6 Things To Do Before A Trip
As someone with anxiety, I appreciate routines and creating systems that make preparing for a trip less stressful and more efficient. I’ve compiled a list of what I regularly do before each trip to ensure my prep and travel day are successful.
Research and Plan
Researching for a trip is one of my favorite things. It gets me excited and I go into my trip feeling prepared. The start of my research usually consists of looking through Pinterest and reviewing suggestions on Yelp. I compile all of my findings including restaurants, attractions, and tips into my Travel Planner (get it here). I eventually print my planner out and bring it on my trip.
I also set up a digital guide. This is either a Yelp collection of all the places I want to check out or it’s a digital guide. Did you know that you can save locations using your Maps app into guides? The best part of this is you can share your guides with others.
Create my Packing List
I like to start packing a few days earlier up until the trip. To prepare, I set up my packing list using the app Packr. There are many packing apps out there but I’ve been pretty happy using this one. You can input your location, transportation type, activities, etc. It then compiles a packing list based on the weather and how many days you will be there.
I find having this list is helpful to make sure I don’t forget any of the essentials. It also gives me a guide for how many clothing items I should bring. As I pack a little at a time, I check things off the list. It helps to not have to worry about what I’ve already packed and what I still need to pack.
Add Location to My Weather App
I also like to search the location on my phone weather app and add it so that I can get a feel for the weather conditions. This helps with my packing as well as seeing if I should be prepared for any major weather issues.
Download the Airline App
I usually download the airline app for my trip if I don’t already have it. Nowadays, the apps contain most of the valuable information such as flight info, online snacks, and entertainment. It can be difficult to download the app last minute when your wifi isn’t good in the airport.
Doing this ahead of time helps me to feel prepared and I can check in, get my boarding passes, or look for any changes.
Take Supplements
I hate getting sick right before a trip or even worse, on the trip. I often start taking supplements a few days before to help boost my immune system. You don’t know what kind of germs are sitting around in the airport and airplane so I like to prep my system the best I can. I usually continue the supplements on the trip as well.
Set My Intentions
It is easy to set unrealistic expectations on a trip and go in thinking you will be able to do everything and everything will go smoothly. I like to set intentions around the purpose of the trip. Is the purpose to visit with family? Or is the purpose to celebrate a wedding? Identifying the purpose helps to avoid extra pressure on doing things that don’t match the overall purpose of the trip.
I also like to identify my “must-dos” and my “would like to dos”. That way if time is limited or there are unforeseen challenges I know what to prioritize.