“Carry on your bags, carry on with your life” is Jeri Lynch’s motto.

In her book, “Secrets of the Packing Queen — A Practical yet Fun Guide to Travel,” Lynch shares tips for lightening the load. “It’s not just a packing system. It’s a lifestyle change,” she says.

The Kahala woman was not always this organized. Before she devised her packing system for travel, Lynch would drag around oversize and overstuffed suitcases on her trips. “I’d pack too much or too little. I always brought the wrong things," she says. “I’d dread getting ready for a trip.”

Lynch makes about 12 to 15 trips a year to visit her grown children in Los Angeles, New York and Scotland. She decided to minimize the stress of packing while planning for a trip around the world.

“I travel light now but still have a wardrobe that is versatile and fun,” she said.

The key, according to Lynch, is to pick pieces that serve more than one purpose. For example, a black cashmere scarf can be used as a shawl, worn as a head scarf in countries where it’s customary for women to cover up, or wrapped around the neck to create a turtleneck effect.

Another example of a multitasker is the pareo, which can be worn as a bathing suit cover-up or tied over leggings and worn as a skirt.

Lynch uses a 3-5-9 formula for packing: three colors, five components and nine accessories. Components are wardrobe foundations such as a sweater, dress, leggings, blouse or skirt. Cotton fabrics and solid colors make it easier to pack and mix and match pieces.

“Find things that are thin and pack well,” she says.

For example, Lynch was able to find a warm down jacket from Patagonia that folds neatly into a small bag. A basic black dress should always be included in the mix, she adds.

INSTEAD OF packing extra clothes for extended trips, Lynch packs Forever New, a laundry soap she found in the lingerie department at Macy’s. She washes her clothes in the hotel sink, wraps them in a towel and stomps on the towel to remove excess moisture. The clothing is hung in the shower overnight to dry. Another recommended laundry item is Downy Wrinkle Release spray.

Lynch’s book provides specific brand names and sizes of travel bags, shoes and more. The main pieces of luggage she travels with are a “spinner” carry-on and a travel tote. Lynch manages to organize everything she needs for a three-week trip in these two small bags using packing cubes; a travel kit with containers for shampoos, lotions and more; a train case for nonliquid toiletries; a makeup bag; a passport wallet; and a Baggallini “bag-in-a pouch,” a flat bag that opens to a large suitcase that can be used to check in souvenirs on the return trip.

“The packing cube is the most important piece. It’s amazing what can fit inside one of these cubes,” she said.

Basic cubes are 14 by 10 by 3 inches and are available from Eagle Creek for around $15 each at Bag ‘n Baggage at Ala Moana Center and www.luggagepros.com and other online retailers. Lynch uses three cubes in different colors: one for tops and dresses, one for bottoms and one for underwear and accessories. Chargers, power adapters, iPods and similar items should be labeled and packed together.

“The cubes fit compactly inside the suitcase. When traveling, I treat them like dresser drawers. For short stays I don’t even unpack them,” she says.

You must accept that you might not be able to dress the same on the road as you do at home, she explains. “You might need to leave your ego at home. There is simply not enough room in the suitcase,” Lynch says.