Road trips, vacations, and even sleepovers are lots of fun to go on, but to make the most out of your trip you have to pack the right items. Sometimes, packing can be a bore or confusing, if you have no idea what to bring. The best way to organize your thoughts and remove the drama from packing is to make yourself a packing list. Follow the easy steps in this guide to make a packing list and be one step closer to your trip!

Make sure it’s clear where you are going, how long you will be gone, what the weather will be like, and how you are getting there. If you don’t know some one or more of these things, you may want to put this off for later.

Get a piece of paper and a pen or pull up a blank document on your computer. It is best to write on a blank document, because you can easily add/edit things, but with pen and paper you can organize it easily. Write “Packing List” neatly on the front of it. If it is for your whole family, you may want to divide the page in equal sections for each family member.

Decide if you want to use bullets or create a list for each item (Clothing List, Bathroom List, Entertainment List, etc). If you are making lists, label the top of where each list will be.

Start with clothing. If you are going to be gone for 1-7 nights, you may want to consider bringing 1 shirt, 1 pair of pants, 1 pair of underwear, 1 pair of socks, 1 pair of pajamas, and for women, 1 bra, for each night you are staying. If you are washing clothes, you can pack less. If your trip is longer, consider packing 1 outfit and 1 pair of pajamas for every 3-4 days, assuming you will be washing clothing. Remember bathing suits, cover ups, extra pairs of shoes, scarves, coats, gloves, and other items to keep you comfortable.

Move on to Bathroom Items. If you are going to spend 1-7 nights somewhere, bring your own shampoo and body wash, unless it’s only one night (sleepover), then consider skipping a shower. Remember to bring toilet paper if you are spending over a week somewhere. For every 2 days you will be gone, bring one roll of toilet paper, just in case where you are staying doesn’t supply it. Don’t forget razors, deodorant, hairbrushes, toothbrush, hair straightener/curling iron, and for women, tampons/pads.

Now, start writing down Entertainment items. Books, magazines, MP3’s, phones, and CD’s all qualify as entertainment. For a quick 1 night stay, you might only want to bring a magazine instead of two or three books, because you won’t get around to reading them overnight. Remember, if where you are staying doesn’t have a DVD player, don’t take DVD’s!

You also need to remember Sleeping items. Pillows, blankets, and sleeping bags all should be put down. If you are spending 1-7 nights somewhere, don’t plan on washing your sheets. Take what you need for your bed (if it is on a bed or on the floor) and maybe an extra sheet, just in case. If you are spending a long time somewhere, take two sets of sheets and rotate them every other week.

Next, start writing down Cleaning items. You’ll need something to wash your clothes with for long stays. Check with where you are staying to see if they have cleaners, and if so, what kinds.

Have fun on your trip!