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Why I Love A Travel Checklist

My friend was driving me back to the airport yesterday, following a weekend visit, and we got to chatting about her upcoming travel. She has two trips, nearly back to back, which will require quite a bit of preparation. So, she’s planning a checklist to keep on top of it all.

Great minds think alike, I say!

I don’t know about you, but I love a checklist. And I find them invaluable when it comes to travel. Even for my relatively short weekend visit, my travel checklist didn’t disappoint.

In my view, it’s one of the most productive tools for staying organised before, during and after a trip …whether you’re nipping out for an overnighter or spending a couple of weeks away.

Of course creating a checklist on its own is helpful, but a checklist template I can use over and over again is infinitely better.

Here’s why:

Reason #1 – Alleviates relying on memory

Don’t we have enough to remember as it is? It may seem obvious what we need to pack and prepare, but the truth is, it’s easy for the details to fall through the cracks.

Now of course trips may vary, but on the whole there will be a core set of things that usually remain the same: travel documents, passport or ID, phone chargers, toiletries, and a whole host of other things depending on your circumstances.

There’s no point starting from scratch every time you’re going away when you could have a template with the foundational makings of your trip already to hand. Even if you travel frequently for business, how many times have you forgotten a plug adapter or toothpaste and had to buy another at the airport? Or even after, if you realised too late?

We all forget things from time to time on our travels, but with a template in place, you’ll have already provisioned for those important, standard items needed for any given trip. The rest, such as clothing, work materials, holiday kit or anything else required can be added for that specific journey.

Reason #2 – Saves time and stress on both sides of your journey

Yes, you’ll still need to do some planning to customise your needs for a particular trip, but with a default list as a starting point you’ll trim your prep time considerably.

Following a list to methodically gather what you need also saves time, reduces stress and keeps us more focused, instead of randomly throwing things together and trying to decide on the spot.

Plus, the checklist isn’t solely a list of items to pack. 

A good checklist also includes reminders of information, tasks and other preparations to ensure you’ve covered all bases surrounding your travel.

For example, work out your travel directions and timings from the airport or train station to your accommodation, even if you’re taking a taxi.

Preemptive action saves you from the stress and panic of ‘winging it’ before you leave, as well as ‘winging it’ on the other side, especially when you might be on a tight schedule.

Reason #3 – A foundation to improve efficiency

Are there clothes you always pack, but never wear. Or items you always need and think, I must remember that next time? Perhaps you cut it too close getting to the airport and promise you’ll leave an hour earlier next time.

The tendency is to note these things mentally at the time, but not anywhere else for future reference. And that’s quite a demand on our brains. By the time the next trip comes along we’ve usually forgotten the epiphany, repeating history instead.

Whereas, a checklist template gives us a central place to record those changes immediately so we’re ready for next time, without having to think about anything. We simply follow what we told ourselves to do, with minimal effort.

Travel can be stressful, so anything to improve efficiency and make it easier is a bonus.

How to do it:

There’s nothing mind-blowing about creating a checklist, after all you’ve done them before and you know what you’ll need. But here are some points to consider:

  • Use a format or app that you like …and are likely to use. Create a word document if that resonates with you, or use an app. I find apps are handy as you can access them both on your computer and smart phone, making it easy for reference and to make changes. I personally use Wunderlist, but there’s a huge range to choose from. It doesn’t have to be fancy, it just needs to be easy to use and print well, if like me, you prefer a printed version to work from.
  • Create a few versions based on the type of trips you take. For example, I have five travel checklist templates: trips to the US to see family, business trips anywhere, trips to Europe to see friends, camping trips and sporting trips. Some trips may only happen once a year, but it doesn’t matter because it’ll still save me time and headspace when that trip comes around again.
  • Start with the basics. Begin by listing the essentials, e.g., passport or ID, trip itinerary, hotel confirmation, travel tickets, medications, prescription glasses, currency, gadgets and chargers and the like. Then add clothing, accessories, toiletries, etc.
  • Include the logistics. As mentioned before, include instructions to yourself to sleuth out any needed directions or transport from your arrival point to where you’re staying. Research your location on a map for proximity to other establishments you may need, such as a local pharmacy, grocery store, restaurants, business offices, etc.
  • Note tasks to perform before leaving home. Water plants, make important on-line payments, take out the rubbish, turn electrical outlets off, etc.
  • Include a reminder to make a work list. Create a separate work document. Note where you are in your current projects, where you’ve left off and what will require attention on your return, particularly if you’re travelling for leisure. You can shut down mentally knowing work will be ready on return, leaving you peace of mind to enjoy your break.
  • Fine-tune your checklist. On your return, take a few minutes to update your template with improvements as they apply – add, delete, amend – so that your next trip is even better from a preparation point of view. Capture your ideas while they’re still fresh in your mind.

Your turn.

Travelling soon? If you’re not already using a travel checklist template, start one. List as much as you can from memory, then add to it as you prepare for your journey.

Recently returned from a trip? Make a travel checklist and incorporate any learnings while they’re still fresh in your mind.

If you’re not travelling, consider where else in your day a checklist template would be useful and create one.

What else do you do to ease the stress of travel?

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