I’m on an overseas work trip for 20 days, across two continents, multiple time zones and eight different cities. I’ve left an Australian winter and landed in a European and US summer, and while it’s a work trip, I’m also away over three weekends, which means I’ve had to think about leisure wear, weekend wear, and how to blend work, travel and lifestyle in one trip.
Travelling for work sounds glamorous, and sometimes it is, but it is also a performance challenge. When clients are paying for you to travel, there is no excuse for turning up tired, disorganised, scattered or half-present. You have to be able to show up and do your best work, and that takes preparation.
Here are the things I think about before a big work trip.
Pack light, but pack smart
When you’re travelling to multiple destinations, you do not want the biggest suitcase you own. You want a medium-sized suitcase that you can lift in and out of taxis, move through hotel lobbies, and manage on trains without feeling like you are wrestling a small elephant, which is hard, especially for those of us who like to have options in our wardrobe.
For me, the trick is to keep it simple. My work wardrobe is usually slacks, bright coloured shirts, a jacket and runners, packed in multiple versions that mix and match so everything works with everything else. Then I add simple leisure wear: jeans, gym gear, a couple of easy T-shirts, something warm to layer, a scarf, sandals that can work across both work and leisure days and, of course, the obligatory bikini, because you never know when travelling through Europe.
Everything has to earn its place. If an item is only going to be used once, it doesn’t make the cut. I look for pieces that are versatile, lightweight and wrinkle-free, and I also pack a travel steamer because in Europe it can be surprisingly difficult to get an iron and ironing board in your room. When you are presenting or facilitating, creased clothes are not the energy you want to bring into the room.
Protect your sleep
Sleep is everything when travelling across time zones, and over the years I have tried all kinds of sleep aids, both natural and prescribed. What works for me, under medical advice, is having support for the first few nights while my body adjusts.
When I arrive in Europe from Australia, I have effectively travelled back in time by around 12 hours, so my aim is to stay awake as late as I can on that first day, usually until about 7pm, and then sleep. I often wake around 1am or 2am for the first few nights, and I have a plan for that too, which means after three or four nights I usually switch over, having had a few big sleeps and giving my body time to settle into the new rhythm.
Earbuds and an eye mask are tiny items that make an enormous difference. Hotels can be noisy, planes are noisy, and rooms are often too light, so these little things help create the conditions for sleep wherever you are.
Stay healthy and well
The other big thing is staying well. Before this trip, I asked my personal trainer to give me a program I can do in a hotel room with no weights, no straps and no equipment, and she gave me a 25 to 30 minute routine that works every major muscle group and can be done anywhere. The only prop I’m packing is a booty band, which is light and adds a few useful variations.
Not all hotels have gyms, and some hotel gyms are not terribly inspiring, so I also pack good runners. I’ve started walk-jogging, and while I’m not a big jogger, a light run or fast walk is one of the best ways to see a city, refresh the body and use up some pent-up energy.
I also travel with the things that support my immune system and nervous system: probiotics, multivitamins, magnesium, vitamin D and B vitamins. For me, probiotics support immunity, magnesium helps with sleep, and B vitamins help with stress.
When you travel for work, there are dinners, drinks, colleagues, clients and friends who want to connect, and I don’t want to miss out on that because social connection is important and relationship building matters. The trick is to enjoy those moments without knocking yourself out for the next day’s delivery.
Prepare to perform
This is the big one. When I’m travelling for work, I want to wow the people I’m with. I want to deliver value, be present and do my best work, and that doesn’t happen by accident.
Preparation is key. I use flight time well because a business class ticket is lovely, but it is also there for a reason. It allows working travellers to work, and I use that uninterrupted time to review decks, refine agendas, visualise the sessions, and make sure the right communications have gone to the right people.
Logistics matter too. I want to know exactly where I’m going, who is picking me up, how long the transfer takes, where the room is, and what time I need to arrive. My operations assistant loads all of this into my calendar so I can simply follow the instructions and focus on the work.
I always arrive at the room at least an hour early to test the tech, connect with the client, check the table arrangement, name tags, water and room set-up. Then, when people arrive, I can greet them properly, shake hands, have a laugh and set the tone, which helps me relax so that when the session begins, I can be on point.
Adrenaline is a beautiful thing. A little bit of stress focuses the system and helps us perform, although by the end of the day I’m usually exhausted, so I drink water, have the dinner, enjoy the connection, get off my devices, get to sleep, move my body in the morning and do it again.
Stay connected at home
One final thing is planning how you’ll stay connected with loved ones. Different time zones make this harder, especially with children, school schedules and work commitments, so we agree in advance when we’ll speak. Some days it might be a quick call, other days it might be a photo, a short video or a text, and on weekends I try to make the conversations longer and more meaningful.
Those little touch points matter because they keep you connected to the people who ground you.
Travelling for work is a privilege, but it can also be tiring, lonely and demanding. The trick is to set yourself up so you can enjoy the adventure, maintain your wellbeing and still deliver your best game.
What are your best work travel tips?
I’d love to hear them.