More Than WE Know

When I get back from a trip, it’s hard for me to pick right back up where I left off.  I tend to get post-trip amnesia from a combination of jet lag, sleep deprivation and culture shock. I can remember big things  like where I live, what I do for a living and who I’m related to, but little things disorient and derail me.  It’s easy for me to wander around wondering:

• Where did I leave my keys? 
• Do I have clothes at the dry cleaners?
• What is there to eat for dinner?
• What meetings or social engagements do I have?

So, before I leave, while I am still caught up in all the day to day challenges of my life, I take a few moments to prepare an easier re-entry for my future self. It doesn’t take that much more preparation time and it definitely saves time, energy and missed appointments when I return.

1) I straighten up before I leave.  Nothing depresses me more than coming home to a mess. The normal stuff you live with when rushing out the door - unmade beds, dishes in the sink, clutter on the coffee table can be defeating when you come home to it after a long flight.  It’s better to take a few moments before you leave to pick up the mess than to face it when you return.

2) I collect my car keys, IDs, credit cards, cash or any other important items I’m going to need in a prominent place. I travel with as little as possible - one or two credit cards, a drivers license and passport if necessary, and only the keys I need to get back into the house.  The less I take, the less I have to keep track of.

3) I make a list of any urgent deadlines or items that need to be taken care of as soon as I return. It could be phone calls, emails, bills, drycleaning slips, meetings or other deadlines.  Whatever it is I put all the info I need in one spot so I’ll have it handy when I get back.

4) I inspect the refrigerator, the bathroom and the laundry room. I know when I get back the last thing I will feel like doing is going out to the store.  So I make sure I have all the essentials - coffee, non-perishable food, toiletries and laundry supplies so that I can recover from the trip and get ready to face the world again - without having to run any errands.

5) I leave myself a treat - nothing big - a magazine or book, a candy bar, a face mask, a movie, etc. Just someting that I can look forward to enjoying when I finally get home.

And there you have my recipe for a successful homecoming - the peace of a clean, well-stocked house, the serenity of an organized to-do list, and the thrill of a small self-indulgence. 

Almost makes it worth the trip!!

What about you - do you prepare for a successful return before you leave? Or do you come home to chaos?

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