Turn business trips into can-do experiences.

• Author: Womack, Jason W.
• Position: Going Places - Essay

YOUR PLANE has not even left its gate, and you already feel defeated by another harried day of travel. You hit every traffic light in the city on the way to the airport; waited in a slow, frustrating line to check yourself in for your flight; and went through the usual hassle (and occasional humiliation) required to get past security. To make matters worse, you just found out your flight has been delayed for at least another hour--time you will spend worrying that you will not make your meeting while feeling totally useless because you know you have a mountain of work on your plate that is not getting done.

If you are one of the many Americans who travel regularly for business, this scenario probably is all too familiar. Airports, delays, and forced downtime are the bane of the road warrior's existence, because they usually mean you are getting even further behind on your constantly expanding to-do list. If you would like to in-your productivity the next time you don the armor of a road warrior, then read on.

Luggage is a necessary evil. After all, nobody really likes packing, lugging around a suitcase, and living out of one. So, become a packing minimalist. How much time do you spend packing and unpacking before and after each trip, and when was the last time you really evaluated the contents of your suitcase? If you are like many frequent travelers, you probably tend to prepare for a trip on autopilot, and include items that you never use or wear.

Before the next trip, examine carefully what you pack and eliminate anything that is not necessary. That might sound overly simple, but you will be surprised by how much easier it is to find what you need when you are on the road. Besides, the next lime you have to pack, the task will go a lot more quickly.

Invest in important duplicates for travel. All road warriors have experienced the sinking feeling that hits the moment they realize they have forgotten a phone charger, or even a hairbrush. Always keep these duplicates in your travel bag. This way, you never will have to worry about forgetting something, and you will save time because you will not have to unplug your office setup and raid your bathroom before every trip.

Also, create a checklist of "power" items with which you travel and get into the habit of reviewing that list the night before each trip in order to make sure each device is charging.

Pack your workout gear. Taking advantage of your hotel's gym--even if for only 20 minutes--can relieve travel stress, keep you energized, and help with jetlag.

Be medically prepared. Travel with a first aid kit that includes pain relievers, Band-aids, cold medicine, etc. Having to stop what you are doing to find a pharmacy can be time-consuming and expensive.

Keep important extras close. Ladies, always put an extra pair of pantyhose in your purse. Men, you might want to put a back-up tie in your briefcase. Having items like these on hand can reduce stress if you run into any hiccups on the road.

A successful trip is not defined only by being as productive as possible; it is about staying healthy mentally so that you actually can enjoy what you are doing. So, always leave earlier than necessary for flights and meetings, and allow more time than you think is necessary to get to the airport...