I hate packing. Is there anything worse than packing other than unpacking? Tomorrow, I leave for Madrid, but I am so far from being ready to go. There are so many guides online on how to pack for trips abroad. Let me tell you what not to do, by a notorious overpacker.

Don’t pack your whole wardrobe.

I can’t help it. What if it’s a random cold day and I don’t have any pants? Of course I need five different pairs of shoes! (Actually, I’ve packed more than that …) If you’re not me, however, you could probably do without packing everything. I mean, technically, I didn’t pack everything. There are still things in my closet and drawer, albeit not much.

I know that I’ll go shopping a lot in Spain, which will just add to my pain later if I come home, but I have attachments to some clothes. And, I like having options. Options, options, options! Options are the reason I take a normal sized suitcase on a weekend trip. When I went to New York, there was a random cold day and I had no jacket or long pants! See, you need options!

Don’t panic and buy space bags.

Yep. That’s exactly what I did. I was standing in Target freaking out over space bags because I saw the idea on a Facebook group. I can fit more! I ended up buying jumbo bags, which didn’t fit into my suitcase AND my bag was still overweight. On top of that, if I can’t find a vacuum cleaner over there, I can’t use them on the way back.

Then I panicked again. So I decided to buy medium bags. Maybe they would make things easier. I don’t think they are helping very much. I’m definitely over 50 pounds on my bag. Luckily, my parents have offered to pay for it. 😡

Don’t be healthy. Don’t get into exercise.

Last year, I decided to get healthy and I started to run every day. With that comes a whole new wardrobe. Now, if you are one of those “athleisure” people, maybe you’ll get away with it. For me, I don’t like going to work in clothes in run in. So on top of clothes to wear to work and clothes to wear when I’m sleeping, I have exercise clothes and running shoes. It’s really weighing my bag down. Just don’t be healthy. Ick.

Don’t pack days in advanced.

I’m a last minute packer. When I was younger, I used to wait until the hour before we left until I started packing. This time, I decided to pack things up a week in advanced. Now I’ve been thinking every day about what I need to pack and my list keeps growing. I’m freaking out that I’ll forget things. I have to remember all my chargers and gadgets and make up and nail polish and books and oops am I overpacking? Definitely.

Don’t travel.

Stay at home. Don’t go out and see the world. Panicking over packing isn’t worth it. If you stay at home, you’ll have all your options there.

Of course, do whatever you want. If you’re the kind of person who can take a few shirts and jeans that’s cool. I’m definitely a diva and need my outfits and shoes and will have to pay the price. I’ll miss all my football and soccer jerseys, but I know I’ll be killing it in style.