Organization, Week by Week: Week 4

This week on Organization, Week by Week: How to Prepare for a Trip!

This particular post is not about organizing part of your home or office, but more about preparing to go away, even if it's only for a weekend. 

It's my personal — and very neurotic — opinion that you should start preparing for a trip a week in advance, if it's possible. When I say preparing, I mean making packing lists and checklists, getting everything in order to go, checking reservations, finding directions, etc. — not booking a hotel or making dinner reservations or anything else that requires advance notice, unless it's a spur of the moment or emergency situation. 

(If it's a spur of the moment decision to go on a trip, that doesn't mean you shouldn't prepare! You'll hate yourself if you don't.)

Step One: Make a Finalized Plan

This is not a packing list or itinerary — and should be the first thing you do, a reasonably brief amount of time (a week or so) before you depart.

You don't necessarily have to write these sorts of things down, but you should at least have a general idea of what's going on.

Make sure you know:

- Where you're going and for how long

- The weather you're going to encounter 

- What you need to do before you leave

- What you're going to do (generally) when you get there

- What kind of attire is appropriate

- Who you need to contact before you leave
(babysitters, pet kennels, clients or employers, family members or friends)

Step Two: Make a Packing List

A week before, after you finalize your plan, sit down and write down or type your packing list. I use Notes on my Mac to do this — I know there are fancy applications for packing, but none of them work for me. 

(Plus, I like how it looks like handwriting on a legal pad, even though it's on my computer screen!)

You can be as detailed or as brief as you want.

Step Three: Make a To-Do List

This is the part many people overlook, and I don't, for the life of me, understand.

Going on a trip takes preparation, and before you leave, you probably have ten thousand things you need to do. Don't be one of those people who forgets everything important they needed to do until they're in the car, an hour away from their final destination!

This list needs to include:

- People you need to contact

- Chores that need to be done (wash dishes, empty litter box, make the bed, etc.)

- Things to remember to pack or put away

- Things like closing the curtains or hiding your valuables

- Checking reservations at restaurants, hotels, etc.

- Checking your car or printing out a boarding pass

-----

Happy vacationing!

Much love,

Paige