Nanny Travel Inspo
Part One: Preparing Well
“To travel is to find parts of our soul that we didn’t know existed.”
Welcome to part one of this series about being a full-time travel nanny. I have the honor of going on trips both domestic and international with my nanny family! Over my years of au-pairing, babysitting and nannying, I have a fewww experiences under my belt. This series will be a combination of travel-hacks, advice, what’s saving my life, preparing well, and things I wish I knew. Today, let’s chat about preparing well.
How Do you prepare well?
Traveling well is directly correlated to how you prepare for your adventures. Naturally, life will happen and things won’t always go as planned, but staying ahead of the game starts before you get in the car or step into the airport. How do you prepare well for vacation as a nanny? How do you balance the work/life structure of all that comes with travel?
MENTALLY
The least of our worries is usually mentally preparing ourselves for the upcoming trip, but this is most important to set us up for success. Mentally preparing for a trip as a nanny is a balance of excitement, anticipation, and a readiness to handle the unexpected. Before I gear up for any journey, I make sure to focus on cultivating a positive and adaptable mindset. I remind myself that I am being invited into a chance to create lasting memories and deepen the bond with the whole family. Embracing this adventure with an open heart allows me to be a source of comfort and stability for the kids, even in unfamiliar surroundings. I anticipate the challenges and embrace them as opportunities for growth. Ultimately, emotional preparation enables me to approach each trip with enthusiasm, resilience, and a deep appreciation for the adventure ahead.
How do I do this?! Here are some ways I prepare myself mentally (as an extroverted introvert… because it’s helpful to know):
1) Journaling - I like to write down my expectations of myself, the trip, and anything else that comes to mid. Getting my thoughts out on paper gives me a chance to see if I’m being crazy (a very possible option) or if there are things I need to process further or communicate to my family.
2) Process with a friend. You never know how far a little verbal processing can go, and you might say things that surprise you.
PHYSICALLY
Let’s be honest here… my body doesn’t adjust well in travel. I will inevitably feel off for a few days, and not just in international travel or trips where I will have a time zone change. In my daily life, I have natural rhythms that promote health and wellness: working out, taking vitamins, drinking LOTS of water, etc. Before travel, I have to up the ante a bit to prepare for what I KNOW is going to happen. And remember: Self-care isn’t selfish.
Here are some questions I ask myself:
1) How/where am I holding stress before travel? How can I lean in and learn a way(s) to relieve this stress?
2) Can I create a sustainable self-care routine that I can use while traveling (and not beat myself up if that needs to change)?
3) Do I need to ask for accountability from someone to ensure that I am treating my body well?
PACKING-LY
Packing in ONE suitcase for ONE month of travel…
It’s me. Hi, I’m an over-packer, it’s me. Because YOU NEVER KNOW when you’ll need the 15 pairs of shoes and the 15 jackets to go with each pair of shoes. I challenged myself to pack in ONE checked suitcase for ONE month of travel. I DID IT (plus my backpack as my carry-on) and included gifts for my friends that I would be seeing! A miracle of all miracles. I could write 100 blogs on packing (and probably will write those soon) but I wanted to share some of my favorite tips and things I NEED on any trip!
1) Roll your clothes (don’t fold). Marie Kondo the heck out of those clothes. I PROMISE, it works!
2) Packing cubes. I will take these to my death bed with me. Here are my favorite ones! They have traveled the world with me for 3+ years and are in great condition! If you’re not on the train yet, get you some and welcome aboard.
3) Water bottle. Hydration is key for you AND the little ones :) Pack one so you don’t have to go searching for water, it’ll be worth it, I promise. And if you’re wondering, this is the Harry Potter water bottle I take with me everywhere I go. IYKYK.
As promised…Here are some of my FAVORITE go-to’s when traveling!
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