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I’d better pack a dozen more socks and 5 more T-shirts. Oh, and let’s not forget about the 10 books that I’ll totally have time to read on the plane. Odds are, we’ve all overpacked for a trip at one point or another. It’s hilarious how many things we bring ‘just in case’ we need them, even though we’d be perfectly fine without them.

Bored Panda has collected the wittiest tweets that capture the essence of what our minds are like when they’re full of the desire to overpack (a bit like when a hamster wants to stuff its cheeks with every bit of food it finds). So scroll down, enjoy, and upvote the tweets that you relate to the most. Be sure to share the weirdest things you packed on your trip, too.

Bored Panda wanted to learn more about overpacking, so we reached out to professional organizer Janine Adams who is the creator of Peace of Mind Organizing. Scroll down for our interview with her.

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Dragonfruit'nrollerskates
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But what if you pack dressy things and everyone there is in sweats? What if you pack sweats and everyone else looks fab? Who cares if your going to Alaska? Bring a bathing suit.... I brought three suitcases on my last trip. Help me.

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Cass
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The bus driver every time I get on the bus: "What you got in the suitcase? Bricks?" Me: "Yeah, I don't trust there will be a house where I'm going so I'm bringing my own." He laughs and I buy my ticket. Every time for the last 10 years.

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"I think a lot of people overpack out of fear. They’re afraid they’re going to need an article of clothing and regret not having brought it. Fear of regret is a big motivator that affects a lot of people. I think some people overpack just because they’re indecisive. It’s easier to throw items into a suitcase than it is to make choices about what to bring," Janine told us about why some people might overpack.

She added that she isn't sure that everyone is naturally inclined to overpack. "I don’t overpack, for example, because I learned early on that having a heavy suitcase makes traveling much less enjoyable. So I think it depends on people’s priorities. I’m motivated by ease. But someone who is motivated by fear of regret might naturally overpack," she pointed out.

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SirPatTheCat
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Or you put it on and realize the reason you never wore it was something annoying like the neckline tended to shift around too low (meaning you were constantly adjusting it all day), or the armpit area was just a little too tight, or the shorts were just a little too short for your liking

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We also wanted to find out the best way to control our urge to overpack. Janine, who is a great advocate of packing light, encourages people to control this urge by doing a bit of planning beforehand.

"I think one way to do that is take a little time to plan what you’re going to wear. Think about creating outfits that reuse articles of clothing (and shoes). I even make a list of what I plan to wear every day so I don’t have to make a decision every morning of my trip. If you know that you’ll have enough to wear, then it’s easier to resist the urge to overpack," Janine explained.

"It takes more planning to pack light. But the extra time spent figuring out what you’ll wear results in saved time and energy when you don’t have to lug a heavy suitcase around."

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tuzdayschild
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I understand the 3 books for the plane. Everyone knows, the faster you go the faster you read.

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Tambot
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Spoken like a true Mom! It comes from having kids, especially when they are toddlers or babies, it's a necessity to being Extra, EXTRA changes of everything.

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Professional organizer Janine points out that there are plenty of benefits to packing light. The first obvious pro is that, well, your suitcase is lighter. So it’ll be easier to lug about. (Unless you want your case to be heavy so that carrying it doubles as exercise. In that case—don’t let us stop you.)

Secondly, the fewer clothes you pack, the easier it’ll be to dress. Choosing from just two outfits is far easier than if you drag your entire wardrobe to the seaside. Third of all, the less you pack, the less you’ll have to unpack. And we all know how much unpacking is bogus. So much so that some of us (not pointing any fingers) might avoid doing it for a week after we get back from a trip. You can check out some more of Janine's tips for packing light right here.

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Gillbella
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We took our (at the time)9 month old from Auckland to Munich. I packed 1 nappy per flight hour, 1 change of clothes per 2 flight hours, and enough baby food for 3 days (flights + 1 day in case if delay), he was breastfed but also had formula... everyone thought I was crazy. Until we turned up in Germany with no extra food (plane "forgot" to fulfill our request for baby friendly meals) and a huge bag of laundry (because, you know, babies!)

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Tiffany Marie
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is me depending on the guy I'm with or my goals of the vacation at random. Lol

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Eddie Maurer
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'd love this at a music festival- especially when it rains, I can fit a few fellow dead heads under it and rage!

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Meanwhile, HuffPost stresses that the reason some of us might be packing too many things in our luggage is that we’re preparing for a whole bunch of worst-case scenarios. We want to be prepared for every single eventuality so much, we end up over-stressing.

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But here’s the magical tip that will make you relax: if you find out that you absolutely need something on your trip and you haven’t packed it, you can always buy it at your destination. Whether it’s a jacket or a toothbrush.

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Tabitha L
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I exercise more on vacation, because I have the free time. Going to yoga classes in new cities is great. And going for a run is an awesome way to learn your way around a new place.

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Something that I’m personally guilty of is bringing way too many books whenever I go out of town. So this little hint from Elite Daily is all for me but might work for you, too, if you’re as much a Ravenclaw as I am—use technology to your advantage.

Instead of bringing a stack of books, get the e-book versions and maybe bring just one light book for the pleasant feeling of flipping real pages. So the next time I’m on holiday, I’ll do my best not to overpack. No promises, though! Airport bookshops are always hard to resist.

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Connie Martin
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The SHOES are my problem. Men don't understand why you can't take just two pairs of shoes on vacation.

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Karin Lange
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

once i overpacked my suitcase for a 2 week trip on a freight ship. I wasn't even able to lift it from the floor. Oh boy.

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Tabitha L
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is a great idea. Trust nothing in a hotel room. I wonder if they make travel-sized electric kettles.... they do! Collapsible ones. I will get one for my next trip... in 4 years when it is safe to fly on an airplane.

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Raine Soo
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

LOL "Are you moving?" When someone asks you that, you know you've over packed.

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Misstaken138
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When I was around 7 years old my family went on a week long camping trip. Mom packed my suitcase, but I needed more room for all my books so I took all my clothes out and replaced them with books. My mom and dad couldn't do anything but laugh.

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SirPatTheCat
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ok but the swimsuits just in case is actually important though. You never know the sadness of not bringing a swimsuit because it's going to be an average of 5°F and then the hotel has an indoor pool. Especially when your family can swim because they're boys and can just wear their quick-dry shorts...

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juice
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

hmm, i wonder what word was blurred out. guess it'll stay a mystery

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BG
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have dressy, casual and workboot-type steel-toed shoes.

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BG
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What of your cats ARE your best beloved children?

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Aunt Messy
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's what Kindle is for. In fact, you could buy the kindle and stock it for less money than you spend on that dozen books.

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Relatable-Overpacking-Tweets

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tuzdayschild
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For a two week vacation I pack enough underwear for six months. I'm not sure what shenanigans I think my butt will be getting in to. But whatever it may be, I'll be prepared.

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