Mastering the Art of Travelling Light

And never lacking a thing!

The two questions I get asked the most are, how do I manage to keep my home so tidy, and how do I manage to travel for a whole month in Europe with nothing but a small carry-on bag.

The answer to both of these questions is the same: the less you own, the less you have to manage, tidy and lug around.

If you hear an inner resistance building inside you right now, saying, “I would love to travel light, but [insert excuse],” I invite you to reflect on the following quote by naturalist Henry Thoreau:

Man is rich in proportion to the number of things he can do without.

I love this quote that could have come from the Yoga Sutras, except that it does not. It encompasses the yogic principles of brahmacharya (non-indulgence), aparighraha (non-attachment), shaucha (cleanliness and clearness), and finding santosha (contentment) in the small, simple things.

If you need to lug half of your home’s belonging to appreciate a sunset in a new place, I invite you to pause for a moment and consider what the word ‘comfort’ means to you. Is it a thing, or is it a feeling? A feeling can still have things in it, but how many things do you really need?

Do you need 3 pairs of jeans for a week vacation, or can you settle on one? Do you need 5 pairs of shoes, or can you settle for 1, or 2? Do you absolutely need to pack your favourite shampoo, in its original, big container, or can you trust that the place that you are travelling to will have shampoo? Do you need all your cosmetics and make-up collection?

Remember, the less you need (to be comfortable/happy), the freer and lighter you will feel.

Not to mention, you’ll save yourself 100-300 dollars paying for checked-in baggage, and — you’ll be the first out of the airport, before the rest of the crowd!

To put this is in practical terms, here is what I have packed for a ten-day vacation in Colombia, where I expect to read, write, soak in the local culture, go to the beach, visit museums, and hike all over God’s creation:

1. 1 sarong - multipurpose: towel, dress, skirt

2. 2 bikinis

3. 1 flip-flops

4. 1 pair of sandals

5. 2 yoga pants

6. 4 tank tops

7. 1 extra light trousers

8. 1 cami jumpsuit

9. underwear and socks

10. toiletries: toothbrush, hairbrush, travel size toothpaste, shampoo & conditioner, face-cream

11. a tiny bag of make-up with my CC cream (face-cream, sunscreen and light foundation in one) and a mascara I probably won’t use, but just in case.

12. sunglasses

13. my yoga paws gloves (instead of a yoga mat)

14. a Lonely Planet guide to Colombia

15. My Spanish notebook

16. 1 notebook I will be writing in (I’m leaving my computer home!)

17. 1 book to read: Gabriel Garcia Márquez’s En agosto nos vemos (I’m hoping to buy 1-2 more books in Colombia. Yes, books are my weakness…)

18. My phone and passport

These things fit easily into my small carry-on backpack, with plenty of room for new books and presents I will be buying for my girls.

And this is what I’ll be wearing on the flight:

1. light trousers

2. 1 tank top

3. a light sweater

4. a light scarf to wrap around me if I’m cold

5. underwear and sock (naturally)

6. comfortable walking shoes

On the left: the contents of my backpack (in the centre), an extra light bag for every day walking around. On the right: what I’ll be wearing on the flight

That’s it. Nada más.

Okay, I hear you. “Oh, but it’s easy to pack light for a vacation of 10 days in a warm country, but what if you travel in winter, and for a longer period?

So, a while back, I prepared a little video on the same subject, showing you exactly how I do it:

But here is a short summary of what you may want to consider:

1. The purpose of your trip.

2. The place you are travelling to and its climate. Will you have access to a washing machine? If yes, pack for no more than 7 days. You can wash your clothes! :) Does the place you are travelling to has a pharmacy with shampoo and creams? Most probably :) So why don’t you leave those things behind and save yourself some room and weight?

Other tips:

1. Wear your heaviest/largest items of clothing on yourself: Coat, sweater, boots etc.

2. Shoes: pack one extra pair, not more. preferably shoes you can comfortably walk in, but can also dress up an outfit.

In the end, here is what I tell myself: beauty comes from within. When I’m travelling in Rome I am so happy that I look fabulous in just the same old jeans I wear every day and no make-up at all. I’m high on felicità e basta.

Let me know if these tips help you on your next trip!

Bon voyage!

And again, thank you for reading me!