I have 5 tips for returning home from vacation like a rock star. These tips have really made the transition home so much easier for our family. I want to share my methods with you because I love to share my “works for me” ideas in case you feel like they would be helpful for your own family. My goal at Meaningful Mama is to inspire and equip you along your parenting journey. Hopefully, I can help make life a little easier as you journey through life with your family. If you are traveling with kids, you might also enjoy my tips for packing.
5 Tips for Returning Home from Vacation like a Rock Star
Tip #1 – My first tip is for the beginning of the trip. I love to leave my house clean and organized before I go. It’s nice to return home to a fresh start. I can get a little crazy about this right before a trip, so my husband and I have decided a few times to even hire a service to come and clean right before we leave. This decision has eased some of the busyness before we go. Even when I can get it done myself, there is so much peace coming home to a house that isn’t crying for my attention.
Tip #2 – Tip number 2 involves packing to return home. My method is to pack all dirty clothes into the same suitcase. Often times, my suitcase becomes the dirty clothes bin. I pack all of my remaining clean clothes in my husband’s suitcase. Sometimes, we might need to designate two suitcases to dirty clothes, but we just adapt as needed. Also, using the Zip-lock bags you used to pack for your trip, following the advice in this post, pack like-items together on the way home. All shirts for child A can be packed in the same bag so they can go straight into the drawer at home. You can also assign one suitcase to be mostly shoes and toiletries. We did that, and that bag could be emptied right into the cubbies in the front hallway and then went straight into the bathroom to be unpacked.
Tip #3 – If you do not get home too late, take the suitcase with the dirty laundry straight to the laundry room. Sort it and start a load immediately. Get as many loads done right when you get home.
Tip #4 – Unpack the remaining suitcases as quickly as possible. I have found that I get it all done immediately upon arrival or they sit around for a week. There seems to be no middle ground, so if you get home early enough, send each kid to his or her room to unpack. You do the same.
Tips #5 – You left the house clean, so there is little to do other than unpack when you return home. Something that will have piled up while you were away is mail. I would try and sort through the mail the day after returning home.
If you follow these tips, you will have officially returned home from vacation like a rock star. There will be little left on your plate as you ease back into life. I am hoping these tips help you transition from vacation mode to reality.