I'm a Professional Packer-and These Are the 5 Biggest Packing Mistakes to Avoid

"For years, packing was my biggest travel stressor. I'm the type of person who always wants to have the right outfit for every moment, and I love having options-both of which don't exactly translate to lightness and efficiency. There were countless trips where I either hated all the outfits I brought with me or I'd find myself lugging around more (and heavier) bags than was necessary."

"However, as I got older and started to travel more often, I knew it was time to actively hone my packing skills. Gone would be the days of checking a bag just because I couldn't decide which combination of pants and tops to bring. Never again would I start filling my suitcase without having a rough idea of what I wanted or needed to bring."

"I've since learned there's no easy hack to packing well. Sure, there are best practices and several major mistakes to avoid, but it's rarely a quick, mindless task. If you're someone, like me, who genuinely cares about the outfits you wear while traveling, packing is a process that requires forethought and planning. It takes strategic thinking, matching up your destination, the weather, and your itinerary with the contents of your suitcase, duffel, or backpack."

Packing often creates major travel stress for people who want the right outfit for every moment, leading to overpacking, heavier bags, and regret over chosen clothes. As travel frequency increases, intentional improvement of packing skills becomes necessary: decide outfits in advance, experiment with folding versus rolling, research outfit inspiration, and prepare and pare down packing lists. Effective packing has no quick hack; it requires forethought, planning, and strategic thinking to match destination, weather, and itinerary to suitcase contents. A solid game plan usually produces lighter bags, less stress, and far fewer 'I have nothing to wear' moments. Avoiding common packing mistakes further improves results.

Read at Travel + Leisure