The day—and especially the night—before a flight is always particularly stressful for me. My anxiety definitely peaks that day because I want to make sure the house is in order, the dogs are dropped off at boarding, my kids are packed, I’m packed, and all of my calming essentials have made it into my carry-on.
I tend to be a little frazzled during the day because my priorities seem to shift from one task to another, and somehow, I end up being much less productive than I should be. Usually, I actually work pretty well under pressure but mixing that pressure with a lot of anxiety is exhausting.
Over the years, I’ve found a few things that help me stay focused. One of the simplest is writing down everything I need to get done. I’ve mentioned before that I almost always have a notebook nearby. My version of journaling for anxiety has never been particularly organized—it’s really a mixture of diary entries, shopping lists, and to-do lists. But somehow, getting everything out of my head and onto paper helps.
Another thing I’ve found absolutely necessary is a luggage scale. It sounds like such a small thing, but it’s genuinely one of my travel-anxiety relievers. I never want to leave the house only to realize that all the last-minute things everyone threw into the suitcases have pushed one of them over the weight limit. Then we’re standing there trying to figure out which suitcase can handle a few more pounds. I’d rather know before we leave the house.
I’ve also learned to always bring an extra charger and a power bank. I don’t think we’ve been on a single trip where someone hasn’t forgotten a charger or realized their phone isn’t fully charged—myself included. I rely heavily on music and my sleep app when I travel, so knowing I can keep my phone charged is one less thing for me to worry about.
Once most of the practical things are taken care of, I try to shift my focus from getting ready for the trip to actually winding down for the night.
This is usually easier said than done.
Even when the suitcases are packed and everything is technically ready, my mind has a tendency to keep going through all the things I might have forgotten—or, of course, reminding me that I have to get on a plane the next day.
Since flying is particularly challenging for me, I try to make the rest of the evening as calm as possible. I’ll sit down and watch something familiar and light, make myself some chamomile tea, and usually have a light, healthy meal. Nothing complicated—just things that help the evening feel a little more normal.
My husband is usually the one reminding me that we’ve packed enough and the house is ready enough.
Minus my dressing room, which by this point is usually complete chaos.
Seriously, if someone saw it, they’d probably think we’d been broken into. Apparently, getting the rest of the house ready for vacation means sacrificing one room entirely.
The Night Before
Going to bed is usually when I have to work a little harder at not letting my thoughts take over. When all else is done, there’s nothing left to pack or organize, so suddenly there’s a lot more room in my head to think about the actual flight.
I try not to spend the evening checking the weather or thinking through every possible thing that could go wrong. I set my alarm, make sure the things I need in the morning are easy to find, and remind myself that there really isn’t anything else I need to accomplish that night.
I’d love to say that I then climb into bed and get eight hours of peaceful sleep before every trip, but that would definitely not be true.
Sometimes I sleep well, and sometimes I don’t.
Either way, morning eventually comes, we grab the suitcases, leave the chaotic dressing room behind, and go.
And somehow, we always figure out the rest.
A Few Things That Make the Night Before Easier
These aren’t necessarily exciting travel essentials, but they’re some of the little things I genuinely use that make getting everyone—and everything—out of the house feel a bit more manageable.
Packing Cubes
I’m definitely a packing-cube person. I like being able to separate everything instead of digging through one giant suitcase, and they’re especially helpful when I’m trying to figure out what has actually been packed and what is still sitting somewhere in my dressing room.
These two are my favorites. I use the first ones for most travel, but the second ones when I travel home to Germany because the suction vacuum is next-level space saving.
TSA-Approved Cosmetics Bag
I always have a ridiculous number of little skincare and beauty products I want to bring with me, so having a clear TSA-approved bag makes things much easier. I can see what I have, keep my liquids together, and I’m not trying to reorganize everything once we get to security.
Easy-to-Manage Luggage
Traveling with a family means we rarely leave the house with just one suitcase. I’ve learned that luggage that’s easy to stack, maneuver, and store makes a surprisingly big difference.
I especially like sets that nest inside each other when we’re home because the last thing I need is several giant suitcases taking over another room of the house.
And, honestly, a suitcase that can hold my coffee and phone, as well as a few extra shopping bags, is something I’ve dreamt about.
Luggage Scale
Probably one of the least glamorous things I own, but also one of the things I’m most grateful for before a trip. Especially when we’re traveling as a family and everyone suddenly discovers one more thing that absolutely has to come with us.
Power Bank
This always goes straight into my carry-on. I use my phone for music, my sleep app, boarding passes, and basically everything else while traveling, so knowing I can charge it wherever we are is one less thing for me to worry about.
My Notebook
Nothing fancy, just somewhere to put all of the things circling around in my head. Packing lists, reminders, things I still need to buy, and the occasional actual journal entry all end up in the same place.
And then there are the things that have absolutely nothing to do with being organized but make me feel better once I’m actually on the plane—my sleep mask, earbuds, soft scarf or shawl, and a few favorite skincare products.
A Few Carry-On Comforts
I’ve learned that if something makes flying even slightly more comfortable for me and doesn’t take up much room, it’s probably coming along.
None of these things magically make me calm about flying, but they do remove a few of the little stresses surrounding it. And the fewer things my anxious brain has to worry about the night before, the better.
For me, that’s really what preparing for travel has become—not trying to make everything perfect, but doing a few small things that make the whole process feel a little more manageable.
Because eventually, the morning comes.
The bags are by the door.
The chaotic dressing room is still there.
And we go.
