The long weeks following the end of winter break can feel restless, but soon enough spring break will be here. The idea of 10 days off is exciting, but the busy weeks before break can bring a lot of unwanted stress. With midterms, group projects, exams and all the anticipation for the spring, one thing you don’t want to dwell on is the dreaded last-minute packing.

For some, those suitcases from winter break are freshly unpacked or maybe still sitting on the floor ajar. The thought of deciding what to bring on a trip or home may feel like too much to think about. Even though it’s not the most fun activity, there are ways you can make it less tedious.

First off, there are some tricks you can do prior to packing. In my experience, it’s useful to start making a list, about a week in advance, of items you know you want to take with you on break that you might forget. Then you can refer back to it later as a starting point. When I make a list, I don’t check anything off until the object is placed in a suitcase or bag. An alternative to this method is to make a pile in a corner of your room of those things as you think of them throughout the week.  

Some items to include on the list are: toiletries, electronics – chargers for said electronics, medicine, important documents and any leisure items or non-necessities, like a book you haven’t read or a journal you may want over break.

As the day of packing approaches, start putting aside the clothes you know you want to bring and wear over break. Wear other clothing if you have it, that way the clothes you want will be clean and ready for break. The laundry rooms might be full, and the last thing you want to worry about is lugging home a bunch of dirty laundry or to be stuck on vacation without your favorite attire.

Of course, you must take into consideration your form of travel. How big can your luggage be? If you are traveling by plane, you should think about how heavy your luggage is and if you are considering checking a bag. Depending on what you decide, you may have to be extra frugal about what you pack. If you are driving, take as many bags as you desire that can fit in your car. From there, you can start your packing endeavors. I know it takes more time, but if you are worried about space, shoving your clothes into bags in a disorderly fashion will not help. You can have so much more room if you fold or roll your items and play Tetris until they all fit.

Once you have everything you need, check your desk, dresser and entire room one more time quickly, looking for anything else you may have missed. If you successfully completed the following and miraculously still have space available, think about what you can bring back if you are going home, that you never used first semester. Are there any clothes you haven’t worn taking up space in your dorm closet? Bring them home so you wont have as much to move out of your dorm or apartment at the end of the semester. 

If you do all these small steps, instead of shoving things into an unclosable duffle 13 minutes prior to leaving, you hopefully can relieve some of the stress of traveling. At the very least, if you follow some of these tips, your time packing should be manageable and orderly. Happy packing and happy break.

Edited by Bri Davis | bdavis@themaneater.com