What I Pack for a Business Trip

It can be daunting to pack for a business trip. There’s pressure to bring all the right things, while not leaving anything out, in fear that it might compromise your trip. While every trip differs, there are a few things I never leave home without before going on a business trip.

1. My Bluetooth Speaker. It’s a trusty ol’ Jambox. Pretty sure it’s about o celebrate its 10th birthday, but the thing still works great. It’s the size of my hand and is indestructible *knock on wood*. A speaker makes any hotel room better. Whether I’m knocking out some emails or squeezing in a quick ab workout, it’s always nice to fill the room with some noise. Just be conscious of your neighbors and don’t warrant any reason for a noise complaint.
2. Lint Roller. Pretty sure I own seven lint rollers right now. This is the absolute, easiest way to ensure you look put together. No one wants to focus on the hairs stuck to your shirt instead of engaging with you in conversation. Do yourself a favor and keep a few tucked away in your travel bags. My favorite, nifty ones are made by Flint.
3. Lotion. Like my lint rollers, I always keep travel sized moisturizers tucked away in my travel bags. There’s nothing more uncomfortable than dry, cracked skin. I find myself washing my hands a lot at meetings and conferences, so it’s great to have lotion to keep my hands from drying out. This goes for men, too! There are plenty of non-feminine lotions to buy and at the end of the day, no one wants to shake a hand that feels like sand paper.
4. Workout clothes. Even if I only bring one pair of athletic shorts—that’s better than nothing. It’s not realistic to fit in a workout on every single business trip, but if you don’t pack anything to workout in, it’s guaranteed you will not exercise. As long as I pack a pair of shorts and sports bra, I’ll do an ab workout in my room (lay out a bath towel as a mat). You don’t even need shoes!
5. An extra pair of socks and underwear. Even if you account for every day of your trip, I can promise you, you’ll need these. Sometimes it’s nice to freshen up before dinners or squeeze in a workout and need to change. These hardly take up any space in your bag, so why not pack an extra pair.
6. Dirty laundry travel bag. I don’t know about you, but I like to keep my soiled clothes separate from my clean ones. It’s nice to bring a small, travel sized laundry bag to throw your dirty items in. It keeps your hotel room tidy, plus, it’s nice to just throw it in the washing machine when you get home. Hack: sometimes housekeeping will provide a plastic bag in your hotel closet for washing services, so if you forget yours, just use that one instead.
7. Bandaids. You never know! My most common use is for blisters from my heels, but these take up no room in your bag, so it’s better to have them than not.
8. Travel water bottle. I have a collapsable one by Platypus that clips onto my backpack. Probably looks like I’m going camping instead of to an Otolaryngology trade show, but nonetheless, it’s very handy.
9. Advil. I’m not going to lie and say I’ve never woken up with a headache from too many sugary drinks. You need to be prepared to get your head in the game when on business, and you don’t want to waste anytime scavenging for things you could have otherwise brought from home. Pack the Advil.
10. Wireless Headphones. I am simultaneously doing three things at any given time on a business trip. This requires my AirPods to allow me to answer phone calls while I’m on the go. The airport is an especially great place to have wireless capabilities. You’re going to be digging around your bags, using your laptop and moving about, so it’s well worth investing in a pair if you haven’t yet.

None of these items will make or break your business trip, but they will definitely save you a lot of time and trouble while enhancing the quality of your travel. Happy packing!