The Art of Anticipation: Why Your Travel Journal Starts BEFORE You Leave

Psychological studies have shown something fascinating: People often derive more happiness from anticipating a trip than from the trip itself. The dreaming. The planning. The "what if."

Yet, most people leave the first page of their travel journal blank until they get on the plane. You are missing out on 50% of the joy.

Pre-Trip Journaling is the act of documenting the planning process. It serves two purposes:

It organizes your logistics (so you don't panic).
It builds "emotional momentum" for the adventure.

Here is what to write before you pack your bags.

1. The "Why" Manifesto

Why are you going? Not "because I had vacation days." Dig deeper.

"I am going to Italy because I want to reconnect with my love of art."
"I am going to the mountains because I am burnt out and need silence."

Writing down your Intention acts as a compass. When you are in Rome and tired, and you have to choose between a crowded museum and a quiet park... remember your intention. If you wrote "I need silence," go to the park.

2. The "Bucket List" Draft (The Brain Dump)

Open a page. Write down EVERYTHING you might want to do.

Restaurants you saw on TikTok.
Museums your mom recommended.
Neighborhoods from a blog post.

Don't edit yet. Just dump. Then, use highlighters:

Yellow: Must-do. (Limit to 3).
Green: Nice to do.
Pink: Only if we have time.

This creates a menu of options so you aren't paralyzed by choice when you arrive.

3. The "Vibe Board" (Visual Planning)

If you use a digital journal (like TripMemo or Notion), paste images.

What outfits do you want to wear?
What photography style do you want to emulate?
What color palette defines this city?

If you use paper, doodle or print clippings. This sets the aesthetic tone for the trip. It helps you pack better (because you know the "look") and helps you take better photos.

4. The "Worry List" (Anxiety Management)

Travel is stressful.

"What if I miss the flight?"
"What if I get sick?"
"What if the hotel is awful?"

Write down every single worry. Then, next to it, write the Contingency Plan.

Worry: "Lost Passport." -> Plan: "I have a photocopy in my suitcase and a digital scan in Dropbox."
Worry: "Phone dies." -> Plan: "I have a portable charger and a printed map."

Once you have a plan, your brain allows you to stop worrying.

5. The "Packing Strategy"

Don't just throw clothes in a bag. Plan it. Sketch your outfits. List your gear.

"Chargers."
"SD Cards."
"Medication."

Journaling your packing list serves as a checklist for the return trip too (so you don't leave your charger in the hotel wall).

6. The "Pre-Trip Stats"

Record your baseline.

Current Mood: "Stressed, tired, excited."
Bank Account: (So you can track spending).
Weight: (If you plan on eating a lot of pasta, maybe don't track this one).

It provides a "Before" picture to compare with the "After."

Summary

By the time you step onto the plane, your journal should already look lived-in. It should be full of maps, lists, dreams, and plans. It transforms the trip from "something that is happening to you" into "something you are creating." Start writing now. The trip has already begun.