Caravanning is a difficult process on its own. You’re constantly away from home, moving through unfamiliar territory and without a lot of the modern amenities you’ve become dependent on.

Throw some children into the mix? It has the potential to become a downright disaster.

The latest episode of That Bad Review featured a guest spot from Adele Dyson. Adele owns a lot of businesses, two of which are Caravanning with Kids and Travelling with Kids. These platforms take the guesswork and help alleviate some of the chaos surrounding travelling with children in Australia.

We had a great chat, and here’s some of what she said about staying sane while travelling with youngsters.

Get an Action Plan in Place Before You Go on Holiday

While adults love spontaneity, kids need routine. If you’re driving around and everyone is painfully hungry, you’ll be dealing with a mental breakdown or two. Make sure you know what your days and evenings look like: where are you going to be having your next few meals, what do you do if you can’t find a place to eat? Do you have spare tires and parts necessary to make minor repairs to your caravan? The better prepared you are for what could happen the easier the trip will be.

Book Ahead

The chances are you’ll be hitting the road when a huge amount of other families are taking their holiday. This means you need to book ahead to avoid any issues with parking your caravan and taking a break from the road. Finding accommodations across Australia can be really stressful before you even hit the road, the last thing you want after a long drive is hopping from park to park in the hope you’ll find somewhere with a vacancy.

Take Time for Yourself

You’re inside a cramped space most of the day. Let’s face it, caravanning with a family can be stressful. But an important lesson to realise — in life in general, if we’re being honest — is that you need to make sure your own mental health and stability is sound before you can take care of others.

If you feel yourself about to snap, go out and get some “you time” in. Go get your nails done. Go for a walk on the beach. See a film. It doesn’t really matter what you do, as long as it gives you the space to decompress and keep yourself from having a meltdown with the family unit.

Don’t Sweat the Small Things

Similar to the last one, manage your stress. Being in close proximity to your partner and children can put you on edge. So choose your battles. Is it really worth it getting stressed about the way that the dishes were put in the dishwasher? Remember that it’s a holiday, have fun and let yourself have a break from the daily grind and relax a little on focusing on the stuff that isn’t important. Focus on being together and creating great memories.

Get Social

Other people are going to become your lifeline out on the road. Even if you’re a natural introvert, make friends wherever you go. They’ll be the ones that save you when your caravan breaks down and you’re stuck somewhere. They’ll also offer the spontaneous companionship that makes caravanning so much fun in the first place.

At the end of the day, caravanning is about enjoying life and seeing our great country. Don’t take things so seriously!

Listen to the entire conversation: Adele Dyson on Caravanning with Kids and Finding Balance in Work and a Life of Travel