Lessons from a Chronic Overpacker

If you’ve ever returned from a trip with half your suitcase untouched, you might be a chronic overpacker—just like I was.

For years, I believed that being “ready for anything” meant bringing everything. Three pairs of jeans? Check. Two backup outfits for the kids per day? Absolutely. A travel-sized pharmacy? You bet.

But after years of hauling around bags heavier than my toddlers, I finally learned the truth: overpacking doesn’t make travel easier—it makes it harder.

As a nurse, mom, and frequent traveler, I’ve learned that preparation is important—but flexibility is everything. Somewhere between airport security lines and family road trips that looked like cross-country moves, I started to see the beauty in leaving room for the unexpected.

Here’s what travel (and overpacking) has taught me:

• ✨ Less stuff = more space for memories.

• 💡 Preparedness is helpful, but adaptability is priceless.

• 🌍 You can’t control every detail—but you can choose how you experience it.

Traveling lighter—both literally and emotionally—has changed the way I see the world. It’s a theme that runs through my upcoming book, Lessons from a Chronic Overpacker, a heartfelt collection of real stories about family travel, motherhood, and learning to let go.

If you’ve ever wrestled with a suitcase that wouldn’t close (or felt weighed down by the mental load of “just in case”), you’ll find a bit of yourself in these pages.

👉 Stay tuned for the release of my book, coming soon.