​This morning I flew from Houston to Billings, Montana.  As I sat in my window seat and looked out over the incredible Wyoming terrain below, I reflected on how easy my trip had been so far.  Even though it had been an early morning (pre-5am alarm) and I was half asleep through it all, none of the morning had been memorable and, when dealing with airports and flights, that’s a great thing.

​Some of the questions and comments I hear most about the traveling process have to do with packing.  (These are second to the moans and groans about booking a flight which, in my mind, is the biggest mental challenge in the world of travel.  I’ll delve into that another day.)  Unless you’re a true nomad and live only out of a suitcase, ​there’s no way around it, you have to pack for your trips.  However, it’s doesn’t have to be grueling or stressful.  And, like booking a flight, once it’s done, you’re mentally free to focus on the other aspects of your journey.

​After a lifetime of traveling, both last-minute work trips and long-planned vacations, I’ve learned there’s a simple packing process that helps relieve pre-trip stress.