After a robust spring of homeschooling and working from home, we could all use a little break to decompress and recharge.

Whether it is a weekend getaway or a weeks-long trip away, make the most of your vacation and keep life simple and relaxing by getting and staying organized.

Here are some simple steps, tips and strategies to get you into the relax zone and keep you there for longer:

Pack Light & Pack Smart 

• Pack lighter by choosing and sticking to a color palette. This not only makes the most of your wardrobe but also cuts down on excessive and bulky items that may only be used once.
• Rather than packing a certain number or shorts and shirts, take the time to plan and flat lay outfits with undergarments, accessories, jewelry and shoes. Doing it this way means you won't get to your final destination and realize you forgot to pack a pivotal piece of jewelry or appropriate undergarment. It also helps you see how you can use items more than once so you can pack lighter. 

Go Vertical and Get Creative With Storage

• Unless you are staying in a sprawling beach house, there never seems to be enough space for everyone’s stuff on vacation. Between drawers to hangers to bathroom counter space, think about ways you can multiply square footage.
• If you are someone that likes to hang your clothes rather than live out of a suitcase or keep items folded in a drawer, The Hanger Valet offers a place and space to keep accessories, jewelry, undergarments and anything else you need with an outfit.
• Use over the door vinyl shoe storage racks to multiply bathroom surface and floor space. Use one for bathroom toiletries to keep the bathroom sink clean and another to keep everyone's shoes tidy and the space clutter free.  

Get and Stay Organized

• Unpack as soon as you get to your destination. It is an investment of time that pays dividends in the days to come.
• Set up zones in the room or the house so it is easier to keep things tidy.
• Create a centralized charging station to keep cords and devices organized. Since outlets are always at a premium in hotel rooms and vacation homes, bring a power strip so that multiple devices can be charged from one outlet.
• A simple strategy to wrangle the end of day mess is to designate an area for dirty clothes. If you are traveling solo, this is easy. Traveling with a family means having a spot in a common area for everyone to toss their dirty items. 

Keep Good Habits

• Even though you may want to unwind all the way down on vacation, keeping good tidy habits will help keep you in the relax zone. Designating a zone for everything is the first step. But adhering to picking up clothes, towels, shoes and making the bed keeps the clutter at bay.

Bag It 

• The one vacation hack that comes through for our family time and time again is Ziploc bags in varying sizes. They are perfect for snacks, grab bags, wet bathing suit bags, to collect shells, to keep a phone safe from water and sand or countless other uses. It’s a simple and less than $5 hack that makes a huge impact on every moment of every day.

Have a hack that works for you or your family? Share it here or on our social pages. And if you are hitting the road this summer, safe travels and enjoy your time away!