It’s time for another business trip. It’s exciting to travel out of town, especially when your company is paying the tab. This isn’t your first rodeo, but for some reason, you still dread the preparation part of your trip. For many, packing for a trip is cumbersome, and filled with what ifs and better not-forgets. A simple checklist will solve your challenges; one that you should update in the middle or at the end of every trip. Kaizen will make you happy.
Packing List
The following items will fit neatly inside your backpack and carry-on luggage — especially if you learn to fold like Marie Kondo.
Clothes – Gentlemen
☐ Suite jacket / blazer (1-2)
☐ Dress shirt (1-2)
☐ Fancy dress shirt for a special dinner
☐ Blue jeans great for casualwear and pares well with a blazer and tie
☐ Black jeans can double as an evening-wear
☐ Necktie (1-2)
☐ Dressshoes
☐ T-shirt (1-2) in case you get sweaty hitting up the hotel gym
Ladies, we’d like to hear your thoughts!
Essentials
☐ Underwear, one per day
☐ Socks (2-4)
Sleeping Gear
☐ All natural melatonin tablets/pills, one per day
☐ Sleep mask which is a great way to block out light and get you those ZZZs
☐ Your pillowif you can fit it!
☒ Sleeping wear for those like sleeping in their underwear
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Pack your pillow!
It can be difficult to sleep on a pillow you’re not accustomed to, resulting in poor sleep and even neck-aches. If you can fit it in your backpack or carry-on, it will be well worth the effort. It might be worth your sleep to invest in a vacuum bag and pump kit.
Toiletries
If your travelling by plane, remember that you cannot bring liquids, gels or aerosols in containers more than 100 ml / 100 g (3.4 oz.). Ensure you have 100 ml containers for your essential creams, gels, aftershave, etc.
☐ Toothbrush and toothpaste
☐ Deodorant
☐ Face creams, make-up, etc
☐ Razor blades, aftershave, etc
☐ Floss God save your soul if get something stuck between your teeth and it starts irritating you!
☒ Shampoo, conditioner, bodywash are usually supplied by hotels
For work
☐ Laptop
☐ Keyboard
☐ Mouse
☐ Chargers for the above
☐ Notebook and pens
For Entertainment
☐ Chromecast, in case you get bored, might be worth buying one for travel
☐ HDMI cable and USB-C adaptor in case Chromecast doesn’t work!
☐ Bluetooth speaker that won’t fit, but if you can make it fit, you’ll be happy to have some music to jam to!
☐ Extension cord For the digital nomad, this will save you more often than you’d think
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Have a hard time sleeping in new places?
Pack a few all-natural melatonin tablets to help you get to dreamland faster.
Melatonin is a natural product found in plants and animals. It is primarily known in animals as a hormone released by the pineal gland in the brain at night, and has long been associated with control of the sleep–wake cycle.*
Travel Day
The t-shirt, sweatpants, and hoodie combo is ideal for lounging around in your hotel room, and acceptable for a quick dash to your local Starbucks for a coffee. An additional benefit is that you’ll be much more comfortable sitting on a long trip. Consider wearing:
☐ Sweatpants and hoodie
☐ Short or long sleeve shirt
☐ Comfy sneakers
☐ Watch, phone, and ebook reader
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Invest in a Kindle!
If you’re a studious and avid reader, your investment in an ebook reader will go a long way. Many of us enjoy the experience of a real book, however, books take up a lot of space in your luggage. One, small ebook reader will give you access to countless books. And unlike your smartphone, you can enjoy an ebook reader in the sun and in the evening sans the worry about blue light messing with your eyes and sleep.
