How to Create a Perpetual Packing List - The Easiest Way to Pack

Every time I ask what you guys want to see more of the response is overwhelmingly, “more organization posts, please!”  So today I’m delivering, and I’m going to share my perpetual packing list that lives in my phone. 

We are a family of four (plus a fur baby), so every time we travel, even if it’s just for an overnight trip, we have to pack a lot of stuff.  I recently created a perpetual packing list in my phone for every single thing that we could possibly need for any trip, and it has been the most convenient tool to have!  It makes packing an absolute breeze, and it ensures that we never forget anything. 

I have an app on my phone called “List Master” that I bought nearly a decade ago, and it has been worth its weight in gold.  It houses all of my perpetual lists (grocery lists, gift ideas, wish lists, packing lists, list of movies/shows to watch, etc.) and it is so nice to have all of those lists in one place.

In my List Master app, I have a list titled “Pack for a Trip,” and then there are 17 lists divided into categores within that list.  The packing list for myself is divided into three separate lists… I have one list for each bag that I pack – my suitcase, my toiletry bag, and my purse/carryon.  Then I also have lists for the different places we go (there are some items that we only pack when we go to the beach, there are some items that we only pack when we go to Disney World, etc.), lists for the kids, a list for Maui (our pup), and I have lists of things to do before and after the trip. 

Since there are so many lists, I have them color-coded so I can see at a glance which category each list falls into.  All of the lists for myself are in pink, the lists for everyone are in red, the list for Jacob is orange, the list for Olivia is yellow, the list for Maui is green, and the to-do lists are blue. 

Here is a list of the categories and a little explanation for each…

 

1. Lindsay Suitcase (clothes, shoes, jewelry, etc.)
2. Lindsay Toiletry Bag (shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, etc.)
3. Lindsay Purse/Carryon (wallet, chargers, books, etc.)
4. Medicine Bag (daily medications, meds for unexpected illnesses, vitamins, etc.)
5. Food Bag (food/snacks to keep in our hotel room/condo)
6. House Bag (when we stay in some places we have to bring extra toilet paper, paper towels, tissues, etc.)
7. Other (items that don’t fall in any other category – umbrellas, DVD players, pillows, etc.)
8. Georgia Games (clear stadium bags, face tattoos, tailgate food, etc.)
9. Beach (beach bag, boogie boards, coolers, portable speaker, etc.)
10. New York City (belt bag, comfy shoes, etc.)
11. Disney (Mickey/Minnie ears, Magic Bands, ponchos, etc.)
12. Vegas (casino cards, etc.)
13. Jacob (clothes, shoes, toiletries, etc.)
14. Olivia (clothes, shoes, toiletries, stuffed animals, etc.)
15. Maui (crate, bed, leash, food, etc.)
16. To Do Before (pack, clean house, make sure appliances are off, etc.)
17. To Do After (unpack, laundry, etc.)

 

Here’s what the list looks like in my app.  I had to take two pictures since all of them won’t fit in just one screenshot.

 

In each of these lists, I include every single item that we could possibly need for that category.  Before I pack for a trip, I uncheck every single item from the lists we’ll need (I obviously wouldn’t uncheck any items from the Disney list if we weren’t going to Disney, and the same goes for Georgia games, the beach, New York City, and Vegas), and then as I pack the items, I check them off of the lists.

Do you want to take a peek at what’s inside some of the lists?  You know you do!  ;o)  Here are some samples of what the lists look like.  Many of these lists have so many items that I can’t capture them all in one screenshot, so you’re only seeing the top items on the lists, but you get the idea…

Here’s the list for my suitcase:

And here's what it looks like checked off:

Here’s the list for Jacob:

Here’s the list for Maui:

Here’s the list for Disney World: And again, these are only things that we pack if we’re going specifically to Disney World, so I obviously wouldn’t even reference this list if we were going to the beach.  Eventually, I’m sure we’ll go to other locations that will require their own specific lists in addition to Georgia games, the beach, Disney, NYC, and Vegas, and I’ll create lists for those locations as needed. 

Here’s the list of things I do before a trip: And this list has 38 tasks, so you’re not seeing the whole thing on one screen.  I thought I’d list all of them here, though, so you can get some ideas for your own lists.  Some tasks are for the actual trip, some are for the house (I like to come home to a clean, tidy house… there’s nothing worse than coming home from a trip to a messy house), some are for the blog (I like to have all posts done, all emails caught up, etc. before we go, so I don't have to work while we're away), and some are for safety reasons.

 

1. Pack me
2. Pack Jacob
3. Pack Olivia
4. Pack Maui
5. Charge phone
6. Charge camera
7. Charge iPad
8. Charge Ring cameras
9. Hook up DVD players in car
10. Buy everything we need for trip
11. Ask somebody to watch Maui
12. Manicure
13. Pedicure
14. Tidy the house
15. Clean the countertops
16. Dust
17. Clean the toilets
18. Vacuum
19. Mop
20. Blog posts published for entire time we’re gone
21. Catch up on regular emails
22. Catch up on blog emails
23. Catch up on blog reading
24. Catch up on planner
25. Poshmark closet on hold
26. Shut down home computer
27. Water plants
28. Ask someone to get mail (unless someone is house sitting)
29. Last minute packing
30. Turn off air/heat
31. Turn off oven
32. Turn off all fans
33. Turn off all lights
34. Turn off heated blanket
35. Turn off curling iron
36. Close all blinds
37. Lock all doors
38. Set house alarm

Here’s the list of things I do after a trip:

Once I feel like I’m done packing for a trip, I just go back to the main list, and I can see at a glance on the righthand side if each category is fully checked.  Soooo convenient. 

I have been using this method forever, and I’ll continue to use it since it works so beautifully.  It truly makes packing a breeze, and it ensures that we never forget anything.

Happy Wednesday, y’all!