Bell Curve Planning-the Key to a Great Escape

Bell Curve Planning- The Key to a Great Escape
Susan Sherren, Founder Couture Trips
Feb 2, 2021



​We all know how precious our vacation days are. You work hard year-round and want to enjoy your getaway. A carefully planned itinerary is the key to making sure your days away are enjoyable and productive.  Did you know the bell-curved methodology is a critical component of a well-planned vacation? It’s an essential planning strategy to consider when you are taking a holiday abroad where time zone changes, jet-lag can impact you the most and wreak havoc on your trip.
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Pre-Departure Days
 
The key to the bell curve methodology is first to determine how many days away you have planned and then taper-back your activities, meetings, and commitments before your departure date. Consider this example- you are leaving on July 3rd  for a ten-day trip to Paris, you’ve been looking forward to this vacation all year long. Your flight will be anywhere from 8-12 hours, depending on your departure point within the United States or elsewhere.

 In the 2-3 preceding days (July 1, 2nd ), block out any intense meetings, big projects, last-minute errands, or even non- emergent doctor visits. During these pre-travel days, take it easy, read up on your destination, enjoy some down-time, and try to minimize your workload. In short, clear your calendar as if you were already gone!  You might even consider hiring housekeeping services to really take the strain off. Another tip- all your primary packing should be done outside of these couple of days; try packing a week prior to departure. The boxes on your to-do-list should already be checked! Consider setting your email to auto-reply during these couple of days and accept emergency calls only.
 Utilizing a smart jet-lag app such as as- Jet Lag Rooster, recommended by the CDC, or Time Shifter, developed by a NASA scientist- can help your body acclimate to a new time zone. Wind down as you wind into your vacation! Remember being overtired, worn out, and stressed can weaken your immune system. So head out the door, well-rested and prepped for an incredible adventure; you deserve it.

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