Hello readers, I am so excited today because tomorrow, my husband and I will be leaving on a jet plane to paradise on earth. I am talking about
Maui, Hawaii. I refer to any beautiful places as
"PARADISE." We have been to Hawaii a lot of times but mostly for work. So, this time we will go there to celebrate our
5 years anniversary. Gotta love marriage life ;)
Excitement, yes! Also, I have noticed that vacation sometimes can bring the
not so fun side. It is the fact that we wanted it to be the perfect getaway that we sometimes over think it. We are worry about finding the right time to ask our boss for days off. We started checking our bank account to see how much money we can spend and how to save. We also wanted to wear the right outfits, prepare for a hot body (especially when you are going to some summer/beach vacation).
So, these are some tips that I would like to share with you all. These are some steps that helps me to avoid stress before the great adventure begin.
1. PLAN A MONTH EARLIER.
OK, some of you might like it to be a surprise getaway. But, I find it helpful to plan 3 to 4 weeks earlier. That way we can breathe easily to plan about days off, taking care of our financial, plan activities and prepare our hot body to be bikini ready lol.
2. WRITE DOWN THE LIST.
A. When and where to go. (Date, destination and place to stay)
B. What to do/ plan the activities that will be fun for everyone.
C. Budget. Also find out about discounts and great deals that the hotel, car rent, etc, offered. You will be surprised of how much money you could have saved because you asked if they have special promo/discount.
D. What to wear. Have a vision of what would be your "theme" based on where you are going, the season and the activities. If you have trouble about finding a good deal or outfits, then
google it. Sometimes flipping some fashion magazines also helps me find ideas of what to wear or how to make it work.
E. What to bring. That way, you could starting buy one by one of all the stuff you will be needed for the big day. Also, you have some time to look at your drawer and closet to see what you don't need to buy because you still have them somewhere in the house LOL.
3. IF YOU WANT TO LOOK GOOD THEN START DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
This is why point # 1 is a good thing, we have time to prepare. If you want to have a beach body or simply just wanna be healthy on the vacation and look good, then do something to reach your goal. Start planning your workout and nutrition. Stick with it! If there is one or two days that you missed the workout, don't get stressed out. Do it the next day! Just make sure you make time to workout 3 to 4 days/week. Do some easy run and some weight lifting to show off those sexy muscles.
4. START TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS.
Finish those deadlines at work, don't miss a day of working. If you are a student, start working on those homework. Two days before you are due to leave, make sure you finished everything that needed to be done. From cleaning the house and make sure someone will take care of the pet (if you have one), to finish the deadline at work or school. Don't forget to pay the bills that needed to be paid (automatic payment/online is a great faster way) so when you are home from vacation, you still have an electricity and no extra late-fee for a late payment on the mortgage or apartment LOL.
5. DON'T LET ANYONE TAKE YOUR HAPPINESS AWAY.
I don't know about you, but sometimes when we are about to have something exciting, a bad news or things happened. It could really destroy your plan and even wears you down. Well don't be! Stay away from people who will not support your decision to have a vacation that you deserve. Don't let anyone take your happiness away. We all deserves a vacation in this stressful life, especially if you are a hardworking person.
6. START PACKING 3 TO 5 DAYS BEFORE THE FLIGHT.
I love to pack early! I find it less stressful and plus I don't have to be in a hurry and I know what I need and don't need. I also will not forget things that needed to come with me on the trip. My husband is different than me. He always pack the last minute and that works for him, but way too stressful for me to just watch him packing. Make sure to wrap things that spills in a Ziploc's bag. Wrap your shoes/flip flop in a plastic bag so it wont make your dress dirty. Separate things that you will carry with you and things that will go in the baggage. Don't bring things that you will not need or that you know you don't love. Bring things that you love only, that way you will use them.
Also, a week before the vacation,
check out the weather just so you know what to wear and expect. If anything needed to be change, like an activity due to a changing weather, then you have an extra plans ;)
7. CHARGE YOUR CAMERA, VIDEO CAMERA, LAPTOP, AND PHONE
The night before the flight, charge your phone, camera/video camera, laptop, etc. Then do not forget to put the chargers with you. Fill up the gas to your car so the next day you won't worry about gas.
8. PUT THE LUGGAGE ON THE FRONT DOOR.
A night before the flight, have the flight itinerary printed out already (print out the reservations will be helpful and save time as well). Bring some cash to make some transaction easier. Make sure you have your passport if you are going out of the country. Double check your wallet for ID, cash, etc. Put things that you will be needed in your carry on, like phone, iPod, snacks, extra tshirt and remember the
TSA rules of what you can and cannot bring on the flight.
Lay the outfits that you will wear the night before. Wear something easy and comfortable, also easier for the security check point. Wear a flip flop or an easy shoes to take on and off LOL.
Call your neighbor or family member to let them know where you are going and to give them a contact number, just in case an emergency happened. If you are comfortable to share this kind of information. Sometimes, it is nice to just go on a "secret" vacation :)
P.S. If you have a baby/children, then you have to get things ready earlier. Click/check out this
website for some tips of traveling with babies/kids.
9. DO AN EASY WORKOUT BEFORE THE TRIP AND EAT GOOD.
Enjoy your night before the flight.
Set your alarm clock and set the snooze. Have a smiley face when you sleep knowing that you have accomplished things that needed to be done. You are at this point suppose to be looking forward to your vacation and don't need to worry about work, or
did I do this questions ;)
10. LOCK THE DOOR, ENJOY YOUR VACATION.
When you get things done earlier, there is a huge relief. No last minute worry, shopping or stressing out over something that you don't have to, had you do it earlier. You don't forget things and no need to buy it because you leave them at home. You are mentally and physically ready. Vacation is a must in a year for everyone. Work, save and enjoy the fruit of your hard work. Vacation doesn't need to be fancy and expensive. A local trip is fun as well. Bring the right people to the right place.
Now get out of the house, check your security alarm, double check around the house if anything needed to be turned on/off, lock the door. Go to the airport earlier is saving so much time, no need to drive like a maniac, beat the long line at the security check point and get your dream seat on the plane.
ENJOY LIFE!
Images are from my own collection and
via......A-L-O-H-A.....xoxo, Lindsay
