Family travel is exciting — but let’s be honest, it can also be exhausting. Between packing for everyone, prepping meals or snacks and making sure we actually get out the door on time, the days leading up to a trip can feel chaotic.

That’s why I’ve learned there’s one thing I always do before we travel — a quick home reset.

Because nothing feels worse than coming home from a trip (with laundry, bags and tired kids) to a house that’s already messy. Trust me, I’ve done it both ways. Coming home to calm wins every single time.

What My Travel Reset Looks Like

It’s not a full deep clean. I don’t have the time (or energy) for that. Instead, I focus on the things that make the biggest difference when we walk back in the door:

1. Kitchen Reset

   • Run the dishwasher + wipe the counters.

   • Put away food that would go bad while we’re gone.

   • Make sure the sink is empty (no one wants to come home to smells).

2. Laundry

   • Wash and put away clothes we’ll need when we get back.

   • Start the trip with empty hampers so we can tackle travel laundry right away.

3. Quick Room Reset

   • Beds made, trash taken out, toys or clothes picked up.

   • 15 minutes with everyone helping makes the house feel fresh.

4. Travel Bags Ready

   • I pack essentials ahead of time: snacks, water bottles, medications, headphones, chargers.

   • Each kid helps with their own bag so they take some ownership.

     • Each kid helps with their own bag so they take some ownership. We have started teaching them how to pack their clothes and they’re in charge of backing their backpacks.

👉 The goal isn’t a spotless house — it’s to create a calm home to come home to.

Why This Reset Matters

• Coming home to order (instead of chaos) makes the transition easier.

• We have the mental space to unpack, do laundry and ease back into routine.

• The kids feel calmer too, because they’re not walking into clutter, which is a great thing for me.

It’s one small routine that makes family travel feel lighter, every single time.

Friend, family travel doesn’t have to mean coming home to stress. A simple reset before you leave makes all the difference in how you return.

If travel (or even everyday life) feels overwhelming, my Simplify the Chaos will help you create resets and routines that make home feel calmer — no matter what season you’re in.

Simplify the Chaos ➡️ HERE.

Love and Support,

Billie-Jo