🧳 5 Things I'm Taking on My First Solo Trip
Yes, they are taking up valuable space in my carry on
I’m going on my first solo trip ever! It may be hard to believe but it’s been a decade since I last stepped onto a plane. I find myself wondering what essentials I should pack and what might just end up taking up unnecessary space in my luggage.
This list, however, contains the fun things I'm packing and the reasons behind each choice. As a little challenge, try guessing my destination! There’s a hint at the end and some other clues sprinkled throughout.
📓 1. Journals (x2)
I've kept up with journaling for a few years now. During my consistent phases, I manage to jot down at least one entry every day. There are so many entries I have about travelling leading up to the day I finally booked my flight!
Even during my less consistent times, I still log a few entries a week. My go-to journal is the Hardcover A5 Leuchtturm1917. I began my current one back in July of this year, and I've crossed over the halfway mark!
The second journal I’ll be taking is completely blank at the moment. I purchased it specifically for this trip to create my very first travel journal. While I could've opted for a traveler's notebook, I settled on the Midori MD Notebook Light (A6 Blank). My goal is to do some urban sketching if the weather permits. With its empty pages, I hope to embrace drawing more than writing and avoid getting too caught up in perfectionism.
📅 2. A Planner
In 2024, I'll be switching to a Hobonichi HON planner. As my trip extends into the new year, I'm excited that I'll get to kick off the first few pages of the planner with my travels! It's larger than the Hobonichi Weeks I used in 2023, but I believe it'll better cater to my planning needs for the upcoming year. I'm especially excited about the weekly planning pages.
Time for myself has often felt limited, so one of my aims is to be deliberate about carving out moments for the things I truly want to do.
📷 3. A Camera
Unfortunately, it looks like I won't have enough room to bring my DSLR camera along. Instead, I'll be relying on my phone and Polaroid camera. I'm particularly thrilled about using my Instax Mini 8. It'll be convenient to have instant photos to add directly to my travel journal!
📚 4. An eReader
Reading is a passion of mine, so this item is a must-pack. I've discovered that long commutes and just before bedtime are my prime reading moments. I'm crossing my fingers that I’ll still be able to read my library books. If not, I have plenty of books in both English and my target languages. The benefit of an eReader is its ability to save space compared to physical books!
🎮 5. My Switch
I'm a bit on the fence about bringing this one along since it's a pretty bulky device and will take up a lot of space. However, I've been using it for French immersion while playing Animal Crossing, so I feel like I can justify bringing it.
🏆 A Little Challenge For You
'Tis the season of giving! Guess where I'm heading, and if you get it right, you'll get a complimentary paid subscription with access to the entire Study Notepad archive!
Just a tiny hint: I'm planning to use at least one of my target languages while in that country.1
Prize Levels:
1-month subscription: Guess the continent correctly.
3-month subscription: Guess the continent and country accurately.
6-month subscription: Correctly guess the continent, country, and city!
Submit your entry by replying to this email or dropping a comment below! Only the initial guess will be considered.
Good luck guessing!
Many of my target languages can be used in a lot of countries around the world :)