Packing for a trip, whether it’s your first or 100th, can be a stressful experience. Fortunately, there are numerous methods for making packing easier and more efficient.

Here’s a list of tips we want to share with you to help you with your packing:

• Create a Packing Strategy Based on the Length of Your Assignment

The average length of a travel nursing assignment is 13 weeks, but contract lengths vary. Some travel nurses work four, six, or eight-week assignments, and some work up to 26 weeks due to contract extensions.

How you pack will be determined by the length of your assignment.

• Investigate the Location of Your Assignment

It’s critical to understand the weather and activities available in your new city. Packing clothes for a variety of weather events and temperatures, for example, is more useful in Chicago or Seattle than in Los Angeles.

Make sure you’re ready for the common weather and seasonal changes you’ll face.

• Examine Your Habits

You can pack more efficiently by keeping track of what you use on a daily or weekly basis. Make a list of your habits for a week and you might be surprised at what you find.

You can streamline your packing process and avoid bringing too many items by eliminating items you think you’ll use but don’t.

• Request Detailed Housing Information from Your Agency

If your organization provides housing, inquire about the specifics. Terms like “fully-furnished” may not provide you with the furnishings, silverware, or cleaning supplies you expect.

You’ll know which household items to bring with you or buy when you arrive if you know exactly what your agency-provided housing will include.

• Consider Utilizing Packing Cubes or Containers

Packing cubes are small bags that are used to neatly organize clothes inside luggage without causing wrinkles or wasting parking space. To find the best packing cube for you, consult Smarter Travel’s list of the “6 Best Packing Cubes Ever.”

Storage containers may be a better option than luggage if you’re driving to your assignment. They protect fragile items better, and purchasing clear containers will help you avoid misplacing items while unpacking.

• Make a list of items to leave behind or buy when you arrive.

Bath towels, toiletries, and electronics are bulky and take up a lot of room.

When you arrive, you can buy inexpensive towels and toiletries, and consolidating electronics will free up a lot of space for more important items. Also, when it comes to books, bring an eReader or simply use your smartphone instead.

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