Travel can be challenging. There are logistics to figure out to make it all go smoothly, and contingencies to plan for should things go sideways. If you’re a frequent traveller, the number of things you need to keep top of mind creates a constant background stress. Savvy frequent travellers find ways to organize their lives to eliminate as many stressors as possible.

How to Organize Your Life for Easier Business Travel

Have an “Always Packed” Bag

I find figuring out what to pack the biggest pain of travelling. It’s so easy to forget something. Most of the time, if you do forget something, you can buy it at your destination if it’s critical, but that too comes with some stress.

A trick many regular business travellers adopt is to keep essential travel items packed and ready to go at all times. Steve has a full set of toiletries, grooming tools, and other essentials he uses just for travel, packed in a bag and ready to go. I don’t go quite that far, but I do have some travel essentials that I keep packed such as a set of travel cosmetic brushes, mini hair products, and toothbrush and toothpaste.

For everything else, I depend on the app Pack The Bag. In addition to suggested items to pack, you can create personalized lists for specific types of trips/locations. I have “Business Trip,” “Beach Vacation, “Active Vacation,” and “Winter Travel” lists. This app has saved me from forgetting something many times over.

Use TripIt

Tripit is another valuable app for the frequent traveller. It keeps track of all of your travel booking information from flights and accommodations to tours and event ticket purchases. When you book anything online, simply forward your confirmation email to Tripit and your information is automatically added to your trip.

The basic app is free. Steve and I use Tripit Pro, which offers notice of flight delays and help to find alternative flights. It also advises you of your gate as you approach the airport. A new feature provides you with an airport map and navigation tools to find your way around once you arrive.

I LOVE Tripit because I can keep track of Steve when he’s on the road. Back in prehistoric times before the “app age”, I used to have to record Steve’s flight info, hotel address, and travel dates, like on paper in a Word doc! Not anymore.

Order Groceries Online

Does this scenario sound familiar? You arrive back home after an overseas trip. You’re jet lagged and exhausted; you have unpacking and piles of laundry to do. And, there’s nothing in the fridge. That used to mean trekking to the grocery store as one of the first tasks upon return from a trip.

Photo Credit: Save-On-Foods

Now, I order my groceries online for delivery the day of my return. Via my grocery store’s app, I can create my list in advance or while I’m at the airport en route home. My go-to grocery store is Save-On-Foods, and its delivery cost is about $8.00. Money well spent in my books.

Join a Car Share

Steve travels for work about a week or two every month. I tag along at least every two to three months. We used to own a car that sat parked a lot of the time. We ditched it two years ago and joined a car coop. No more worries about the car’s safety as it sat idle for weeks and no more money out the window for an underused and depreciating asset. Yay, more money for travel!

Consider a Condo Over a House

Living in a condo as opposed to a house has also made our travel lives much easier. We have been blessed with fabulous neighbours who look in on our unit regularly and collect our mail. We don’t have to worry about an empty, dark property, a heat problem or unexpected power outage. There’s no grass to cut, no snow to shovel.

Avoid Having Kids/Pets

One reason we decided not to become parents was to maintain our independence and financial ability to travel. It’s also made the amount of travel Steve has to do much easier for us. I cannot imagine the stress in our lives managing kids with Steve on the road so much, and of course while not impossible, tagging along would be more challenging.

Similarly, even though I regularly have dog ownership fantasies, it’s not in the cards right now. Getting a dog sitter or using a kennel seems too big a hassle and unfair to a fur baby for the amount of time we’re away.

Have you arranged your life to make it easier to travel? I’d love to hear about it in a comment.

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