What kind of a packer are you?

I prefer packing last minute.

It has helped me pack better and not forget the essential items.

But this preference is in stark contrast with that of my parents. My mum packs about 2-3 days in advance, and my dad at least the day prior.

My preference started changing when I began traveling without my parents. At first, I would make a list of the things I'd like to carry, and over time I could recollect the list items without needing a physical copy of the list.

From that point onwards, I stopped packing well in advance. I noticed that last-minute packing meant I didn't miss the odd toothbrush or charger.

I'm being pedantic about packing habits because they reflect parts of our personality.

For instance, some of us keep thinking we missed packing something important. Some of us tend to get indulgent immediately before we travel and buy stuff we might already have.

Thankfully, a college internship with a travel firm introduced me to the "Pack lighter, go further" idea. Since the introduction, I've attempted to pack as lightly as possible on all my trips.

However, I don't think I've been successful because being indecisive comes at a cost. One of my struggles with packing light is that I might want an optional pair of pants or tops.

But more than being a travel platitude, isn't it useful when you think about the other burdens we carry?

The only thing we can't do with the other burdens is to carry less. But there may be times when you'd have to lug around something heavy. You won't have much choice.

Your ability to pack well won't matter. What if you created a list of the burdens you'd prefer to deal with immediately and left some for later?