Most people love to travel, but if you are a frequent business traveler, it has probably lost some of the thrill for you, no matter what interesting location you may be headed to. Thinking of an upcoming trip may fill you with a sense of dread, even if you generally like being on the road. Here are some tips to deal and make the most of it.

Stay Packed

Packing is often one of the least fun aspects of preparing for a trip and if you travel a lot for business, you can benefit from always having a partially packed suitcase on standby; some good items to put in your ‘’ready to go’’ luggage include toiletries, business cards, pens, notebooks, pajamas, casual clothes, shoes, make-up and jewelry. This way, the next time you are getting ready to head out, you just need to throw in some suits and you are all set.

Carry-On

Ideally, you want to avoid having to check bags; between the fees and time spent waiting on line at baggage claim, it can really add up for the frequent business traveler. Do your absolute best to fit everything you need in a carry-on. Bring minimal clothing and mix and match—you do not need a separate pair of pants and suit jacket for every day—just different shirts. You also want to choose bags that you will be able to get on the plane without worrying that they need to get checked because of lack of space. Most people are bringing that roller-bag on the plane and that one piece can easily take up a whole bin. If you are not one of the first people on the plane, you may not have anywhere to keep that bag; you should bring two smaller bags—one that is small enough to fit under the seat and one that is made of flexible material that can basically be smushed into any shape that will allow it to fit in that overhead bin.

Take Care of Your Health

This is important for anyone but especially so for business travelers—travel is tiring; you may be constantly moving in and out of different time zones and we all know what jetlag can do to us—you may also feel stressed and pressed for time. All of this will be made much worse by neglecting your health. Make sure you eat right and find the time to exercise, even if it is just a 20 minute walk around the block. Get enough sleep and stay well-hydrated.

Make Your Trip Profitable

While you do not want to stretch yourself too thin, you should make the most of your time in a certain city to advance your business. While you are there, see what other things you may be able to get done besides what brought you there in the first place. Perhaps you can arrange for a face-to-face meeting with a prospect you have been trying to close. Maybe you can meet with a current client for some consulting or to go over some new products and services you think would be a good fit for them, or just to solidify the relationship and keep everything warm and fuzzy.

Connect with Social Media ‘’Friends’’

In the age of internet marketing, many business people are establishing relationships with people from all corners of the globe who can be very useful for their company. Anytime you are traveling to an area where one of your ‘’friends’’ is physically located, make it a point to meet the human behind the profile. After all, social media is all about establishing mutually beneficial connections and building real relationships, and meeting in person is a surefire way to accomplish this.

Kelli Cooper is a freelance writer who enjoys discussing all things related to business and travel; if you are in need of accommodations in GA, she highly recommends the Econo Lodge Hotel in Acworth Georgia.

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