Five Things to Do in the Days and Weeks Before Your Family Goes on Vacation

Some of the things you have to do before you go on vacation are obvious. You have to plan where you’re going to stay, how you’re going to get there, and you have to make sure everyone packs. However, some of the things you should be doing in the days and weeks before you head out the door aren’t so obvious.

Here are five things you have to make sure you do before you take off on vacation if you want to stress less and relax more while you’re away.

Make Sure You Have the Right Gear

Your vacation will only be as enjoyable as you are comfortable. That means you have to make sure everyone has the right gear.

What you pack will depend on the type of vacation you’re taking. For example, if you’re heading to a tropical locale, you’ll want to make sure everyone has at least two swimming suits. In contrast, if you’re planning on spending your days at theme parks, you will want to snag a great deal on some good walking shoes with a Nike coupon code.

It’s important to make sure you have the right clothing and footwear, but adventurous vacationers will need to take things one step further by making sure their bicycles, kayaks, or snowboards are packed.

Find Ways to Make Your Household Run Without You

Just because you won’t be at home doesn’t mean all your responsibilities go out the window. There are still things that will need to be done around the house, so you will want to make sure it’s all planned out ahead of time. Things you’ll want to plan in the days and weeks ahead of your trip include:

• Putting your mail on hold
• Arranging for someone to take care of the pets
• Scheduling for lawn care and snow removal
• Reprograming the thermostat

There are some things you should do to make it look like you’re at home when you’re not too. That way, burglars don’t figure out that you’re gone. They include putting the lights in your home on a timer and asking a neighbor to park their car in your driveway in the evening.

Avoid Social Media

There are a lot of important things to do before you go on vacation, but there are some important things not to do too.

Using timed lights and keeping a car in the driveway were listed above as ways to deter burglars from your property, but there’s no point in trying to fool them if you’re just going to tell everyone about your vacation on social media before you leave!

Unfortunately, most burglaries and home invasions are arbitrated by an acquaintance—an acquaintance who can tell what you’re up to by checking your Facebook. Don’t post where you’re going on social media before you leave, and definitely don’t talk about what you’re doing while you’re there.

Make a List of All the Things You Need to Check Before You Leave

Wondering if you unplugged the hair straightener can ruin your Zen on the airplane as you’re heading to your destination. Instead of wondering if everything is good to go, make a list that can be checked right before you leave.

Things to put on the list include:

• Unplugging electronics
• Double checking that all the doors are locked
• Double checking that the windows are locked
• Turning off the water
• Making sure the stove or oven isn’t on
• Closing the curtains

Do Some Cleaning

You may not want to tidy up before you go on vacation because you’re so excited, but you’ll be even less excited about cleaning when you return home. That’s why you should clean before you leave.

Things to take care of in the days before your vacation include:

• Doing the laundry, folding it, and putting it away
• Changing the bed sheets
• Washing and putting away the dishes
• Taking out the garbage
• Cleaning out the refrigerator
• Vacuuming carpets
• Wiping the kitchen counters

Another trick that will make you feel better about returning home is to plug in an air freshener before you leave. That way your home smells great when you return!

Don’t wait until the last minute to rush around and make sure you have everything done. With the tips on this list, you can prepare way before your vacation so you won’t lay awake at night in your hotel room wondering if you remembered to check everything off your list before you left.