Why Does No One Talk About the Personal Item Struggle? +free Notion template
Let’s talk about the personal item you’re allowed to bring on a flight. Not your carry-on. Not your checked bag. That little bag you keep under the seat in front of you.
No one ever talks about how impossible it is to fit everything you need into that one space, especially if you’re a traveller who carries gear. I’m talking camera, laptop, iPad, liquids, snacks, passport, chargers... and all of it needs to be accessible and security-airport-approved.
What I Carry
I’m not a light traveller when it comes to tech, especially when I’m documenting my trip.
My personal item usually needs to hold:
My camera, plus a small stand and mic
Camera batteries + charger
My laptop and mouse
iPad + Apple Pencil
Phone, headphones (big and small), and power bank
External hard drive
All chargers, cables, and adapters
And that’s just the tech part. These usually need to get out of my bag through security checks (depending on the airport).
Then there’s the practical stuff:
Passport, ticket, and travel documents
A small liquids bag (ready to pull out at security)
My medications + a mini first aid kit
Tissues, compression socks, and self-care essentials (what Koreans call the 퀄리템)
Snacks (because I’m always hungry)
Journal + pen
Umbrella (sometimes)
How do I fit all this in one bag that goes under the seat? I’m genuinely asking.
Accessibility vs. Organisation
I prefer to keep my bag under the seat instead of overhead. It’s safer, I don’t need to reach up mid-flight, and I can grab whatever I need during the flight without bothering anyone.
But that means the way I organise my personal items really matters. Lately, I’ve been thinking about investing in a divider or internal organiser to make everything more accessible. I usually prefer shoulder bags because they’re easier to open quickly, but they’re hard on my shoulders, which are already kind of weak. So I’m switching to a backpack, even though it’s trickier to grab things from.
The Packing Puzzle
Every time I pack for a flight, I go through this puzzle again. What do I need to keep out for security? What needs to be padded and protected? What should be on top for easy access? And why does no one talk about how complicated this part is?
Most travel content focuses on outfits, cute passport holders, or what fits in a carry-on. But this personal item bag—the one you live out of during the flight—is where so much of the real travel stress happens.
Still Figuring It Out
Honestly, I haven’t cracked the code yet. I’m still testing out bag setups and trying to make my packing more ergonomic and efficient. I’m thinking of sharing a breakdown of what I eventually pack, or even doing a photo of how I arrange it all once I find a system that works.
Until then, if you’ve figured it out, please tell me.
Notion template for packing
I use Notion a lot. We can struggle together with these packing lists. I have one for bigger trips and another for shorter trips. You can add your own things or use it as inspiration. And I thought, “Why not share it here?” You can just duplicate it and you’re done.
Just so you know: I originally recorded myself talking about this topic and then used ChatGPT to help shape the transcription into something structured for this post. I’ve edited and reviewed everything myself—so what you’re reading is still fully me, just with a little help organizing my thoughts.