So packing procrastination. Is it just me?

[stayathomegardener]

Going on holiday a week today and I know that without fail I will leave packing to the last minute.
I don't know what it is, I want to be organised, it's almost as if I don't start I can't forget anything which defies logic.
I will also literally take on any amount of unnecessary tasks to avoid it.
Which is great for my todo list but counterproductive.

Is it just me?

Guess I should get a suitcase out...

I hate packing and also leave it and leave it. We're away now and I wish I'd brought more stuff! Definitely start early

Do you really want to go? That's the root of the problem for me. I'd rather be at home!

I'm a last minute packer but I've found it works best for me. I tend to over pack if I do it before hand. Packing is usually left to the night before I leave, throwing in the last few things before I walk out the door.

I do want to go yes but dread the run up of organising leaving a business, farm and dependants.
Also don't enjoy the airport and flying despite being ex cabin crew.
And yes Misty I know the last minute pack will mean I forget things.

I'm normally like this, but for the first time ever on a trip this year, packed in plenty of time and did lots of planning on what I'd need to take. It was our first trip with baby DD so I was a bit nervous every about it all.

Anyway, it was brilliant. Life-changingly unstressful not to be running around looking for sun cream and chargers just before leaving the house.

I also developed - this is just getting embarrassing now - a master packing list which I've saved on my laptop for future trips...

Hmmmm am also an overpacker.
Perhaps I should accept I'm just not very good at packing.

Is there such a thing as a definitive packing list? I like lists.

No not just you!

So I found my best packing ( more expensive option to " a list) was when most things I were taking were new! Really motivated.

Hate packing for children because either you don't have enough - wrong weather, cover everything in food stains or spilt cola or they wear the same top and shorts the whole week and you resent the pile you brought.

Start with the boring and necessary first Do tickets, credit cards and passports to inspire you . Then pants socks and Pj's. Followed by toiletries. Hopefully you will feel more motivated to do more nearer the time with only the "outfits "bit to organise.

I usually start with a list - around a week before travel. Once the list is ready, I feel relaxed - like all the thinking & planning & worrying that I may forget this or that - is over. Throwing things together as I tick off the list is easy & can be done in the last 24 hours. Make that list....

I seem to live by "it always gets done in the end".
I just accept the way I am now, too long in the tooth to change!

I can't overly worry about packing. I figure there are always shops there, so anything I forget, I can always pick something up... I pack a couple of hours before we leave for the airport, but generally make sure my washing pile is up to date so that I can take my favourite clothes.

Passport, phone, keys, purse.... that's my mantra. Everything else is replaceable. Although once I did forget my purse, so had to be subbed by my boyfriend for the week - whoops!

Until this year I've always been a last minute packer. I always love holidays with my family so it's definitely not that I'm putting it off because I don't want to go. I think in some perverse way it's actually that I want to 'save' the start of the holiday experience for later- as though somehow if I pack early I'll miss out on part of the fun of the holiday.

Last year, despite being at home with the DC for several weeks before the holiday, I ended up running around trying to buy shorts/swimwear etc the day before the holiday (when I checked the DC's summer clothes and surprise surprise they needed more) and washing/drying clothes until midnight the night before. This was definitely my worst preparation ever, despite me having more time than ever before. It meant that we were buying toiletries on the way to the airport and I took a lot of random mismatched clothes bought/packed in a panic.

This year I forced myself to write a list of what to take several weeks before we went, decide what new clothes the DC needed before setting foot in a shop and have the cases packed and closed 2 days before we left. I felt oddly uneasy about doing this but the night before we left I realised that I was actually relaxed, packed and not worried about what I had forgotten. I also only took what I needed and not a load of odd stuff that I was too panicked to think about properly.

I will try to fight my demons and do the same next year!

We are going away on Thursday. We have got the suitcases out of the loft but that's it. I need to start packing tonight but I cba. Any volunteers to come and do it for me?!

I also have a permanent list saved as a document! I also have a permanently ready to go washbag.

I tend to pack the morning or night before BUT I am like a woman possessed the week before my holiday- I wash everything so that all the clothes for everyone are clean and it just a case of assembling outfits and puting in the bag.

I don't have enough clothes to pack earlier than the night before once all the washing is done!

I pack last minute but do a big list (and keep all my old ones!) separated into categories which I can add to and update. I do at least check that stuff exists or fits as I go. Then fire it all into a case the night before.

If you're packing more than about half a day before you travel, it's not last minute really. If we're going before about 11 am we pack the night before, otherwise it's on the day.

Think about getting the washing done about 2 days before. Have permanent packing lists to use and a collection of clothes and toiletries that are only really used on holiday.

Clearly master lists are the way forward!
All the washing and ironing is done so at least one of my avoidance tactics seems to have been relevant.
Following your advice I am going to start with a fresh notebook, passports and ehic cards.
Aiming for a minimalist but versatile case. (Might go mad and just try to take hand luggage)
A little confused about favourite clothes, toiletries, phone etc that I only have one of, I'll be using them between now and going so high chance of forgetting.
I guess I need a sub list.

See Barbara I find that very impressive, my brain would just go blank and has done when I've attempted in the past. Hence shoving everything but the kitchen sink in.

I am feeling very disorganised. I think we have everything we need but it's not all ready to be packed. I think I need a list! I feel worse cos I keep thinking that I must remember x, y and z. If it was all written down I might be less stressed. Or would I worry that I'd forgotten stuff from the list?! Aargh!

Do the list well in advance so that you can add stuff to it as it comes to mind.

Alpaca I am impressed! The pre-packed washbag is the dream. I try to do that but it inevitably gets pilfered.

I have done a list. Of stuff I still need to get done tomorrow and of stuff that needs to be packed. Feeling organised but little actual progress has been made!

I have a master packing list saved on my phone. From that I create specific packing lists for the particular trip we are going on. on. We do a lot of weekends away and I now expects the DDs (11 and 13) to pack completely for themselves - I AirDrop the list to them and they get on with it!

The list has different sections including a last-minute check list of stuff I need to check before we leave the house.