That I only do half the time (to my own detriment)
So, you know how I like to pack, right? My strategy for remembering everything without a list includes a mental rundown of all the exciting things I’ll be doing (and using and wearing) at each stage of my upcoming trip, and packing accordingly. It serves me well, and I rarely forget things these days.
What I haven’t shared yet is what happens on the other end of the trip. For instance: it’s Friday morning, and I’m in my bedroom. I returned from a glorious trip to visit friends in Minneapolis on Sunday of this week…and my suitcase is still on the floor outside my closet, spilling sweaters, underwear and socks onto the floor. The little pile has attracted other clutter, as well—the yoga pants I didn’t fold and put away Wednesday. The new wall sconces from IKEA that I haven’t hung on the wall yet. I’m sure there’s a couple cat toys in the mix, now, too.
I’ve been walking around the pile all week, digging out items I needed here and there, but never actually finishing the unpacking process. If I had implemented my favorite packing tip, I wouldn’t be in this (literal) mess right now.
The tip is this:
Unpack the minute you get home.
Put the water bottle in the dishwasher, dirty clothes in the laundry hamper, toothbrush by the sink and unworn clothes back in the drawers. Don’t sit down until the unpacking is done, and don’t stop until the bags are empty and stowed away.
I suspect you will be shocked how quickly this actually happens. In my head, it gets built up while I’m unpacking the car. Ugh, I’m too tired to unpack tonight! It was such a long car trip, It’s going to take so long, I’m sooooo tired, blah blah blah. Sound familiar? (Obviously, this is the voice that won out on Sunday evening.)
But I know from experience that unpacking from a weekend trip like that has NEVER taken me more than ten minutes. Often, I swear, it’s only five. FIVE MINUTES. A brief flurry of activity, followed by the reward of relaxing in a home that has been returned to order.
I can give you all the “reasons” why I didn’t use this tip on Sunday…I was tired from the trip and the travel, both mentally and physically. I was too excited to chat with my husband. To take a shower. To lay like broccoli. But really, the reason was a choice I made the moment I walked in the door, to save this problem for later. I’ll tell you what, it’s 6 days later, and I am judging my own choice. (Which I will rectify the moment I finish this post, I assure you.)
