To ask if you're relaxed and organised before going on holiday or VERY STRESSED

[TheOwlTheory]

Sadly, I'm the latter!

Holidays abroad I am relaxed as I know what to take and how much. Holidays at home in the uk, stressed and pulling my hair out with what to take because of the weather.

I’m definitely the latter but I kind of enjoy it!!

I start out being pretty organized in advance, but always am a huge ball of stress the night before (and usually morning of an early departure - cos we like to make it harder on ourselves to relax!).

Once we get going, I am ok (as in - on the ferry, or boarding the plane, or on the motorway - depending on what our main mode of transport is).

What is the source of your stress?

Packing cases shouldn’t be stressful?

What is it that worries you?

I'm relaxed and organised as it's one of my favourite bits of the holiday (sad I know!). I write lists a few weeks in advance of all clothes etc needed then start putting bits in the suitcases up to a week before so I can just pack properly a day or two before we leave.

Definitely stressed but much less if in the UK as I can just get what I need when I am there.

I know you can buy things abroad but needing to find out the French word for thrush one year (many years ago) cured me of the desire to buy certain stuff abroad if I can avoid it!! Also I hate the stress of trying to work out where you can buy a specific thing when abroad

I do pack more clothes for the UK though, due to the unpredictable nature of the weather

Me too. We fly at Christmas and I'm already panicking.

I know you can buy things abroad but needing to find out the French word for thrush

^

Hilarious. I had the same problem, 2 births abroad will do that to you.... French for cervix? French for rhesus negative??

I'm very stressy beforehand. Partly my personality and partly as I've always holidayed as a single mum until very recently so felt it was all on me in terms of if stuff got forgotten or wasn't planned well.

As soon as the plane takes off I relax.

I'm currently trying to pack. I fucking hate it. I have city breaks and beach holidays pretty much sorted, but this year we're going to the Alps, so I need to pack for a bit of everything. But, it has to be done, so I should stop moaning and faffing about and get on with it.

Neither of those things. Doesn’t require much organisation, excited so not really relaxed, see. I reason for stress. I just pack and go.
What are you fingpding stressful?

Relaxed and organised, but that's because it bugs me until I'm packed, so it'll be done 2 days before.

DH stresses me out, otherwise i'm fine.

I organise myself, DS and the dog. DH is in charge of his own stuff and the car (we mostly holiday in EU so we van take the woofing machine). I make lively lists right down to how many pairs of socks and emergency plaster. I'm all ready to go at the agreed time, DH has to fill the water in the car, get some cash out on the way (30minutes diversion), get petrol... Why he cannot do it the day before is beyond me!

But mostly stress-free. Even flying. I have lists and lists and lists and things can get checked off as we go.

We're off in two weeks today and i started list-writing last week i cannot bloody wait!

YourHand me too. Single parent packing. Still not stressful. Pack some clothes. Pack wash things. Pack frequently used medicines (they should be easy to find as younuse them frequently...). What’s the worst that can happen if you don’t pack a particular item of clothing? Why on earth do people pack over several weeks? Why would you stress six months in advance?

Going away is a real trigger for my anxiety. I panic that we'll be unwell and won't be able to go. I panic that we'll get ill when we're there. I feel totally uptight and miserable before a holiday... I'm going away in ten days and already feeling stressed. I do enjoy it when there though!

Relaxed & organised. I pack one day before leaving

It seems to have crept up as I’ve got older but my anxiety goes up a few notches travelling.

It’s usually the morning when we leave but when we’re past the point of no return (check in, trains left the station etc.) I am able to revert to what will be, will be mode and chill out a bit.

For those who find packing stressful can I recommend packing cubes?

They make everything much easier.

We use a brand called E-bags. They aren’t the cheapest brand but they are very sturdy. They come in different colours. Everyone in the family has e-bags in their own colours.

It makes packing, fitting everything into the case and unpacking much, much easier.

I’m atressed beforehand, with thinking of what to bring and being pissed off with dhs truly pathetic contributions. Used to end up half the night packing before we left.we try not to book early morning departures now and dh has picked up his game (because he wasn’t allowed on any more holidays otherwise) . We are going on holiday Saturday and haven’t done any research (but with a 1m old we aren’t going far!) but have planned packing and booked everything eg cab to airport , car hire...

Lifestyle atm means I'm either hauling luggage to somewhere after packing it or unpacking and doing catch up laundry.

I pack so frequently I could do it with my eyes shut.

Saying that, I'm flying Saturday with the whole family, they stress me out. I'm not packed yet (leaving tomorrow morning) everything clotheswise is done just got to stuff it in the case, they do their own.

What is worrying me this time going away is that the dog is staying with family as we are flying, my mother isn't very well (have arranged cover) and I am also trusting someone else with my little business.

Once I'm on the road I do little checklist checks in my mind, then I relax. Although my phone is always on and I've warned Dh if something happens to either the dog or my mother I'm flying home and they'll have to just manage.

Most of my travel is in the UK so I know I can drive to get back but flying puts extra worry on me.

I’m relaxed but only because I have a packing spreadsheet that lists every possible item I’ll need for any type of holiday - I just print it off then cross off things I don’t need to leave me with what I do. Plus I try to get all the washing up to date the day before I pack so everything is where it should be and I can just grab it.

I waft between the 2. I'm quite organised and relaxed but the minute some small detail I remember or something doesnt go to plan, I flip into ultra stress mode.

Relaxed and organised - although relaxed doesn't happen until I have spare medication in my hand (I swear it was easier to get a morphine script filled for DH than it was extracting 2 extra epi pens and the ultra strong antihistamines I have to have with me from the pharmacy the last time we went away).

I don’t understand the stress. Get a suitcase the night before, throw some stuff in that I might want to wear. Repeat for DD. Add toiletries and make up in the morning after it’s been used. Remember passports and purse. If anything is forgotten, and it rarely is, there are always shops where we are going. DH is a major stresser though, he can’t relax until we are on the plane. I really don’t get it!

I'm relaxed but I do start writing list after list of things I need to buy/pack as soon as the holiday is booked.

The day before I do like to have the house spotless so that does stress me slightly if the family is getting under my feet.