Unlike my Mom, my Dad is a strict Plan-atarian.

He plans absolutely everything right down to the wire, and while it often stresses him (and everyone else) out, it certainly has its merits.

Moving, for example is always a stressful event. You pack your stuff, hire movers (or family), rent a truck, load your stuff, unpack your stuff and then spend weeks sorting it all out.

If you're lucky.

Not so lucky are the hapless folks who don't measure their furniture and make tiny grid paper representations of everything on their new floor plans.

Suddenly, those unplanners are forced to realize that, that comfy sectional takes up their whole living room and blocks the balcony door.

Their bed frame doesn't fit in the service elevator, or their 8 foot high Murphy bed doesn't work with sloped ceilings (two separate moves, I gave up on the Murphy bed after that and slept on a Mattress on the floor for the next five years).

While I will probably never be a goal setter or an agenda follower, some planning goes a long way.

Measure your furniture. Make tiny grid paper representations.

1When traveling, make reservations ahead of time. Sites like Trip Advisor often offer other travelers advise for making reservations ("Ask for the renovated rooms" "Street noise is loud, ask for Courtyard facing", etc.), read them (...Look Before You Buy), plan around them.

Google street view the area you are going (this applies to anywhere you are going, not necessarily out of town) so you recognize landmarks when you get there. A little bit of basic planning can reduce stress and anxiety.