December 2022 tiny projects challenge: Day 5

20 December 2022

I went to New York City early Friday morning for a fun weekend with my college besties, which is why I didn’t post my final tiny projects challenge post on Friday. But the trip itself inspired the tiny project, which I did after I got back. I decluttered my travel toiletries bag.

Like many people, I keep a bunch of travel-sized toiletries assembled so I don’t have to pack a lot of them when I travel. On travel day, I add a few things I use daily. Everything fits in my toiletries bag. But it’s all pretty much a jumbled mess.

So while I was unpacking last night, I decided to declutter my toiletries bag.

Here’s how it looked before I started:

I pulled everything out and gave it a quick sort on the dining room table:

There were many things I didn’t know were in there that I’m sure I put in thinking I’d feel like a genius if I needed them. But if I don’t even realize I have them, they’re not much help.

So I edited out a few items, like duplicate shampoos and creams, a sewing kit, and makeup remover, since I really don’t use makeup any more. I stashed my lipstick in my desk drawer. Then I put back the keepers and called it a day.

Here’s the after photo. (Total time: 10 minutes, tops.)

Everything will be much easier to access, which will be wonderful.

It got me thinking about the things that I add at the last minute to that bag when I travel. I think it might be worthwhile to buy an extra set of those things (toothpaste, deodorant, and vitamin C serum fall into that category), so I don’t have to do much of anything to pack. I use an electric toothbrush and I don’t want to invest in a duplicate, but I do keep a duplicate charger for the toothbrush in my suitcase. (I learned that the hard way.)

This is the end of my tiny projects series for this year. I’ll almost certainly do more next year. I love tackling these little decluttering and organizing projects!

Tagged with: tiny projects, travel