Unpacking after a trip
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If you ask most people, one of the worst parts of taking a trip is unpacking when you get home. Many people leave stuff in their luggage for days afterward because they dread emptying the bags.
After a recent trip, I documented and timed my entire unpacking process (including mail and packages) in order to find out how long unpacking generally takes me and share my experience of what’s possible when Living (and Traveling) With Less.
After being gone a week, we had several packages and a large stack of mail waiting for us at home.
First up, I opened the packages (because who doesn’t love packages?!?) Then I glanced through the stack of mail and put it into piles - magazines, solicitations, other - on my kitchen counter to deal with later.
Since we travel light, we both had just one carry-on each to empty. First up, carry-on bag #1: Cosmetics into bathroom and travel-size products left in toiletries bag for the next trip. Passports returned to their appropriate home in the file box. U.S. currency, wallet, sunglasses and cases, pens and lip balm to landing zone. Foreign currency into a ziploc bag (it’s for a decoupage project I’ve been talking about doing for nearly a year and haven’t started…(sigh)). Hats to a shelf in the closet and scarf into a closet drawer. Laptop, journals and electronics cords to the office. Snacks to pantry.
Next up, carry-on bag #2: Laundry! All clothing was dirty, so I threw a load (one of two) in the wash. Canvas tote bags (2) to the front closet. Shoes to the closet.
Nested luggage and toiletries bag and returned them to their home in the closet.
Lastly, I dealt with the packages and piles of mail. Magazines to the bedside table, papers to be dealt with to the office, and junk mail to the recycle bin. Packages were distributed to their rightful homes.
All told, unpacking took me about 35 minutes from start to finish (with the exception of the laundry portion), and using the timer helped to keep me focused. Traveling with less definitely made the process easier too, since it wasn’t that much to take care of. Plus, having a designated “home” for everything made the process smooth sailing.
How does your unpacking process compare - do you unpack immediately after a trip? Or do you dread everything about unpacking?
If you knew how long it would take you to unpack when you stay focused and finish the job, would you be more likely to empty your suitcase upon arriving at home?
