Last-minute checklist before leaving home

Household utilities

Lights, stoves and taps should be checked in a fixed sequence, always identical, so you don't have to think twice or mentally backtrack wondering if it was done. Anyone with a boiler or electric water heater can decide whether to turn them off or lower them for the days of absence, based on their system's instructions.

Essential items and documents

Documents, wallet, house keys and phone should be gathered the evening before in a single spot, so that when you leave all that remains is to pick them up, not to search for them around the house. When travelling as a group or with family, having each person confirm they've personally completed this check avoids discovering a forgotten item already in the car or taxi.

Home security

Windows closed, alarm activated if present, and door properly locked are the last three checks before leaving, followed by a quick overall look at the house which, however mundane, offers peace of mind to leave without lingering doubts. For those still needing to arrange transport to the airport, it may be useful to also check the last checks on transport before heading to the airport.

The most effective way to make this sequence automatic is to do it always in the same order, at every departure, without variation: it's repetition, not concentration effort, that eliminates the most common source of last-minute anxiety.