The Ten Minute Unwind

The Ten Minute Unwind – A simple way to save your sanity, your tailgate, and your dignity

There is a moment when you pull into a new campsite where your brain is still doing 65 on the highway but your wheels have stopped. That moment is dangerous. Very dangerous. This is when people forget to do things. Important things. Like unplugging the 7-way power cord from the truck. Or checking to see if the slideout will hit the utility pedestal. Yes, I speak from experience. Yes, it was the same day. No, Jen has not let me forget it.

So we came up with something we now swear by. The Ten Minute Unwind.

As soon as you roll in and shift into park, resist the urge to leap out like a NASCAR pit crew. Do not flick a single switch. Do not connect a single hose. Do not shout “Leveling mode” like some sort of RV battle cry. Just stop. Stall. Freeze. Take ten minutes and do nothing.

We call this the arrival decompression. It is magical.

Get out. Stretch like you are trying to impress a chiropractor. Take the dog for a short walk to water a bush after all that time driving. Breathe like you are at a spa instead of a KOA. Look around. Trees, mountains, cornfields, the guy across the way arguing with his picnic table. Whatever your view is, take it in.

If you have been traveling all day, your brain needs a little time to catch up to your body. Your blood is still vibrating from road rumble. Your shoulders still think the steering wheel is in front of them. Your eyes are scanning for brake lights that are no longer there. Give yourself ten peaceful minutes for everything to settle back into place.

Because when you skip this step, bad things happen.

Once, back in our rookie days, I hooked up the fresh water hose with total confidence. I was so proud. Then I turned the faucet on and created a majestic geyser that shot twenty feet in the air because I forgot to tighten the connection. Campers three sites over applauded. I did not bow.

There was a day I set up the whole RV only to discover the sewer drain was two feet farther than our hose. There is no pain quite like the pain of repulling forward three feet after getting everything perfect.

I once forgot to put out the outdoor mat before we started walking in and out. In ten minutes we had enough dirt inside to plant corn.

Those ten minutes of calm would have prevented all of that. Lesson learned.

So now we do the Ten Minute Unwind every single time. No hookups until the heartbeat slows, the shoulders drop, and the brain has returned to normal operating mode. It is amazing how much smoother setup goes when you start from a place of sanity.

Try it on your next trip. You might just find it saves your seven way, your RV, or your pride. And possibly all three.

Missed a few of our recent posts? No worries – here you go.

• Choose the Right Campsite, Not the Closest One
• Paper Maps Still Matter
• I Wish I Could Talk to the Deer
• 10 Weird Noises RVs Make and What They Are Actually Trying to Tell You
• How Much Does RVing Really Cost? The Answer Will Surprise You

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