Minimalism is not limited to just keeping your home or space free from clutter. It’s because you can also use this kind of lifestyle when you travel to different places and countries, especially when you’re on a budget or if you’re planning a longer trip. If you’re someone who’s passionate to own things, that can stand in the way of travel spontaneity and can also slow you down and keep you from experiencing the exciting parts of exploration.
If you choose to pack and travel like a minimalist, you will be able to get cheaper flight fares, waste less time waiting for your bags to arrive, have a lower risk of theft, be more comfortable on the road, and blend in better with local cultures. These all sound great, right? If you’re one of the people who want to learn how to pack and travel like a minimalist, then you’re in the right place. Today, we are going to give you tips on how to pack and travel like a minimalist.
1. Invest in and Use a Well-Organized Bag
Minimalism is indeed all about not having more things to fill your life with. However, there are things that are worth investing in for long term use, especially when you’re an avid traveler. One of those things is a well-organized and ergonomic travel bag that has lots of pockets and versatile options. You can opt for a travel bag that can be converted into a backpack from a rolled suitcase. There are also those with a detachable daypack. Having a bag with lots of pockets can help you minimally separate your things and stay organized with your clothes, electronics, and toiletries.
2. Pack Only Your Important Clothes
If you’re a fashionable person back home, your fashion mindset needs to be changed a bit if you want to travel like a minimalist. When you pack clothes, instead of thinking about the outfits you might want, you need to focus on the clothes that you will surely need, and this also includes important accessories such as the perfect pair of polarized ski goggles. You can also try rolling your clothes tightly when you pack them to save space in your bag and to prevent avoidable wrinkles as well.
3. Go for Doing Laundry
If you will be traveling for a week or more, there’s no need for you to buy new clothes so that you can wear a new outfit for every day. If you’re a minimalist, you will opt to do laundry when you travel. You can visit laundromats and they usually have detergent dispensers and change machines which can make doing the laundry hassle-free. Or to be really minimalist, you can wash your clothes out in a sink or tub in the hotel or house where you are staying.
4. Bring Only the Essential Toiletries
Toiletries can take a lot of space in a suitcase. Aside from that, some of them might also explode under pressure which can make your bag and other things messy and sticky. If you want to travel like a minimalist, you need to leave your beauty devices and rejuvenating creams at home and just pack the basics such as your toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, and deodorant. If you think you need sunscreen or a bug spray, you can just buy them during your trip as these are available anywhere.
5. Embrace Your Natural Hair and Skin
Minimalist travelers know how to embrace their natural hair and skin. It means that when you travel, you need to leave your hair dryer, straightener, and curling iron at home. This will help you save big space and weight in your bag.
6. Merge Your Electronics
Minimalists limit their quantity and use of electronics. When you travel, bringing a smartphone is essential because you can use it for directions and to stay in touch as well. But your other electronics should stay at home. If you plan to bring your laptop so that you can work when you travel, think first if you will really have time to work and use it while traveling before you decide to bring it with you. Also, if you have the latest smartphone, it means that it has a great camera, meaning, you don’t have to bring a camera with you when you travel unless you’re really serious about photography. It’s also great if all your gadgets are USB rechargeable so that you can only bring one charger for all of them.
7. Bring an eReader or Tablet Instead of Books
If you’re one of those travelers who like to read while waiting for and riding public transportations or maybe before bed, then it’s better to bring an eReader or a tablet instead of heavy and bulky books. If you want to minimize your travel even further, you can simply download a reading app on your smartphone.
8. Wear Shoes That Are Comfortable and Adaptable
Shoes are really painful to pack. Therefore, when you travel, you can simply wear comfortable shoes that are also adaptable to any outfit you wear. Do not wear overly sporty or brightly colored ones so that you will be able to wear them with anything. You also need to wear comfortable ones because when you travel, chances are you will be walking more than usual.
9. Buy Foods in Local Grocery Stores
If you’re on a budget when you travel or if you’re on a diet, it’s better to seek out local grocery stores and fresh markets to buy foods instead of dining out every meal. You can also look for hotels or hostels with kitchens where you can prepare your own foods even at least once every day. This will help you save big amounts of money instead of eating out. You can also bring a reusable water bottle to fill up and stay hydrated unless you are traveling somewhere where the tap water is not safe to drink. Keep in mind that minimalist is not just about reducing clutter, but about reducing waste in the environment as well.
10. Buy Portable Souvenirs and Ship Them Back
For many people, buying souvenirs is an important part of traveling. If you’re a minimalist, you can also collect and give souvenirs to remember your trips. But instead of purchasing large and heavy ones, you can opt for items that are portable like magnets, jewelry, and ornaments. If you find something amazing when you’re traveling and you really want it, you can ask the store if they can ship it for you. You can ship a box full of the souvenirs you bought back home in a local post office so that you don’t need to carry them with you.
These are some of the best tips we can give on how to pack and travel like a minimalist. We hope these tips will be able to help you pack and travel like a minimalist to make your adventures and journey more worthwhile. If you want to read more about minimalism, you can check out our post on the Useful Resources to Start Minimalist Living.