Have you ever tried stuffing so much into your suitcase that it feels like lugging a minibus? Or have you suffered from fines at the airport for your luggage going over the weight limit?

The truth is, most people over-pack for trips. The main reason is because of anxiety over not knowing what you will need the most, or fear of not having enough to wear. We may worry that there will be something important to do once we arrive at our destination and wish we had not forgotten that favorite pair of shoes. Sometimes, we have experienced a situation in the past that leads us to over-pack, such as showing up to a supposed warm weather, tropical locale only to find it raining for half the week while there. Bummer.

Remember, the more you pack, the more you have to carry. Even if your luggage has wheels, it can be somewhat of a pain to roll it across the bumpy, slippery or faraway terrain on the way to and from your stops.

So then, what is the solution? The secret is knowing what to pack. You may not have time to plan each day’s attire, and there are too many hypothetical circumstances that can alter those plans. Plus, your significant other or travel buddy might think it a bit on the extremely OCD side to have every detail planned, right down to what pair of underwear you will wear on Tuesday. Let’s not go overboard.

Instead of putting everything in there (except that one thing you wish you had the most), try sticking to the simplest of color schemes. It may sound boring, but trying to match colors can make your packing a lot more difficult, especially if you are visiting a cold-weather climate and need a different color sweater for every day of the week.

Here are some ideas:

• Earth Tones: Pack navy, white, earth green, khakis or tan and black.
• Black & White: As it suggests, pack one black go-with-everything sweater, gray, whites and beiges.
• Oranges, Reds, and Yellows: If you are more of a colorful person, pair oranges, reds, and yellows with khakis and solids.
• Blues: If you are into blue, you can go with a pair of denim, a pair of turquoise or navy slacks and skirts, and tops that feature blue shades or tans.

You get the idea. In fact, you might be surprised at how many variables you can get from a week’s wardrobe just by blending like colors with each other. It will make your packing a whole lot faster and easier, too because you can deliberately eliminate the colors that do not go with your chosen theme for the week. Give it a try!