8 pro tips on packing your bags the KonMari way for your Lunar New Year holiday
Spruce up your packing skills with these handy tips gleaned from Marie Kondo, host of Netflix series ‘Tidying Up With Marie Kondo’, writes Elisabeth Forsman
I am a terrible packer – a certifiable overstuffer of all things useless with a penchant for forgetting to throw in what I truly need. On a recent weekend trip, I arrived at my destination with no fewer than five shirts, two dresses, four pairs of leggings, and zero sets of certain unmentionable items. Clearly, I need help.
Having recently discovered Marie Kondo, the renowned tidying expert, bestselling author, and star of the Netflix show, Tidying Up with Marie Kondo, I decided it was time to change up my packing skills.
With a beach holiday over Lunar New Year coming up, I decided that this time I was going to bring “joy” to my suitcase, and studied up on how to pack the KonMari way (with some trial and error), for my sake and yours.
Here’s how we can take our suitcases from crazed to tame:
1. Keep positive. It’s not easy for us unorganised folk to suddenly become organised.
2. Make a list of what you need. Try to imagine your trip and what you’ll likely be doing.
3. Make sure you are happy with your suitcase. If you don’t love the package, you probably won’t take care of what’s inside. I ditched my case with the one deep pocket for luggage that has two sides. It makes it so much easier to see everything.
Note: duffel bags are terrible; you will never find your favourite shorts ever again.
4. Pack according to the list and only take what brings you joy. Start by separating everything into the categories on your lists – pants with pants, shirts with shirts etc. Once you have your items together, look at them one by one. Everything that goes into your suitcase should “spark joy”. The idea is that you will look into your suitcase and love everything in it.