Tips on Leaving for Winter Break

Hellooo again friends!! This one is for my readers who are going back home soon. Winter break is just around the corner, and it’s time to pack up and head home (or wherever your break plans may take you). But many people struggle with packing because they don’t know what to pack and end up either overpacking or underpacking. This is why you have me guys! I got you, so here’s a guide to help you pack efficiently and other things.

1. Essentials

Y’all, the UK is too cold, so when heading home for winter break, make sure you pack the basics to keep yourself comfortable and warm. By that I mean:

Warm clothes: sweaters, a jacket (1 is enough), scarves, gloves, and cozy socks. If you know you have these essentials at home, and you’ve confirmed with your parents then don’t bother bringing more - you’ll end up with too much and you might not even end up wearing all of them. Lastly, bring your other clothes as well (obviously)-pants, underwear, shirts, pajamas - these are just other essentials you should bring.

Course materials: I don’t mean textbooks and stuff, like don’t bother taking any textbooks if you KNOW you have access to Locate... I meant to take your laptop home with you. If you have any written notes, create a digital folder so you save space and avoid carrying unnecessary materials.

Personal care items: bring a travel-sized bag if needed. Again, you’re going home so I would expect you to have some things back home (?). Any medications that you cannot live without for a few weeks, please bring!

2. Holiday gifts and souvenirs

Holiday gifts and souvenirs can take up quite a lot of space. Here are some tips:

If possible, take things out of boxes, and wrap your presents later. This saves space and prevents paper from tearing during travel.

Use clothes as padding - my fav hack (lol), only because I tend to bring back fragile things, so I just use my clothes as "bubble wrap".

You can try using compression bags to reduce the bulk of clothes and free up space for gifts. Don’t worry if you don’t have those professional compression vacuum things, just use a sturdy seal bag and use your accommodation’s vacuum to compress it.

Anything that is valuable, keep in your carry-on to ensure they arrive safely. This could be any jewellery or fragile presents.

3. Food waste

Lastly, leaving your accommodation for an extended time means dealing with perishable food and avoiding waste. So, be smart and plan ahead. If you know when you’re leaving, in the weeks leading up to your departure, start using up your perishable items. Make a meal plan to use up fruits, vegetables, and dairy products. When out shopping for groceries, think about the amount you’ll actually be eating and reconsider if you want to make that meal.

If you have unopened non-perishables or food you won’t be able to finish, consider donating them to the local food banks or sharing with your flatmates (afterall sharing is caring, right?). 

Throw away anything past its expiration date! If you live with flatmates, please, think about others as well. Not only is it inconvenient for you (and yucky) but your roommates would appreciate it, if the fridge would be clean of any expired food. Wipe down the fridge, and leave it fresh for when you return.

Bonus:

Make a checklist of everything you need to pack to avoid forgetting essentials - use this blog as a starting point.

Use packing cubes to keep items organised - I’m not gonna lie, I used to think these were useless, but you actually manage to pack quite a lot with these, plus it’s more organised.

If you’re travelling far, don’t forget to check weight limits and regulations for carry-ons and checked luggage.

With this in mind, I hope you guys have a smooth transition home. It can be quite stressful during this time, but knowing you’re going home is all worth it. Enjoy your winter break, and stay warm!