Home for the Holidays

The holidays are upon us! This time of year many of us head home for the holidays to gather with friends and family. Traveling during this busy season can be stressful at a time that we should be feeling peace and joy, right? The key to enjoying your holidays travels is planning and organizing. Spending a little time prepping will pay off big in keeping everyone holly and jolly!

Make a Plan

Pull out the pen and paper and make your holiday travel checklist. Starting this a couple of weeks before you hit the road or take flight works well. This gives you plenty of time to really consider everything you will need and not forget anything. This helps make your trip stress free and fun.

Check the weather and plan your outfits so you don’t overpack on clothing. If you are taking gifts for others, make sure you have a timeline on having those purchased, wrapped and ready to go. If your job is to plan and pack for other family members, add their items to your list or create a separate one for each person. And don’t forget your pet’s necessities if they are traveling with you as well.

If you are traveling by car it will be helpful to include an emergency bag. This can be especially important if you have a far distance to travel. Include items like a flashlight with extra batteries, warm blankets, bottled water and snacks. You may not need it, but it wil be so nice to have if you do.

If you are traveling by air be sure to include your daily essentials, needed medication and at least one extra outfit in your carry on just in case. You luggage could be lost, your kid could spoil their clothes or you could spill coffee on your shirt. So many possibilites that could lead to irritation and meltdowns. Planning ahead allows you to turn that “Oh, no!” moment into a “It’s ok, we’ve got it covered!’ experience.

Plan for Downtime

If you are heading to the airport, plan for waiting time and possible delays, especially if you have young children. This goes for roadtrips too as you may find yourself sitting in traffic. Include books, puzzles and small games in a carry on bag or use an organizer on the back of the seat in your car to offset the inevitable boredom. Bored can lead to irritated and that’s no fun for anyone. It’s amazing what a simple card game can do to keep the whole crew engaged, entertained and smiling.

While we can’t know all the things that may happen as we travel home for the holidays, being prepared for the “what ifs” can really be a game changer in keeping the stress down and the enjoyment up.

Travel Before or After

If possible try to plan your travels around the busiest times. If you are taking a road trip, plan to leave a day before the rush or travel at night when the roads aren’t quite so congested. This can really work well if you have young children as they will likely sleep during the trip. If you are traveling by air the same concept applies.

You could also consider planning your family get togethers either before or after the holiday season. This would really help avoid the rush and you and your family will be cozy and warm in your home for the actual holiday. After all the holiday is just a date on a calendar right? The real magic is the time spent with loved ones and that won’t change if it’s the weekend before or after.

Leave Some Space

If a gift exchange or holiday shopping is part of your family holiday traditions, leave space in your suitcases or car for those items. If you arrive packed to the brim it will be difficult to pack everything up when it’s time to head home. No one wants to leave their stuff behind. Leaving some space will help you avoid having to coordinate how your items are getting home to you with other family members saving you both time and money with the cost of shipping. And you definitely don’t want to skip out on the festivities and deals only because you don’t have enough room, right?

Enjoy Your Time

Planning and organizing your holiday travels really will make a big difference in the ease of the experience for you and your family. And sometimes no matter how much we plan, something still happens. You forget a toothbrush, the kid’s tablet dies and you aren’t sure where the charger is and the list goes on. The most important thing to remember is to try to enjoy your time with your family and friends. Stuff is stuff and stress will dissipate, but time with those you love is precious. Soak it up!

And if you are hosting family and friends for the holidays we have tips for that too!

If you need a hand decluttering and organizing your home, we’re here to help! 
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