Tired of Forgetting Stuff at Home? Start Using Travel Checklists
It doesn’t matter whether it’s your first rodeo or you’re an experienced globetrotter. Having one or more travel lists to refer to before departure can help you avoid all kinds of mishaps.
Why You Should Use Travel Lists
Fans of pros-and-cons lists and to-do lists know this: writing things down can help you visualize things and have a clearer idea of what you’re supposed to do. This is particularly useful in situations when you’re feeling anxious, and you have little time at your disposal.
Preparing for a trip can be just that: highly stressful and with plenty of room for mistakes to be made. With the number of things we’re supposed to do before we leave for the holidays, it’s not uncommon to forget things. It’s not really a problem if you forget an item of clothing or toiletry, or if you didn’t leave an extra house key with your trusted neighbor. But when you forget something like your wallet or an important document, that’s when you hit a crisis.
Having travel lists is very practical and doesn’t cost a thing. You can customize them however you like, and you can have as many as you need. Think of everything you usually do before you leave the house for a few days at a time and consider writing it all down. From the little tasks you complete around the house before you leave to the things you can’t leave without, you can make multiple lists to save you time and give you peace of mind. It’s an easy and smart way to fast track your travel prepping process.
How to Customize Your Travel Lists
There’s no right or wrong way of making a travel list. It’s up to you to choose a particular style that suits your preferences and helps you the way you need it. However, there are a few things you can do to make them even more practical.
Dividing your lists into categories, for instance, can make them more specific and easier to handle. Think of clothing, electronics, and toiletries as the categories for a packing list. Similarly, think of every room of the house and list the things you’d have to do before you leave.
You can also have dedicated lists to the different types of trips you might do, such as work or holidays, summer or winter. Every occasion calls for specific items.
Creating Your Lists
There are different ways to bring your lists to life, and it all depends on personal preference. Here are the most practical ways to create them.
Write Them By Hand
This is the most straightforward and most inexpensive way to make your own creations. All you need is pen and paper, and you can write it any way you like. Whether it’s ticking a box or scratching a whole item as you pack them or complete them, there’s something quite satisfying about doing it by hand.
Use Your Computer