Tag: pack smart

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Travel

Traveling for a Work Trip

Hello everyone! Happy April, Happy Wednesday, Happy Day!

There are so many things to be happy about. I hope you are having a fantastic week and have something to look forward to! I have a busy weekend ahead with lots of spring fun. Tis the season for all the outdoor fun (when the weather cooperates)

Last month, I traveled for a week for a big work project, it was a success and I grew a lot both personally and professionally. I learned a lot along the way when it comes to packing and planning. Here are some things that I learned while traveling for an extended amount of time for work. You can also apply a lot of these tricks for traveling for long vacations or to see family, but I have a feeling your needs may be a little different depending on your trip. Here’s some helpful planning and packing tips.

  • Make Two Separate Lists- One list for all personal items or things to bring and the other for work items and keep the lists separate. I love my notes app and use it multiple times a day to refer to different things. Whenever I am going on a trip, I will start a new note for that trip and keep all the to-do’s, lists, notes, and reminders there. This way they are all in one spot that accessible to me wherever I go.  Create a list of all the personal items you need or want to bring; think clothes, accessories, toiletries, items for your purse, odds and ends etc. Then create a second list for any special work items you need or want to bring from work or home; think chargers, work laptops, planners, equipment, things from your desk drawer or items you may need specifically for that trip. This helps keep you organized for extra items you may need and it also keeps everything in order. Also, be sure to keep track of any receipts or expenses you may need to write up at the end of the trip.
An example of one of my lists for personal items
  • Separate your Work and Personal Items by Bag or Pouch– If you are traveling with lots of extra work items, try to keep them separate in their own pouch or bag. This makes packing and unpacking easier and it makes it easier when you are doing a recon to make sure you have everything. When I traveled for work, I had all my equipment and work gear in bags separate from my purse and suitcase. It made it so much easier for packing and unpacking for what went home and to work. I also used my Simplified pouches to separate my chargers, headphones, notebooks and pens. I highly recommend using pouches or smaller bags to keep things organized.

I love my Simplified pouches
A look at all my work and personal bags
  • Bring your Favorite Snacks or Sweet Treats. If you are on the go or may have some downtime, bring the taste of home with you with your favorite snacks. I also like to pack something sweet or salty and snack packs that travel well (think protein bars, trail mix etc.). You may not be eating your regular meals so having something filling and something you enjoy is important, plus if you have a sweet tooth like me, ending your day with something sweet is never a bad idea.
I love to bring a taste of home with me
  • Bring Extra Items, but Pack Smart-You never know where the job may take you. Always pack an extra outfit, hair spray, hair ties, chargers etc. You never know when something could do wrong and the last thing you want is to not be prepared especially when it comes to work. I also found traveling with extra Ziploc baggies is so helpful for corralling items like chargers or snacks, and can be thrown away. I always like to triple check to make sure I have everything, but when it comes to work, there’s nothing wrong with packing more to make sure you don’t forget anything ahead of a big project or presentation. Also, be sure to pack smart, choose outfits that can be mixed and matches, colors that complement each other and when it comes to makeup, try to switch up your routine and minimize it by only bringing on pallet instead of multiple, or use travel brushes instead of your large ones. This saves on space and forgetting about things.
I used one pallet for my cheeks and eyes, so easy and a brush with two different sizes
  • Bring/Do Things that Make You Feel Like You– If you are going to be gone for an extended amount of time, bring things that make you feel your best especially if you have down time. Chances are you won’t be working 24/7 and you may have some downtime. If you are in the middle of a great book, bring it with you, if you love to workout, pack your gym clothes and see if your hotel has a gym to use. Do some research about the place you are going to and see if there’s any good restaurants to try or things to do if you have down time. When I traveled for work, getting in some movement every day and doing my morning and evening routine by reading and journaling helped me stay grounded when I was on the road.
I loved getting movement in every day

I’m by no means an expert traveler or work traveler, but these are some tips that I found to be extremely useful when I was traveling and I think they can be used whether you are out of town for work or play.

If you travel a lot for work, what’s your travel advice? Do you have any tips or tricks you would like to share. I would love to hear them! Have a great Wednesday and I’ll see you back here on Friday for another edition of Friday Favorites!

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Fabulous living Fun Ways to Organize Travel

Weekend Away Essentials

Last week, I blogged about my weekend trip to Chicago! I love to travel, and I try to take any opportunity available to me to travel whether it’s near or far. Throughout, my weekend away I made mental notes of things I want to remember when it comes to future traveling, especially for a college student on a budget. Here are my must haves for weekend adventures:

  • Don’t over-pack. Yes, it may seem tempting to pack several cute outfits and figure out what to wear when you get there, but that’s not the answer. Pack simple and efficient. For example, for my trip I packed one pair of jeans, a few different tops to alternate, an outfit to wear at night, and two pairs of shoes, as well as comfortable clothes for traveling. I wanted to make sure I had the essentials and things to mix and match for the weekend. Although, I didn’t look the cutest in all my photos wearing my north face, jeans, and sneakers, I was very comfortable walking several miles each day. I also packed pretty simple when it came to luggage. I had a duffel bag, small tote, and cross-body. The small tote came in very handy for the souvenirs I bought while I was away.

All packed! Simple but efficient

  • Plan accordingly for traveling. We drove down to Chicago over night on a bus, so I made sure I was comfortable for the long bus ride, therefore I made sure I brought a blanket and pillow for the bus. This came in extremely useful when I was able to sleep a few hours driving down. The same goes for flying, planes are notorious for being chilly, be sure to throw an extra sweatshirt or socks in your carry on so you aren’t freezing your whole flight. Overall, be sure to pack for your destination and any accessories that may come along with it.

It’s was very chilly in the Windy City. The weather was in the 30’s the whole weekend so i was bundled up. Yes, it may not look super cute, but I was very warm

  • Make a Plan. When we found out that we were going to Chicago, my friend and I made sure we had a plan of things we wanted to get done and when. There is nothing worse than going to a new city for the first time and not knowing what to do or where to go. Don’t be afraid to ask for suggestions of places to try. I have several friends who live in the Chicago area, so I made sure to get their opinions on their favorite spots. This helps to ensure you get the authentic experience while being in the city.

I found these tricks to be most helpful while traveling for a weekend away. Do you prefer weekend getaways or week-long vacations? What helpful hints do you have for trips? Let me know in comments below!

Have a happy Tuesday!!