2am Packing is NOT a strategy

I love weekend trips. They’re supposed to be refreshing mini-adventures, a break from the daily grind. But let’s be honest—getting a family of five out the door can feel like an endurance test. Working full-time with three kids means that, somehow, the “quick getaway” often started with me packing at 2 AM, fueled by sheer willpower (and maybe some chocolate).

Why? Because life happens. That one night I planned to pack? Boom—late meeting at work. Or a kid refusing to let you step out of the room at sleeping time because there’s definitely a monster under the bed. Or some other completely predictable unpredictable event. You know the drill.

At work, I handle innovation projects for many years with tight timelines, multiple stakeholders, and a million moving parts. Planning, risk management, and task lists are my bread and butter. So why was I treating weekend trips like a last-minute fire drill?

But what if I planned a bit better before the trip? What if packing happened in small, manageable steps throughout the week instead of one exhausting night?

Turns out, prepping a little in advance doesn’t kill spontaneity—it creates it. If my bags are packed early, I have time to relax, enjoy unexpected visits from friends, or actually sleep before a trip (what a concept!). Breaking packing into bite-sized tasks means I can fit it into spare moments instead of sacrificing an entire evening—or my sanity.

So, if your trips start with chaos instead of excitement, maybe it’s time to apply a little project management magic.

Trust me, future-you will thank you!