Link: https://old.reddit.com/r/LifeProTips/comments/1tjkzss/lpt_keep_a_running_packing_list_in_your_notes_app/

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The original was posted on /r/lifeprotips by /u/Particular-Car2399 on 2026-05-21 13:44:28+00:00.

I just got back from a quick weekend trip and, of course, forgot the same small essentials I always forget. Not the big stuff, but the little things that force you to pay convenience store prices or waste time hunting for replacements when you're worn out.

LPT: Make one master packing list in your notes app or a plain text file and treat it like a living checklist you update after every trip. It only takes maybe 10 minutes to set up and saves so much hassle later.

Why this helps: When you pack from memory your brain is already juggling timing, laundry, and last-minute errands. A saved list removes that extra load, cuts decision fatigue, and prevents the same annoying mistakes from repeating.

How to do it:

1. Create a note called "Packing Master List."
2. Break it into sections you reuse: Toiletries, Clothes, Tech, Documents, Misc.
3. Add a short "Before you leave" section for things you pack at the last minute, like chargers, glasses, or a refillable water bottle.
4. After you get home, add anything you bought or borrowed to the top of the right section, and remove items you never use.

That last step is what makes it worth doing. Let the list get smarter with every trip so packing becomes copying a proven template instead of starting from scratch. Small system, big payoff.