In the spirit of the Holiday weekend, here’s a fun one for the ladies.
I am the antithesis of the typical business traveler who squeezes all their belongings for a long trip into one neat, roll-on bag which deftly accompanies them onboard. I’m a firm believer in utilizing every millimeter of available space and every gram of weight that is afforded me.
Here is my rationale for this shocking revelation: I had to sit on the tarmac and in the air for many, many hours to earn the elite frequent flyer status that grants me, and anyone in my party, two free checked bags. Many airlines are charging for checked bags, so I’m darned well using my free allocation.
What does this have to do with healthy travel which is my cause?
- Having all the stuff you need stops you stressing. In my case, it’s usually an extra book or two; my Jo Malone candle that gets rid of that ubiquitous hotel room smell; and a robe because I may not be in a hotel that provides them and I’d rather wear mine anyway.
- Being able to pack sneakers, a yoga mat, and a pair of Gliders (more about those to come in a future post – in the meantime, check out www.glidingdiscs.com) means you’re more likely to stick to your workout routine.
- You can pack healthy snacks so you have more control over what you eat, at least for breakfast and snacking. Packets of oatmeal, miso soup, tubs of hummus, almonds and lentil chips usually share the space with other sundries in my suitcase.
- You can pack your flat iron or curling iron (hotels only provide hair dryers) which means you won’t have a bad hair day. Your mood will be better and you’ll be more productive.
- You won’t have to resort to re-wearing or reinventing an outfit because you can only fit one into your bag. That’s a relief and a boon to self-confidence.
- You might see baggage claim as an opportunity rather than a hindrance. You can check emails, return phone calls, pull up a dining app and select a restaurant for dinner, or just plain old people watch (my favorite).
- You can take all of your toiletries so you can keep your regular morning and evening routines. This will give you a sense of control which reduces stress. Have you ever left on a trip and forgotten your make-up bag? I rest my case… You know what I’m talking about.
- If the airline misplaces (we don’t want to say “loses”) your bags, they’ll deliver them to you when they locate them. This saves you from carrying them. You’ll be less susceptible to neck and lower back injury.
- In the unlikely event that the airline has misplaced your luggage permanently, you have a killer shopping opportunity which is a major stress reliever.
- Shoes. You can take more shoes. That really says it all.
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