How to Avoid Over-packing & Under-packing Clothes

Many of us have experienced over-packing or under-packing clothes on a trip at one point in our lives. We know how awful it is when you feel like you run out of clothes or have brought too much. Women have more tendency to over-pack clothes while men is usually the other way around.

What is the solution then? We have to plan. Failing to plan is planning to fail. You probably have heard of this saying many times but I think this is mostly true. 

These suggestions on how to plan what to bring for the mission trip can also be used for vacation or business trip. Below are our tips for you.

1. List the activities you plan to do during your stay in the country of destination in a card. If you plan to stay for more than a week, we created a table called Mission Trip Wardrobe Planner that you can use to plan what to wear. Click here to download.

Fill out with pencil first

2. Using the list as your guide, write the clothes and foot wear that you can possibly wear for that day. Use pencil will you are still working working on your list to keep your paper clean in case you change plan. Remember to consider the type of weather in the country when you choose your clothes.

If you are planning to re-use some of the clothes that you are about to bring, write down the date/s you plan to do laundry so you will not forget and wind up using dirty clothes. You might want to consider thinking of theme color that suits your style so you can match your top/bottom with other items and still look stylish and at the same time and not look too obvious that you have worn that clothes already. Neutral colors like white, black, brown and cream are very versatile and surely a great addition on your list.

Use * or other marks to denote "for reuse"

It is ideal to put together the clothes that matches well that way it's easier to find. You can try pairing your shorts with other top and see which other top can go well with it. People usually pay attention to the top clothes we wear so it doesn't matter if you use the same bottom to match other top.

I keep this list in the luggage where my clothes are to keep me guided of what to wear. There may be a change of plan through the stay this will still help me keep track.

3. After filling out the table, write the total no. of clothes according to classification that you need to carry. This will give you an idea on how much you should carry in your luggage. This will save you from grief of running out of clothes or giving your self a hard time carrying too much and not using them at all.

Although we know that ultimately, it is the Lord's will that happens, and not ours, we know that that He is also a God of order. It should be pleasing for Him to see us preparing ourselves physically and spiritually.

We hope that this tips will help you while you get ready for the trip.
To God be the glory!