Lessons in Traveling Efficiently
It will shock no one to know that I’m not a fan of inefficiency. Nothing tests my patience in efficiency quite like traveling. From the process itself to the other travelers, there are many, many, many things about traveling that can test my efficiency patience. While there’s not much one can do about the process of travel, in whatever form you prefer, there are lots of things you can do for yourself to make sure that what’s in your control stays as efficient as possible, or as efficient as you would like. So, just for my dear readers, I’ve put together a few of my favorite travel tips and products that help me feel like an efficient (i.e. in control) traveller.
Get TSA pre-check. Gone are the days of removing your shoes, laptops and liquids from your bag. The line moves faster (I rarely wait longer than 10-15 minutes max), even if it may look longer than the regular line and you don’t have to unpack anything from your bag to go through the scanners. I’ve saved days of my life (maybe a slight exaggeration) by having pre-check and it’s really easy to sign up. They’re also running a special right now for $15 off new enrollments (a SALE on TSA pre-check??). You can get more info here.
I almost never check a bag. I can get 10+ days worth of clothes in my carry on when I use these packing cubes. These packing cubes are a game changer and will turn your suitcase into a Mary Poppins bag! They organize your luggage, compress your clothing to save space, and make it easy to find what you need without unpacking everything. They can reduce the volume of your clothes by up to 60%! I’m also a big fan of rolling my clothes instead of folding. I find I can fit more in that way and my items stay far less wrinkled than when folding. The packing cubes come in various sizes so I can even categorize my outfits into the different cubes. For example, on my last trip I had a cube of workout clothes, a cube of dinner dresses and a cube of every day wear. Did I overpack? Absolutely. Did I fit three outfits a day for a 5 day cruise in one carry on? You betcha! Beyond that, I basically pack everything in either the packing cubes or various accessory bags so that there’s nothing loose in my carry on.
I always make sure that I have a change of clothes, medication, chargers and my toothbrush in my backpack or carry on just in case I end up having to check my carry on. I can’t tell you how many times this has saved me.
Wear your bulkiest items on travel day! This is especially convenient when you’re packing workout gear, just wear your trainers on travel day! They take up so much room in a carry on and it’s honestly more comfortable to travel with trainers on, especially if you have a tight connection and have to sprint across the airport (raise your hand if you’ve had to do this)! My current faves are designed for strong arch support, so if plantar fasciitis is a problem for you, you’ll love them! Check them out here!
I’ve only recently discovered the wonders (and convenience!) of having a portable power bank. Don’t rely on finding a place to plug in, sitting on a dirty airport floor while waiting for your phone to charge! Look for one that’s 20,000 mAh or higher (but less than 100 Wh if you plan on taking it on an airplane) and I also like this one because it will also charge my Apple Watch and comes in a few different colors. Just make sure you choose one with multiple ports so you can charge your phone, tablet, and whatever else you're dragging along.
So there you go! A few tips to make travel just a bit more efficient and a bit less stressful. And we need all the stress busting tips we can get right now!