Ah vacation…time to relax, get away from it all and really enjoy the good stuff in life. You leave your worries behind, and with any luck at all…not your toothbrush! But how do you remember it all, and how do you pack it so you can find it when you need it? Simple: when you go on vacation take along some of the same organizing principles you use to stay organized at home. Then, just sit back, relax and enjoy…

Here’s how:travel checklist

  • Use a checklist. Checklists are fantastic memory joggers, and are especially helpful for staying organized when doing something you do infrequently. The less often you travel, the more important it is to have a reliable and thorough travel checklist. Start by downloading my travel checklist and modify it to suit your travel needs. Then, add to the checklist after each trip to customize it even further.
  • Designate a place for everything. We’ve all heard the saying “a place for everything, and everything in its place.” This simple principle makes it simple to stay organized on the road. For example, on my trip to Seattle I took along an infrequently used backpack. I designated homes for critical items: camera in the main compartment, wallet in the inside center zipper pocket, sunglasses in the outside right hand pocket, and cell phone in the outside left hand pocket. I called these items my “critical four” and after each stop I checked to make sure they were put back away…which leads me to the next on-the-road-organizing strategy.
  • Put your things away when you’re finished using them. I know…its vacation, but believe me, if you carve out a spot for things and then put them away as soon as you’re finished using them…you’ll add to the overall peace of mind of the vacation. Knowing exactly where to find your camera, wallet, cell phone, sunglasses and any other item that would be inconvenient or expensive to lose makes for a more relaxing vacation.
  • Get in the zone. When organizing a room, activity zones make it easier to do the various activities that take place in the space. Think of your suitcase as a small room. Create zones in your bags by keeping similar items grouped together. You could have your morning and night time prep zone and corral items like your toothbrush, toothpaste, face cleaner, moisturizer, etc. into a single cosmetic bag or zipper bag. You could create an outings zone by loading all your outdoor gear like bug spray, hand wipes, sun screen, etc. into a single take along bag. By grouping things together how you use them, it will be easier to do the things you want to do while you’re away from home.
  • Leave room for expansion. When you organize a room, it’s always nice to leave a little breathing room—extra space to accommodate a growing collection or new purchases. Travel is no different. If you anticipate buying souvenirs while away, be sure to leave extra space in your suitcase or carry-on, or take along an extra bag to load up with your travel treasures.
  • Less is more. Whenever I reorganize and purge clothes from my closet, I’m always amazed at how it feels like I have more…when in fact I have less. Take this principal with you on the road. The fewer things you bring along, the less time you’ll spend keeping track of your things or digging through your bags to find what you’re looking for.

On your next vacation, take along these basic organizing principals…and you’ll create a calm, relaxing (and organized!) getaway.