Even if you’re not a “planner,” making a few decisions ahead of time means less to be decided in the moment and a clearer head to enjoy travel. Here’s a list of things I do before tours to remove as many decisions as possible in my daily travel life and ease stress.  The last two are probably the most important! At my mom’s request, the list is also accompanied by more pictures from our Alaska adventure. Enjoy!

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1. Start planning early.

Carve time at least 3 days before you depart to make your pre-trip decisions. Be well-rested and clear-headed. When you get fatigued, stop and make some more decisions the next day. 

I spend a whole day planning my wardrobe for the months to follow, which can include so many variables and so many decisions in one sitting. I start early in the day after a good meal, and when the decisions start getting hard, I stop. Starting early also gives me time to ponder and reconsider before I go.

2. Decide the ‘theme‘ of the trip. 

How would you categorize this trip? What are your motives? Answering this will give you some guidance for all the decisions you’ll make, day-to-day. Theme examples:
Vacation: to relax, slow down, and eat/drink freely. 
Business trip: to keep routines of home as intact as possible. Prioritize sleep, health, performance.
Exploration trip: To see and experience as much as possible. Sleep and nutrition might take a back-burner.
My “On Tour” pre-decisions involve the nature of my gym workouts, food preferences, stretch and meditation routine, etc.

3. Plan your outfits to the day.

The statement “I can’t decide, so I’ll just bring them both” will leave you with an overweight suitcase and paralyzed in front of a hotel room mirror deciding what to wear. Don’t spend your travel time that way! Make all clothing decisions ahead of time. 

I look up weather forecasts and try everything on before I go. I pre-plan my ensembles, jot notes, and snap photos of every outfit. This also means having an impeccable collection of versatile “staples” in your wardrobe. (More to come on this in a clothing-specific hacks list, but here are some hints: Comfort is king, multi-function is key, use color schemes so everything coordinates, and seek wrinkle-free fabrics)  

Make a list of the things that you’d be regretful if came home having not done, then list the rest in descending order of importance.

I do research to compare open hours, weather-dependancy, etc. Filling an open-ended day is hard. A little bit of structure can relieve the stress of all those in-the-moment decisions.

4. Decide your approach to meals.

When traveling you’ll be given ample opportunities to “splurge.” Some trips are good for that, but when you travel a lot, not every meal can be a splurge. And that’s okay!

I ask myself: Is this an occasion to try local fare? Spend special time with people? Anything you’d call an “occasion?” All perfect reasons to justify a splurge. Otherwise there’s no shame in finding a place where you can get exactly what you want, and what will make you feel best. In the states my top choice is the Whole Foods salad bar or an equivalent, but I’m happy anywhere I can get quality protein and veggies. (More on eating healthy while traveling here.)

Let technology help you. 

There are lots of services designed to make life easier! Sign up for accounts and download apps ahead of time. Apps to consider include Uber/Lyft, Yelp, and your airline’s mobile app.

I have an unlimited data plan, personal hotspot service, a pro dropbox account, and a battery pack phone charger. (And lots of others!)

Trust your ability to adapt. 

The world won’t end if you make a “wrong” decision before the trip. You have the ability to make it work, no matter what. Don’t let the absence of the perfect outfit ruin a day traveling. You’re stronger than that! You’ll still have a great trip if you get a little sunburned or your ankles are a little cold.

This is a huge challenge for perfectionists, but I take a minute to consciously commit to this concept before I leave for tours. (More on that here.)

Once you’ve departed, no re-thinking! 

The options left at home are officially dead to you. I’ve spent too much time sitting on a plane thinking of what I should have packed. Kick them nasty thoughts! If you forgot something, it’s just a great excuse to go shopping. I’ve purchased some of my my favorite clothing staples on the road when the honest need arose.

Which of these topics would you like to know more about?

Happy planning, drriifters! 💙🌏💨

Diana