Described as traveling for both work and fun at the same time, workations have significantly increased in popularity over the last few years. While they include certain work obligations such as attending meetings and completing projects, workations also offer more opportunities for relaxing and enjoying the traditional aspects of travel compared to classic business trips. Although workations seem like the best of both worlds, they could also come with a unique set of challenges, so here are some packing essentials that might make your next workations a bit more productive and enjoyable:
Documents and Books
Regardless of your job, chances are high you will need to bring some important documents and files with you when going on a workation, in an effort to complete your obligations properly and efficiently. Aside from bringing a work laptop or tablet, it would also be wise to back up those documents on an external hard drive or even by printing them out, to ensure you always stay prepared and productive. If you enjoy reading, you could also bring a few books or load them up on your devices to relax during your free time, or even to help occupy the kids if you are traveling with your family.
Portable Charger
Your phone, laptop, and other devices can only do so much when their battery is low. That is why it’s always recommended to have a portable charger on hand during your business trips, to ensure you are always able to send an email or receive a phone call when necessary. As occasional power outages and long drives with no access to electricity aren’t unheard of when traveling either, portable chargers could really be able to help in more ways than one.
A Pair of Headphones
Headphones are truly a lifesaver when traveling, especially when your trips involve work as well. A pair of noise-canceling headphones will enable you to block out any loud, distracting sounds, thus giving you the opportunity to do your job during commutes, in noisy accommodation, and even cafes. Of course, listening to soothing music or a good audiobook can also be a good way to relax during a business trip, not to mention that headphones might be absolutely necessary for any working parents looking for a way to distract the young ones and get some much-needed rest during their travels.
Relaxing Massager
Travel can be quite a stressful and draining experience, but it becomes even more so when it’s combined with work. To help you relax and unwind after a long day, a quality percussion massager can be the perfect solution. It relieves pain, reduces muscle soreness and tension, and simply de-stresses during a busy and tiring workation. Apart from being quite powerful and effective, such a massager is also lightweight and portable enough to easily fit inside any luggage and provide you with the relaxation you might need during your business trip.
Travel Steamer
From dress trousers and pencil skirts to tailored blazers and white shirts, there are a number of corporate dressing essentials you might want to bring on your work trip. And while the right clothing is important for maintaining a professional image, sleek and clean outfits are just as crucial. If using dry cleaning or hotel ironing services is too inconvenient or even inaccessible, a portable travel steamer is the best option. In a matter of minutes, you can ensure your clothes are perfectly clean and wrinkle-free, allowing you to easily achieve that elegant and polished look in the hotel room before heading out to an important meeting.
Beauty Essentials
Along with the right clothing items, there are some must-have beauty products you might want to pack for your workation as well that will allow you to look polished and refined. Your favorite toiletries and skincare products are absolutely essential, giving you the opportunity to appear fresh and put-together for your work obligations. Minimal makeup can also be useful for achieving a more professional look, such as a tinted moisturizer, concealer, mascara, and neutral lipstick. If you need to freshen up right after your flight, putting some travel-sized beauty products in your carry-on can be of great help as well.
A Reminder of Home
When travel is combined with work, truly unwinding and enjoying your trip can often be difficult to achieve. In that case, packing a small reminder of home that allows you to feel more comfortable and relaxed during your travels could be quite helpful, whether it’s a fluffy bathrobe, cozy slippers, or even your most-used scented candle. This can be a simple yet effective way to decompress after a stressful day, and it might even help your children settle into the accommodation more easily if you are traveling with your family.
Combining work and travel might seem like a wonderful idea, but those trips could often turn into stressful and draining experiences as well. Hopefully, the travel essentials mentioned above will allow you to make your workations more productive and pleasant, giving you the opportunity to truly enjoy each trip.