I travel extensively for business both domestically and internationally. In my travels I have come up with my own top rules that allow me to ease the pain of frequent travel. I hope that these rules/tips can help all those that spend a great deal of time traveling for business. I feel it is important to travel smart so that one arrives refreshed and not all harried and exhausted. A little bit of preplanning can be the difference in a successful trip or not.

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• Make sure your passport is valid! Most countries require that you have six months validity on your passport after the completion of your trip. If you are traveling to a country that requires a visa make sure you have the correct visa and it is valid. I am fortunate that my company Travel Document Systems can expedite my passport or visa request.
• If you don’t have Global Entry then invest in it. For $100.00 for five years you can skip customs & passport control lines upon entry into the US. Further, once you update your frequent flier airline account with your global entry number you get TSA Pre-check automatically so no need to take off your shoes or take your laptop out while traveling domestically. Plus there are dedicated lines.
• Try not to check a bag if you can. This will allow you a quick entry and exit off the plane. If you need to take an earlier flight you are more mobile and don’t have to wait for your bag to be rerouted. Especially my call if I have an international flight that requires a transfer. The last thing I have time on a business trip is to shop for a new wardrobe if my luggage is lost or delayed.
• Rest your face. On long haul international flights I take off all my makeup off, slather on moisturizer and allow my skin to breath. The dry cabin air wreaks havoc on my skin.
• Drink lots of water, it reduces the effect of jet lag for me by keeping me hydrated.
• Lavender oil is the best aromatherapy for me as I apply it under my nose and it calms and relaxes me. Allows me to rest and sleep better. Helps with the cabin air & smell.
• Stick with Neutrals in clothing. I don’t have time to think about my wardrobe when on business travel so I take pieces that work together in the same black, grey and beige color palate.
• Accessories are my go to switch from a day to evening look. A bold pair of earrings, an ethic inspired necklace or a smart evening clutch/bag can give my neutral wardrobe some color and spice.
• Buy doubles of your must have items. I always have a set of toiletries, makeup, personal items and flight essentials ready to go. This way, if you forget or lose an item on your travels it is not an issue.
• Take the earliest and direct flights! I find that these flights have a lower tendency to be delayed or cancelled as the rest of the day’s flight schedule is based on these flights. Direct flights might cost a bit more but worth the price in efficiency and increased productivity for me.

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