Summer is here and lots of us may be having time away at a cottage or campsite. Whatever the destination…..
Key #1 to packing is to have a checklist.
Save it on your computer from year to year and perfect it over time. This is especially true if you go to the same place year after year, but even if you don’t, packing lists will always have similar items and can easily be tweaked and added to if the destination changes year to year. Please don’t reinvent the wheel every year.
Take the list one step further and break it down by family member. Assign each person certain items that they are responsible to either pack in their own suitcase or else bring to a central spot where you will pack them. Give each person a checklist to work from.
Key #2 take the list along with you on your trip.
Add things you wish you had brought along. Make notes about anything you want to do differently for next time.
When you get back home up-date your master list so you can refer to it next year.
Key #3 if you are camping or cottaging, plan your menus in advance.
Make a list of any food items or kitchen necessities that you need to take along and add these items to your master packing list.
This is key – save your menu and re-use it again next year. You put a lot of time into figuring out what to eat while you are away, why reinvent the wheel next year.
Save the menu, packing list and grocery list so that you can do it all over again next year. If for any reason some of your choices weren’t a hit this time around, then note changes that you’ll make next year.
Key #4 Pack-up with a Purpose.
This one was life changing for me!! When you are at your destination and nearing the end of your holiday you always have to spend some time packing up. Be very intentional and think about ease of unpacking once you are home. It is tempting to just toss everything into the suitcases, bins or wash baskets that you have along. However, it doesn’t really take any more time to try out my life changing way to pack-up for the trip home.
I designate certain bins or suitcases for basement, main floor and upstairs. In other words, once we’re home, we’ll find everything that belongs in the basement packed in the same bin so someone can carry it directly downstairs and put it away – dirty wash to the laundry room, thermos jug to its home in the furnace room, games to the cupboard in the family room etc.
Main floor items (of which there is usually the most) all get packed together – food for the fridge, popcorn popper to the pantry, suncreen/bug spray to the front hall closet etc.
Upstairs items all get packed together – clean clothing only (no dirty mixed in), phone charger to the office, current novel to the bedside table, slippers to the closet etc.
If you have items that will be returned to the garage or shed then pack them together as well.
You get the idea! Think about ease of unpacking at home as you pack-up to leave the cottage or start the journey home from visiting out of town relatives.
Once you are home make it a family rule that everyone works together to fully unpack and get the washer started. Then order in pizza and relax. It will feel amazing to wake up the next morning and be fully unpacked!! So much better than bins and suitcases still sitting in the front hall.
I’m all about working smarter not harder. If you find this preparation work for holidays overwhelming, let me know. I’m happy to share my lists and menus 🙂
Happy Holidays!
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