Are You a Last-Minute Packer?
Admit it: whenever you have a trip coming up, you probably wait until the last possible moment to finally pack your bags, don't you? Don't worry—we don't blame you, and you're certainly not alone in that habit. But is it really such a bad thing, or are there some hidden advantages to packing last-minute? Here are 10 pros that come with being a packing procrastinator, and 10 major cons that might convince you to stop doing it.
1. You Travel Lighter
Sometimes, being a packing procrastinator can actually help you travel lighter. When you're under pressure, you may better understand what to prioritize and how to do things efficiently, which can prevent you from adding non-essentials to your bag.
2. You Don't Accidentally Pack Essentials You Still Need
If you pack too early, you might accidentally store away clothes, socks, skincare, or other essentials you still need before you go. For example, if you pack your makeup a week before you travel, it'll only be more bothersome when you realize you need to take it back out to do your routine.
3. Closer in Tune with the Weather & Season
There's another advantage to waiting it out: as you get closer to your travel date, you have a better picture of what the weather is going to be like at your destination. Sure, you can study forecasts beforehand, but they're usually not as accurate as viewing them closer to the day.
4. More Time to Sort Out What You Need & Don't
Being a packing procrastinator may also give you more time to sort out what you absolutely need and don't. When you're preparing your bags a week before your travel date, you might end up including more things on your list than are necessary, which might make you overpack.
5. You Come Up with Creative Solutions
Sometimes, when you're pressed for time, your brain thinks of creative solutions. Sure, if you're someone who blanks under pressure, this might not be the case for you, but for others who do work better under a time crunch, they might know how to organize or rearrange items until they fit perfectly.
6. Might Save You Time
Believe it or not, being a procrastinator might actually save you time. Instead of stressing over what you'll need to pack and spend a week (or more) adding items to your suitcase, leaving the task to tackle last-minute might help you work more efficiently. Plus, most of the time, it doesn't take that long to pack your bags.
7. You Learn to Think on Your Feet
More than just coming up with creative solutions, being a packing procrastinator also allows you to think better on your feet. Instead of overthinking everything, your mind knows how to jump to the best available options. In other words, you get great at making quick, practical decisions under pressure, and somehow, it all works out in the end.
8. Excitement Builds
Let's face it—there's something about packing last-minute that makes you feel more excited about the trip. If you pack too early, say, a week prior, you still need to wait seven more days before you actually depart, which can dim your excitement. Packing the day or night before, in contrast, means you're almost leaving.
9. Allows You to "Go with the Flow"
Being a packing procrastinator also gives you a chance to be spontaneous and maintain a "go with the flow" attitude. It doesn't matter too much if you forget to pack your essentials—you can always buy what you absolutely need once you arrive at your destination, anyway.
10. Being Under Stress Can Come in Handy
It might sound odd, but sometimes, it's good to work under stress. When you're under pressure or have a time limit, it can often sharpen your focus so that you tackle the task at hand faster, and better. Just maybe don't subject yourself to too much stress all the time.
As you can see, there are unexpected ways that being a packing procrastinator can actually help. But some things don't always work out—and you might experience these 10 major cons instead.
1. Your Suitcase Ends Up Being a Mess
The first major con of being a packing procrastinator? Your suitcase ends up being a junkyard. Instead of having ample time to be strategic and to organize your clothes and items in a space-saving way, you're cramming and shoving things wherever they'll fit.
2. You Forget Things
Packing procrastinators also often forget to bring important items. From makeup wipes to pajamas and an extra towel, when you're pressed for time, your brain can't handle the heat. So, what happens? You end up remembering only the basics.
3. You're More Likely to Overpack
It might sound like it should be the opposite way around, but packing procrastinators are more likely to overpack than people who pack their suitcase earlier on. This is because when you're in a time crunch, you start throwing everything in, regardless of whether you'll actually need it.
4. Limited Planning Time
Again, since you're short on time, you don't have the luxury of making a list and planning things out before packing them. Instead, you'll just have to rely on your memory (what you usually pack) and what you think you'll need.
5. You Start to Panic
Being under stress can sometimes boost productivity and, in this case, make you a better, more efficient packer. But in some cases, you might start to panic and feel like you have no clue what you need, and that overwhelming anxiety can mess you up, too.
6. You Frustrate Travel Partners
Traveling with others? It's probably not the best to start packing last minute, especially when your travel buddies already have their stuff sorted out and need to rely on you to pack certain things or to stay on top of the itinerary.
7. You're Suddenly Convinced You Need Everything
When you procrastinate, you might suddenly be convinced that you need absolutely everything. That hat you never wear? Into the suitcase it goes. That jacket that's been collecting dust at the back of your closet? Yup, you totally need that.
8. You Might Have to Pay Extra Fees
And since you're more likely to overpack when you procrastinate, you might end up having to pay extra fees so the airline can accommodate your oversized bag. Another major con? With your suitcase already stuffed to the brim, you have no space left for souvenirs you might buy.
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9. You Have to Sacrifice Sleep
If your flight departs early in the morning and you still haven't packed your bags... ooh, boy. That means you'll likely have to pull an all-nighter to get everything ready, which you might think is a good thing (since you can sleep on the plane), but isn't always (you might not be able to fall asleep on the plane).
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10. You Might Be Late Getting to the Airport
And if you're still not ready to go by the time your flight creeps up on you, you might find yourself late getting to the airport. Sure, you can always check in early online, but you'll still need to be punctual so you can drop off your bags and make your way through security before boarding.
