Flying for the holidays? Get organized and be prepared because anything can happen. Last year, we flew out on the day of the huge snowstorm across much of the US and Canada. We were flying from Vancouver to Cleveland, via Toronto. Long story short, we landed in Toronto in a blizzard and our flight was cancelled. We had to act quickly, fly to a different city, rent a car and drive to Cleveland. Don’t you just love holiday travel?

We all look forward to being with family for the holidays, but flying at such a busy time of year can turn any of us into a “grinch.” With a little prior planning, you can relax and enjoy your trip. Here is our best advice for hassle-free holiday travel. Share this with your clients and help them this holiday season.

Before you go:

• Tape a large ID to the inside of your luggage. This will insure return of your luggage if your luggage tag comes off and your bag is lost. (Last year, my luggage sat at the airport for four days before it got to me)

• Shop online. Shopping online allows you to purchase gifts in advance and not have to schlep them with you. Most websites offer some kind of free shipping.

• Ship gifts rather than taking them on the plane. Of course now that we have to pay per bag, bringing gifts is even more challenging and expensive. Ship gifts beforehand. In Vancouver, we recommend the Denman UPS Store owned and operatored by Sussan Toub. She is amazing and will get your packages to your destination safe and on time.

Day of Travel:

• Check in as early as possible and online if possible as holiday flights are typically overbooked.

• When getting dropped off for a morning flight, avoid the crowds by going to the arrival level. Just take the escalator upstairs and head for security.

• Bring plenty of snacks and a refillable water bottle.

Traveling with Children:

• Travel light. Go to www.babysaway.com to rent cribs, car seats, strollers, etc. and have them delivered to your destination in cities in 20 states.

• Bring your child’s favorite snacks, as they may not be available at airport food courts.

• Plan entertainment for the kids. I love those movie players; they are awesome!

Be prepared, be patient, and don’t let travel dampen your holiday spirit! Happy travels!

Wow, can you believe that it is November already? The air is cooler, the leaves are changing and fall has certainly arrived. It is the official start to the holiday season. Are you and your clients ready?

The holidays are such a busy time. There are so many parties and there is so much to do to prepare for Thanksgiving and Christmas. There’s no question it’s a lot of work, but many times we create this work for ourselves. Take this time to help your clients have a more simplified holiday season which will give you more time holiday season.

Here are a few solutions to simplify your holidays:

• Get the rocks on the calendar. Look at your party schedule and decide what you can really commit to. Only attend events you really want to and will enjoy.

• Stick to recipes you are comfortable with. If you’re a pretty confident cook, sure it’s okay to try something new. But for most people holiday meal planning is stressful. Stick to your favorite holiday recipes and plan ahead. We recommend using our Meal Planning Made Easy system to make meal planning and shopping easier.

• Instead of buying gifts for everyone in your family or all your friends, do a grab bag exchange.

There is no reason you and your clients should have to stress out this holiday season. Help your clients get organized by embracing a few of our suggestions and make this the most simplified and festive holiday season ever.

To learn more about focusing on important top-tier objectives, purchase our Time Management is Broken audio recording featuring guest speaking Bill Zipp. View more of our audio recordings here.