To
truly vacate the everyday and fully enjoy your vacation time away, prepping
beforehand and keeping your real goals in mind during will help set you up to
make a clean getaway.
Some
might feel a rush from the hurried, night-before-at-midnight packing
spree. I disagree. Packing as much as you can in advance helps
ensure you don’t forget anything and you’re not getting your trip off to a
breathless start. If you’re a list
maker, write or type out the number and types of each clothing item you’ll
need, plus all the extras. Before items
go in the suitcase (neatly!), lay everything out – shoes, jewelry, accessories,
and so forth. Picturing each outfit
fully loaded helps easily forgotten pieces make the trip. Also, planning in advance for what you want
to wear helps eliminate those last-night loads of laundry, for specific pieces
were already pulled and not available for you to wear in the days prior to your
departure. Lay all the applicable
toiletries out on the bathroom counter the evening before, and add each item to
your cosmetic bag or dopp kit after you use it for the last time at home.
Pack
the “extra” bag; whether riding in the car or flying on a plane, prep snacks,
reading material, music, and electronics with all the right chords and
chargers. Think about food and magazines
while at the grocery store the last time before you leave and avoid the higher
prices at convenience stores and airports.
If you will be gone for more than a couple of nights, make all the
arrangements to have your home checked on, the mail picked up, and the lawn
taken care of if need be.
Prep
for comfort. Look up the weather
patterns – or swings – to expect, and plan your shoes and layers
accordingly. Going to a hot spot but
might want a jacket on a chilly plane?
Going to a cold spot but need your flip flops to accompany your swimsuit
for the hot tub?
While
you’re away, take photos with purpose.
Will you be running a slideshow for family when you return? Then perhaps don’t take 15 shots of
essentially the same thing. Will you be
putting together a photo book you build online and have printed? Capture the little things that will help tell
your story, like signs that welcome you to a city, state, or resort; a well-crafted
food dish; or the attractive room where you stay.
A
real key in vacationing is focusing on getting away. That means phone calls and emails that fill
your time at home need to be kept to a minimum, and be confident the world will
continue to turn at the office without you in it. Let your mind get away with the rest of you,
and enjoy the sights, the meals, the entertainment, and the deeper rest you
truly intend to soak up this summer vacation.
DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star June 9th.
