From Chaos to Order: My Journey to the Love of Packing and Compartmentalizing

My everyday travel backpack and what’s in it.

There was a time when my travel routine was a mess. Every trip seemed to be marked by something forgotten, something misplaced, and a general sense of disarray that left me frustrated. This annoyance persisted for years, even though travel was a regular part of my life. I couldn’t figure out how to improve my packing habits, despite the daily necessity of it.

Then came the pivotal moment: a two-year journey around the world with nothing but a backpack weighing less than 7 kilograms. It was more than just a trip; it was a digital nomad adventure that taught me the art of living minimally and efficiently. Returning to my home country, I realized that this philosophy could be applied to my daily life. I never truly knew where I’d be or what I’d need at any given moment. It became essential to have everything I might need, neatly organized and ready to go.

Inspired by the success of my minimalist travel, I developed a passion for packing and compartmentalizing. My love for this practice extended beyond travel backpacks to my everyday carry, transforming the way I organized my life.

The Philosophy of Packing Light

Packing light wasn’t just about reducing weight; it was about choosing the right tools and organizing them effectively. My journey started with selecting the perfect backpack, and then finding smaller bags to compartmentalize my gear. Each item had its place and purpose.

For example, my daily backpack always contains essentials like chargers, a traveling mouse, wires, and a presentation remote control. These items are crucial since my work often involves giving speeches and presentations. My adapter is a vital component, too, because modern laptops with USB-C ports require additional connectivity options for projectors and USB drives.

Personal Essentials

In another compartment, I keep personal essentials like caffeinated gum, vitamins, and melatonin for irregular sleep schedules. I also always have a few packs of teabags and instant coffee just in case I need them (all I need is hot water to make them work for my lack of sleep).

My inhaler, infused with the scent of Thai herbs, provides a refreshing boost whenever I need it. I also carry disposable cool towels, perfect for a quick facial refresh during hectic days. With a pack of 60, they last a long time and are incredibly convenient.

A water bottle equipped with an IoT device helps me monitor my daily water intake, ensuring I stay hydrated. Other must-haves in my backpack include an umbrella, headphones, business cards, and my iPad and laptop. Though heavy, these devices are indispensable because, for me, the world is my co-working space.

A bonus photo of my backpack that I used during my two-year-long global expedition as a digital nomad. You can read the full article about it here.

From Chaos to Organization

This meticulous organization stems from my experience with chaos. Living in disarray for so long made me appreciate the peace that comes with being organized. The catalyst for this change was my accidental stint as a digital nomad, which taught me to live with less and prioritize essentials.

Creating lists for my bags has been a game-changer. I know exactly what goes where, making it easy to pack and find things when needed. I’ll share some of my favorite items and brands in the appendix, but for now, the focus is on the philosophy behind it.

Look at how cool this bag with everything I need for my daily use looks on me! — Photo taken in a small neighborhood on Nanjing Road in Shanghai, China.

Living Minimally and Focusing on What Matters

This practice isn’t just about practicalities; it’s also deeply philosophical. By compartmentalizing and packing efficiently, I’ve learned that I don’t need much to live comfortably. This realization has enabled me to embrace a minimalist lifestyle, freeing my mind to focus on what truly matters.

When you can reduce your possessions to what fits neatly in a well-organized backpack, you discover that life can be simpler and more fulfilling. It’s about stripping away the unnecessary to concentrate on your goals and passions.

In essence, my love for packing and compartmentalizing has transformed my daily routine. It has brought order to chaos and allowed me to live a life of purpose and efficiency. Whether on a global journey or a daily commute, my backpack symbolizes a well-organized, minimalist life, ready for anything and free from clutter.

Through this practice, I’ve learned to appreciate the essential, embrace minimalism, and focus my energy on the tasks and experiences that truly enrich my life.

Appendix: What I Use

1. Backpack: I have many of them but my favorites are Fjallravan Gangen 13" Laptop, IamRunBox Spin Bag 18 Liter. These two are almost interchangeable for me. Both are water resistance and extremely versatile — as in rock solid for daily use and travel. One of these are perfect for my Macbook Air 13" and an IPad Air (both of which, by the way, are the most value-for-the-money products that Apple have offered recently — you don’t need more than just these two to do all the work you need, unless you are a pro users who need to do a video editing and advanced computation; in which case, you need a Macbook Pro and perhaps a larger backpack that can fit it in).
2. Electronic stuff: Side-By-Side PowerPacker is the absolute must-have. It’s light, expandable, and easy to carry. I fit everything from my wires, a 120W power adaptor, a USB-C cable, a magic mouse, USB hub, SD cards, an external hard drive, and an HDMI cable (in case I travel somewhere with a TV and want to watch some movies).
3. Water Bottle: HidrateSpark Pro 21 is a great hot-and-cold water bottle with an IoT system to measure how much water I drink all day. It’s an essential tool for someone who often forgets to drink water (like me). Also, a Stanley’s Classic Iceflow Tumbler or a Yeti 18Oz Water Bottle are contenders for those of you who’d rather use an analog bottle.
4. Sunglasses: I use Meta Rayban Smartglasses. It may seem a bit excessive to have a pair of smart glasses instead of just sunglasses, but remember that these Meta Rayban Smartglasses are also wonderful wireless earphones with cameras for recording auspicious moments that sometimes our smartphone isn’t fast enough to capture.
5. Battery packs: Always trust Anker on this. I’ve been using mine for 3 years and they’re as good as new. I have a couple of them just in case: a small one for my phone and a large one for everything else including my laptop and iPad.
6. Headphones: As I have lost my Airpod twice already, I will no longer be spending my hard-earned cash on any of them anymore. But as an Apple user, I still need something in its ecosystem in order to move seamlessly between my devices, hence I use a cheap and versatile Beat Flex which has an Apple chip inside that allows me to use them as if they’re my Airpod. The wire doesn’t bother me anymore after a week of using.