On the Road? Set Up for Success!

Do you travel for business?  Business travel can reap great rewards, but even the most seasoned business traveler can struggle to feel grounded when on the road.

The catch is, times when we’re traveling for business are often the times we need to be the most grounded! When meeting with clients or speaking in front of an audience, you need to be at your very best. 

Fortunately, leaving the comfort of our homes and offices to travel doesn’t have to be uncomfortable.  Whether your trips involve long or short stays, long or short distances, or whether you’re traveling by car or by plane, you should have an environment that supports your comfort, resolve, and ultimately, your business dealings.

It can be difficult to stay in unfamiliar rooms, but with a few good organizing strategies and a couple of tips from Feng Shui, you can feel more grounded during any business journey.

Here are some of my favorite tips:

It all starts at home
A few ahead-of-time strategies will reduce your stress level even before you leave.

• First, set up a “grab ‘n go” toilet kit, filling it with personal-care items you need when you travel.  My favorite travel kit is the personal organizer by L.L. Bean – I’ve been using the medium size happily for years.
• At the same time, create a home for all things travel-related.  Besides the packed toilet kit, my travel area contains things like my jewelry case, shoe bags, and a small stuffed animal that I like to have with me on the road (but more on that below).

Things to do as soon as you arrive
Every time you arrive at a new destination, follow these steps to quickly make the space your own. 

• If possible, air it out and bring in fresh “chi” by opening windows and turning on a fan.
• For stays of longer than one night, unpack your things and put them away.  Hide your luggage out of sight in a closet or corner for the duration of your stay.
• Put yourself in control of your new space by designating an easily-visible spot near the door for keys and other small essentials.
• Bring along a favorite personal item to place on the bed as a talisman during your stay.  Mine is a small stuffed animal given to me by my sister and her family (thanks, Kathy!).
• Collect the advertising, magazines and other materials that don't belong to you and hide them away in a drawer.  When you leave, just pull it all out to be re-distributed by the maid service.

Tips for longer stays
When you’re staying for longer than a day or two, you might want to make a few more thorough changes in your temporary space.

• If the room feels cramped or otherwise uncomfortable, re-arrange furniture that’s easy to move.  Create a cozy sitting area with a good view, or set up a table for eating and conversation.  Whatever will make your stay more enjoyable!
• Set up your books, tour guides, etc. so that they're easy to get at and provide familiar things to look at.

To balance the often-stagnant energy in any space, here are a few Feng Shui-specific tips:

• For inadequate light, bring in lively Fire energy by purchasing and installing brighter light bulbs.
• And to balance all five elements, Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water, set up a vase of fresh flowers. The colors, shapes and even the water itself will lift the chi of the space instantly.

Bonus tip for car trips
Finally, you can get even more elaborate if you’re driving and don’t mind packing a bit more weight and bulk.   In fact this is probably my favorite tip -- bring your own pillows and pillowcases!  You’ll notice a huge difference.
 
Your bedroom, at home and away
As you can see, a lot of this has specifically to do with making your bedroom-away-from-home feel familiar.  That’s because your bedroom needs to be a safe and comfortable haven so that you always feel ready to take on the “outside world."

These tips can help to support your comfort and preparedness for business travels, even for the biggest homebodies. Remember, just because you’re away from home doesn’t mean a little bit of it can’t come with you.  If your travel environment is pleasing, business dealings will come more naturally.

Happy organizing, and happy travels!