How We Travel Without Coming Home Exhausted
We used to travel like it was a race —early alarms, packed itineraries, and a constant fear of missing out. As we have aged, we have realized we were coming home tired instead of inspired. Traveling wasn’t fun anymore. So we slowed down, noticed what actually worked, and turned it into a simple framework we now use for every trip: The PACE Method™. It keeps us intentional, flexible, and—most importantly—happy while traveling.
On our 2024 trip to Greece, we realized we were taking a different approach. We didn’t add in extra stops, or jam back our days. We still did a lot on our trip and took in everything we had planned, but when we got home, we were not as tired or worn out as we usually are. As we received our trip, we began crafting the PACE method. As we began to lay it out, we planned other trips and aligned with our new ideas. We hope you identify with the steps and use this system to help you enjoy your trips with comfort and ease.
P – Pick One Priority A Day
There is an urge to do everything when visiting a new place. When we explored too much, we realized we didnt really explore deeply or have fun. We were more focused on getting through everything than experiencing the place.
Now, we choose one must-do per day. This is something we would be sad about missing. We start by listing everything we want to see and do, then rank each experience together. This ensures we both get to see and do things that are important to each of us.
Once we assign one top priority to each day, everything else becomes a bonus. If we wander off track or our energy lags, the day is still a success because we did the thing that mattered most to us.
A – Anchor Yourself To One Base
Instead of moving between hotels or cities, we anchor ourselves to one home base. We look for cities with strong transportation links—airports, trains, or easy transit—and use that as our hub.
By mapping our priorities and choosing a central base, we cut down on packing, commuting, and decision fatigue. Fewer moves = easier days and more time actually enjoying where we are.
C – Cap Your Effort
Travel days can quietly become endurance tests. To avoid that, we cap our effort.
Using your map, group sites and experiences that are close together to save time and limit walking. We discuss each location together to ensure both partners’ interests are considered and reach a consensus on the final grouping for each day. We also assign an energy factor to each activity. This shows us where our efforts will be most expended and when we have planned too much into a day. All of this ensures we are thoughtful and aware of our limits, saving time and energy. This gives us room to slow down and explore neighborhoods more in-depth.
Less rushing. More wandering. Way better memories.
E – End Early
This is the rule that changed everything.
We build in early finishes or midday breaks—whether that’s a nap, a long lunch, or a quiet reset before heading out again. Ending early isn’t quitting; it’s pacing yourself so evenings are enjoyable and fun.
Travel should leave you feeling alive, not depleted. Ending early keeps the whole trip sustainable.
Why The PACE Method™ Works
The PACE Method™ helps us see what matters, protect our energy, and actually enjoy the experience we traveled so far for.
We don’t come home needing a vacation from our vacation anymore—and that’s the whole point. All our new travel guides will speak to our PACE Method and we are updating our older trips with our new framework. We can see where and how we would take those trips now.
Let us know in the comments how this system can apply to your trips.
