Get Organized: 7 Steps For An Organized and Stress-Free Holiday Road Trip To Grandmas
As we happily sing "Over the river and through the woods, to grandmother's house we go", our mood can quickly change from happiness to aggravation as we encounter many road delays keeping us from arriving to grandma's house on time.
The once carefree road trip to grandma's is now filled with aggressive drivers, construction, gridlock, headaches and the many "are we there yet?" questions.
Although the Organizing Genie can't grant you a quick journey with a wink of the eye, I can provide you with 7 easy steps to keep your road trip organized and stress-free during the holidays or anytime throughout the year.
1.
Clutter creates stress and makes it more difficult to relax or focus, even in your cars.
To eliminate stress before the journey even begins, clear your car from those infamous clutter culprits which include, fast food bags and wrappers, left over seasonal items from the summer and any school sporting equipment.
2.
The day before your trip, always top off your gas tank, inspect your tires' air pressure and check your cars' oil, windshield fluid and coolant levels.
3.
Be prepared for unexpected bumps in the road by packing an emergency kit which includes a flashlight, motor oil, jumper cables, flares, first-aid kit, a small shovel, a tool kit, ice scraper and bottled water.
Also, always keep all important papers such as car insurance and registration cards easily accessible in your glove compartment.
4.
If your travels take you to a new destination this year, bring a printed copy of directions just in case your GPS decides to pull the unexpected "Lost Satellite Reception" announcement, leaving you stranded.
5.
Begin your journey right after breakfast to avoid the holiday rush hour traffic which usually takes place between 11-am to mid afternoon.
Should you be stuck in traffic, always carry a fully charged cell phone and charger with you let grandma know you will be running late.
6.
Keep the kids occupied by creating car travel kits filled with juice boxes, water, granola bars, Cheerios, books, car bingo games, audio books, etc.
If your car has a DVD player, bring a special movie to keep children entertained during the ride.
7.
It's always a good idea to store a few spare batteries for hand-held games and cameras in your glove box.
Preparing in advance will allow you to finish singing "to grandmother's house we go" on a much happier note.
Happy Holidays!
The once carefree road trip to grandma's is now filled with aggressive drivers, construction, gridlock, headaches and the many "are we there yet?" questions.
Although the Organizing Genie can't grant you a quick journey with a wink of the eye, I can provide you with 7 easy steps to keep your road trip organized and stress-free during the holidays or anytime throughout the year.
1.
Clutter creates stress and makes it more difficult to relax or focus, even in your cars.
To eliminate stress before the journey even begins, clear your car from those infamous clutter culprits which include, fast food bags and wrappers, left over seasonal items from the summer and any school sporting equipment.
2.
The day before your trip, always top off your gas tank, inspect your tires' air pressure and check your cars' oil, windshield fluid and coolant levels.
3.
Be prepared for unexpected bumps in the road by packing an emergency kit which includes a flashlight, motor oil, jumper cables, flares, first-aid kit, a small shovel, a tool kit, ice scraper and bottled water.
Also, always keep all important papers such as car insurance and registration cards easily accessible in your glove compartment.
4.
If your travels take you to a new destination this year, bring a printed copy of directions just in case your GPS decides to pull the unexpected "Lost Satellite Reception" announcement, leaving you stranded.
5.
Begin your journey right after breakfast to avoid the holiday rush hour traffic which usually takes place between 11-am to mid afternoon.
Should you be stuck in traffic, always carry a fully charged cell phone and charger with you let grandma know you will be running late.
6.
Keep the kids occupied by creating car travel kits filled with juice boxes, water, granola bars, Cheerios, books, car bingo games, audio books, etc.
If your car has a DVD player, bring a special movie to keep children entertained during the ride.
7.
It's always a good idea to store a few spare batteries for hand-held games and cameras in your glove box.
Preparing in advance will allow you to finish singing "to grandmother's house we go" on a much happier note.
Happy Holidays!
Source...