Travel can be stressful in the best time. Now add the high level anxiety that seems to be baked into each holiday period and it’s clear that travelers can use a little help calming their nerves.

Travel professionals say there’s a lot you can do in advance to have a happier, less stressful vacation.

A week before you leave, write down things you need to take with you and tasks you need to do before the trip.

“This can include important packaging, as well as simple tasks like clearing out old food from the fridge or watering the plants,” says Jess Feldman, special projects editor at Travel and Leisure magazine. “The key is to leave the list out the whole week before you go. I check things off throughout the week, and it helps me feel extremely prepared, which reduces stress every time.”

Noise-cancelling headphones can go a long way to blocking out noise during travel, but if you do use them, keep an eye on display boards or your phone for any flight or gate changes.

Spotify, YouTube and other sites offer music playlists with names like “Relaxing Chill Out Calming Music for Airports” and “Perfect — Music Travel Relax.” Or try “Music for Airports,” a groundbreaking album that launched the ambient music genre in 1978.

It’s also a good idea to bring extra medication, a change of clothes, a toothbrush and a phone charger just in case.

Bringing some snacks or a sandwich from home can be comforting and a good alternative to expensive airport offerings.

“I usually pack for worst-case scenarios, like flight delays and canceled flights. This naturally includes bringing things to do, like more than one book, knitting supplies, or a few extra downloaded movies,” says Feldman. For longer trips, she might bring a meal in a Tupperware container.

To counteract the dry air on the plane, bring an empty water bottle (fill it after you go through security ) and a small travel-sized bag of lip balms and moisturizers.

Hallie Gould, editor-in-chief of Byrdie, a digital beauty website, recommends “re-hydrating your skin before your flight. That means drinking extra fluids and applying moisturizing skin products to boost hydration, so you’re covering your bases from the inside out .”

And don’t forget your hair.

“Just as the low humidity on the plane is dehydrating to your skin, it can also dry out your hair. If possible, use a deep conditioner before your trip,” says Gould.

“Each airline has different requirements when it comes to the boarding process, paying for benefits in advance or upgrading seats,” says Feldman. “It’s best to understand all of the above before you get to the airport so you won’t be held up.”

Having the airline’s app lets you know about gate changes, flight delays or flight cancellations earlier and allows you to more quickly find alternative flights or connections if needed.

Security lines can be much longer – and slower – than expected, and so can the walk through a large airport. So giving yourself plenty of extra time can reduce stress. The general rule of thumb is to arrive at the airport two hours before departure for domestic flights and three hours before international flights.

If you’re too early, you can always explore the airport’s shops and lounges or settle down with a good book somewhere.

“I always confirm if there is a lounge I can access at my departure gate in advance,” says Feldman. But even without access to the lounge, she says, “I like to know what the restaurants and waiting areas (near) the gate are like.”

“If you have a sense of why you’re feeling stressed, it can help to figure out ways to reduce that stress,” says Lynn F. Bufka, practice director for the American Psychological Association. “So if you’re feeling overwhelmed, are there things you can outsource? Is there someone in your family who can help with some of the planning?”

Realize that crowds, bad weather and canceled flights are beyond your control.

And some people just don’t like to travel far or to fly.

“If it’s fear, like fear of flying, it’s important to know that it can be treated, and that treatment can really improve the quality of your life,” Bufka says.

A little extra time to tidy up your home and make sure you have some easy-to-cook food ready in the freezer or pantry will give you a much more welcoming return.

“Always, always, always clean your space before you leave for a trip. You’re inevitably going to feel a little out of place after a long day of travel, and coming home to a disorganized space will make it that much worse,” says Feldman.

Wash the sheets, take out the trash, put away clothes, clean the countertops. “Coming home to a neat and tidy space is the best homecoming, especially after a long time away,” she says.

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AP Business Writer Dee-Ann Durbin contributed to this report from Detroit.

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For more AP Lifestyles stories, go to https://apnews.com/lifestyle.