of you on the airline and a carry on piece of luggage. When I travel this is paramount, it forces me to choose very wisely on what I will be bringing. It prevents you from being able to bring too much and will put things into perspective and this is what helps you avoid one of the worst airline evils, checked bags. BONUS: Get convertible luggage so you can make more room for the things you grab along the way. My new favorite piece of luggage is the CIAO Convertible Underseat Carry-On and it is a game changer. At its smallest it fits under the seat in front of you, at its largest it fits perfectly into the majority of airlines guidelines for carry-on luggage. 

I hope you all enjoyed this article, feel free to ask me any travel questions you may have. I will be posting more of my favorite tips and tricks as I travel and of course keeping you updated on all the cool things we discover! If you are going to be meeting us in Tokyo or Seoul reach out and let's connect! 

See you soon friends! 

@threebagsfull