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The actual act of packing takes so little time, I never do it way ahead. I start packing in my mind about a week ahead, planning on what to take. The night before or morning of I put it in my suitcase. I don't find it stressful at all.
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I am a chronic procrastinator for EVERYTHING. Especially packing. I have a printable list that I keep updating with things I need to do before I go, things to bring, etc., but that still doesn't help. I have had nightmares where I didn't pack until the last minute and almost missed my flight! That actually almost happened for the last trip I took with my husband - although the flight was delayed several times, he wanted to get to the airport early, and I found myself literally throwing things in the suitcase within the last few minutes before we left. (And of course, we got to the airport and had plenty of time, almost 2 hours before the flight left, since it was delayed even more.)
I think part of it for me is all the things I want to get done before I go. We have a cat sitter for our 2 cats, but still want to make sure the house is clean, I leave a check for the catsitter, I have all bills paid, appliances off, thermostat set.. I usually also bring a lot of toiletries/meds because I hate paying full price for anything. (And of course if we are not checking bags, I have to squeeze all those liquids/gels into those teeny containers in that darn ziploc bag.) My husband teases me about it, but whose the one asking for a band-aid or some advil because he never packs those things?
I think the other part of it for me is that I have never been one to lay out clothes the night before for the next day. What if I change my mind in the morning? So for me to figure out what I'm going to need ahead of time is a hassle. And some clothes require a certain color bra or underwear, and I find myself trying everything on just to make sure I'm packing the right things!
My husband, otoh, travels often and can pack in 15 minutes. So my way of packing drives him insane.
It depends. I've already started a bag of small items I don't want to forget before I go to Europe for two weeks next year (renting a flat, so want to make sure I've got certain items which won't be supplied or I wouldn't need in a hotel), but I've got a business trip for a couple days next week and will pack the morning that I leave. Just got back from the west coast, packed the night before I left.
FL Skater~ I am right there with you! I feel your frustration as it is also mine. You stated it so well! I don't know what the solution is. But I'm always up all night as I will be tonight for an early flight in the morning.
Just got back from a trip. What cracks me up is that a few days before we left, I find myself trying to get done little projects all over the house that had no relevance to our trip or for when the cat sitter was here. (Researching how to make a screen insert for our front doors, new doormat, adding drapery weights to the curtains I finally put up...) Now that I'm back home, I have no desire to do any of that, yet I was racing around to all the stores prior to when we left!
Actually FLSkater, I do that exact same thing, although lately I have stopped myself upon realizing what I'm doing & how I don't have time for that. I've always been interested in the study of human behavior & would love to know of any theories as to why people like you & myself do such a thing.
I never went to bed that night because I would not have been able to get up in time for my 4:30am ride to the airport. The benefit of my stressful packing routine was that I had everything I needed without over-packing.
I am a last-minute packer, well last-hour for sure. I have just noticed that I always manage to do something in a period of time I have decided to spend on it. So if I start packing several days in advance - I will use the whole time I have. If I have decided to pack in an hour - the hour will be enough. The result is the same in both cases, anyway.
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