Stage 1: Essentials:If you are new at packing — and let’s face it, many of us are — start at the beginning by listing the essentials. These are your non-negotiables, your go-to bare minimums, your list of ‘what can’t I leave home without?’ And there is a reason for this: if you are like us, you will need to try to have your bags weighed at the airport. Make it as easy as possible, and learn from the results. Before putting pen to paper (or rather, mixing metaphors — cross out that ‘pen to paper’) that spells out the start of your list, establish your destination and trip parameters. When it comes to packing, everything — and especially what belongs on a basic list — is relative. What is essential on a weekend trip to the Grand Canyon could be different from what you need for a trip to Moscow or a summer tour of Italy. Different regions of the world require different clothing, toiletries, and medicines, for instance. Get a handle on where you are going to ensure that your list makes sense. Before you can truly appreciate the beautiful items on your list, you need to decide what makes the essential cut. No cloths for the forlorn bottomDon’t overthink or stress over your perfect packing list. First, rate your items on a scale of 1 to 5, 1 being ‘can’t leave home without’, 2 meaning you will be miserable without it, 3 indicating you will be inconvenienced without it (‘I really want this’ or ‘I don’t want to pack this, but I really need it’), and so on. Although this might seem like a nuisance, it actually promotes better decision-making. For example, let’s say you are thinking about bringing your winter boots when you are travelling to comfortably temperate South Beach, Florida. I doubt you’d rate boots for Florida very highly.

Having created your list of essentials, take a few minutes to revel in this sense of pending adventure. Allow yourself to bask in the thrill of choosing each of these items, of knowing the memories you’ll be creating as a result of the adventures you’ll be having.

Organisation: As a key part of preparing to pack, focus on organisational techniques so your suitcase becomes the perfect place of order. Packing cubes or other packing organisers work to maximise your space while allowing you to feel at peace throughout the experience of putting your clothes away in your luggage.

And as you fold and stack your items, imagine where you’re going to be and what you’ll be doing when you get there. Imagine yourself going to the market while wrapped in that scarf, or to the beach in those shorts, or storming castles in that armour. See each item coming to life and growing a heartbeat as you place it in the suitcase, willing your trip to materialise.

Efficiency: Start by choosing the right vessel that fits your belongings. Perhaps a slick suitcase for your contents’ finest hour, or a gritty backpack that harkens back to bygone road trips? Or maybe one of those convertible duffel bags that is one dimension away from being one of those slick suitcases you rejected? Choose the piece of luggage that speaks least rudely to who you are, you know?

With packing, a deep inner efficiency expert comes out, and you begin to sort your items based on access. You want to put the freshest pair of socks on top, and the ultrasoft sweater on the bottom. Stuff you’ll need right away goes near the top, while things that aren’t used so much are tucked down deep. You might think that only your most-worn things are safe in your suitcase because you can see them and put them right where you want. But it’s a little more complicated than that. You want those closest to you, those you access most frequently, to be easily accessed. You want to get your passport, your snacks, your shampoo, your sunscreen anytime your friend points out something spectacular and says, ‘Stop the bus!’ while you’re speeding down a highway on a sunny day.