With a key focus on business travel this month online for PA Life, Luke Conod, MD of Buy Jeans and its parent company Denim Nation, shares his top tips on how travellers can pack effectively.
Packing is a curious thing – it can be done very efficiently if you put your heart into it, but let’s face it, it’s often done at the very last moment before you embark on a trip. However, if you’re a regular business traveller, you should be able to refine this process into a fine art, making yourself ready for any eventuality, no matter where you’re travelling.
In this post, we’ll provide a guide to packing for your business trip that’ll place flexibility at the forefront, meaning you’ll be a suave, sophisticated, business class traveller in no time.
Maximum comfort
Making sure you’re fully rested and charged to 100% could be the difference between your sales pitch succeeding or failing. To maximise your chances, you’ll need to pack some things that’ll mean you get a good night’s sleep, whether it be on an aeroplane or in a hotel bed.
Bringing a familiar pillow can help in a hotel situation, while a flight can be improved immeasurably with the addition of some noise-cancelling headphones. These can be on the pricey side, but blocking out the endless drone of aircraft engine noise is worth it if you want to ensure some quality sleep before a big meeting.
A flexible wardrobe
Different businesses have different dress codes, and if you’re networking with a number of different stakeholders, then you’ll need to adapt to fit in with each one. A suit is obviously a must, but a durable pair of men’s jeans could also work well as a smart-casual option if you’re visiting more ‘trendy’ offices.
A flexible wardrobe can also work well if you’re travelling to warmer or colder climes than you’re used to. If you’re a Europe-wide traveller, this could be very useful, as you could be in Stockholm one week and Seville the next – so make sure you pack that extra pullover and a waterproof, to maintain your style wherever you are.
Make sure you’re entertained
With a lot of travel comes a lot of boredom. While you might be tempted to work through your journeys on a laptop or make calls on your phone, the fact is that this could lead to a slight feeling of burnout once you get to your meeting. Allowing for some relaxation time while travelling is essential, so a tablet filled with movies or a phone full of entertaining podcasts and mindfulness routines should at least be considered.
Maintaining a relaxed frame of mind could alter the way you deliver your presentation in a highly important meeting – which could be the difference between hitting your goals or not.
Ready to go
If your line of work involves you being sent long distances at short notice, you’ll need your suitcase to act as a ‘capsule wardrobe’ that can be grabbed with little preparation. So, it might be an idea to pre-pack the combination of items listed above so you’re not left scrabbling around for an extra pair of pants a few hours before your flight leaves.
This kind of preparedness will help ensure that you’re punctual, snappily dressed and primed for business, no matter how long the flight is or what exotic climes you might find yourself in.
