The more you can clean and prepare your home before leaving, the sweeter it will be to return. That said, plenty of “would be nice” tasks (ahem, scrubbing the toilets) aren’t essential. If you can afford it, booking a house cleaner to come just before you go — or even while you’re away, if you have one you trust — is one of the best gifts you can give your future self. Below are the must-dos and my top priorities in the “optional but wonderful” category.

• Self-Care Prep
  In the week before I leave, I try to get as much upkeep out of the way as possible. For me, that usually means a haircut and color, plus waxing, brow tinting, or even a lash lift and tint. A mani-pedi, facial, or massage are nice extras. Basically, I want to look my best in photos and start off with a relaxed mindset.
• Empty the Fridge
  If it doesn’t have an infinite shelf life (think mustard or pickles), it goes. Nobody wants to come home to a science experiment of mold and mystery smells. Bonus: if a storm or outage delays your return (I once had to stay away for a month after a hurricane knocked out power), you’ll be so glad you were thorough.
• Tidy & Clean
  I focus on putting things away and decluttering so the house feels calm and organized. Fresh sheets are always worth it. A full top-to-bottom clean is great if I can squeeze it in, but not worth stressing about if I can’t.
• Plant Care
  Most of my plants are hardy succulents, so a deep soak keeps them happy for a month. Two days before lift-off, I fill my sink with water, let batches soak for a few hours, then drain. Heavier = happier plant. The three needier birches head to a plant sitter.
• Arrange a House Check
  Give a trusted friend a key and ask them to swing by once a week to collect mail and keep an eye on things. My downstairs neighbor does this for me, and it cuts down on all those “what if” worries.
• Pause Auto-Deliveries
  Skip, postpone, or cancel anything scheduled to arrive while you’re away — from Amazon packages to coffee pods. Saves you from boxes piling up or deliveries gone missing.
• Final Walk-Through
  My last ten-minute checklist before heading out the door:
  • Make the bed (nothing better than fresh sheets when you stumble in after a long flight).
  • Give big planters a last drink.
  • Switch the water heater to “vacation” mode.
  • Set thermostat to eco levels (78°F in summer, 55°F in winter). Bonus points if you can adjust remotely with a Nest.
  • Deal with sponges (toss or run through dishwasher).
  • Take out the trash and replace the bag.
  • Run the dishwasher, even if it’s only half full.
  • Do a security sweep: lock windows, check lights/blinds, and double-check the doors.
  • Close the door behind you and off you go — adventure awaits!

After a trip of this magnitude, the last thing you want is to dive straight back into “real life.” You’ll be tired, your schedule will be off, your body will ache from long flights, and you’ll have a mountain of laundry waiting. Worst of all, you’ll be trading fun and freedom for routines and responsibilities — like the Sunday Scaries times a million.

My rule of thumb: for every 10 days of travel, I give myself one extra recovery day before resuming normal life. After this 30-day trip, I’ll be taking at least 3–4 days before I even let people know I’m back in town. Here are my go-to strategies for recuperating and resetting:

• Restock
  First stop: the grocery store. I grab milk for coffee, a quick dinner option (frozen pizza, salad kit), and my usual basics so I can settle back in without stress.
• Take a Total Rest Day
  If I can swing it, I devote an entire day — or at least a half-day — to doing absolutely nothing. No cooking, no laundry, no socializing. Just naps, easy delivery food, silly movies, and letting my brain go soft.
• Reset My Stuff
  This means unpacking and tackling laundry. With luck, I left the house clean, so all I have to wrangle is the chaos I brought back with me.
• Reset Myself
  My favorite splurge is booking a massage or facial, followed by a bath, mani-pedi, or even a haircut. After weeks on the road, my body, skin, hair, and brain are all ready for some TLC.
• Reflect
  Epic adventures deserve processing. Shortly after returning (sometimes even on the flight home), I like to go through photos, make albums, and journal. A few reflection prompts to get started:
  • What was the best day of the trip, and what made it so great?
  • What was the best food I ate? Did I try anything new?
  • What was my favorite interaction with another person?
  • What was the low point of the trip, and how did I get through it?
  • What do I wish I had done differently, or added in?
  • How do I feel now about all the things I saw and did?