If you’re just starting to travel extensively for business, you will find that packing light and staying professional can be a challenge. The lighter you pack, the faster you can move through the airport to your taxi, hotel and meeting.

Here are just a few steps that you can take in order to pack light and travel fast

Come As You Are: Wear your power suit on the plane and take it off once you get to the hotel. Downy Wrinkle Release works great in conjunction with a good, hot iron, and a touch or two of Febreeze eliminates lingering airline funk. Women travelers can do the same with a power outfit that they absolutely must have.

Interchangeable Outfits: It goes without saying that you can minimize packing space by arranging a few outfits that you can switch out interchangeably. For example, I pack three different dress shirts that I can wear with my favorite blue suit, allowing me three different looks. Women can do this by mixing and matching a couple of blouses and skirts for maximum professional effect. Female professionals can also utilize strategic accessories like scarves and necklaces to maximum effect.

Travel Size Me: Go to your local pharmacy or retail outlet and purchase some travel-sized items for your trip. It will help cut down on your packing space. If you cannot find a certain item, you can go to Travelsize.com and purchase miniature versions of toiletries and other necessities.

Bundle Outfits: Take your shirts, blouses, slacks and skirts and roll them up into bundles. They will fit easier in your bags and allow more space for files, DVDs, and other business resources. It will also help minimize wrinkles. For those who want an extra level of space, purchase a Pack-Mate storage bag. You fill it with clothes, roll it up to push out excess air, and seal it. It will free up even more space for other items.

Group “Hot” Items: If you know that your money clip, tweezers, watch, or necklace is going to set off that metal detector, group those items into one carry-on that you can send through the x-ray machine. You’re already going to get slowed down by the guy who has not flown since 9/11, and is begging for the full body pat down, so save some time by having your items ready for inspection. It’ll save you more than a raised eyebrow from airport security.

Space Within Space: Pack certain items within other items to save space. For example, pack your socks inside your shoes or ties within your casual polo shirts.

Choose the Right Luggage: You have to be able to quickly pull out things like a computer at security and quickly stow it back. Purchase a bag with outside pockets large enough to hold certain items –- like laptops, cell phones, boarding passes, and personal identification. These are items you have to pull out at security checkpoints.

Packing smart is a great way to save time and avoid unnecessary hassles. Besides, you never know when you might bump into someone you are trying to impress. A streamlined total travel package will speak volumes about your professionalism.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 23rd, 2008 at 6:38 am and is filed under Business, Stress Management, Travel Guide, Careers. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.