I’m not the best at keeping my apartment spotless. There’s usually a dirty pot in the sink, a package waiting to be mailed, or laundry that needs folding. Most of the time I can live with it, but it really annoys me when I come back from vacation. The moment I step inside, those chores pull me right back into everyday life and there’s no space to just relax.

Tomorrow I’m leaving for a sailing trip in Italy. So today I took the time to clear all those little tasks and put everything in order for my return. It was a busy day, especially since I also wrapped up my last day on a project at work. But I got it done, and I know future me will be thankful when I walk into a tidy home after the trip.