Friday, December 19, 2014

How to travel during the holiday with ease!



Planning and Preparations: (1+ week before trip)
 * Make sure your car has had a "Pre Travel Inspection" Almost any auto shop will check your tires, fluids, battery etc for FREE to help avoid annoying breakdowns!  
* Wash and put away all laundry including blankets and bed sheets. Who doesn't love to climb into YOUR bed with  fresh sheets after a trip? Hello! We do!
* Start making 2 separate shopping list. One for pre vacation last minute items and one for post vacation grocery shopping. Make sure you have some basic staples to get you through a few meals post trip until you go shopping. 
* Pick up and clean your house. It may seem unnecessary to spend time cleaning your house when your not going to be there but TRUST ME! Its glorious to come home with nothing on your To Do List!Its the little things like this that allow you to be fully present in making memories with your family vs day dreaming about all of the things you need to do when you get home.

Packing (2-3 days before the trip)
* Instead of putting the items that you plan on taking with you in their real spot. Start a pile of "Pack for the Trip" in a basket or corner of the house. This not only keeps your future trip front of mind, but it also allows you to add those " I need to remember to bring. . " items to the pile as you see them vs having to remember that along with everything else the day of! 
* Make the final shopping trip to pick up any needed travel items, prescriptions, gifts or baking supplies! Don't forget to pick up travel snacks and entertainment if you have little ones!
* The night before the big trip, your "Pack for the Trip" pile should be annoyingly large. Take some time to make sure you have everything that you NEED. Start to pack the car leaving room for your baggage and last min items. 
 * Agree on what time you want to hit the road, make sure to allow yourself 1+ hr than what you think you will need. 

Day of Departure
* Make sure the car is filled with gas, you have directions, driving shifts mapped out, hotels booked if needed and charging cords and assigned seats
* Pick up the house one last time making sure to throw away any leftover from the fridge and empty the garbage in the entire house. 
* Pack your bags (Should be very easy since all of the laundry is done and put away) Rule of thumb, pack half of what you think you will need and bring twice as much money!

Travel Attitude tips to keep in mind. . .
1. Allowing yourself to get worked up over the little things will only take away from the little time your on vacation. Do you really want to spend any portion of your vacation upset or frustrated? 
2. Thinking about the little things will make your overall trip more enjoyable. If there is anything you can do ahead of time, DO IT! Just remember to give yourself more time that you think you will need and don't get upset if you don't stay exactly on schedule.
3. CHOOSE to not let things, family members or personal issues take away from your trip! You are in control of your attitude. If your house operates anything like mine. . when wifey is stressed, everyone's stressed!



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