Vacations are great, though packing can be a hassle at times. When you have last minute trips that come up, packing can be an even bigger pain. If you think about your day from the beginning to the end, you may have an easier time packing when you have to get out the door in a matter of hours or even minutes. You may very well end up taking the wrong things or forgetting something, but you can get most of it right when you are in a hurry. Use the same method when you have to pack for someone else too.
There are many reasons why you may have to pack for last minute trips. You may have been looking for somewhere to go, and a great deal pops up but you have to take it right then. You may have a death or illness in the family that requires you to travel as quickly as you can. Other times, you may have forgotten about an event or get-together and may find you are packing at the last minute. You may also get a last minute invitation to something that you can not pass up. Hopefully, all of your last minute trips and events are happy ones, though they are not always as such. Whatever the case, you still have to pack.
You can start by thinking about how long you are going to be gone on your last minute vacation or trip. If you are going for one week, pack for ten days. You may have too much, but you have a better chance of packing enough of the right things. Remember that last minute trips can also last longer than you thought, but you do not want to lug everything that you own. Get out your bags, open them on your bed or other space, and then start thinking about everything that you may need and the climate of where you are going, if different from where you are living.
Start with the morning and think about what you need and then work your way through the day. When thinking of morning, that will remind you to take your toothbrush and pack any medications that you may take. That may also remind you of makeup, brushes, and other bathroom needs like shampoo, conditioner and body wash. This is when you think about your day time outfits and if you need shorts, jeans, or perhaps some dressy outfits for your last minute trips. Don't forget about shoes for both day and night. Take a sweater or light jacket with you, even if you are going somewhere warm.
Once you have thought your day through until the night, you should have everything ready that you need to get through your last minute trips. However, there are a few more things that you may not think of, so think like a tourist, even if you are not going to be one. You want to remember things like cameras, maps, and other extras that you may want to have with you. Do not forget your chargers for cameras, phones, and other electronics, and bring your laptop if you have one, as you never know when you may need it.