Time for check-in (at home)!

Think back on your hotel stays and check-in experiences. Have you ever completely delighted in a seamless check-in that has you happily planted on vacation right from the journey’s start? Blissfully there are no lines at reception, the keys are at-the-ready, refreshing drinks are awaiting, and a welcome gift is presented to the children or furry VIPs. Possibly even better, upon arrival you are whisked to your room for a private check-in as you enjoy refreshments in a comfortable and relaxing place.

Conversely, have you had less than satisfactory check-in moments that sour the trip right from the start? Long waiting lines at reception, too much information needed (or given), or the wrong room assignments. Worse yet, imagine if your activity itinerary isn’t accurate, you can’t help but wonder what might be amiss next! Taking a nod from hotel experiences and how entry rituals influence the joy associated with the trip, review your own home arrival methods and make the associated homelife edits - ensuring a smooth transition from outside world to your domestic retreat.

Arrival rituals at home are important to one’s well-being and overall homelife happiness because this is how you enter the home most days as well as set the tone for the homelife to follow. Just like when embarking on a holiday vacation, your own at-home entry can make or break how you enjoy not only the moment but the remaining day or evening. The good news is that at-home check-in is easy to customize and inherently upscales this daily living ritual.

Before changes are decided, do some research. Get to know your personal and family member’s favorite hotel checking-in experiences and why they bubble to the top of the favorites list. Then use these discoveries to create a check-in strategy. You may notice that family members have different ideas of the perfect check-in and that’s fine too! In fact, learning more about one another is part of the fun! For instance, one may like a bounty of activity and chatter, another a serene adjustment as they arrive. Some folks want a stark and organized welcome and others something cozy that says time to unwind. Once everyone understands each other’s welcome rituals, you will notice how easy it is to fall into lockstep with how each person arrives home. As a loving family member, you might know what someone prefers, but asking is aways a good idea so you aren’t making assumptions.

You can always count on home life changing, but a person’s arrival needs often stay the same because they are the essence of what a person needs to settle in comfortably. Arriving is a timeless activity so preferences can be referred to throughout a lifetime. However, In the spirit of not making assumptions, plan to touch base with household members every few years to gage if desires have changed.

Adhering to a person’s personal check-in tastes need not be entirely rote. Happy surprises are certainly welcomed (like balloons, a heartfelt message, or a favorite snack) and can mark lovely occasions or make a fun surprise on an ordinary day. Absolutely celebrate each other (and yourself) when the opportunity presents itself, just be sure to consider how it complements the individual’s arrival ideals, so the welcome is as much fun for them as it is you.

LIFESTYLE GAME-CHANGER ALERT!!!!

Practicing no demand or command language with each home entrant is key. Often, we are found eager to inquire about something (exam results, work outcomes), discuss a point of stress (can you help me with this . . .), or remind one that tasks need to be completed (practice piano, do those chores). Sideline these communications and make your home’s check-in a “chill zone” for the household. Let everyone walk in with ease rather than a barrage of inquiries or reminders. If you must address them, take a few breaths and start with a smile. Ideally, train yourself to give everyone time. Perhaps 30 minutes or the evening. You will find that what is often considered a familiar request can easily be delayed, putting convivial exchanges at the forefront and promoting overall household harmony.

Arrival methods vary by hotel and by household, but the basic premise is the same, making the ritual of entering the home enjoyable. Once you establish your entry scheme and reap the benefits, you may wonder how you ever lived without your own check-in routine, at home.

The Concierge