Vacation-Ready Home: How to Leave Without Stress and Return to Calm
Back to school supplies are already showing up in the stores, but there is still so much summer left. Here we give you tips on creating a vacation-ready home so you can steal away without stress.
Vacations are one of the many highlights of the summer; you finally have a chance to sit back, relax, and take a break from the daily grind. Creating that relaxed mental state, however, requires some prep before you set food out the door. Creating a vacation-ready home is not often on people’s packing list. It is, however, an important part of preparing for vacation, especially if you plan on leaving home for a week or more. You want a space you can confidently leave and safely return to. More importantly, a vacation-ready home is one you want to return to. With a little intention and preparation, you can prepare your home, and yourself, for that summer vacation.
Clean With Intention
Take the opportunity before leaving for vacation to clean your home with intention. This doesn’t have to happen in one day; you can work on this even a month before you head out. Especially with longer vacations, though, you want to leave your home vacation-ready: in other words, a space that doesn’t invite any unwanted visitors. Cleaning under furniture and along counters and other crevices can prevent mold from growing or food from accumulating and attracting pests while you’re gone. Plus, a clean space is refreshing to come back to!
Pack What You Know You’ll Need
Whether you’re the kind of person that creates a packing list before anything goes into the suitcase, or you use your surroundings as inspiration, it can be tempting to overpack and include many “just in case” items. When packing for your trip, the best advice is to take half as much stuff and twice as much money.
Packing too much stuff can make it harder to find what you’re looking for and create stress when you’re trying to get on the move, not to mention the added weight in the suitcase that can end up costing you hundreds of extra dollars. When you’re thinking about what to pack, do some research on the weather in the area you’re staying in and the activities you plan on doing. Packing for what you know you need creates intention around your vacation and limits what you add that you may never end up using. If you find you’re still running out of space, go through your list again and really think about if you need everything on it. Clothes and toiletries are often the most overpacked things, as well as the things you can typically buy while on vacation if you really are missing something. Don’t forget to leave extra space for souvenirs!
Plan For Your Pets
Vacationing as a pet owner adds an extra layer of planning, but it doesn’t have to add an extra layer of stress. Make sure you have someone who can pop in and feed and spend time with caged pets like lizards and turtles. For furry pets, you’ll need to determine if you’re vacationing with your pet, leaving them behind. If you’re bringing your pet with you, do some research on pet laws and customs wherever you’re traveling so you can plan ahead. If you’re road tripping, be sure to keep food and water handy and be prepared to have to stop along the road. If you’re flying, many airports now have places for your pet to use the bathroom before you get to your gate.
If you’re leaving your pet at home, give yourself some time to find a pet sitter well before you leave town. You’ll want to introduce them to your pet beforehand, so your pet gets to know their sitter. Make sure the sitter knows where to find extra food and supplies and provide them with contact information for yourself and a trusted neighbor or friend in case they need to get ahold of someone.
Let Someone Know You’ll Be Gone
Leaving your home for more than a few days can be scary for some, especially those who live in larger neighborhoods. Part of creating a vacation-ready home is considering security. Things lie using timers so that your lights go on at certain times can help and be sure to stop deliveries of your mail and newspapers. You might even consider having someone mow your lawn if you’re going to be gone longer than a week.
If you’re worried about what might happen to your home while you’re gone, let someone know you’re leaving and what days you’ll be gone. Ask someone to drive by your house or even pop in to make sure your home is safe (this also can make it appear like someone is still in your home and make it less appealing to thieves). Having security as part of your vacation-ready home plan is crucial if you plan on being out for a couple weeks or longer. Having someone nearby who can help you out and keep in communication while you’re away can provide an extra sense of safety and security so you can enjoy your time away from home.
Taking time to relax and enjoy a vacation is an important part of your well-being and can help you connect with family, friends, and loved ones outside of your normal routines. As you prepare for your adventures, creating a vacation-ready home can help you travel with peace of mind and come home to calm. A little effort and some preparation can go a long way in keeping your home safe and ready for you when you return.