How to Prepare for a Work Trip

I haven’t been back to Washington, D.C., home to my alma mater, since 2015. So, when a work event came up on the calendar, I jumped at the chance to head south and spend some time in the District that I once called home.

I haven’t attended many out-of-state work events prior to my current job, so I thought I would give a rundown of how I prepared myself—and what I will be packing.

1. Make sure your itinerary is set before you leave: This may seem obvious, but you wouldn’t believe all of the questions that I’ve pondered while packing. How will I get from the airport to the hotel? What if my flight is delayed and I get to the event late? I’ve even thought of questions like, “what’s considered an allowable expense when traveling?” I’ve always operated under the principle that it is better to be over-prepared than under, so I’ve made sure that all of my confirmations are printed out, in a safe place, and that the dates of my travel and stay are correct. If you use a different last name at work, such as a maiden name, make sure that you have the necessary identification in that name—and that all of your documents match up. Nothing could be worse than missing your flight because your ticket was under one name and your drivers license another.

2. Bring extra work clothes: Even though my trip to D.C. will be brief—and I know what I’m going to wear to the event—I still packed an extra set of event-appropriate attire. You never know when a sudden downpour (which is common in D.C.), could ruin your great idea of wearing those cute suede Vince Camuto heels with your black and white dress from Loft (yup, that’s what I’m actually planning to wear). Thus, it never hurts to bring a pair of black slacks along and a chic blouse.

3. Pack snacks: Work events can be fun, but they can also be tiring and stressful (read: leaving scant time for meals). I’ve learned to travel with granola bars at all times, and it is a must when I am going to be on the road for an extended period. I love Trader Joe’s Peanut Butter Fiber Bars. They don’t have a tremendous amount of sugar, like others do, and they keep you satisfied. I recently tried an RXBAR in the peanut butter flavor and will be bringing those along to D.C. as well. With three egg whites and two dates per bar, they are almost a meal themselves.

4. Take your vitamins: You’ll need plenty of energy—and coffee—to make it through those 12+ hour days. Between time in the airport, flying, and then hitting the ground running, I always travel with a few packets of Emergen-C. Not only are they great for immune support, which you may need after flying, but with tons of B vitamins, they’ll keep you going strong. I’ll also be bringing a bag of Healthy Delights B-12 soft chews for times when I don’t have water handy (and cannot drink an Emergen-C). Packed with 2,500 mcg and tasting like a Starburst, it’s hard to stop at just one little gummy.

5. Explore (if time permits): Even though I lived in D.C., each time I go back I notice all of the changes that have taken place since I left. It’s interesting to see how neighborhoods have developed over time, but I am looking forward to returning to some of my familiar places. In D.C., Dolcezza in Georgetown, Cheoff Geoff’s, and Z Burger, are all tried and true favorites. On this visit, I hope to check out the cat cafe, Crumbs & Whiskers, and would love to hit up The Spy Museum, if there is time.

How do you prepare for a work trip?

Since I will be traveling, there will not be a post up this Friday. I hope you all have a great rest of the week and weekend!