If you make frequent work trips, you’ll know it’s not all about long-haul flights to exotic destinations. The reality of business travel for working women in the UK is more likely to be a train journey for a site visit, a long drive to a conference or a few days entertaining a new client. Here’s how to survive and thrive during frequent work travel, wherever it takes you.
1. Curate a Go-To Packing List
Create a master list covering packing for your most frequent destinations and trip types. Whether you regularly fly abroad for weeks or routinely spend several days at a satellite office elsewhere in the UK, tailor your list to exactly what you need, and nothing more. This saves time because you don’t have to create a list from scratch and ensures you don’t forget anything important.
Best of all, it reduces the stress of preparation. With career women still typically doing 67% more household cognitive labour than their male counterparts, everything you can strike off your mental to-do list is a step in the right direction.
2. Perfect Your Capsule Wardrobe
Focus on selecting versatile, high-quality pieces that can be mixed and matched. Doing so minimises luggage for flights. It also makes living out of a suitcase simpler for road, air or rail trips — bonus points for clothes that can carry you from day into evening so you can socialise effortlessly.
3. Keep an Essentials Bag Ready
If your job sometimes requires unexpected trips, having a pre-packed bag with toiletries, chargers, adapters, and other essentials is a real time-saver. It’s perfect for unavoidable, last-minute travel requirements.
4. Choose the Right Transport
How to get from A to B is a strategic decision if you value your sanity. For UK professionals, 62% of business trips are domestic, with cars being the most preferred mode of transport. Driving yourself or ride-sharing is hard to beat for flexibility and independence, especially where public transport options are limited.
However, if you’re going to a busy, unfamiliar city centre, it may make more sense to take the train. You might also prefer a domestic flight, or even a domestic flight, if your priority is to arrive fresh and relaxed rather than having just driven for hours.
If you’re heading abroad, you will probably need to fly. The vast majority of people use commercial flights, but private chartering is increasingly cost-effective. If your business or employer values productivity, a private flight can significantly reduce travel time, especially if your destination would otherwise require connecting flights or en route hotel stays. It also avoids lengthy check-ins, and the comfortable environment makes it easier to work while you fly.
5. Book Transport and Seats in Advance
You can book train seats with tables and power sockets if you plan to work on the journey. If you’re flying, select flights that align best with your current body clock and your arrival time zone. If you’re driving, carefully plan your route to avoid peak traffic whenever possible, even if that means arriving an hour or two early.
6. Combat Travel Fatigue Proactively
If you’re travelling across time zones, spend a few days before you leave gradually shifting your sleep schedule toward your destination’s time zone. On arrival, follow local time immediately. If you’re not tired at night, use masks and earplugs.
When travelling domestically, get plenty of sleep in the days leading up to your trip. These treks can be intrinsically tiring and stressful, even if you’re still in your home country.
7. Stay Hydrated and Eat Mindfully
Wherever you’re heading, you’ll need to keep your energy levels up, so carry a reusable water bottle and refill it regularly. It’s also easy to opt for junk food when travelling or go to the other extreme and indulge in luxury foods, but stick to your normal eating routine as far as you can. The occasional burger or lavish pudding won’t hurt you while you’re away, but mindful choices can better maintain energy and brain function.
8. Schedule Breaks in Your Itinerary
You’re there to work, but you’re also human. Women away on business frequently feel they must always be on — even during social events — but a back-to-back schedule is a recipe for burnout. Block out some half-hour periods to relax, read or simply rest.
9. Set Clear Work-Life Boundaries
Communicate your schedule to your team and set expectations about your availability outside of working hours. If you wouldn’t expect to be disturbed in the evening when you’re at home, don’t accept it when you are away on business either.
While socialising may sometimes be part of your job — for example, if you’re entertaining clients — you should also feel empowered to decline unnecessary social invitations you just don’t want to accept. Learning to say “no” is an important part of making time for yourself.
10. Use Tech to Connect With Home
Stay in touch with your family and friends as you normally would. This is especially important if you’re a long way from home or away for an extended period. Seeing familiar faces can be a powerful way to centre yourself and combat feelings of loneliness or homesickness.
11. Stay Positive and Stay Safe
According to a 2023 survey, 71% of women business travellers believe work travel is less safe for them than for men. Unfortunately, they do face concerns when away from home that men may not have to consider. This can range from what to wear and how to act to practical issues, such as avoiding late-night flight arrivals or ensuring taxis are pre-booked.
Take common-sense precautions, like not giving out your room number in public. Research your destination and take heed of any advice about which areas to avoid. Pack a small doorstop or wedge for your hotel room, and keep your valuables out of sight — sensible advice for anyone travelling anywhere. Don’t allow anxiety to derail your trip, but do listen to your instincts if you ever feel a situation is unsafe.
12. Create a Smooth Re-Entry Routine
Plan ahead for what will happen when you return from your business trip. If you have been away more than a day or two, you might want to schedule your first morning back as admin time to catch up on emails and debrief. Ease back into your normal routine rather than expecting to hit the ground running immediately.
Make Work Travel Work for You
Frequent business travel can be demanding, but it doesn’t have to lead to burnout. By adopting a few smart strategies for how you pack, plan and prioritise your well-being, you can stay in control. When you get the hang of it, you can transform business trips from a stressful obligation to a manageable, productive and positive part of your professional life.