The day before you go on a long trip is usually the most productive day!
The reason for this to happen is that you know you have a finite amount of time to complete things. Your tempo is thus high and you are decisive. Your motivation is to go on your trip free of worry.
Now, if you made each the day as if you were going on a long trip the next day, how much more would you achieve? Come to think of it, Steve Jobs did some of his best work after he had cancer. He began to realize that each day may be his last day!