Here’s how we can take our suitcases from crazed to tame:

1. Keep positive. It’s not easy for us unorganised folk to suddenly become organised.

2. Make a list of what you need. Try to imagine your trip and what you’ll likely be doing.

3. Make sure you are happy with your suitcase. If you don’t love the package, you probably won’t take care of what’s inside. I ditched my case with the one deep pocket for luggage that has two sides. It makes it so much easier to see everything.

Note: duffel bags are terrible; you will never find your favourite shorts ever again.

4. Pack according to the list and only take what brings you joy. Start by separating everything into the categories on your lists – pants with pants, shirts with shirts etc. Once you have your items together, look at them one by one. Everything that goes into your suitcase should “spark joy”. The idea is that you will look into your suitcase and love everything in it.

5. Don’t bring extra just because you can. This applies to everything from clothes to shoes to toiletries. Eliminate anything you think you “might wear”. We don’t need three extra outfits just in case (unless, of course, you’re a mud wrestler or are dealing with a vomit-prone infant). And you certainly don’t need that extra tube of lip balm you once received in a complimentary hotel amenities kit.

6. Use pouches and packing cubes to keep things separate. Packing cubes and pouches are so much more useful than I imagined. You can use them for keeping your shoes away from your clothes, and all your chargers and cords neatly tucked away, so they don’t get tangled. Most importantly they keep your toiletries sealed off so that your facial moisturiser doesn’t decide to mate with your socks.

7. Fold your clothes tightly. (I admit this was a surprisingly cathartic exercise and I soon found myself organising the rest of my closest.) Then stack all the tightly folded clothes. Keep each item upright in your suitcase so that they are all easily visible. Heavier things should be packed closer to the wheels or bottom of your luggage. I opted to arrange everything in my case by colour because it sparked joy in me.

8. Leave at least 10 per cent of your bag empty. With your things so well organised, it will be hard to make room for all your ethically-responsible souvenirs if it’s fully packed.

There you have it! The real challenge now is keeping your suitcase this organised.

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