Suitcase Organizing

This year I have travelled more than any other year and I am fine tuning the art of packing a suitcase. I will admit I am high maintenance so this ritual is always problematic.

At the professional organizers conference in April, I was challenged by another organizer to reduce the amount of stuff I pack. She had flown to Florida with only one 21" suitcase that fit in the overhead compartment of the plane. I had travelled in my van with that suitcase, the 26" version and an overnight toiletries bag.


My last trip was for 9 days and included a dress up affair as well as more casual events and 4 stops along the way. I eliminated the 26" suitcase so there was a measure of success in downsizing. One good organizing strategy I used was to pack my most travel friendly clothing so wrinkles would not be an issue. Knits are better than woven fabrics for packing and blends or synthetics are better than cotton and linen. They are not more comfortable but they look better after being crushed for several hours. If ironing is an option after you arrive, any fabric will do.


There will be more travelling in my future so I am testing all new clothing with the "ball it up in your hand" method to determine its travel worthiness. Taking items that can be hand washed and will dry quickly is another good strategy to reduce the number of similar items needed. Finally, good wardrobe planning with clothing pieces that can be used several times is the best way to reduce the amount of items.


Planning, practice and persistence are always good strategies for any organizational problem and should make suitcase organizing more successful with each trip. Now I must practice what I preach.

About That Laundry

Just like dirty dishes, there is never an end to the laundry pile. Managing it so that it doesn't take over your life is a worthwhile and attainable goal.

And just like the dirty dishes, if you take care of a smaller amount at a time, the task is not as overwhelming. Putting a load in the washer before leaving for work or in the morning if you are home everyday or every other day will start the process. The load can be moved to the dryer in the afternoon and retrieved before going to bed. This will keep the task from being an all consuming activity.

Use as few hampers as possible, but be sure they are convenient to children so they aren't tempted to throw their clothing on the floor. And remember, if it is not in a hamper, it will not be washed. Stick to that rule for everyone in the house.

Freedom From Stuff

This past 4th of July weekend had me thinking about more about freedom than I have in the past few years. I am certainly grateful for the freedoms we have in this country, freedoms that were won with very costly sacrifices. But today my thoughts are on being free from the stuff we have.

Too much stuff takes away our freedom to enjoy what we have. It crowds our spaces so we can't enjoy our homes. We are continually moving things around to clean or be comfortable because stuff is in the way. It crowds our schedules with too many things to clean and maintain. The bottom line of this is how it robs us of time for our family and friends.

To be free from stuff will require some costly sacrifices. It will require letting go of things you purchased that were never used, things that have emotional attachments but are boxed up and never enjoyed, things that are crowding out the more important things and things you simply don't like but feel guilty about letting go.

If you have just too much stuff, let this be the time you will take the first step towards the freedom of more space in your home and time in your day.