how to pack in a panic (like a pro)
- Bebhinn Flanagan
- Apr 12
- 3 min read
There are thousands of tips out there on how to pack like a pro. You know the ones: beautifully arranged piles of clothing 👗, artistically placed toiletries, serene advice from someone who clearly owns matching luggage and inner peace.
For the record, I own matching luggage. Inner peace remains elusive.
I’ve read them all. I’ve tried to become that person. I’m still waiting for the transformation.
Instead, my packing style remains the chaotic, last-minute scramble many of us know too well - where your suitcase becomes a time-sensitive black hole and your floor disappears under piles of “maybes.”
You’re doing complex mental maths 🧮 to figure out the real latest time you need to leave because you’ve already missed your backup… to your backup… to your backup departure window.
If that’s you too, welcome 👋🏻!
Let’s embrace the chaos together - and panic pack like pros.
relax: it’s not that deep
Take a breath. No, seriously. Right now. Inhale… exhale… better? 😮💨
Here’s the truth: there are really only three things you must have:
passport
phone
credit card
(Four, if you’re on any kind of essential medication.)
Everything else is just… details. Forget the perfect outfit or that one lip balm you swear by. Most things can be replaced or skipped entirely.
Panic is the enemy of packing - so keep calm, and carry-on. (Pun!)
beware the laundry trap
The number one saboteur of last-minute packing? Laundry 🧺.
Those jeans you need? Laundry basket 🧺.
Your favourite top? Washing machine 🧺.
Do yourself a favour: do your laundry at least a week before your trip. Quarantine anything you might want to bring - don’t wear it, don’t look at it, don’t even breathe near it. It is sacred now.
But if it’s 11pm and you’re panic-washing pants… remember our first rule: relax ☺️
Find an alternative.
Use a hairdryer.
Or, be like my mate who once hung her damp dress in the back of a taxi and cranked the heating up. Iconic.
whiteboards are elite
Whiteboards are the unsung heroes 🦸🏻♀️ of anxious packing.
Mine lives by my door and gets updated every time I spiral about packing.
n.b. I’m still not packing at this point, I’m just panicking about packing.
It will say things like:
CHARGER
CLOSE WINDOWS
PASSPORT!!!
There’s something about scrawling in capital letters that makes my brain go, “yes, I am in control.” And that wipe-off satisfaction when you’re all done - utterly underrated.
always be semi-packed
Want to future-proof your panic?
Keep a few things permanently ready to go:
A toiletry bag with travel-sized essentials (cleanser, toothpaste, eyedrops, lip balm - you know the drill)
A tech pouch with chargers, cables, and earphones
An eye mask and magnesium for those cursed with 3am brain chaos
It means when you’re panic-packing at the last second, all you need to do is 👊🏻 grab-and-go.
pack when you unpack
The ultimate power move?
Start your next packing session before you’ve even recovered from the last one.
When you get home, resist the urge to dump everything in a heap. That’s the moment to prep for future-you🔮.
Wrap those cables into a neat little bundle and restock the toiletries. The last thing you need is that last-minute scramble for the charger you swear you just had, or hunting for cables that have somehow vanished into thin air. This tiny bit of prep means you’re one step ahead next time.
embrace the panic packing madness
Packing in a panic isn’t a failure - it’s a vibe. A test of adaptability. A high-stakes game of suitcase Tetris 🧳.
See it as a survival opportunity. A practice of minimalism. Now you’re not just going on holiday - you’re a resourceful adventurer who can thrive on one pair of clean socks and charm alone.
So do it your way. Embrace the mess. Trust that you’ll survive with whatever makes it into your bag.
Maybe one day I’ll write a blog about packing like a calm, serene adult.
But today is not that day.
your turn
Are you a last-minute scrambler or a spreadsheet-packing savant?
What’s the most ridiculous thing you’ve ever forgotten (or packed)?
Tell me in the comments - especially if it involves hairdryers, half-melted snacks, or underwear that was exactly where you left it: not in your bag.
Happy panic-packing,
Bebs
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