Organizing your *office on the road* for stress free business travelling is such an important part of maintaining your equanimity when you’re on an extended business trip and for helping you feel you’re not so far away from what’s familiar to you - your home and your family.
Hi Hadley Court readers, this is Jessica, Leslie Hendrix Wood’s guest contributor and, today I would like to talk about the traveling office - how to organize an office , on the road, away from your home office or regular workplace, for stress free business travel.
Although business travel can indeed be pleasurable, there is a difference between business travel and vacation. It goes way beyond the turquoise pools and fruity drinks accessorized by colorful umbrellas. Packing for a business trip has less to do with flip flops and sarongs than it has to do with laptops, cell phones and setting up a place to work at the end or the beginning of the day. On another post, I talked about organized travel here , but today , I’ll help you set up and organize your *office on the road* for stress free, gracious business travel. And, for that, organization is imperative.
One of the best companies for helping women organize their office on the road and business travel, in general, is TUMI. We’re partial to this TUMI alpha carry on, exclusively available on their website only, here.
Whether traveling by car, plane or train, there are a few essentials you will need with you at all times. If you are traveling by plane, whether nationally or abroad, you must also be conscientious of weight and space, to give yourself a little more flexibility and comfort than if you are traveling by car or train.
For business travel on a plane, I always like to have a smaller device with me, if possible, fully charged and with an extra battery. I check ahead of time if the flight has WiFi and, if they do, I have the credit card number that I will need to access it - once the flight is in the air - easily available to me so I don’t disturb the passengers around me.
Most hotels now cater to business travelers and offer desks, comfortable chairs, outlets for laptops as well as for smart phones and like devices, as well as free wifi.
A tip: if you are using Google’s CHROME browser, and you find you cannot access your hotel’s WiFi check in on your computer, in your hotel room, switch to Safari or Firefox, and more than likely you will gain access right away so you can get connected.
We love this illustrated diagram below, “Lug it or leave it?”
If you will be toting around your laptop, tablet, iphone, necessary files, etc, a sturdy, well structured bag is essential to gracious business travel. A good bag will have separate compartments for all your needs.
It will also have an adjustable strap that is wide enough so as not to cut into your shoulder. Do test out bags before you buy them to be sure that you will be comfortable. Even if you won’t be walking around much once you’ve reached your destination, Murphy’s Law usually has it that your gate is often the one furthest away, meaning you may have a hike before you get to your gate {but be sure to look around for a battery powered cart, if you’re tired or in a rush, or have a bad back, leg, arm or shoulder as they will take you to those far away gates, no matter your age, for a 1.00 tip }
Office On The Road checklist:
Your laptop, battery, charger and cords.
A cord and gadget organizer is essential. The one we love is the GRID IT, available in 3 sizes, at Dallas HQ’d , The Container Store.
TIP: If you use an Apple to give a presentation, make sure you check ahead of time with the AV team that the video adapter you have matches the type they need for their video equipment. Usually, the Apple video adapter you will need will match the shape of the HDMI Out you see in the picture below , but not always. Make sure to check. Apple makes all types so don’t worry about being able to find what you need, but you’ll want to buy it ahead of time.
Your tablet (such as iPad, Kindle or Imini), charger, battery and cords.
Your cell phone, cords, wall charger and a portable charger for it such as Powergen and or Mophie
Your camera, charger, flash,cords and, if needed, extra batteries.
Assorted notebooks. We love pretty notebooks from Kate Spade
Your paper calendar and a journal.
Pretty pens, pencils and folders.
If you are a frequent business traveller, signing up for your own MiFi { Mobile HotSpot } device through Verizon or other carriers, that can hold up to 10 wireless signals at a time, will insure you and members of your team that you are never without a WiFi signal at an important presentation or event.
Make sure you have BOTH electronic as well as hard copies of all your travel itineraries, schedules, meetings, etc.
Travelling Overseas? You’ll also need:
An Electrical Converter. It’s a good idea to double check with your hotel as to whether they have US adapters. Many now do and, if you forget yours, many have them at the front desk, to borrow.
However, it wouldn’t hurt to travel with your own converter in case the location where you may be conducting your business does not or the other guests have used all the ones available on loan. Think of it like an umbrella. If you don’t have it with you, you’ll wish you had!
A rented SIM card for your cell phone unless your cell provider has reciprocal agreements with a carrier overseas. Call before hand to see what services are provided and what the anticipated fees are.
The Added Touches:
Small picture frames of your children will also help you feel more at home when on a business trip. We love these 2″ round frames by Jay Strongwater, available at Neiman Marcus.
And we love Diptyque’s line of fragrances and moisturisers for travel. Personalizing your traveling office with your favorite fragrance is a wonderful way to make your *office on the road * feel like your *home away from home*.
Now that you’re organized, all that’s left for you to do is to enjoy yourself while working from your traveling office while wearing your plush hotel bathrobe and sipping on a warm cup of tea or wine from room service. We like this view, do you?
What do you do, when traveling, do to make your your workspace more comfortable, efficient and gracious?
Please share your tips in the comments and, if you’d like, please subscribe to Hadley Court, and follow Hadley Court on Pinterest here, Facebook here, Twitter here and G+, here.
Thank you ~
Jessica Gordon Ryan
Images:
1, We heart it
2, Pinterest - original source unknown
3, Travelteq
4, Diptyque
a says
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