Out of Chaos an organizing newsletter
Fear of Flying
I have a lot of practice packing—I pretty much have it down to a science. I use the same techniques I teach my clients: Start with a list, stick to a color palette, limit yourself to a carry-on and so forth. Usually, it’s easy, but packing to visit my sister in Montana recently, I had trouble. The kids were a breeze, but my suitcase was another story.
I packed three-quarters of my suitcase in five minutes, but the last few things were holding me up. What was wrong with me? I tried to figure out what was making packing so hard this time, and I realized there was an element of worry. As I explain in my book, a lot of clutter (and over-packing) comes from fear. I don’t usually have anxiety, I’m a Sagittarius, I love to travel (look it up).
Travel is full of unknowns, that’s the joy of it, but somehow the uncertainty of the weather, combined with diverse activities (spring skiing! a book signing!) left me worrying: Am I going to be hot? Am I going to be cold? Am I going to be wet? What’s proper book-signing attire in Montana?
Once I identified my anxiety, I could talk myself off the ledge: “This is why we wear layers. You’re an organizer, not a fashion icon. You’re 51 years old, bring the comfortable shoes.” But first, I had to realize that I was anxious and why I was anxious, rather than just shove 15 extra things into my suitcase.
Next time you feel like packing for a trip is becoming a crisis, ask yourself what you are afraid of, and then remind yourself that nobody ever died from wearing the same jeans three days in a row. Travel is about the journey, not what you wear on the journey.