Summertime and the livin’ is easy?  5 tips to make light work of your holiday packing.

In my last blog on this topic, I commented on how, for some people, going on holiday is a very stressful process.  Here are my  5 top tips for making light work of your holiday preparations.

1.  Make a list! Simple, but getting it all on paper really helps, whatever the task. Then go through everything on your list with a critical eye. Highlight the truly essential tasks. They are far fewer than you think. When I start to get heated about my own holiday “to do “list, I remember my dad’s sound advice as he packed up for our family holidays: “Tickets, passport, money. As long as we’ve got those, we’re Ok.”  He was right, everything else (well almost) is non-essential.
2. Be realistic. Is this really the time to take on those household jobs that, after all, have already been on your list for some time now? Remind yourself that once you are on the plane, thoughts of the chaos in the garage will quickly recede.
3. Delegate! Allocate tasks to family members. No, you won’t necessarily get the job done in exactly the same way as you would like it, but done it will be, if you stick to your guns and accept another person’s way of doing something.  And, if you never delegate, they will never learn! So when I get my teenagers to clean my car, I know it won’t be perfect, but it’s far better than before and also saved me half an hour or so. 
4. Be less than perfect. I know you’d like everything perfectly ironed but most things get creased in the case anyway. I pack clothes that don’t need much ironing, plus a travel iron.
5. Relax! Holiday preparations should be part of the fun. If possible, plan to finish everything at least a day ahead so you can start to relax before you even set off.

Finally, I came across this useful (anonymous) quote

“Time is the most democratic of resources: we all get the same amount. But it’s amazing what some people can do with their time compared to others…”

So I hope you spend your holiday time well!