“This is fine” I attempted to convince myself as I wheeled my two suitcases and one carry-on Bag to the top of the stairs. I had only gotten my bags out of the Parisian apartment rental and was already breathing harder than someone who just ran a mile. Now, I just had to get them down the flight of stairs, which would bring me to the fifth floor where I would then have to fit my bags and myself into an elevator, a fourth of the size of those back home.

I had anticipated taking the RER to Charles de Gaulle, where I would catch a flight to Ireland. I did not end up taking the RER.

Big props for reasonably priced cabs in Paris.

I don’t know what was worse, the “Oh, those are ALL yours?” I got from two experienced travelers the day I landed at Charles de Gaulle from New York, both of whom were spending five weeks traveling France and managed to fit everything they needed into one backpackers bag. Or the hassle I would soon experience trekking my bags throughout Ireland. Thankfully, as I was going from Dublin to the west coast and back again, I was able to store some bags at our next hotel in Dublin. (Big props to Clontarf Castle Hotel for being super accommodating)

I know I’m not the first to overpack on an abroad Trip and I’m sure I won’t be the last. But if I could go back in time, I would have definitely given myself a much needed kick in the shin, and some helpful advice.

1. Remember all those Instagram pictures of those girls who look completely done-up for each and every day of their trip in Paris? Yeah, that won’t be you. Leave the over-the-top outfits at home, and pack one simple, slightly-more-formal dress for when you really need it.
2. You will not wear all that. I definitely over thought how much clothing I would need for a three week trip. I packed approximately 3/4’s of my closet and wore maybe a fourth of that. This shouldn’t have surprised me considering, I only actually wear about a fourth of the clothing I own. Pack simply. 1) *gasp* You can re-wear things. and 2) You’ll want to be comfortable. There is a tip I’ve gotten from some experienced traveler friends which says to lay out everything you want to bring.. and then bring half of it. This is easily up there in the best advice I have ever received on any topic.
3. Refer back to number one. You will not be the girl on Instagram who looked as if she popped into the salon every day of her trip. My top priority was waking up early to experience all that the city I was currently in could offer, and I probably ended up legitimately doing my hair one day, the entire three weeks of my trip . Limit the hair tools and embrace your natural hair, even if you have a lion mane like myself.
4. If you have to sit on your bag to close it, you packed too much. While I’m not a huge souvenier buyer, I should have assumed I’d be bringing some things home with me. The two hours it took to empty out and then reorganize everything to fit in already stuffed bags before my flight home was so not worth the hassle and time wasted.
5. Don’t wait until the last minute to pack. I am guilty of this and it is definitely a huge factor in my overpacking. Packing + Stress = More stress cause you friggen’ overpacked.
6. Learn what layers are. When I was researching the weather for my trip, I was seeing 90 degree weather in Paris, then 50 degree weather with rain in Killarney, etc. I chose to “solve” this by packing multiple long sleeve shirts, and multiple short sleeve shirts, AND multiple thick long sleeve shirts and pretty much multiple everything. In reality, I could’ve packed a select few shirts, then just packed a sweater or two. It would have saved me a load of space.
7. You don’t need to buy a whole new wardrobe for your trip. This is something I try to drill in the heads of some of my friends when they’re heading off on a trip. Windbreakers, hiking boots, if you legitimately need something new for your excursions, buy it…I get it some things are essential. But I guarantee that your year old jeans are probably just as awesome as a brand new pair and are probably way more comfortable anyway.

The morals of these slightly repetitive pieces of advice are:

1. DON’T OVERPACK. If you already overpacked, unpack and and try again.
2. Nobody cares what you’re wearing. You are there for experiences, not too look cute in an Instagram photo. As long as you’re weather appropriate and culturally appropriate depending on where you’re going, you will look great as long as you’re having the time of your life.

When it comes to what you eliminate from your suitcase during your next trip, just ask yourself these questions:

• Do I need it?
• Is it appropriate for the location I am traveling? (weather-wise, culture-wise?)
• Did I already pack something similar to this?
• Have I worn it, while home, within the last two months?
• Does it pack easy? Certain materials come out of a bag looking wrinkled and awful. And since a portable steamer is most likely not on your “I need it” list, you should probably leave it.

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