I love being as minimalist as possible in every aspect of my life. A part of that is thanks to the fact that I live in a 275-square foot apartment in New York City, and another part is thanks to the fact that I genuinely enjoy having less things to worry about. I definitely bring this mindset into packing whenever I go on trips, and proudly call myself a carry-on pro when it comes to any trip that is two weeks or less.
I first began to experiment with minimalist packing when I was on tour with a Broadway show for an entire year. I traveled the country with just a single suitcase, and hopped between cold weather and warm weather constantly. This taught me to really pair down my items–especially clothing.
Now, when I go on vacation, I only ever need a carry-on to fit everything I need. And trust me, I still look extremely fashionable and put together while doing it. Plus, I don’t have to stress about my luggage getting lost, and I don’t have to lug heavy luggage everywhere I go. All together, it makes traveling much easier.
Related: How I Pack for a 7-Day Europe Trip With a Single Carry-On
Use The 4-3-3-2-1 Method
In a Youtube video by lifestyle creator Christina Mychas, she shares her tips for packing a carry-on with one extremely easy method. Originally, she had tried the 5-4-3-2-1 method, and found it useful, but she still overpacked a tiny bit. Mychas decided to switch it up and adjust the method slightly. Now, it’s the 4-3-3-2-1 method. This means that she packed four tops, three bottoms, three pairs of shoes, two layers pieces, one set of pajamas, one bathing suit, one set of workout gear and accessories.
As she shows herself packing, she explains that you can swap things out in a way that works for you. For example, you can swap out one of the pairs of pants for a dress, or one of the pairs of shoes for an extra shirt. To help figure out exactly what she needs for a trip, Mychas focuses on three key things: the weather, the activities she will be doing and the overall vibe of the location.
While choosing her clothing items with those specifics in mind, she also focuses on keeping her clothing cohesive with each other. Mixing and matching is extremely important when creating a capsule-type wardrobe. Plus, with her two layering pieces, they can be added to almost any outfit in her wardrobe–and it creates an entirely new look.
Without realizing it, I’ve basically used this method for years, and I absolutely stand by it. When you pare your wardrobe down to just four pieces per category—as I recently did for a cruise—you’re still left with 16 possible outfit combinations. Not only does packing like a minimalist lighten your physical load, but I’ve also found it unlocks a new level of styling creativity. I actually love using vacations as a challenge to put together looks I might never have thought of in my day-to-day life.
Related: How I Pack for a 7-Day Cruise With a Single Carry-On
Keep Your Toiletries Minimal, Too
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Many people are used to buying travel-sized versions of shampoo, conditioner, bodywash, and other liquid toiletries that they might need. My absolute number one tip is to stop doing that. I have fully transitioned to bars of soap for my hair and body, and it has been completely life changing. Not only is it great for the environment (no plastic!) but it’s also a great space saver. You can simply place your bars of soap into little ziplocks, and they can slide into any little area of your suitcase that has room.
You won’t have to worry about them exploding while traveling, and you won’t have to worry about going over the TSA allowance for liquids. I end up only bringing a liquid foundation, toothpaste and facial moisturizer as my liquids. Most other items that you might need can be found in a solid form. Face sunscreen? Try a solid stick version. Blush and contour? Powders all the way. Making this small change will do wonders for your packing.
Related: A Minimalist Carry-On Packing List That Actually Works