The Struggles of Planning Travel: Why I Need a Vacation from Planning

We listen, and we don’t judge….are we still doing that?

The excitement of an upcoming trip is clouded by the dread of actually planning for it. Don’t get me wrong; I love to travel. But when it comes to getting ready for a trip—especially when I’m already running on empty—it can feel like I'm more focused on getting through the planning than actually getting on the plane.

How I’m trying to be with my luggage 🤞🏾

Take me, for example. I’m leaving for a trip in exactly one week, and let’s say I haven’t exactly crossed off a lot of things on my to-do list. I haven’t packed. Nope, not one item in the suitcase. I’ve barely booked my hotel. It's embarrassing, but in my defense, I'm pretty sure my brain just checks out during travel prep. And don’t even get me started on the laundry. I still need to clean, go to work, and somehow squeeze in a trip to get those last-minute items.

At this point, all I really want is to fast-forward to the part where I’m sitting on a beach somewhere with a drink in my hand, not stressing about how I’m going to get there. But alas, we all know the “vacation before vacation” struggle: you can’t just snap your fingers and poof, everything’s ready. You’ve got to push through. So, how do you do it without losing your mind or having a full-on meltdown?

Enter: The Lazy Traveler’s Packing Checklist. (A.K.A. my lifesaver.)

The Lazy Traveler’s Pre-Trip Checklist:

1. Confirm your hotel: If all else fails, book a hotel and buy everything you need when you get there. I once took a trip to Italy with an empty suitcase and my credit card. (It wasn’t the best idea, but I had a lot of fun and did a lot of shopping.)

2. Find a suitcase: Have I told ya’ll I’m going checked bag free this year? You would think with just a carry-on, I would have packed by now. I told myself it would only take five minutes... that was a week ago.

3. Pack half the clothes you think you need: You know that feeling when you pack way too many clothes and only end up wearing your favorite three? Yeah, let’s be realistic this time. I’ll pack the essentials (which, if I’m being honest, probably just means a swimsuit and something comfy for the flight).

4. Laundry time: Ah, laundry. The one thing that feels like it has nothing to do with travel but somehow is the final barrier before you can pack your bags. Why is this the most exhausting part of the process? To make matters worse, our washer broke 2 days ago. Send help.

5. Do the bare minimum cleaning: Don’t go overboard. There’s always time to clean when you get back, right? Just make sure:

   • The dishes are out of sight,

   • the fridge is empty,

   • and the trash has been thrown out. No one will notice the dust.

6. Pick up those last-minute essentials: You know, those things you’re probably forgetting. A charger, a travel pillow, and a snack that you’ll probably eat in the first 10 minutes of the flight.

It’s going to be fine. I know I’m going to get everything done in time (I always do, somehow), but as of now, I’m just here trying to avoid the impending meltdown that’s definitely going to happen the night before I leave.

But for now, I’m going to take a deep breath, get this checklist done, and power through the final stretch. Because if there’s one thing I know, it’s that no one has ever actually had it all together when it comes to travel planning.

At the end of the day, I just have to get myself organized—or at least fake it until I’m on the plane. Fingers crossed, I make it there without forgetting my headphones.

Wishing me luck... or at least some calm before the chaos!