The week before a vacation I feel crazy

[Anonymous]

I hate it bc I dread leaving our pets and hate air travel so much that i’d rather just be home.

[Anonymous]

Yeah - I’ve developed a pretty detailed packing list for ourselves that I edit over time. That’s been a huge help. It has a section I print for each kid and add numbers to indicate how many pants, socks, shorts etc for that trip so they can pretty much pack themselves.

I try to make specific packing list for myself in advance (what outfits I’m going to wear) and then in the days leading up I do laundry to make sure the favorite jeans or whatever are clean and I put them aside so I don’t wear them before the trip.

I have no idea how DH packs in under 10 minutes, even for a weeklong trip with different activities and climates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes!

This is what works for me, OP:

We typically leave for vacation on Saturday, so this is how I plan my week:

Sunday: Sit down and make a detailed list of things I need to pack and do. It’s detailed down to things like “pack swim covers” and “lock windows”.

Monday: Bring out suitcases and dust them off, then leave them in the spare bedroom. (Before we had a spare bedroom, I kept them in the dining room.) Throughout the week, pack things that are going but that won’t be needed all week.

Tuesday: Nothing, the calm before the storm.

Wednesday: Laundry. This is my “final call” for familial laundry. This is the last load of clothes before the trip and after this, everyone is on their own. If anything is washed that is going, it gets packed now.

Thursday: Clean the house. Everyone pitches in and blitz cleans the house. We will do a lite clean again tomorrow.

This is also the day I stop cooking. The kitchen is closed and we get take out until we leave.

Friday: I like to take this day off of work if possible. We finish packing, and prep as much of the house as possible. The plants are watered, the fridge is emptied, and as much of the checklist is done as possible. I also change sheets and wash them if I have time and feel like it, if not, I wash them when we get back.

Saturday: Finish checklist, and now you’re on vacation!

What’s a “swim cover?”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes!

This is what works for me, OP:

We typically leave for vacation on Saturday, so this is how I plan my week:

Sunday: Sit down and make a detailed list of things I need to pack and do. It’s detailed down to things like “pack swim covers” and “lock windows”.

Monday: Bring out suitcases and dust them off, then leave them in the spare bedroom. (Before we had a spare bedroom, I kept them in the dining room.) Throughout the week, pack things that are going but that won’t be needed all week.

Tuesday: Nothing, the calm before the storm.

Wednesday: Laundry. This is my “final call” for familial laundry. This is the last load of clothes before the trip and after this, everyone is on their own. If anything is washed that is going, it gets packed now.

Thursday: Clean the house. Everyone pitches in and blitz cleans the house. We will do a lite clean again tomorrow.

This is also the day I stop cooking. The kitchen is closed and we get take out until we leave.

Friday: I like to take this day off of work if possible. We finish packing, and prep as much of the house as possible. The plants are watered, the fridge is emptied, and as much of the checklist is done as possible. I also change sheets and wash them if I have time and feel like it, if not, I wash them when we get back.

Saturday: Finish checklist, and now you’re on vacation!

What’s a “swim cover?”

DP here. I assume she means the coverup you put over your bathing suit. So you don’t just walk around the hotel in your bathing suit.

[Anonymous]

OMG me too. I start feeling like I have to have all the boxes checked before leaving (cleaning, make sure coffee pot is empty, work is tied up) but the annoying part is that I start adding shit to my list that isn't even necessary. Like, I think about how it's been a while since I cleaned out my car and all of a sudden that's on my "to do" list. Then there's the library books, the Amazon returns, etc. No idea why I do this but nothing feels better than getting to the Gate!

[Anonymous]

I can't pack until the very last minute because my dogs start freaking out as soon as they see suitcases.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anybody else? All the packing, organizing, arranging. Yes, I'm a type A person. I have lists and notes and what not but it's still hard to dial myself down.

I typically get squirrely before travel. It’s helpful to know this about self and to have self compassion and to show myself grace. Typically I’m past last minute. Tried being done the day before this time and I was much less stressed. Just pack and let it go. I put a note on the door to confirm I’ve packed and had meds, passports and back up change of clothes. I do my best to travel with carry on only and I still use barely half of what the pack. We each have a carry on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OMG me too. I start feeling like I have to have all the boxes checked before leaving (cleaning, make sure coffee pot is empty, work is tied up) but the annoying part is that I start adding shit to my list that isn't even necessary. Like, I think about how it's been a while since I cleaned out my car and all of a sudden that's on my "to do" list. Then there's the library books, the Amazon returns, etc. No idea why I do this but nothing feels better than getting to the Gate!

I do this too. We are leaving this weekend and the yard is a mess. Won’t be able to mow because of the incoming rain and the mulch beds are super weedy. I wish it could be done before we leave but it just can’t and I keep telling myself it will be okay.

[Anonymous]

I"m also packing for spring break next week and wondering if it will all be worth it! Doesn't seem like however far ahead enough I plan that I can do it stress free.

[Anonymous]

I have relaxed about this as my kids have gotten older. Remembering chargers and headphones is higher on the list. But we are never THAT far from a Target or Walmart, where we can get just about anything we forgot. So I try not to get too crazy in the days leading up. It's ok if we don't have the perfect snack, the house isn't perfect or we forget some toiletries. We'll figure it out.

[Anonymous]

I get tremendous jittery packing anxiety too. I know the PP is sorta right that there are things you could pick up at Target if you forget (if you’ll be near a Target which sometimes we are not). But there are also things that are a royal pain if forgotten. Like essential prescription meds that can’t be filled out of state, or a bathing suit for a family member that isn’t a standard clothing size, or your glasses or the passports.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes!

This is what works for me, OP:

We typically leave for vacation on Saturday, so this is how I plan my week:

Sunday: Sit down and make a detailed list of things I need to pack and do. It’s detailed down to things like “pack swim covers” and “lock windows”.

Monday: Bring out suitcases and dust them off, then leave them in the spare bedroom. (Before we had a spare bedroom, I kept them in the dining room.) Throughout the week, pack things that are going but that won’t be needed all week.

Tuesday: Nothing, the calm before the storm.

Wednesday: Laundry. This is my “final call” for familial laundry. This is the last load of clothes before the trip and after this, everyone is on their own. If anything is washed that is going, it gets packed now.

Thursday: Clean the house. Everyone pitches in and blitz cleans the house. We will do a lite clean again tomorrow.

This is also the day I stop cooking. The kitchen is closed and we get take out until we leave.

Friday: I like to take this day off of work if possible. We finish packing, and prep as much of the house as possible. The plants are watered, the fridge is emptied, and as much of the checklist is done as possible. I also change sheets and wash them if I have time and feel like it, if not, I wash them when we get back.

Saturday: Finish checklist, and now you’re on vacation!

What’s a “swim cover?”

DP here. I assume she means the coverup you put over your bathing suit. So you don’t just walk around the hotel in your bathing suit.

Ah, got it. I’d just never heard it put quite like that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I get tremendous jittery packing anxiety too. I know the PP is sorta right that there are things you could pick up at Target if you forget (if you’ll be near a Target which sometimes we are not). But there are also things that are a royal pain if forgotten. Like essential prescription meds that can’t be filled out of state, or a bathing suit for a family member that isn’t a standard clothing size, or your glasses or the passports.

I think my packing anxiety got worse over the years because of all the things we have forgotten! Hence the masterlist so at least things like passport, prescriptions, keys and wallet will make it. In general, we don't like to plan to "purchase things upon arrival" - additional costs, more things to add to a bag, time away from the vacation etc. However, depending on where we are going or doing, buying there may be the only option. I tend to break up the travel packing planning into month out, week out, day of. I only worry about packing for myself and I like to have a daily outfit guide so I can make sure I'm bring what is needed. My family is responsible for their own packing - although I do have lists they can use. The day of I tend to turn into a tyrannt - I want to make sure the house is neat, the stove is turned off, no food will spoil etc. Once I'm in the car heading away I can finally relax.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have relaxed about this as my kids have gotten older. Remembering chargers and headphones is higher on the list. But we are never THAT far from a Target or Walmart, where we can get just about anything we forgot. So I try not to get too crazy in the days leading up. It's ok if we don't have the perfect snack, the house isn't perfect or we forget some toiletries. We'll figure it out.

This. My kids are old enough to pack for themselves and we've traveled so much that I have packing down to a science. I *could* get it done in about 20 minutes if I had to. I tend to pack the day before but make sure everything I want to take has been washed a few days before.

[Anonymous]

I love packing. Weeks ahead of time I use a staging area to collect things I may or may not want to take. when I've had to, I can pack in 10-15min but really enjoy the anticipation of travel. Love the packing!