We all know the feeling of having way too many things to do as we prepare for vacation. There always seems to be one more thing that needs to get done. A plan can save you a ton of stress and help you leave work and daily life behind with confidence that everything will be fine when you return.
The key to preparing for vacation stress-free is thinking ahead. Now I know for some of you that’s like asking you to teach an elephant how to drive but stay with me. You have to dedicate short amounts of time leading up to your trip to accomplish small things that will, in the long run, be well worth your efforts.
Below is a list of tasks to take care of 0-14 days before your trip. I know this sounds like a lot of prep time, but really, none of them are a ton of work. What happens to most of us, is we leave everything until the last two days and it becomes a very overwhelming three-ring circus. Here’s where to start:
PREPARE FOR VACATION AT WORK
Lucky you! You get to enjoy time off for a chance to recharge. That said, your work to-do list doesn’t exactly get any shorter now that you will be gone for a few days. Stay ahead of the game by doing the following:
RIGHT AWAY: Update your calendars
Move and cancel meetings and block days off with an out of office title so coworkers are aware when scheduling meetings for the future. Don’t stop at just the days you are out. Block the day before you leave, if possible, in order to create space to accomplish all of your projects. It’s also smart to block an hour or two the first morning you return to work. It will take time to filter through your inbox and/or get back into the swing of things.
Time commitment: 5-10 minutes
7-10 DAYS BEFORE: Plan the week you leave
If you leave for vacation Friday, August 9, plan the days leading up to it (August 5-8 in this case) and have it in place beforehand (by August 2) so you can come ready to get things done. Write down a must get done list, a would-be-nice to have done list, and a can wait until I return list.
From there, create to-do’s with your must get done list for each day. With any free space, include a few nice to have done items. Be sure to not over-pack your calendar. Leave 1-2 hours open per day for the unexpected.
Time commitment: 30 minutes
0-7 DAYS BEFORE: Be Productive
You took time to plan your week and now it’s time to check off the boxes. Be as productive 4 days before you leave as you will be 1 day before you leave. Stick to your plan and day-by-day you will accomplish everything. Keep in mind that we tend to return home with more on our plate than we were initially anticipating, so try to have a few tasks on your nice to have done list done, in addition to everything on your must get done list.
Time commitment: however long your job takes
0-7 DAYS BEFORE: Plan out the week you return
Do you ever return to work after vacation and feel like you got punched in the stomach? Avoid that and take time to fill in your calendar for the week you get back. Do exactly what you did above, starting with your can wait until I return list. You may not know everything in advance, but you know what a typical week looks like for you. This will make the transition back into work life a breeze.
Time commitment: 30 minutes
1 DAY BEFORE: Final Prep
Don’t forget to set your out of office auto-reply—what a great feeling, huh? Also, be sure to remind coworkers of any extra responsibilities they may have and/or who to contact while you are gone.
Time commitment: 10 minutes
PREPARE FOR VACATION AT HOME
5-7 DAYS BEFORE: Start Packing
BEFORE THE NIGHT BEFORE. I cannot stress this enough. Prepare for vacation by packing early because the day before travel is a stressful one by nature. Packing is one area you have complete control of and the earlier you start, the better. It allows you to accomplish even more in the final 24 hours without the lingering I still need to pack feeling.
- STEP ONE: Make a list. Check the weather, envision what you will wear each day, and jot down outfits. Don’t forget shoes and toiletries. And mix and match where you can to keep it light.
- STEP TWO: Lay out the clothes from your list. I like to make piles by outfit/day and have it somewhere I often see them to help make decisions as days go by and plans are finalized.
- STEP THREE: PACK IT UP! Get everything into a suitcase, zipped up, and next to the door. You are going to feel SO accomplished and ready to tackle the rest of your to-do list.
Pro Tip: If you are checking a bag, make sure to put one outfit and your toothbrush in your carry on. You never know if your luggage will get lost.
Time commitment: 90 minutes—split into three, 30-minute chunks
7-10 DAYS BEFORE: Meal Prep the Week You Leave
Prep the week you leave so you don’t have to throw away any fresh foods that will go bad while you are gone. Nobody likes throwing away perfectly good bell peppers. And nobody likes returning home to brown ones either. If you leave Thursday, decide what you want to eat Sunday-Wednesday, make a list, and only buy those ingredients at the grocery store.
Time commitment: 15 minutes to plan, 30 minutes to shop
7 DAYS BEFORE: Meal Prep the Week You Return
Decide what you want to cook the first couple days after you return and make a grocery list (perfect airplane time-passer) so when you do get home, you can make a quick run to the grocery store vs. being flustered and ordering Dominos three nights in a row. I don’t know about you, but I hate errands when I come back home. Make them as easy as possible. You will thank yourself ten times over.
BONUS: For all of the healthy eaters, this is also a good strategy for getting back into your routine after coming off a few days of cocktails, pasta, and desserts. Don’t let 4 days of eating out turn into 7.
Time commitment: 15 minutes to plan, 30 minutes to shop
1-2 DAYS BEFORE: Clean/Garbage
Nobody likes coming home to a messy house—let alone a stinky one! Make sure you run through this list before you head out:
- Clean out your fridge
- Take out the trash
- Wash all of the dishes
- Toss any mail sitting around
- Sweep the floors
- Put shoes away
- Get your laundry done. You will be coming home with more of it!
Time commitment: 60-120 minutes
DAY YOU LEAVE: FINAL HOME CHECKLIST
- Turn the lights off, along with TVs and other devices
- Double check your keys are in-hand and lock all of the doors
- Shut the garage door
- Turn your heat down
- Water your plants—and arrange for someone to help while you are gone if needed.
Time commitment: 5 minutes of chicken-with-your-head-cut-off because you need to get to the airport.
THIS, THAT & THE OTHER
0-7 Days Before: Don’t forget the little things
EMERGENCY CONTACT; make sure at least one person knows where you going and where you will be staying. Share phone numbers of others in your group so they always have a way of contacting you in an emergency.
CREDIT CARDS; give your bank a quick call to let them know you are traveling and those swipes are indeed you!
PAY YOUR BILLS; if you’re not on auto-pay (you should be but that’s another story), make sure to make advance payments to avoid late fees.
WITHDRAW CASH/CLEAN YOUR WALLET; I like cash on vacation because it is good in an emergency and also helps me better track what I spend. Also, take out any unnecessary items from your wallet like gifts cards, coupons, etc.
CONFIRM RESERVATIONS; check hotel, car rentals, restaurants, and any other experiences you planned to ensure everything is in order.
DOWNLOAD ENTERTAINMENT; if you want a show, movie, podcast, or music for your flight, make sure you download it.
APPOINTMENTS; Cancel the dentist appointment you made 6 months ago.
THE NIGHT BEFORE
CHECK IN ONLINE; if you are flying, check in online for a seamless experience—and one less line at the airport. NOTE: if you are traveling Sun Country, the only way to check in online is to purchase a seat. Sneaky, sneaky. Just get to the airport 15 minutes earlier and avoid the fee.
PLUG IN YOUR PHONE; pretty self-explanatory.
GET A GOOD’S NIGHT SLEEP; if you follow this plan to prepare for vacation, you will have no problem with getting to bed at a reasonable hour and sleeping like a baby before you head out of town. Make sure to set your alarm!
It’s not easy to prepare for a vacation, but it can be simple with forward- thinking and planning.
Now you can tackle the preparing head on, but that’s not the only part of travel stress that can occur. It can come at you in a variety of ways. Luckily, there are strategies to escape it. Read 9 common travel headaches and how to reduce the stress surrounding them.
