Packing for gap year projects can be one of the most stressful parts of preparing to leave. Sorting a visa, checking your passport and getting your currency all seems like a walk in the park when you’re faced with piles and piles of clothes to fit into a bag that’s no bigger than one of your drawers at home. The chances are you won’t use a good twenty percent of what you pack, but you might just be missing a few essentials; here are a few things you might forget to pack for gap year projects.

Travel Wash
Wherever you find yourself staying during gap year projects, the chances are that you will have access to a washing machine from time to time. However, don’t assume that you will always have time to put a wash on, hang it out and wait for it to dry; the spontaneous nature of gap year projects may well mean that you are on the go a lot. Just when you need that one item of clothing, you will find it screwed up at the bottom of your backpack having not been washed since you last wore it. Panic not – you don’t need to find a washing machine, just the travel wash you so handily packed! There are plenty of very effective mini-detergents out there that will fit in your wash bag, work very well on difficult stains, and allow you to hand wash your clothes, or even just part of the dirty item, in the blink of an eye - and all you need to do is find a hand drier to finish off!

After Sun
We all know that one of the most important things to pack for gap year projects is sun cream. As we head to warmer climates, our pasty skin acts as its very own reminder of the dange
rs of the sun – that is if your mother hasn’t already waved several bottles of factor 50 sun lotion under your nose. However, no matter how much we pack in the way of sun protection, the chances are that at some point during gap year projects, you will suffer a little sunburn. This is particularly likely if you are off to countries such as Africa or Australia, and you are likely to be working outdoors and in the midday heat. However, whilst we will have packed the sun cream, how many of us will have packed the after-sun to soothe that sunburn? Fantastic for taking the heat out of sunburn, preventing peeling, and generally making you more comfortable if you have caught the sun, after-sun is an essential item to pack if your gap year projects will mean you’re out in the sun.

Dioralyte
No matter how strong a constitution you have when you’re at home, anything from the climate to the cuisine during your gap year projects might just set your stomach off. If you are unlucky enough to pick up a tummy bug when you’re away, whilst the most obvious side effects will keep you preoccupied and probably confined to your bed or the bathroom, the hidden side effects are the most problematic. Dehydration is a prevalent part of a stomach bug, but one we tend to ignore. However in a hot climate this is especially dangerous. No matter how healthy you feel before you go, be sure to pack some rehydration sachets such as Dioralyte so that if you were to fall sick, you can replenish your fluid levels as quickly as possible.

So, while you’re packing for your upcoming gap year projects, think outside the box. Make a little room for those items that you hope you won’t need, but will certainly be grateful that you have.