by Wendy
Follow me on twitter@wendylooksleaps

Jack and I take a lot of weekend trips – sometimes only for one night. I used to feel like I needed adequate notice to plan, organize and pack. Now I can be ready in a few minutes’ notice. Part of this is due to practice, but I think part of it is frame of mind. If you’re going away for 1-2 days, you really don’t need much. You can do this without a checklist, and if you forget something it usually is not a big deal. Of course, the situation probably changes if there are kids involved, but you can still pull your stuff together faster. This is how I pack quick.

First, know the critical items. Your prescription. Your phone and charger. Your glasses. Your contact solution. Your wallet. You get it.

Second, do a mental rundown of your most basic bedtime/wake-up routine and gather the necessary items. For example, I again think of my contact lens (glasses, case, solution), makeup remover, toothbrush and toothpaste, deodorant, moisturizer, makeup, sunscreen. If you read my zip it post, you know I always try to keep travel-size items at the ready. I never typically bother with packing soap and shampoo for short trips because it will likely be at your destination. This is not the time to be fussy – you’re only going for a night or two! Own the disheveled glamour. You’re like a rock star on a tour bus! You know how in the movies, someone like Jason Bourne or Indiana Jones runs around in multiple countries with zero luggage but is prepared for anything? Pretend that’s you. You’re a global nomad! You’re a cowboy! You go where the wind takes you…or something like that. Anyway, if a forgotten item stresses you out just drop by a drugstore or gas station for 5 minutes and pick it up.

Third, your clothes. Take a moment and consider the destination. A moment. Remember this is last-minute travel, not an event or vacation you’ve been planning for awhile. Generally my spontaneous trips are to visit family. Sometimes they are to nearby beaches or hotels with a pool – you never know when a great rate will be available at the last minute! Or they could be trips due to unexpected forces. When your neighborhood power goes out in the middle of the summer, with no assurance of when it will be back on, and your house is 90plus degrees, and you spend a Friday night trying to sleep in your sweat on the couch, and your in-laws live a few hours’ drive away, not far from a beach – pack quick on Saturday morning and get out of Dodge (true story)!

So, pack up pjs, socks, undies. A bathing suit if you’re swimming, and perhaps a towel, sunglasses and hat if you’re going to the beach. Then two outfits max and try to repeat items. If you’re wearing jeans or skirts/shorts, just bring a fresh shirt for the second day. If you’re wearing a dress, just pack another. We’ve found the method of rolling clothes is pretty efficient. ONE pair of shoes for 2 days – unless you need a slightly dressier option for an evening out. Maybe grab a piece of costume jewelry and you are almost done, my friend.

Finally, the little extras. All of these can be forgotten but they’re nice to have. A deck of cards, umbrella, something to read, a bottle of wine and corkscrew, CDs or playlist if it’s a road trip.

More often than not, Jack and I can fit all of this in one shoulder bag, plus my purse*. MAYBE one additional beach bag/tote bag if we’re taking extra shoes/wine. After you do this a few times, the quick pack will probably become second nature. Hopefully it will help you get out the door faster, riding off into the sunset on the way to your next adventure.

* My purse always has stuff like wet wipes, hand sanitizer, band aids, ibuprofin, tums, tissues, hand lotion, rubber bands, mints or gum. If you don’t usuallly carry a purse, go find a zip-top bag. Right now. Stash items like this in the bag, and store it in your smallest suitcase so it will ready when you want to hit the road.