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The unofficial start of summer – Memorial Day – is just a few weeks away, and lots of us have road trip and mini vacations on our minds! Such things can be lots of fun, but without the proper preparation these trips can go from terrific to troublesome fast.
Though you can’t completely avoid sibling quarrels and niggling arguments with your partner, you can take steps – via smart organization – to avoid many of the sticky situations that can arise during a family vacation.
Yes, things can get chaotic and overwhelming when traveling with your family, friends or significant other. To make things as fun and stress-free as possible is all about planning ahead, following a system, and employing effective organizational tools. Here is a look at some of my top tips as a professional organizer.
Cross Pack
No, that’s not a fancy term for some new packing method. Cross packing can make things a little easier if someone’s bag doesn’t make it to your destination. Put a spare set of clean clothes in someone else’s suitcase for each family member. Put an extra outfit and some clean underwear for yourself in your partner’s suitcase, for example.
Organize Cords and Chargers
For parents who need to keep their children occupied while traveling, portable DVD players and iPads can be lifesavers. These amazing gadgets can keep kids occupied for hours and provide an endless supply of entertainment. However, one thing is certain to ruin the fun: forgetting or misplacing the chargers.
Use a small pouch to keep all of your cords and chargers together in one place. A waterproof one will keep them free of liquids and protect them from damage and help ensure they work when you need them to!
Invest in a Headphone Splitter
It’s unlikely that you’ll win over any of your fellow passengers if you play the audio on a tablet out loud on an airplane or other mode of public transportation.
Using a headphone splitter ensures that everyone in your family can hear, even if there is only one device. Headphone splitters that allow two people to listen to music with their own headphones at the same time are readily available, as are splitters that can handle up to five pairs of headphones.
Extra#Traveltip: Headphone splitters can be super-handy if you’re visiting a museum or other type of attraction where audio guides cost money.
Bring Along Some Non-Tech Toys Too
You don’t want to have to rely entirely on technology to keep your children entertained. Batteries die, and there are times when it is preferable not to use them. Coloring books, lightweight paper books for reading, and a travel version of Guess Who are all good ideas.
Toys Should be Limited to One Small Pack-it Bag Per Child.
Assign each child a color, and then give him or her a small pack-it bag to keep all of their toys in. The different colors can help with identification. The ability to bring whatever they want will appeal to the children. Limiting them to one bag allows them to prioritize what’s most important to them and gives them some autonomy in deciding what they want.
Prepare to Combat the Noise
It’s likely that there will be times when you just want to tune out the noise, whether it’s coming from your kids or not. Consider bringing earplugs with you, which you can use or give to other passengers if your child starts screaming. If you prefer to listen to audio while removing ambient noise, now is a good time to invest in noise-canceling headphones.
Maximize Your Space
Packing cubes, folders, and sacs can help you organize and corral all of your belongings for easier finding, packing, and repacking. Color-coding by family member can help with identification once again, so use it here too. Need some packing tips to help with organization? I shared some of my top packing tips here
Pack Some Snacks for Everyone
Kids – and adults – get hungry, so plan ahead with plenty of nutritious snacks to keep them going. For easy organization, designate one pouch/bag as the food bag. It’s best if it’s lined with a waterproof material so that if something spills, it won’t ruin the rest of your belongings.
Bring Along a Collapsible Day Pack
During busy trips with multiple activities, a daypack that fits compactly inside your suitcase can be a lifesaver. Simply take out your bag and stuff it with everything you’ll need for the day, and voila! When you get home, you can either stuff it back into your suitcase without taking up too much room, or use it as an extra bag for new purchases.
Need help with any home, office or life organization project? Book a free 15-minute Zoom call here and let’s chat about how Just Organized by Taya can help you.
Working with Taya and her team is easy. You can book an appointment easily on her website, or contact her directly at 832-271-7608
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