I’m a week out from the first trip of the season, and I’ve already started packing.
Not because I’m anxious.
Not because I’m trying to be hyper-organized.
But because I’ve learned, the hard way, that packing early makes everything else easier.
Packing before a wildlife trip isn’t something I do in one sitting.
It’s something I let unfold.
When I start early, packing becomes a slow, thoughtful process instead of a rushed checklist.
As I go about my days, I’ll suddenly remember something I’ll need… a cable, a charger, a spare battery, a piece of gear, medication, a notebook.
When that happens, I don’t make a mental note and hope I remember later.
I grab it, and I put it in the bag.
I’ll organize it later.
That’s the key.
Starting early allows your brain to do what it’s good at: remembering things in context.
When you’re walking the dog, driving, or lying in bed at night, your mind naturally revisits upcoming events.
That’s when the important stuff surfaces… not when you’re staring at an empty suitcase the night before departure.
So instead of fighting that process, I use it.
I create lists:
Things I need
Things I want
Last-minute questions
Items I need to double-check
Gear that needs charging or purchasing.
The lists aren’t meant to be perfect. They’re meant to catch thoughts before they disappear.
As I think of something, I write it down, or it goes into the appropriate bag.
Packing isn’t just about gear.
Before every trip, I make sure I contact every guest personally right before we leave.
Not weeks before. Not in mass emails. Right before the trip.
It matters.
It catches last-minute concerns.
It makes sure that on arrival day, I know where everyone is.
That, too, is part of my packing.
Rushed packing creates rushed thinking.
Rushed thinking leads to:
forgotten items
over packing
unnecessary stress
distraction
mental noise that follows you into the field
Packing early does the opposite.
It clears space.
By the time departure day arrives, I’m not asking myself “Did I forget something?”
I’m already thinking about conditions, weather, wildlife, and being present.
That’s where I want my attention to be.
You don’t need to be obsessive.
You don’t need to be perfect.
You just need to start.
Let the process work in the background while you live your life.
Grab things as they come to mind.
Write things down.
Stack them up.
Because the goal of packing is to arrive clear, focused, and present.
And that starts long before you zip up your bag.