The Pre-Vacation Playbook

So Day One back doesn’t feel like a disaster — here’s how I prep my calendar and commitments before I ever leave

Jul 17, 2025

Weeks Before

As soon as I know I’m going on vacation I immediately block my work calendar with “Out of the Office” for the days I’ll be out. I also put it on my boss’s calendar.

Next, I’ll block a couple of hours prior to vacation on my work calendar for reserved focus time. I spent too many late nights and Saturdays wrapping up tasks before heading out on a trip; so, please learn from my mistakes! If someone sees free time on my calendar, they may schedule a meeting because it looks like I’m available. Actually, I have mentally set aside that time to prep for being out. This blocked time ensures I can wrap up tasks and to-dos before I am out of the office.

Then, I block a couple of hours for the morning I return to work. Nothing is worse than coming back to work with back to back meetings. Having one or two hours to just catch up, review emails, and set your priorities for the week greatly reduces the stress and anxiety I have walking into the first day back.

Top Tip: Minimize important or stressful meetings for your first day back unless it is absolutely necessary (like there is NO OTHER OPTION). You are not going to be as sharp or focused if you’re walking into an important meeting frazzled or jet lagged. If you cannot avoid this meeting, then be sure you schedule time to prepare for it prior to vacation!

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Schedule childcare and pet care, if necessary. We’re very fortunate that we typically have a family member watch our dogs when we travel. There have been a few occasions what that’s not possible or ideal. When we’ve had gaps in coverage I utilized our amazing dog trainer. She not only watches them, but works with them on their training!! In my mind it’s a win win because someone I know and trust is watching my pups and they’re learning valuable skills that I don’t have the time to work with them on. ***Another idea, which would probably take months of advance planning is to schedule a couples trip if your kids are going to be at overnight camp.

Free Plug: One thing I learned from Kelly Nolan is the power of blocking and calendaring time. She has a free 5 Day course that I highly recommend. I consider myself very organized and I learned quite a few tips!!

Supplies

My home is always stocked and ready to go, which helps immensely. I’m not running around town frantically searching for sunscreen or TSA approved toiletries, or having to do an Amazon order for something that I don’t have. If you’re reading this and not immediately going on a trip consider getting your home setup so your future self will thank you.

I try to think proactively so if I know there’s a particular item I’ll need for an upcoming trip that I don’t have I will buy it in advance. For example, in my Life Admin Day post I shared how I knew I had an upcoming weekend away coming up. I want to take a hostess gift so I went ahead and bought it.

I hate running around at the last minute so try to look at my calendar at least one week in advance every Sunday. I see what I have coming up and think about what I need to do between now and the event. One or two Sundays prior to a trip I’ll think about what I need. Do I need extra snacks (add to my grocery list note), special water shoes (schedule time to go to Great Outdoor Provision Co or whatever store I need to go to), you get the idea.

Whether I’m flying or driving I always try to have snacks ready for a trip. Be sure you have those as well as an empty water bottle for each person traveling. If you don’t be sure you plan picking these up prior to your trip. Snacks can get pricy at the airport and in gas stations. Having individual size snacks from the grocery store is far more economical.

Home

I am pretty much the person setting the Roomba, insisting my husband take out the trash and recycling, folding the throw blankets, and frantically trying to clean and tidy everything before we leave.

Have you seen the reel with the woman deciding to re-grout the tile before walking out the door for a trip? Yep, that’s me.

I know everyone isn’t like this, but I do think a few things will help you come home more relaxed and less stressed.

First, whatever you normally do to put your house to bed also do before a trip. No-one wants to walk into dirty dishes in the sink or a dishwasher that needs to be unloaded.

Second, if you have clean laundry try to put it away before your trip. You’re already going to have to unpack everything you packed so make the pile as small as possible. ***I am admittedly horrible at putting away clean clothes. I will seriously wait 2-3 weeks so when I do put them away it’s the biggest undertaking! It’s something I’m working on and putting on a funny podcast and doing it while I have a facemark on helps.

Third, if you can, change your sheets and towels so they’re nice and clean when you return home.

Top Tip: Schedule your cleaner to come while you’re away. Obviously this only works if you are comfortable with them coming when you’re not home. If they’re coming see if they’ll change the sheets while you’re gone. Even if they don’t normally do this see if they will this time for a small fee.

Divide and Conquer

I have two dogs that usually don’t travel with us. My mom or sister typically watch them. Sometimes my mom will generously pick them up, which saves me time from having to drop them off. If she can’t do that then I enlist my husband with these sorts of tasks. He will pack their bags and chauffeur them to their home.

I’ll also delegate a to-do list of sorts to my husband. He is responsible for getting himself packet and ready, putting the house to bed (he does dishes and washes and folds the laundry), put his laundry away, fill up the car with gas, etc.

Think about what you can let go of and pass off to your significant other. I want to control many things in preparing for a trip, but letting him help with things I’m not as passionate about has been extremely helpful. We don’t have to do it all!!!

Buffer Day

Consider taking the afternoon or day off prior to a trip. This would potentially give you some time to pack and get ready while your kids are in school or day care. I’ve also run errands for a trip during my lunch break the week before I left. If you don’t have time to take off (or don’t want to- like me) maybe you can work remotely so you can save some time from commuting, getting office ready, and packing your breakfast and lunch. I realize everyone doesn’t have this luxury (my husband doesn’t). If you can’t work remotely, but your significant other can see what you can delegate to them.

Night Before

Make sure you suitcase is packed, toiletry bag is on top and ready to go (with the exception of the items you’ll add in the morning), alarms are set, and everything important that you want to take is by the door.

Check out The Post Vacation Playbook

Back from Vacation and Mildly Overwhelmed