This post is one that I wrote for Leading Associates in early July 2009. I’m proud of the posts I wrote for LA, and I wanted to include them here at Trina Left Iowa.
Most people imagine the life of a travelling associate is a glamorous one. Although there are perks, it is pretty far from attractive a lot of the time. Dragging a controversially large carry-on suitcase around an airport at 5:30 on Monday mornings, sitting in an oddly-smelling rental car in Humidville, FL, eating overly-priced, mediocre room service by yourself, working long hours and spending several hours of your week sitting next to strangers on an MD-80 airplane is reality.
I recently started on a project in South Florida, and it had been awhile since I’d been a road warrior. I had forgotten some of my strategies for staying organized and keeping my blood pressure down. I’m sharing some of my tips and tricks to keeping it all together when living on the road, and I’d love for others to share theirs. This article is all about organized packing.
For me, carrying your bag on is the best way to go. Many males are probably chuckling and thinking, “Why would you need to check a bag for 4-5 days of travel?” I can’t exactly explain it, but I always feel the need to be prepared for any situation which causes me to over pack for trips (what if there is a spontaneous cocktail party??? I’ll need a dress!!!). The reality of this type of travel is that you won’t be in many situations. You go to work, you go to the gym, you MIGHT get food somewhere after work and you MIGHT go out one night (I never do, but if you are one of the cool kids…). I rarely do much shopping during business travel, so the extra space isn’t a problem either.
The best way to be prepared and still condense your wardrobe is pack in one color scheme. Pack your black dress/work shoes, black suit jacket, black suit pants, black suit skirt, one shirt that goes with black for each day of work and make one of the shirts able to transfer from work to play. I place the minimal amount of jewelry that I will want to coordinate with the packed outfits in a bag and toss that into the suitcase too. After all that, you just have underwear, workout clothes, sneakers, a pair of jeans/shorts, a pair of flip flops, bathing suit if you sit in the hotel hot tub and a good book. Bonus: using only one suit is less dry cleaning!
Also, hotels have a lot of your needs covered. You don’t need to pack a hair dryer, shampoo, conditioner and soap which means you don’t have to take up space for those in your small suitcase or liquids baggie. My carry-on suitcase came with a clear, durable, 1-qt bag. These days it always contains my face wash products, small lotion, small perfume, small toothpaste, small mascara and favorite lip gloss. I rarely take them out of the bag, and I store it in the uppermost outside zipper on the suitcase (easy to get out at the security checkpoint). My other hair products and big liquids I just live without for the week on the road. Do I really need a bottle of volumizing spray? No.
Also, I keep a makeup bag in my suitcase with non-liquid necessities, such as q-tips, a razor, a tiny sewing kit and deodorant. I seem to always have extras of those things anyways… On Monday mornings/Sunday nights, I get ready and throw my tooth brush, hair brush, straightener, thinned out makeup bag (I only need the basics) and phone chargers in my suitcase.
This may sound like a lot of effort but the organization is worth it, trust me. When you are able to waltz straight to the security checkpoint, breeze past the people waiting for extended periods at the baggage claims or saunter by those unfortunate travelers at the lost luggage counter, you will be smiling the whole way to your final destination. I’ve found the minimalist approach to travel can go a long ways. I went to visit family during a weekend on the road and shocked them by going with one carry-on suitcase for two whole weeks!!! Granted I was able to do laundry at my brother’s house, but it was still an achievement for me!