How to Pack Like a Minimalist: 10 Tips for Traveling Light

Before minimalism, the mere mention of travel invoked one response: stress.

A road trip involved our family of four stuffing every “just in case” possession into oversized, difficult-to-maneuver suitcases that barely fit in our limited trunk space and then exploded upon opening at our destination.

An overstuffed suitcase became a pending cascade of stuffed animals, diapers, library books, accessories, umbrellas, umpteen pairs of shoes… all ready to overtake the confines of our small hotel room the minute we arrived.

It was chaotic. It was stressful.

The vibe was far from vacation-esque.

But being that travel is one of my first loves, this never sat well. I'd spent some of my twenties “country hopping” with just a small suitcase—from Egypt to southern Spain to Northern Ireland.

How had travel come to this?

As our family gravitated toward minimalism, we began to realize we could pack lighter. Much lighter.

First, we stopped overstuffing our large suitcases. Then, we began traveling with only carry-ons. Now, each member of our family of six travels with only his/her own backpack.

Traveling with less stuff has freed us to enjoy the destination—and each other's company—more. Travel now feels less like work and more like leisure thanks to minimalist packing.

And it can for you too.

Here are 10 tips for packing like a minimalist:

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Julia Ubbenga is a freelance journalist whose teachings on minimalism, simplicity, and intentional living have reached thousands of people worldwide through her blog. Julia also practices what she preaches in her Kansas City home. She resides with her husband, two extremely lively young daughters, three-year-old son, and baby girl. You can also find her on Instagram.