Part of my job involves travelling across the south coast to visit the hotels. Although the majority of this travel is fairly short distance, and doesn’t involve staying overnight, I have still found that preparing and packing some essentials in advance can make all the difference for a smooth and more enjoyable journey.
Here are my travelling for work in the UK essentials.
Water & Snacks
Most important in my opinion, having something you can drink and eat during your journey is not only a good idea to keep you hydrated, but it also helps to avoid the temptation of the services and their many fast food outlets. You aren’t allowed to eat or drink whilst driving (look up current rules to be safe), but you can always find somewhere safe to pull over for a quick pitstop, without needing to add too much time to your journey.
I would suggest an insulated bottle of water, which you can fill up when you reach your destination, ready for the journey back home, something quick and easy to snack on like a cereal bar, small pack of pretzels or nuts, or some dried fruit or nuts. These are also great to have on hand if you were to have an accident, if you have to wait for an extended period of time before help arrives as they tend to keep you fuller for longer.
Audio Books or Podcasts
If you are anything like me, the same music played over and over on the radio can get a little tedious. I have started listening to audio books or podcasts on journeys instead, and they are great for keeping you interested and feeling like you aren’t just wasting time whilst driving from A to B. I tend to steer clear from anything too heavy, that is going to require too much of my attention, as I am driving and need to keep my wits about me, but something light and easy to listen to is perfect.
Hold-all or Small Suitcase
My mum bought me a small suitcase as part of my Christmas present, for those times that I do need to stay over for work. It is small enough to not be over the top, but still fits in everything I need for 1-2 days. It also has an extendable handle and wheels, which is so much easier than lugging my rucksack around. I could have done with having it for the festive shoots we did back in December, as I was transporting decorations as props around in a cardboard box.
Itinerary for the Day
Know what your plan for the day is in advance and you will feel so much more in control and calm. Plan ahead when you need to arrive, and leave in plenty of time to make allowances for accidents or poor traffic conditions on your route. Know when you will be working, in meetings, and breaking for lunch, as well as an estimated time for departure, so that you can look at journey times and have a good idea of when you will be back home.
Phone Holder and Wireless Earphones
Getting a holder for my phone, which clips on to the dashboard, was the best thing, as it allows me to have the maps app on my phone. To keep safe, I can stick to hands-free during my journey by using AirPods and Siri on my iPhone, to make calls, turn on my audiobook, or change destination on the map, all without needing to touch my phone.
Charging Cable
The worst thing, when working away from home, is not having a charger with you. I feel so cut off from the outside world without my phone, so I always pack my charger, and I have a charging cable in the car too, for charging on the go. Phones are so useful these days, and can be a really big help in an accident, to contact help, let people know where you are, and to use the maps app to find out where you are.
Layers
British weather is prone to change very quickly. I always travel wearing layers, usually a light blouse or cami top, with a cardigan or jumper and then a blazer and jacket in the back too. This allows me to add or remove clothing when I need to, and means I am covered for all incidents, literally…
Mask
In these times, it goes without saying to have a face mask and hand sanitiser available when travelling. You may also need proof of vaccination, depending on where you are going in the UK, so having the NHS app loaded on your phone is a good idea.
Money/Card
It’s always a good idea to have some money on you, whether that’s cash, a card, or your phone payment, as you never know when you may need it for fuel, food or an emergency.
Contact Details for Destination
In case you have an accident or are running late, having the contact details for your destination and the office pre-programmed into your phone means that you can call whilst on the road to give an update on your expected arrival time. This happened to me at the beginning of the week, when I was stuck behind every slow-moving vehicle you can image (horse boxes, tractors etc), and ended up being 45 minutes behind schedule. Instead of needing to stop and look up the number on the patchy internet on those country lanes, I could just ask Siri to call the hotel for me and let them know I would be a little later than originally anticipated.
Having these things has made all the difference when it comes to travelling for work lately. I have anxiety, and can get nervous when travelling to new places, at night or when I am stressed, so preparing in advance and having everything I should need really helps to calm me down, and feel in control.
