When you get home after a long trip, what’s the first thing you do? Most people might relax, settle in, or even head straight to bed. But for me, there’s one productivity rule I never break when I travel—I unpack first.

Unpack Before Anything Else

No matter how late it is or how exhausted I am from traveling, I make it a priority to unpack as soon as I walk through the door. There’s no relaxing first, no waiting until the morning. Why? Because I hate starting a new day with tasks from the previous day still hanging over me.

To me, waking up to suitcases full of clothes and travel gear is the absolute worst. It feels like I’m dragging the past day’s mess into my fresh start. So, to avoid that, I make sure everything is sorted right away.

My Unpacking Routine

Here’s what I do:

1. Unpack the bags and put the suitcases away.
2. Sort everything—any receipts or items I need to handle the next day get organized right away.
3. If it’s early enough, I’ll start laundry, but if it’s late, I just set it aside for the next day.

It’s definitely not the most fun thing to do after a long day of travel. I’m usually tired, and it feels like an extra chore, but it pays off the next morning.

Why This Works for Me

When I wake up the next day, I can roll out of bed with no leftover travel mess staring at me. The suitcases are put away, everything is back in its place, and I can fully focus on the new day ahead. Getting the “suck” out of the way early makes the next day smoother and stress-free.

What’s Your Travel Routine?

So, what’s your go-to travel routine? Do you unpack right away, or do you leave it until the morning? I’d love to hear what works for you and whether you have any productivity rules of your own that you never break!